Once upon a time payroll was pretty simple. Figure each employee's gross pay, subtract federal, state, local taxes and a couple of other deductions and write a check for the difference. Nothing stays simple for long though -- pretty soon along came direct deposit, 401(k) plans, cafeteria plans, vehicle allowances, the Earned Income Tax Credit, garnishments, third party sick pay, paycards, and a raft of other complications. For many small companies payroll went from taking an hour or so each pay period to a process that can consume a whole day or more. And that's just to produce the paychecks...