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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2002
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-11330

PAYCHEX, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(585) 385-6666
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the act: None

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the act:

COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE
(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ].

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to item 405 of regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this form 10-K or any amendment to this form 10-K. [ ].

As of June 30, 2002, shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant had an aggregate market value of $10,304,650,000.

As of June 30, 2002, 375,889,763 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $.01 par value, were outstanding.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting to be held in October 2002, are incorporated herein by reference thereto in response to Part III, Items 10 through 13, inclusive.

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PART I

“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Certain written and oral statements made by Paychex, Inc. (the “Company”) management may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are identified by such words and phrases as “we expect,” “expected to,” “estimates,” “we look forward to,” “would equate to,” “projects,” “projected to be,” “anticipates,” “we believe,” “could be,” and other similar phrases. All statements addressing operating performance, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including statements relating to revenue growth, earnings, earnings per share growth, or similar projections, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. Because they are forward-looking, they should be evaluated in light of important risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to the following or those which are described in the Company’s SEC filings: general market and economic conditions, including demand for the Company’s products and services, availability of internal and external resources, executing expansion plans, competition, and price levels; changes in the laws regulating collection and payment of payroll taxes, professional employer organizations, and employee benefits, including 401(k) plans, workers’ compensation, state unemployment, and section 125 plans; delays in the development, timing of the introduction, and marketing of new products and services; changes in technology, including use of the Internet; the possibility of catastrophic events that could impact the Company’s operating facilities, computer systems, and communication systems; the possibility of third-party service providers failing to perform their functions; the possibility of penalties and losses resulting from errors and omissions in performing services; potential damage to the Company’s business reputation due to these and other operational risks; the possible inability of clients to meet payroll obligations; stock volatility; and changes in short- and long-term interest rates, changes in the market value of available-for-sale securities, and the credit rating of cash, cash equivalents, and securities held in the Company’s investment portfolios, all of which could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The information provided in this document is based upon the facts and circumstances known at this time. The Company assumes no obligation to update this document for new information subsequent to its issuance.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Paychex, Inc. (the “Company” or “Paychex”), is a leading, national provider of comprehensive payroll and integrated human resource and employee benefit outsourcing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses. Paychex, a Delaware corporation, was formed in 1979 through the consolidation of 17 corporations engaged in providing computerized payroll accounting services. As of the end of fiscal 2002, the Company serviced over 390,000 clients and had 7,400 employees. The Company has its corporate headquarters in Rochester, New York and more than 100 offices nationwide. The Company’s fiscal year ends May 31st. Information about the Company’s products and services, shareholder information, press releases, and SEC filings can be found on the Company’s Web site at www.paychex.com.

Market Opportunities:

The outsourcing of business processes is a growing trend within the United States. Outsourcing of the payroll and human resource functions allows small- to mid-sized businesses to minimize the compliance risks associated with increasingly complex and changing administrative requirements and federal, state, and local tax regulations. By utilizing the expertise of outsourcing service providers, businesses are able to reduce processing costs and administrative burdens while, at the same time, adding competitive benefits for their employees. The technical capabilities, knowledge and operational expertise that Paychex has built, along with the broad portfolio of ancillary services it offers its clients, have enabled the Company to capitalize on this outsourcing trend.

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There are approximately six million employers in the markets that Paychex currently serves within the United States. Of those employers, 99% have fewer than 100 employees and are the Company’s primary customers and target market. Based on industry data, the Company estimates that all payroll processors combined serve less than 15% of the potential businesses with much of the unpenetrated market in businesses with 10 or less employees. Paychex remains focused on servicing small- to mid-sized businesses due to the significant growth potential in this market segment.

Clients:

Paychex serves a diverse base of small- to medium-sized clients operating in a broad range of industries located throughout the continental United States. At May 31, 2002 the Company serviced over 390,000 clients. The Company utilizes service agreements and arrangements with clients that are terminable by the client at any time. No single client has a material impact on total service revenue or results of operations.

The estimated composition of the market the Company services and the Company’s client base by employee size is as follows:

Company Strategy:

As part of its continuing growth strategy, Paychex is focused on the following:

•		Achieving strong financial performance while providing high-quality, timely, accurate, and affordable payroll processing services and value-added comprehensive ancillary services to meet the human resource and employee benefit needs of the Company’s client base.
•		Delivering these services utilizing a well-trained and responsive work force through a network of local offices servicing over 100 of the largest markets in the United States.
•		Growing the client base primarily through the Company’s direct sales force, which totaled approximately 1,250 at the end of fiscal year 2002.
•		Capitalizing on the growth opportunities from within the current client base as well as from new clients by increasing utilization of the Company’s payroll-related and human resource ancillary products.
•		Capitalizing on and leveraging the Company’s highly developed technological and operating infrastructure.

Products and Services:

Paychex offers a comprehensive portfolio of payroll, payroll-related, and human resource products to meet the diverse needs of its client base. These include payroll processing, tax filing and payments, employee pay, retirement services administration, employee benefits administration, regulatory compliance (new hire reporting and garnishment processing), workers’ compensation insurance, and comprehensive

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bundled human resource administrative services. By offering a portfolio of ancillary services that leverage the information gathered in the base payroll processing service, Paychex is able to provide comprehensive business process outsourcing services that allow employers to expand their employee benefit offerings at an affordable cost.

Payroll Processing: Payroll processing is the backbone of the Paychex product portfolio. The Paychex Payroll service includes the calculation, preparation, and delivery of employee payroll checks, production of internal accounting records and management reports, and the preparation of federal, state, and local payroll tax returns. Payroll processing clients are charged a base fee each period that payroll is processed plus a fee per employee check processed.

The Core Payroll product is generally targeted for clients with 1 to 50 employees, although many clients with more than 50 employees utilize this service. The average Paychex Core Payroll client employs approximately 14 people and processes approximately 31 payrolls each year. Core Payroll clients communicate their payroll information for each payroll period, including hours worked by each employee and any personnel or compensation changes, usually by telephone or fax to their assigned Paychex payroll specialist. The Paychex payroll specialist, upon receiving the information from the client over the telephone, enters it simultaneously into the payroll system. Paychex trains these specialists in all facets of payroll preparation and applicable tax regulations. Clients can also transfer data from their personal computer by using the Paychex Paylink® software or via the Internet. Clients receive payroll checks and reports from either a delivery service, the U.S. Postal Service, or by picking them up at the local Paychex branch.

Paychex also offers Core Payroll services to its clients and their accountants via Paychex Online. This secure Internet site offers clients a suite of interactive, self-service products and services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. These include Online Payroll, Internet Time Sheet, Internet Report Service, and General Ledger Reporting Service. Clients can communicate payroll information via Internet Time Sheet or use the Company’s complete Online Payroll service, as well as access current and historical payroll information using the Paychex Internet Report Service. The General Ledger Reporting Service transfers payroll information calculated by Paychex to the client’s general ledger accounting software, eliminating manual entries and improving the accuracy of bookkeeping. Approximately 50,000 clients are currently enrolled in some type of online service.

The Company’s Major Market Services (MMS) Payroll product primarily targets companies that have outgrown the Company’s Core Payroll service or new clients that generally have more than 50 employees and/or more complex payroll and benefits needs. Expansion efforts for MMS continue and as of May 31, 2002, this product was offered in 64 of the more than 100 markets currently serviced by the Core Payroll product. The MMS product is currently offered in market locations that serve approximately 85% of the Company’s total client base. Approximately one-third of new MMS clients are conversions from the Company’s Core Payroll product.

Most MMS clients communicate their payroll information to Paychex using the Company’s Preview® software. The Preview software provides clients “in-house” control of payroll and human resource information because the software and the payroll and human resource database reside on the client’s personal computer or personal computer network. Clients can produce reports and checks at their convenience. Paychex handles the software maintenance and provides the client ancillary services as requested.

Ancillary Products and Services: Paychex provides its clients with a portfolio of ancillary products and services that have been developed and refined over many years. The Company integrates these ancillary products with its payroll processing services, which provides increased convenience and value to clients. Ancillary products provide the Company with additional recurring revenue streams and increased service efficiencies, which result in economies of scale. Paychex offers the following ancillary products and services:

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Taxpay®: As of May 31, 2002, 85% of the Company’s clients utilized its Taxpay service, which provides accurate preparation and timely filing of quarterly and year-end tax returns, as well as the electronic transfer of funds to the appropriate agencies (federal, state, and local). Client utilization of the Taxpay product is expected to mature in the range of 85% to 87%. In connection with Taxpay, the Company electronically collects payroll taxes from clients’ bank accounts typically on payday, files the applicable tax returns, and pays taxes to the appropriate taxing authorities on the due date. These taxes are typically paid between one and thirty days after receipt of collections from clients, with some items extending to ninety days. Clients utilizing the Taxpay service are charged a base fee each period that payroll is processed. In addition to fees paid by clients, the Company earns interest on Taxpay funds that are collected before due dates and invested until remittance to the appropriate taxing authority.

Employee Pay Services: As of May 31, 2002, 57% of the Company’s clients utilized its Employee Pay Services, which provide the employer the option of paying its employees by Direct Deposit, Access Card, a check drawn on a Paychex account (Readychex^SM), or a check drawn on the employer’s account. For the first three methods, Paychex electronically collects net payroll from the client’s bank account typically one day before payroll and provides payment to the employee on payday. The Flexible Pay Package provides a cost-effective, bundled approach that can have the extended benefit of convenient, one-step payroll account reconciliation for employers. Clients utilizing Employee Pay Services are charged a base fee for each period that payroll is processed and a fee per transaction or per employee depending on the service provided. In addition to fees paid by the client, the Company earns interest on Employee Pay Services funds that are collected before due dates and invested until remittance to clients’ employees.

Taxpay and Employee Pay Services are integrated with the Company’s Payroll processing service. Interest on Taxpay and Employee Pay Services funds held for clients is included in total revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Income because the collection, holding, and remittance of these funds are critical components of providing these services.

Regulatory Compliance Services: Paychex offers New Hire Reporting services, which enable clients to comply with federal and state requirements to report information on new employees, to aid the government in enforcing child support orders, and to minimize fraudulent unemployment and workers’ compensation insurance claims. In fiscal 2002, the Company enhanced its Garnishment Processing service, which provides deductions of appropriate amounts from employees’ pay, forwards payments to the proper agency, and accurately tracks the obligation to fulfillment. With the enhanced service, Paychex is able to remit garnishment withholdings to agencies, including those that require electronic payments. These services enable employers to comply with legal requirements and reduce the risk of penalties.

Comprehensive Administrative Services: The Paychex Administrative Services (PAS) product provides businesses a full-service approach to the outsourcing of employer and employee administrative needs. PAS offers businesses a package of services that includes payroll, employer compliance, human resource and employee benefits administration, and employee risk management. This comprehensive bundle of services is designed to make it easier for small businesses to manage their payroll and benefits costs. The Company also operates a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), which provides businesses with the same combined package of services as the PAS product, but with Paychex acting as co-employer of the client’s employees. The Company’s PEO is operated primarily in Florida and Georgia, where PEOs are more prevalent. Paychex offers its PEO product through its subsidiary, Paychex Business Solutions. Clients that utilize the bundled services offered through the PAS and PEO products can concentrate their resources on their core businesses. As of May 31, 2002, the PAS and PEO products combined serviced over 80,000 client employees.

Retirement Services: The Company’s Retirement Services product line offers a variety of options to clients, including 401(k) plans, 401(k) SIMPLE, SIMPLE IRA, profit sharing, and money purchase plans. This service provides plan implementation, ongoing compliance with government regulations, employee and employer reporting, participant access online, electronic funds transfer, and other administrative services. Selling efforts for the Retirement Services products are focused primarily on the Company’s existing Payroll client base, as the processed payroll information allows for data integration necessary to provide these services efficiently. The Retirement Services product was utilized by over 23,000 clients at

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May 31, 2002. This demonstrates the continuing interest of small- to medium-sized businesses in providing retirement savings benefits to their employees. Paychex is now one of the largest 401(k) recordkeepers for small businesses in the United States. Clients utilizing this service are charged a monthly fee and a fee per eligible employee. Client employee 401(k) funds externally managed totaled approximately $2.2 billion at May 31, 2002. The Company earns a fee approximating 30 basis points from the external managers based on the total of client employee 401(k) funds.

Workers’ Compensation Services: Most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides payments to employees who are unable to work because of job-related injuries. Paychex provides Workers’ Compensation Insurance Administration services by serving, via its licensed insurance agency, as a general agent providing qualified workers’ compensation insurance through a variety of insurance carriers who are underwriters. The Pay-As-You-Go^SM program uses rate and job classification information to enable clients to pay workers’ compensation premiums in regular monthly amounts rather than with large upfront payments, which stabilizes their cash flow and minimizes year-end adjustments. As of May 31, 2002, over 26,000 clients utilized the Workers’ Compensation product.

Section 125 Plans: The Company also offers outsourcing of plan administration under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Premium Only Plan allows employees to pay for certain health insurance benefits with pre-tax dollars, which results in a reduction in payroll taxes for employers and employees. The Flexible Spending Account Plan allows a client’s employees to pay, with pre-tax dollars, health and dependent care expenses not covered by insurance. All required implementation, administration, compliance, and coverage tests are provided with these services.

Other Human Resource Products: Group health benefits are also offered in selected geographical areas, as are state unemployment insurance services, which provide clients with prompt processing for all claims, appeals, determinations, change statements, and requests for separation documents. Other Human Resource and Benefits products include employee handbooks, management manuals, and personnel forms. These products are designed to simplify clients’ office processes and enhance their employee benefits programs.

Sales and Marketing:

The Company markets its services principally through its direct sales force based in major metropolitan markets serviced by the Company. The Company’s sales representatives specialize in Core Payroll, Major Market Services Payroll, or Human Resource and Benefits product lines. The Company’s sales force totaled approximately 1,250 at May 31, 2002, with 880 focused on Core Payroll, 100 focused on Major Market Services Payroll, 230 focused on various Human Resource and Benefits products, and 40 licensed agents selling Workers’ Compensation Insurance services. In addition to its direct selling and marketing efforts, the Company utilizes relationships with existing clients, certified public accountants, and banks for new client referrals. Approximately two-thirds of the Company’s clients come from these referral sources. The sales force for Human Resource and Benefits products is primarily focused on selling products and services to existing payroll clients since their processed payroll information provides the data integration necessary to provide these services.

The Company’s Web site at www.paychex.com, which includes an online payroll sales presentation and product information, is a cost-efficient tool that serves as a source of leads and new sales while complementing the efforts of the field sales force. This online tool also allows Paychex to market to clients in more geographically remote areas. The Company’s sales representatives are also supported by marketing, advertising, public relations, and telemarketing programs. The Company has grown and expects to continue to grow its direct sales force. In recent years, the Company has increased its emphasis on the selling of ancillary services to both new clients and its existing client base.

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Competition:

The market for payroll processing services is highly fragmented. The Company believes its primary national competitor, Automatic Data Processing, is the largest U.S. third-party provider of payroll processing in terms of both revenue and clients. Paychex also competes with other national, regional, local, and online service providers, all of which have significantly smaller client bases.

In addition to traditional payroll processing service providers, the Company competes with in-house payroll and human resource systems and departments. Payroll and human resource systems are sold by many vendors. The Company’s Human Resource and Benefits products also compete with a variety of providers of unbundled human resource services such as insurance companies, retirement services companies, and human resource consulting firms.

Software Maintenance and Product Development:

The ever-changing mandates of federal, state, and local taxing authorities require Paychex to update the proprietary software utilized by the Company to provide Payroll and Human Resource and Benefits services to its clients. The Company is also engaged in developing enhancements and maintenance to this software to meet the changing requirements of its clients and the marketplace. The Company develops proprietary software for new product offerings on a continuing basis. Research and development expenses are not significant to the Company’s overall results of operations.

Employees:

As of May 31, 2002, the Company and its subsidiaries employed approximately 7,400 people, of whom approximately 7,100 are full-time and approximately 300 are part-time and none of whom are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Trademarks:

As of May 31, 2002, the Company and its subsidiaries have a number of trademarks and service marks filed for registration or registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including the names Paychex, Taxpay, Paylink, Preview, Readychex, Pay-As-You-Go, Paychex Online Payroll, and Rapid Payroll. The Company believes these trademarks and service marks are important to its business.

Seasonality:

There is no significant seasonality to the Company’s business. However, during the Company’s third fiscal quarter, the number of new payroll clients, Retirement Services clients, and new PAS and PEO worksite employees tends to be higher than in the rest of the fiscal year primarily because a majority of new clients start using services in the beginning of the calendar year. In addition, calendar year-end transaction processing and client funds activity are traditionally higher during the third fiscal quarter due to clients paying year-end bonuses and requesting additional year-end services. As a result of these factors, historically the Company’s total revenue has been slightly higher in the third and fourth fiscal quarters with greater sales commission expenses reported in the third quarter, which ends in February.

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Risk Factors:

The Company’s future results of operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from historical and current results and from Company projections. Important factors known to us that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and those contained in the “Safe Harbor” statement at the beginning of this Form 10-K.

The Company may make errors and omissions in providing services: Processing, tracking, collecting, and remitting client funds to the various taxing authorities and client employees is complex. Errors have occurred in the past and are likely to occur in the future. These errors could include late filing with tax agencies and underpayment of taxes, which could result in significant penalties that would adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. The Company could also transfer funds in error to an incorrect party or for the wrong amount and may be unable to correct the error or recover the funds, resulting in a loss to the Company.

Changes in government policies could adversely impact the business: Many of the Company’s services, particularly tax filing and benefit plan administration services, are designed according to government regulations that continue to change. Changes in regulations could affect the extent and type of benefits employers are required or may choose to provide employees or the amount and type of taxes employers and employees are required to pay. Such changes could reduce or eliminate the need for some of the Company’s services and substantially decrease its revenue. Added requirements could also increase the cost of doing business. Failure by the Company to modify its services in response to regulatory changes in a timely fashion could have adverse effects on the Company’s results of operations.

Failure of third-party service providers to perform their functions could harm the business: As part of providing services to clients, Paychex relies on a number of third-party service providers. These providers include, but are not limited to, couriers used to deliver client payroll checks, and banks, which electronically transfer funds from clients to their employees. Failure by these providers, for any reason, to deliver their services in a timely manner could result in significant penalties for late tax payments and impact client relations.

Failure of the Company’s Business Continuity Plan in the event of a catastrophe could result in the loss of client data and adversely interrupt operations: The Company’s operations are dependent on its ability to protect its infrastructure against damage from catastrophe or natural disaster, security breach, power loss, telecommunications failure, terrorist attack, or similar event. The Company has a Business Continuity Plan in place in the event of system failure due to any of these events. If the Business Continuity Plan was unsuccessful in a disaster recovery scenario, the Company could potentially lose client data or experience material adverse interruptions to its operations.

Any of the above risk factors could cause damage to the Company’s business reputation, which is important to the Company’s ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients.

Paychex clients could have insufficient funds to cover payments the Company has made on their behalf to taxing authorities and employees: As part of the payroll processing service, Paychex is authorized by its clients to transfer money from their accounts to fund amounts owed to their employees and various taxing authorities. It is possible that the Company would be held liable for such amounts in the event the client has insufficient funds to cover them. The Company has in the past, and may in the future, make payments on its clients’ behalf for which it is not reimbursed, resulting in a loss to the Company.

Interest earned on funds held for clients could be impacted by changes in government regulations mandating the amount of tax withheld or timing of remittance: The Company receives interest income from investing client funds collected but not yet remitted to taxing authorities or to clients’ employees. Interest on these funds is a substantial part of total revenue. A change in regulations either decreasing the amount of taxes to be withheld or allowing less time to remit taxes to government authorities would adversely impact this interest income.

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Stock Price Volatility: The market price of the Company’s common stock may be influenced by factors such as quarterly variations in operating results, announcements of new services or technological innovations by the Company or its competitors, market conditions in the business process outsourcing industry, changes in ratings or financial estimates by securities analysts, general economic conditions, fluctuations in the stock market that are not directly related to the Company’s operating performance, and other factors and events which are beyond the Company’s control. These and other factors can lead to fluctuations in the price of the Company’s stock.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk: Refer to Item 7a of this Form 10-K for discussion on Market Risk Factors.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company’s headquarters are located at 911 Panorama Trail South, Rochester, NY 14625 in a 140,000-square-foot building complex owned by the Company. In addition, within the Rochester area, the Company owns three facilities, which account for a combined total of 213,000 square feet, and leases approximately 174,000 square feet, in several office complexes. These facilities house various administrative and technology functions, certain ancillary service functions, and a telemarketing unit. The Company expects to purchase a 220,000-square-foot facility in Rochester, New York in a transaction that is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The Company receives incentives for certain of its owned facilities under arrangements with government agencies.

The Company leases approximately 1,612,000 square feet of space for its regional, branch, and sales offices, and data processing centers at various locations throughout the United States, concentrating on major metropolitan areas. The Company owns branch facilities located in Syracuse, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which together account for approximately 56,000 square feet.

The Company believes that adequate, suitable lease space will continue to be available for its needs.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In the normal course of business and operations, the Company is subject to various claims and litigation including licensing matters. Management believes the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise, during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002.

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PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The Company’s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market^SM under the symbol “PAYX.” Dividends are normally paid in February, May, August, and November. The level and continuation of future dividends are dependent on the Company’s future earnings and cash flows, and are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.

On June 30, 2002, there were 16,842 holders of record of the Company’s common stock which includes registered holders and participants in the Paychex, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. There were also 7,075 participants in the Paychex, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 5,599 participants in the Paychex, Inc. 404(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

The high and low sale prices for the Company’s Common Stock for the two fiscal years ended May 31, 2002 and 2001 as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market are as follows:

The Company maintains equity compensation plans in the form of stock option incentive plans, all of which have been approved by the shareholders of the corporation. Currently, stock options are granted to employees in the form of non-qualified or incentive stock options (broad based grants only) from the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan. The 1995 and 1992 Stock Incentive Plans expired in August 1998 and 1995, respectively, although previously granted options to purchase shares under these plans remain outstanding at May 31, 2002. Refer to Note G – Stock Option Plans in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for more information on the Company’s stock option plans.

The following table details information on securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plans:

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations reviews the Company’s operating results for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended May 31, 2002 (fiscal 2002, 2001, and 2000), and its financial condition at May 31, 2002. This review should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements in this review are qualified by the cautionary statement under the heading “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 contained at the beginning of this Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies:

Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K discusses the significant accounting policies of Paychex, Inc. The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon its consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company’s management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to investments, allowance for doubtful accounts, fixed assets, income taxes, contingencies, and our clients’ inability to meet their payroll obligations. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual amounts and results could differ from these estimates. Certain accounting policies that are deemed critical to the Company’s results of operations or financial position are discussed below.

Service revenues are recognized in the period services are rendered and earned under service arrangements with clients where service fees are fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Certain processing services are provided under annual service arrangements with revenue recognized ratably over the annual service period. Professional Employer Organization (PEO) revenues are included in service revenues and are reported net of direct costs billed and incurred, which include wages, taxes, benefit premiums, and claims of PEO worksite employees. Direct costs billed and incurred for PEO worksite employees were $1,056.9 million, $865.7 million, and $731.3 million for fiscal 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively. Paychex provides delivery service for the distribution of certain client payroll checks and reports. The revenue earned from delivery service is included in service revenues and the costs for delivery are included in operating costs on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Interest on funds held for clients is earned primarily on Taxpay and Employee Pay Services funds that are collected before due dates and invested (funds held for clients) until remittance to the applicable tax authorities for Taxpay clients and employees of Employee Pay Services clients. These collections from clients are typically remitted between one and thirty days after receipt, with some items extending to ninety days. The interest earned on these funds is included in total revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Income because the collection, holding, and remittance of these funds are critical components of providing these services. Interest on funds held for clients also includes net realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities.

As part of providing Payroll, Taxpay, and Employee Pay Services, Paychex is authorized by the client to initiate money transfers from the client’s account for the amount of tax obligations and employees’ direct deposits. Electronic money funds transfers from client bank accounts are subject to potential risk of losses resulting from clients’ insufficient funds to cover such transfers.

The Company’s investments in debt securities are reported at fair value. Unrealized gains related to increases in the fair value of investments and unrealized losses related to decreases in the fair value are included in comprehensive income as reported on the Company’s Statement of Stockholders’ Equity. However, changes in the fair value of investments impacts the Company’s net income only when such

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investments are sold. The Company is exposed to credit risk in connection with these investments through the possible inability of the borrowers to meet the terms of the bonds.

Results of Operations:

For fiscal 2002, the Company completed its twelfth consecutive year of record total revenues and net income and now services over 390,000 clients. The results for fiscal 2002 have been affected by recessionary economic conditions in the U.S. and lower interest rates. The Company’s results of operations are summarized as follows:

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Details regarding the Company’s combined funds held for clients and corporate investment portfolios are as follows:

Total service revenues are comprised of revenues from the Payroll and Human Resource and Benefits product lines. Payroll service revenues are earned primarily from Payroll, Taxpay, Employee Pay Services, and other ancillary services. Employee Pay Services include the Direct Deposit, Readychex, and Access Card products. Human Resource and Benefits service revenues are earned primarily from Retirement Services, Workers’ Compensation Insurance Administration, Section 125 Plan Administration, and Paychex Administrative Services and Professional Employer Organization bundled services.

The increases in Payroll service revenues in fiscal 2002 and fiscal 2001 compared with the respective prior year periods are attributable to the addition of new clients, new services, price increases, and increased utilization of ancillary services by both new and existing clients. As of May 31, 2002, 85% of Paychex clients utilized Taxpay, the Company’s tax filing and payment feature, compared with 83% at the end of 2001 and 81% at the end of 2000. Client utilization of the Taxpay product is expected to mature in the range of 85% to 87%. The Company’s Employee Pay Services were utilized by 57% of its clients at May 31, 2002 compared with 53% at the end of 2001 and 47% at the end of 2000. Major Market

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Services revenues totaled $71.7 million, $47.4 million, and $30.0 million for fiscal years 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively. This represents year-over-year revenue growth of 51% for fiscal 2002 and 58% for fiscal 2001. Approximately one-third of new Major Market Services clients are conversions from the Company’s Core Payroll service.

The increases in Human Resource and Benefits service revenue in fiscal 2002 and fiscal 2001 are primarily related to increases in the number of clients for Retirement Services and increases in Paychex Administrative Services (PAS) and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) client employees serviced. The increase in Retirement Services clients reflects the continuing interest of small- to medium-sized businesses in offering retirement savings benefits to their employees. Retirement Services revenues totaled $56.5 million, $43.3 million, and $31.5 million in fiscal 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively. This represents year-over-year revenue growth of 30% for fiscal 2002 and 37% for fiscal 2001. The Company serviced over 23,000 and over 19,000 Retirement Services clients at May 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

The Paychex Administrative Services (PAS) product is a package of payroll, employer compliance, employee benefits administration, and risk management outsourcing services designed to make it easier for small businesses to manage their payroll and benefit costs. This product was introduced in May 2000 and was available nationwide by the end of fiscal 2001. The Company’s PEO product provides primarily the same bundled services as the PAS product, but with Paychex acting as a co-employer of the client’s employees. The PEO service is available primarily in the states of Florida and Georgia, where PEOs are more prevalent. Sales of the PAS and PEO products have been strong, with administrative fee revenue from these products increasing 41% and 50% for fiscal 2002 and 2001, respectively. The PAS and PEO products serviced over 80,000 and over 60,000 client employees as of May 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

The decline in interest on funds held for clients in fiscal 2002 is primarily the result of lower interest rates in fiscal 2002 compared with fiscal 2001 offset by net realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities and higher average portfolio balances. In fiscal 2001, interest on funds held for clients increased over fiscal 2000 levels due to higher comparable average interest rates, net realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities and higher average portfolio balances.

The increases in combined operating and SG&A expenses reflect increases in personnel, information technology, and facility costs to support the overall growth of the Company. At May 31, 2002, the Company had approximately 7,400 employees compared with approximately 7,300 at the end of fiscal 2001. The Company has made an investment in sales and operations personnel and technology for the MMS and PAS product expansions during fiscal 2002 and 2001.

Investment income, net primarily represents earnings from the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and investments in available-for-sale securities. Investment income, net does not include interest on funds held for clients, which is included in total revenues. The increases in investment income, net in fiscal 2002 and 2001 are primarily due to net realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities and the increase in average daily invested balances. The increase for fiscal 2002 was offset by lower average interest rates compared with fiscal 2001. The increase for fiscal 2001 reflected the benefit of higher average interest rates compared with fiscal 2000.

The effective income tax rate was 30.5% in fiscal 2002 compared with 30.0% in fiscal 2001 and 31.0% in fiscal 2000. Fiscal 2003’s effective income tax rate is expected to approximate 31.0%.

Economic Conditions and Outlook:

The Company began to experience the effects of the economic recession in the first quarter of fiscal 2002, and these effects continued throughout the fiscal year. In response to the declining economic conditions, the Federal Reserve lowered the Federal Funds rate eleven times since January 2001 to 1.75%, which represents a cumulative 475 basis point reduction. Year-over-year comparisons for interest on funds held for clients and corporate investment income combined were down 15% in fiscal 2002, but

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were up 47% and 16% in fiscal 2001 and 2000, respectively. The impact of the rate cuts on year-over-year comparisons for interest on funds held for clients and corporate investment income was more significant in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2002.

In addition to the effects of volatile interest rates, the impact of a recessionary economy has resulted in a lower number of checks per client as existing clients reduce their work forces. For fiscal 2002, checks per client declined 3.7% year-over-year. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company experienced a 3.0% decline in checks per client compared to 4.8% in the third quarter, 4.3% in the second quarter, and 2.6% in the first quarter. During the recession of the early 1990’s, the Company experienced a total reduction in checks per client of approximately 3%.

Despite the above factors, income before taxes remained strong at 41% of total revenues during fiscal 2002, compared with 42% in fiscal 2001 and 38% in fiscal 2000. In addition, the Company continued to leverage its infrastructure as operating income (excluding interest on funds held for clients) as a percentage of total service revenues was 34% in fiscal 2002 compared with 32% in fiscal 2001 and 30% in fiscal 2000. The Company estimates that if the interest rates and checks per client conditions experienced in fiscal 2000 had continued throughout fiscal 2001 and fiscal 2002, net income growth for fiscal 2001 would have been approximately 25% compared with actual growth of 34%, and net income growth for fiscal 2002 would have been approximately 20% compared with actual growth of 8%.

The Company has based fiscal 2003 expectations on current economic conditions remaining in place with no significant changes. Accordingly, for fiscal 2003, the Company projects Payroll service revenue growth in the range of 9% to 11% and Human Resource and Benefits service revenue growth in the range of 17% to 19%. Total service revenue growth is anticipated to be in the range of 10% to 12%. The Company expects interest on funds held for clients and corporate investment income combined to be down approximately 15%.

Taking the aforementioned factors into consideration, the Company anticipates achieving record total revenues and net income for fiscal 2003 and estimates total revenue growth to be in the range of 8% to 10% with net income growth approximating or slightly less than total revenue growth.

Liquidity and Capital Resources:

The Company has funded its operations, capital purchases, purchases of corporate investments, and dividend payments primarily through cash generated from its operating activities. At May 31, 2002, the Company had $725 million in available cash and corporate investments. Projected operating cash flows are expected to adequately support normal business operations, purchases of property and equipment, and current dividend payments. The Company has two available, uncommitted, unsecured lines of credit from various banks totaling $140 million at market rates of interest. The Company also has an available, uncommitted, secured line of credit from a bank totaling $350 million at a market rate of interest. No amounts were outstanding against these lines of credit during fiscal 2002 or at May 31, 2002. As of May 31, 2002, future minimum lease payments under various non-cancelable operating leases with terms of more than one year are as follows:

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Operating activities

Operating cash flows in fiscal 2002 were comparable with fiscal 2001 as higher net income was offset by higher uses of working capital. The higher use of working capital was related primarily to the timing of payments for payroll-related, income tax, and other liabilities and timing of payments for PEO and PAS payroll liabilities. The increase in operating cash flows in fiscal 2001 was primarily due to higher net income.

Investing activities

Funds held for clients and corporate investments: Funds held for clients are primarily comprised of short-term funds and available-for-sale debt securities. Corporate investments are primarily comprised of available-for-sale debt securities. The portfolio of funds held for clients and corporate investments is detailed in Note D of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

The reported amount of funds held for clients will vary significantly based upon the timing of collecting client funds, and the related remittance of funds to the applicable tax authorities for Taxpay clients and employees of clients utilizing Employee Pay Services. Cash used in net funds held for clients and corporate investment activities primarily relates to purchases of corporate investments. Corporate investments have increased due to the investment of growing cash balances provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment and dividend payments. Additional discussion of interest rates and related risks is included in Item 7A of this Form 10-K.

Purchases of property and equipment: To support the Company’s continued client and ancillary product growth, purchases of property and equipment were made for data processing equipment and software, and for the expansion and upgrade of various operating facilities. In fiscal 2002, the Company made purchases of property and equipment of $54.4 million, compared with $45.3 million of purchases in fiscal 2001 and $34.2 million in fiscal 2000. Purchases of property and equipment in fiscal 2003 are expected to be in the range of $65 million to $70 million, including the purchase of a 220,000-square-foot facility in Rochester, New York, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. Fiscal 2003 depreciation expense is projected to be in the range of $33 million to $35 million.

During fiscal 2002, the Company began constructing a data center to consolidate the location and operation of certain data processing equipment and software and enhance disaster recovery capabilities. Purchases of data processing equipment and software and building improvements in fiscal 2002 for the data center were approximately $18.3 million. During fiscal 2002, the Company purchased through negotiated transactions approximately $11.2 million of data processing equipment and software from

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EMC Corporation, whose President and Chief Executive Officer is a member of the Board of Directors of Paychex.

Financing activities

Dividends paid: In October 2001, the Board of Directors approved a 22.2% increase in the quarterly dividend payment to $.11 per share from $.09 per share. In October 2000, the Board of Directors approved a 50% increase in the quarterly dividend payment to $.09 per share from $.06 per share. Future dividends are dependent on the Company’s future earnings and cash flow and are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company declared a three-for-two stock split effected in the form of a 50% stock dividend in May of 2000.

Proceeds from exercise of stock options: The increase in proceeds from the exercise of stock options is primarily due to an increase in number of shares exercised and an increase in the comparable average exercise price per share. Shares exercised in fiscal 2002 were 2,212,000 compared with 1,878,000 shares in fiscal 2001 and 1,532,000 shares in fiscal 2000. The Company has recognized a tax benefit from the exercise of stock options of $24.1 million, $26.4 million, and $19.4 million for fiscal 2002, fiscal 2001, and fiscal 2000, respectively. This tax benefit reduces the accrued income tax liability and increases additional paid-in capital, with no impact on the expense amount for income taxes. See Note G of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional disclosure on the Company’s stock option plans.

Other:

New accounting pronouncements: In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 141, “Business Combinations” (SFAS No. 141) and Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (SFAS No. 142). SFAS No. 141 requires that all future business combinations be accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and the use of the pooling-of-interest method is prohibited for transactions initiated after July 1, 2001. SFAS No. 142 addresses financial accounting and reporting for acquired goodwill and other intangible assets. This statement recognizes that goodwill has an indefinite useful life and will no longer be subject to periodic amortization, but rather periodically evaluated for impairment. The statement also requires an evaluation of existing acquired goodwill and other intangible assets for proper classification under the new requirements. The Company adopted these standards in the first quarter of fiscal 2002. Based on the provisions of SFAS No. 142, amounts previously recorded as goodwill were reclassified to intangible assets. Adoption of these standards did not impact the results of operations or financial position of the Company.

In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” which requires companies to record a liability at fair value for asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. This Statement is effective for the Company for the fiscal year beginning June 1,

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2003.     The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this Statement, but does not anticipate adoption of this Statement will result in a material impact to its results of operations or financial position.

In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” which provides a single accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of. This Statement is effective for the Company for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2002. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this statement, but does not anticipate that adoption will result in a material impact to its results of operations or financial position.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk Factors:

Interest rate risk: Funds held for clients are primarily comprised of short-term funds and available-for-sale debt securities, whereas corporate investments are primarily comprised of available-for-sale debt securities. The Company’s available-for-sale debt securities are exposed to interest rate risk as interest rate volatility will cause fluctuations in the market value of held investments and the earnings potential of future investments. Increases in interest rates normally decrease the market value of the available-for-sale securities, while decreases in interest rates increase the market value of the available-for-sale securities. The Company’s available-for-sale securities and short-term funds are exposed to earnings risk from changes in interest rates, as rate volatility will cause fluctuations in the earnings potential of future investments. Increases in interest rates quickly increase earnings from short-term funds, and over time increase earnings from the available-for-sale securities portfolio. Decreases in interest rates have the opposite earnings effect on the available-for-sale securities and short-term funds. Earnings from the available-for-sale securities do not reflect changes in rates until the investments are sold or mature, and the proceeds are reinvested at current rates. The immediate impact of changing interest rates on earnings from short-term funds may be temporarily offset by realized gains or losses from transactions in the Company’s available-for-sale portfolio.

The Company directs investments towards high credit-quality, tax-exempt securities to mitigate the risk that earnings from the portfolio could be adversely impacted by changes in interest rates in the near term. The Company invests in short- to intermediate-term, fixed-rate municipal and government securities, which typically have lower interest rate volatility, and normally manages the securities portfolio to a benchmark duration of 2.5 to 3.0 years. The Company does not utilize derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk.

The trend in market interest rates during the second half of fiscal 2001 and the first half of fiscal 2002 has been interest rate reductions. The following table summarizes the changes in the Federal Funds rate over the last three fiscal years:

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Calculating the future effects of changing interest rates involves many factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, daily interest rate changes, seasonal variations in investment balances, actual duration of short- and intermediate-term investments, the proportional mix of taxable and tax-exempt investments, and changes in tax-exempt municipal rates versus taxable investment rates, which are not synchronized or simultaneous. Subject to these factors, a 25-basis-point change generally affects the Company’s tax-exempt interest rates by approximately 17 basis points.

The total investment portfolio is expected to average approximately $2.85 billion in fiscal 2003. The Company’s normal and anticipated allocation is approximately 50% invested in short-term securities with a duration of less than 30 days and 50% invested in intermediate-term municipal securities with an average duration of three years. The Company estimates that the earnings effect of a 25-basis-point change in interest rates (17 basis points for tax-exempt investments) at this point in time would be approximately $3.0 million for fiscal 2003.

The combined funds held for clients and corporate available-for-sale investment portfolios reflected unrealized gains of $26.7 million at May 31, 2002 and $20.5 million at May 31, 2001, compared with unrealized losses of $13.4 million at May 31, 2000. During fiscal 2002, the unrealized gain position ranged from approximately $7.5 million (during the fourth quarter) to $35.9 million (during the second quarter). As of May 31, 2002 and May 31, 2001, the Company had $1.5 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively, invested in available-for-sale securities at fair value, with weighted average yields to maturity of 3.6% and 4.3%, respectively. Assuming a hypothetical increase in both short-term and intermediate-term interest rates of 25 basis points, the resulting potential decrease in fair value for the portfolio of securities at May 31, 2002 would be approximately $8.5 million. Conversely, a corresponding decrease in interest rates would result in a comparable increase in fair value. This hypothetical decrease or increase in the fair value of the portfolio would be recorded as an adjustment to the portfolio’s recorded value, with an offsetting amount recorded in stockholders’ equity, and with no related or immediate impact to the results of operations.

Credit risk: The Company is exposed to credit risk in connection with these investments through the possible inability of the borrowers to meet the terms of the bonds. The Company attempts to limit credit risk by investing primarily in AAA and AA rated securities and A-1 rated short-term securities, and by limiting amounts that can be invested in any single instrument. At May 31, 2002, approximately 98% of the available-for-sale securities held an AA rating or better, and all short-term securities classified as cash equivalents held an A-1 or equivalent rating.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Report of Ernst & Young LLP Independent Auditors

Board of Directors
Paychex, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Paychex, Inc. as of May 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2002. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the index at Item 14(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Paychex, Inc. at May 31, 2002 and 2001, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

Buffalo, New York
June 21, 2002

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