August 3, 2021

New State Controllers’ Office Tools Provide Information and Guidance to Employees for Determining Tax Withholdings and Completing the STD 686 Employee Action Request

Description: Due to the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, the method for determining Federal Tax Withholding has changed. To aid employees in completing the STD 686 Employee Action Request (EAR) form, SCO has developed a Quick Start Guide and two W-4/EAR eLearning modules. See below:

HR Offices: http://cacontrollers.adobeconnect.com/p926o60v9cuo/

State Employees: http://cacontrollers.adobeconnect.com/p47gntxn130o/

Please share this Employee Bulletin with your employees. This information has also been added to the “What’s New” section on the landing page of the Cal Employee Connect (CEC) website. Please continue to encourage your employees to register and use CEC to receive important messages personnel and payroll information. We also encourage you to review the W-4/EAR eLearning modules so that you know understand how the EAR should be completed and know how to enter the information in the Employee History system.

Population Affected:  All HR Offices 

Contacts: 

Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200

HR Suggestions Email (All HR Staff) PPSDHRSuggestions@sco.ca.gov

CS Escalation Email (HR Supervisors and Managers)  PPSDOps@sco.ca.gov

Cal Employee Connect Email connecthelp@sco.ca.gov

Cal Employee Connect Feedback Email connectfeedback@sco.ca.gov

SCO Key Initiatives:  

Cal Employee Connect Project 

California State Payroll System Project