Instructions For Form 944-X (Rev. February 2015) printable pdf download

Instructions for Form 944-X

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

(Rev. February 2015)

Adjusted Employer's ANNUAL Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless

February 2014 revision of Form 944-X. The February 2014

otherwise noted.

revision of Form 944-X is available on IRS.gov.

Future Developments

Retroactive increase in excludible transit benefits. The Tax

Increase Prevention Act of 2014 increased the monthly transit

For the latest information about developments related to Form

benefit exclusion from $130 per participating employee to $250

944-X and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they

per participating employee for the period of January 1, 2014,

were published, go to

through December 31, 2014. Employers were provided

What's New

instructions on how to correct the social security and Medicare

taxes on the excess transit benefits in Notice 2015-2, 2015-4

I.R.B. 334, available at

Employee consents to support a claim for refund. Notice

2015-15 provides guidance to employers on the requirements

Reminders

for employee consents used by an employer to support a claim

for refund of overcollected social security tax and Medicare tax.

Correcting Additional Medicare Tax withholding. Beginning

The notice and proposed revenue procedure clarifies the basic

in 2013, wages and tips subject to Additional Medicare Tax

requirements for a request for a consent and for the employee

withholding are reported on Form 944, line 4d. Any errors

consent itself, and permits a consent to be requested, furnished,

discovered on a previously filed Form 944 are corrected on Form

and retained in an electronic format as an alternative to a paper

944-X, line 11. For more information about Additional Medicare

format. The notice also requests comments and contains

Tax withholding, see the Instructions for Form 944 and go to

guidance concerning what constitutes “reasonable efforts” if a

IRS.gov and enter “Additional Medicare Tax” in the search box.

consent is not secured to permit the employer to claim a refund

See the instructions for line 11, later, for more information on the

of the employer share of overcollected social security tax and

types of errors that can be corrected and how the correction is

Medicare tax. For more information, see Notice 2015-15, 2015-9

reported on Form 944-X.

I.R.B. 687, available at

Social security tax rate for 2011 and 2012. In 2011 and

Claiming the COBRA premium assistance credit. The

2012, the employee social security tax rate was 4.2% and the

COBRA premium assistance credit was available to an employer

employer social security tax rate was 6.2% (10.4% total). Be

for premiums paid on behalf of employees who were

sure to use the correct rate when reporting corrections on lines 8

involuntarily terminated from employment between September

and 9.

1, 2008, and May 31, 2010. The COBRA premium assistance

Correcting the COBRA premium assistance credit. For tax

credit is not available for individuals who were involuntarily

periods ending before January 1, 2014, employers who made

terminated after May 31, 2010. Therefore, only in rare

COBRA premium assistance payments for assistance eligible

circumstances, such as instances where COBRA eligibility was

individuals were allowed a credit on their Form 944. Any errors

delayed as a result of employer provided health insurance

discovered on a previously filed Form 944 for this credit are

coverage following termination, will the credit be available. If you

corrected on Form 944-X, lines 18a and 18b. Effective for tax

are eligible to claim the credit, use Form 944-X, lines 18a and

periods beginning after December 31, 2013, Form 944-X, is

18b. Form 944-X should be filed after filing your Form 944. Filing

used to both report the total COBRA premium assistance credit

a Form 944-X before filing a Form 944 for the year may result in

an employer is entitled to claim and correct any previously

errors or delays in processing your Form 944-X. For more

reported credit. For more information, see the instructions for

information, visit IRS.gov and enter “COBRA” in the search box.

lines 18a and 18b, later.

If you are entitled to claim the COBRA premium

assistance credit, but are not otherwise required to file

General Instructions: Understanding

TIP

Form 944, file a Form 944 with -0- entered on line 11

before filing your Form 944-X to claim the credit.

Form 944-X

Period of limitations to make certain corrections expired.

What Is the Purpose of Form 944-X?

Generally, you may correct overreported taxes on a previously

filed Form 944 if you file Form 944-X within 3 years of the date

For tax periods beginning after December 31, 2013,

Form 944 was filed or 2 years from the date you paid the tax

Form 944 will no longer be used to claim the credit for

reported on Form 944, whichever is later. For purposes of the

COBRA premium assistance payments. Instead, use

period of limitations, Form 944 is considered filed on April 15 of

CAUTION

Form 944-X. For more information, see the instructions for lines

the succeeding year if filed before that date.

18a and 18b, later.

The period of limitations to correct the qualified employer's

Use Form 944-X to correct errors on a previously filed Form

tax exemption on wages/tips paid to qualified employees (for

944. Use Form 944-X to correct:

quarters ending after March 31, 2010, and before January 1,

Wages, tips, and other compensation;

2011); the qualified employer's tax credit on wages/tips paid to

qualified employees March 19–31, 2010; and advance earned

Income tax withheld from wages, tips, and other

income credit (EIC) payments expired on April 15, 2014, for

compensation;

most employers. The lines formerly used for these corrections

Taxable social security wages;

were removed from Form 944-X. If the period of limitations for

Taxable social security tips;

any of these corrections is still open, you will need to file the

Taxable Medicare wages and tips;

Mar 03, 2015

Cat. No. 20334B

Instructions For Form 944-X (Rev. February 2015)

Related Articles

Related forms

Related Categories