Looking for a Form 940 Templates? Download it for free!

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EFTPS. To enroll, call 1-800-555-4477 or visit the EFTPS

If you type or use a computer to fill out your form, use a

website at

12-point Courier font, if possible.

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Make sure you enter dollars to the left of the preprinted

If your business is new, IRS will automatically pre-enroll you

decimal point and cents to the right.

in EFTPS when you apply for an employer identification number

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Do not enter dollar signs or decimal points. Commas are

(EIN). If you choose to deposit your tax using EFTPS, follow the

optional.

instructions on your EIN package to activate your enrollment.

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You may choose to round your amounts to the nearest dollar,

You may be required to use EFTPS. In some cases, you

instead of reporting cents on this form. If you choose to round,

may be required to deposit your tax using EFTPS. For

you must round all entries. To round, drop the amounts under

instance, you must use EFTPS in 2009 if:

50 cents and increase the amounts from 50 to 99 cents to the

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the total payments of your employment tax, excise tax, and

next dollar. For example, $1.49 becomes $1.00 and $2.50

corporate income tax were more than $200,000 for 2007; or

becomes $3.00. If you use two or more amounts to figure an

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you were required to use EFTPS in 2008.

entry on the form, use cents to figure the answer and round the

answer only.

To make your EFTPS payments on time, you must

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If you have a line with the value of zero, leave it blank.

initiate the transaction at least 1 business day before the

date the deposit is due.

CAUTION

Employer Identification Number (EIN),

If you do not use EFTPS, deposit your tax at a financial

Name, Trade Name, and Address

institution that is authorized to accept federal tax deposits with

Form 8109, Federal Tax Coupon. See section 11 of Pub. 15

(Circular E) for more information. Do not mail your payments

Review your business information at the top of

directly to IRS. If you are required to use EFTPS and you use

the form.

Form 8109 instead, you may be subject to a 10% penalty.

If you pay a tax preparer to fill out Form 940, make sure the

If you are a new employer and would like to receive an FTD

preparer shows your business name and EIN exactly as they

coupon booklet, call 1-800-829-4933. Please allow 5 to 6 weeks

appear on the preprinted form we sent you or as assigned by

for delivery.

the IRS.

How Can You Avoid Penalties and

If you are using a copy of Form 940 that has your business

Interest?

name and address preprinted at the top of the form, check to

make sure that the information is correct. Carefully review your

EIN to make sure that it exactly matches the EIN assigned to

Penalties and interest are assessed at a rate set by law on

your business by the IRS. If any information is incorrect, cross it

taxes paid late, returns filed late or incorrectly, insufficient

out and type or print the correct information. See Tell us if you

payments made, and failure to pay using EFTPS (when

change your name or address on page 5.

required).

If you are not using a preprinted Form 940, type or print your

You can avoid paying penalties and interest if you:

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EIN, name, and address in the spaces provided. You must

deposit or pay your tax when it is due, using EFTPS if

enter your name and EIN here and on page 2. Enter the

required; and

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business (legal) name that you used when you applied for your

file your completed Form 940 accurately and on time.

EIN on Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification

If you receive a notice about penalty and interest after you

Number. For example, if you are a sole proprietor, enter

file this return, send us an explanation and we will determine if

“Ronald Smith” on the Name line and “Ron’s Cycles” on the

you meet reasonable-cause criteria. Do not attach an

Trade Name line. Leave the Trade Name line blank if it is the

explanation when you file your Form 940.

same as your Name.

How Can You Amend a Return?

Employer identification number (EIN). The IRS monitors tax

filings and payments by using a numerical system to identify

taxpayers and to make sure that businesses comply with

You use the 2008 Form 940 to amend a return that you

previously filed for 2008. If you are amending a return for a

federal tax laws. A unique 9-digit EIN is assigned to all

corporations, partnerships, and some sole proprietors.

previous year, use the previous year’s Form 940 (or Form

940-EZ).

Businesses that need an EIN must apply for a number and use

it throughout the life of the business on all tax returns,

Follow these steps:

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payments, and reports.

Use a paper return to amend a Form 940 filed under an

electronic filing program.

Your business should have only one EIN. If you have more

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Check the amended return box in the top right corner of Form

than one and are unsure which one to use, call 1-800-829-4933

940, page 1, box a. (For pre-2006 Forms 940 and 940-EZ,

to verify your correct EIN.

check the “Amended Return” box above Part I.)

If you do not have an EIN, apply for one by:

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Fill in all the amounts that should have been on the original

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Visiting the IRS website at and clicking on More

form.

Online Tools and then Online Employer Identification Number

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Sign the form.

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(EIN),

Attach an explanation of why you are amending your return.

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Calling 1-800-829-4933 and applying by telephone, or

For example, tell us if you are filing to claim credit for tax paid to

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Filling out Form SS-4 and mailing it to the address in the

your state unemployment fund after the due date of Form 940.

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Instructions for Form SS-4 or faxing it to the number in the

File the amended return using the Without a payment

instructions for Form SS-4.

address under Where Do You File? on page 2.

If you do not have an EIN by the time a return is due, write

Completing Your Form 940

“Applied For” and the date you applied in the space shown for

the EIN on pages 1 and 2 of your return.

Follow these guidelines to correctly fill out the

Always be sure the EIN on the form you file exactly

TIP

form.

matches the EIN that IRS assigned to your business. Do

not use a social security number or individual taxpayer

To help us accurately scan and process your form, please

identification number (ITIN) on forms that ask for an EIN. Filing

follow these guidelines:

a Form 940 with an incorrect EIN or using the EIN of another’s

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Make sure your business name and EIN are on every page of

business may result in penalties and delays in processing your

the form and any attachments.

return.

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Instructions For Form 940 - Employer'S Annual Federal Unemployment (Futa) Tax Return - 2008 Page 4

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