Delta Company pays salaries and wages on the last day of each month. Payments made on December 31, 20X1, for amounts incurred during December are shown below. Cumulative amounts paid prior to the December 31 payroll for the persons named are also shown.
a. Francis Fisher, president, gross monthly salary, $12,000; gross earnings paid prior to December 31, $132,000.
b. Sandy Swartz, vice president, gross monthly salary, $10,000; gross earnings paid prior to December 31, $100,000.
c. Juan Rios, independent accountant who audits the company’s accounts and performs certain consulting services, $10,000; gross amount paid prior to December 31, $25,000.
d. Harry House, treasurer, gross monthly salary, $5,500; gross earnings paid prior to December 31, $60,500.
e. Payment to Daily Security Services for Eddie Martin, a security guard who is on duty on Saturdays and Sundays, $1,000; amount paid to Daily Security Services prior to December 31, $10,000.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Using the tax rates and earnings ceilings given in this chapter, prepare a schedule showing the following information:
a. Each employee’s cumulative earnings prior to December 31.

b. Each employee’s gross earnings for December.
c. The amounts to be withheld for each payroll tax from each employee’s earnings (employee income tax withholdings for Fisher are $3,080; for Swartz, $2,500; and for House, $800).
d. The net amount due each employee.
e. The total gross earnings, the total of each payroll tax deduction, and the total net amount payable to employees.
2. Record the general journal entry for the company’s payroll on December 31. Use journal page 32.
3. Record the general journal entry for payments to employees on December 31.

Analyze: 

What is the balance of the Salaries Payable account after all payroll entries have been posted for the month?