December, 2021
Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increase [posted 12/30/21]
Effective Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022, the maximum mileage reimbursement rate for state employee travel in a personal vehicle will increase to 58.5 cents per mile (up from 56 cents in 2021). This rate is consistent with the Internal Revenue Service’s standard mileage rate.
See Current Rates or Transportation: Mileage in Personal Vehicle in Textravel for more information.
Note: State agencies may adopt an internal policy with a rate that is lower than the maximum; however, the agency must distribute the policy before its employees begin any travel under the lower rate.
Upgrade to TLS 1.2 Required by Jan. 30 [posted 12/15/21]
The Comptroller’s office will disable two transport layer security (TLS) protocols, 1.0 and 1.1, on Jan. 30, 2022. After that, only TLS 1.2 connections will work. This update is needed to correct security vulnerabilities.
This change could impact any connection to Comptroller systems, so be sure your informational technology team is aware of the upgrade. The Comptroller’s office alerted state agencies to the upcoming change in September and has worked with agencies to replace the older protocols. See Microsoft’s update for more information.
Reporting Settlements and Judgments to the IRS [posted 12/15/21]
Effective Jan. 1, 2022, federal law requires the appropriate official of a state agency involved in a suit or agreement to file an information return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when money is paid as part of a settlement or judgment. See 26 U.S.C. § 6050X-1.
For cases where the office of the Attorney General (OAG) provides legal representation to the litigating state agency, the OAG will file information returns concerning settlements, judgments, or other qualifying payments. However, this is not a legal determination that this reporting responsibility falls solely on the OAG. Consult applicable laws concerning any reporting responsibilities your agency might have.
State agencies not represented by the OAG must determine whether a settlement, judgment, or other qualifying payment made to the agency triggers IRS reporting requirements. The OAG will not file information returns regarding matters in which the OAG did not provide representation, including cases in which a state agency has attained OAG approval to retain outside counsel.
Email general.counsel@oag.texas.gov for more information.
Reminder – ACA 1094-C and 1095-C Contact Information Update Due [posted 12/15/21]
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) requires employers to offer affordable health insurance that provides minimum essential coverage to their full-time (and full-time equivalent) employees and their dependents or incur tax penalties.
The Comptroller’s office has updated ACA 1094-C and 1095-C Reporting Requirements (FPP F.039) for calendar year 2021. Agencies should review this guidance for how it affects your agency. Your agency is responsible for 1094-C and 1095-C reporting.
USPS agencies are required to update 1094-C and 1095-C contact information by Dec. 31. CAPPS Central agencies are required to update the new Manage Agency Contact Info page in CAPPS by Jan. 7.
Supplemental Appropriation and Reduction Transactions Due [posted 12/13/21]
Processing Supplemental Appropriations and Reductions (FPP A. 047) has been updated with instructions for USAS and CAPPS to reflect recent changes from the 87th Legislature, Special Sessions.
Affected state agencies and institutions of higher education must follow the instructions in FPP A.047 by Dec. 21.
2022 Earned Federal Funds Update [posted 12/10/21]
State agencies are responsible for collecting and depositing earned federal funds (EFF) and indirect cost reimbursements to the General Revenue Fund. Effective Sept. 1, the EFF collection totals have been updated per the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
See Earned Federal Funds and Indirect Cost Reimbursements to the General Revenue Fund (APS 023) (FPP A.017) for defined conditions and deadlines.
Contact your agency’s appropriation control officer with any questions.
Reminder – Warrant Distribution in December [posted 12/10/21]
Payment Services will distribute warrants from 8-10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 23. There will be no warrant distribution Dec. 24.
Payment Services will also distribute warrants from 8-10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 31.
See Payment Distribution for warrant pickup requirements and the System Outages and Holidays calendar for more information.
Reminder – Direct Deposit Reversal Request Deadline Changed [posted 12/10/21]
Due to the New Year’s Day holiday, the deadline to submit Direct Deposit Reversal Request form (74-191) for payroll reversals has been changed to 10 a.m. on Dec. 31.
Reminder – USAS/TINS File Submission [posted 12/10/21]
If you need to submit a USAS or TINS batch file on a weekend or holiday, see the USAS/TINS Input Record File Submission Schedule.
Reminder – Direct Deposit Settlement Dates [posted 12/10/21]
To determine the direct deposit settlement date of a payment, you must exclude federal holidays, since financial institutions are closed and no direct deposit activity occurs on those days. Agencies must account for these dates to ensure prompt payment and avoid late payment interest.
See the System Outages and Holidays calendar for federal holidays with no scheduled USAS cycles.
Warrant Distribution in December [posted 12/03/21]
Payment Services will distribute warrants from 8-10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 23. There will be no warrant distribution Dec. 24.
Payment Services will also distribute warrants from 8-10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 31.
See Payment Distribution for warrant pickup requirements and the System Outages and Holidays calendar for more information.
Direct Deposit Reversal Request Deadline Changed [posted 12/03/21]
Due to the New Year’s Day holiday, the deadline to submit Direct Deposit Reversal Request form (74-191) for payroll reversals has been changed to 10 a.m. on Dec. 31.
USAS/TINS File Submission [posted 12/03/21]
If you need to submit a USAS or TINS batch file on a weekend or holiday, see the USAS/TINS Input Record File Submission Schedule.
Direct Deposit Settlement Dates [posted 12/03/21]
To determine the direct deposit settlement date of a payment, you must exclude federal holidays, since financial institutions are closed and no direct deposit activity occurs on those days. Agencies must account for these dates to ensure prompt payment and avoid late payment interest.
See the System Outages and Holidays calendar for federal holidays with no scheduled USAS cycles.
Reminder – Veteran Workforce Summary Reports Due [posted 12/03/21]
Dec. 15 is the maintenance and corrections deadline for the fiscal 2022 first-quarter Veteran Workforce Summary Reports (Sept. 1 to Nov. 30). Copies of the quarterly reports will be sent via electronic file transfer (EFT) on Dec. 16. The online quarterly report acknowledgment form (with required complaint reporting included) will be available Dec. 16 and must be submitted by Dec. 30.
See Veteran Workforce Summary Reports and Veteran Complaint Reporting (FPP F.038) for more information.