The payroll register for Lazur Corporation contained the following totals at the end of July 2011: wages, $69,623; federal income taxes withheld, $17,791; state income taxes withheld, $2,923; social security tax withheld, $4,313; Medicare tax withheld, $1,009; medical insurance deductions, $2,400; and wages subject to unemployment taxes, $42,930.

REQUIRED

1. Prepare journal entries to record the

(a) Monthly payroll

(b) Employer payroll expenses, assuming social security and Medicare taxes equal to the amount for employees, a federal unemployment insurance tax of 0.8 percent, a state unemployment tax of 5.4 percent, and medical insurance premiums for which the employer pays 80 percent of the cost.

2. If Lazur is planning to hire a new employee for a salary of $1,000 per month, approximately how should the company budget per month for the total cost of this new employee?