Payroll General Information The Payroll Department of the University Controller’s Office prepares the wage payments for all departments in the University. The Payroll Department ensures that all university employees are paid accurately and on time while adhering to Federal, State and University policies and regulations.
Payroll is also responsible for:
- Payroll calendar
- Payroll wage payments
- Request for replacement checks
- On Demand Payments
- The submission of third-party vendor payments and reports for payroll deductions
- Form W-4 submissions
- Retroactive wage payments
- Taxability of student employees
- Time and Absence functions
- Time and Absence and Holiday calendars
- Certification of Hours for all exempt employees
- Process leave payouts
- NRA taxation
- Fringe Benefits
Fringe Benefits:
Payroll Paper Checks
Employees will be paid by a paper check until they enter their direct deposit information in Workday. Checks are mailed to the address on file in Workday. If necessary, you may pick up your check from the Payroll Office by submitting a request to Payroll at least three days before the pay day.
If you have any questions, please email payroll@fau.edu.
Student Tax Guidelines
Several components determine an individual’s particular taxation such as the way the W-4 form is completed, citizenship status, student enrollment status and multiple employment that results in a dual compensation situation.
In the State of Florida, there are three taxes that must be addressed during employment:
- Social Security (6.2% of gross taxable wages up to $184,500 for 2026)
- Medicare (1.45% of gross taxable wages)
- Federal Withholding Tax (see IRS Publication 15, Employer’s Tax Guide)
Social Security and Medicare Tax
Student Employees (Undergraduate, Graduate, and Doctoral students)
Criteria for Exemption Eligibility:
To be exempt from FICA tax, students must meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled in at least ½ time status at FAU
- Regularly attending classes during the semester at FAU
- Students must be scheduled to work 32 hours or less to have FICA exemption
- Student schedule is determined by the employing department and submitted to Student Employment via a Student Appointment Form (SAP)
The student must not be a professional employee.
A professional employee:
- Requires knowledge of an advanced type in a field of science or learning
- Requires the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment
- Predominantly intellectual and varied in character
If a license is required under state or local law for the position, the employee is most likely a professional employee.
Post-doctoral students and fellows are considered professional employees. If the relevant circumstances change significantly during an academic term (i.e., changes in enrollment status, employment hours or job duties), the FICA exemption shall be re-evaluated.
Failure to meet the above criteria will result in the student paying Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) tax on the gross taxable wages paid for the pay period. Each department is responsible for the employer-matching portion of the tax and it will come out of the same funding department being charged for the student’s salary.
External Links
My FAU
Log into the University’s web portal, web-based tool that provides centralized access to emails, calendars, administrative services, tools and information.Go to MyFAU
Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your net pay or "take home pay" by entering your per-period or annual salary along with the pertinent Federal, State and local W-4 information.Use the Paycheck Calculator
Internal Revenue Service
Visit the IRS website, U.S. government agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement. Contains downloadable forms, instructions, and resources.Visit the IRS website
W-2 Information
2025 W-2 Form will be postmarked and mailed via the U.S. Postal Service by January 31, 2026.
Active Florida Atlantic University employees may access their IRS W-2 Form electronically through employee self-service, an acceptable version of the W-2 Form, in Workday on January 21, 2026.
Please follow the directions below to access and print your Electronic 2025 W-2 Form (please note that you must be on campus or logged-in remotely using VPN).
- Log into Workday: https://www.myworkday.com/fau
- Click on Menu
- Click on Pay
- Click on Tax Documents
- Click on View/Print
- A popup stating that your request is being processed will display
- Click on W-2 Form 2025.pdf to open your W-2 Form
Active employees that require W-2 Forms PRIOR to 2016 will need to contact the Payroll Department.
Former Florida Atlantic University employees will receive their 2025 W-2 Form via the U.S. Postal Service.
To request a duplicate or prior years W-2s, please complete the Request W-2 Form , email it to payroll@fau.edu, and submit the $10 administrative fee via FAU Marketplace. When completing the form, only include the last four digits of your social security number.
For questions, please contact the Payroll Department at 561-297-6401 or email payroll@fau.edu.
Employee Leave Cash Out Form Instructions
To process an Employee Leave Cash Out, please log into Workday and initiate a Create Request for Employee Leave Cash Out.
This form is used for compensatory leave cash out for SP employees and for annual leave cash out for employees changing status from an annual leave earning position to a non-annual leave earning position.
Once submitted by the HR Partner or Business Manager, the request will route to the appropriate Dean/Director and Vice President for final approval. Once all approvals are complete, the Payroll Department will process the payment. A job aid is available in Workday in the FAU Job Aid Application.
If you have any questions, please send an email to payroll@fau.edu.