Instructions For Form 941 - Employer'S Quarterly Federal Tax Return

deposits. Generally, an EFT is made using the Electronic

using EFW, visit the IRS website at A

Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). If you don't want to

fee may be charged to file electronically.

use EFTPS, you can arrange for your tax professional,

Credit or debit card payments. Employers can pay the

financial institution, payroll service, or other trusted third party

balance due shown on Form 941 by credit or debit card.

to make electronic deposits on your behalf. Also, you may

Don't use a credit or debit card to make federal tax deposits.

arrange for your financial institution to initiate a same-day

For more information on paying your taxes with a credit or

wire payment on your behalf. EFTPS is a free service

debit card, visit the IRS website at

provided by the Department of Treasury. Services provided

Online payment agreement. You may be eligible to apply

by your tax professional, financial institution, payroll service,

for an installment agreement online if you have a balance

or other third party may have a fee.

due when you file your return. For more information, see

For more information on making federal tax deposits, see

What if you can't pay in full, later.

section 11 of Pub. 15. To get more information about EFTPS

or to enroll in EFTPS, visit , or call

Paid preparers must sign Form 941. Paid preparers must

1-800-555-4477 or 1-800-733-4829 (TDD). Additional

complete and sign the paid preparer's section of Form 941.

information about EFTPS is also available in Pub. 966.

Outsourcing payroll duties. You are responsible to ensure

For an EFTPS deposit to be on time, you must

that tax returns are filed and deposits and payments are

submit the deposit by 8 p.m. Eastern time the day

made, even if you contract with a third party to perform these

before the date the deposit is due.

acts. You remain responsible if the third party fails to perform

CAUTION

any required action. If you choose to outsource any of your

Same-day wire payment option. If you fail to submit a

payroll and related tax duties (that is, withholding, reporting,

deposit transaction on EFTPS by 8 p.m. Eastern time the day

and paying over social security, Medicare, FUTA, and

before the date a deposit is due, you can still make your

income taxes) to a third-party payer, such as a payroll service

deposit on time by using the Federal Tax Collection Service

provider or reporting agent, visit IRS.gov and enter

(FTCS). To use the same-day wire payment method, you will

“outsourcing payroll duties” in the search box for helpful

need to make arrangements with your financial institution

information on this topic.

ahead of time. Please check with your financial institution

Where can you get telephone help? For answers to your

regarding availability, deadlines, and costs. Your financial

questions about completing Form 941 or tax deposit rules,

institution may charge you a fee for payments made this way.

you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933 or 1-800-829-4059

To learn more about the information you will need to provide

(TDD/TTY for persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have

your financial institution to make a same-day wire payment,

a speech disability), Monday–Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00

visit the IRS website at

and click on

p.m. local time (Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time).

Same-day wire.

Timeliness of federal tax deposits. If a deposit is

Photographs of missing children. The IRS is a proud

required to be made on a day that isn't a business day, the

partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited

deposit is considered timely if it is made by the close of the

Children. Photographs of missing children selected by the

next business day. A business day is any day other than a

Center may appear in instructions on pages that would

Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. The term “legal holiday”

otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children home

for deposit purposes includes only those legal holidays in the

by looking at the photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST

District of Columbia. Legal holidays in the District of

(1-800-843-5678) if you recognize a child.

Columbia are provided in Pub. 15.

General Instructions:

Electronic filing and payment. Now, more than ever

before, businesses can enjoy the benefits of filing tax returns

Purpose of Form 941

and paying their federal taxes electronically. Whether you

rely on a tax professional or handle your own taxes, the IRS

offers you convenient programs to make filing and paying

These instructions give you some background information

easier. Spend less time and worry on taxes and more time

about Form 941. They tell you who must file Form 941, how

running your business. Use e-file and EFTPS to your benefit.

to complete it line by line, and when and where to file it.

For e-file, visit the IRS website at

for

additional information.

If you want more in-depth information about payroll tax

For EFTPS, visit , or call EFTPS Customer

topics relating to Form 941, see Pub. 15 or visit IRS.gov and

enter “employment taxes” in the search box.

Service at 1-800-555-4477 or 1-800-733-4829 (TDD) for

additional information.

Federal law requires you, as an employer, to withhold

If you are filing your tax return or paying your federal

certain taxes from your employees' pay. Each time you pay

taxes electronically, a valid employer identification

wages, you must withhold – or take out of your employees'

number (EIN) is required at the time the return is

pay – certain amounts for federal income tax, social security

CAUTION

filed or the payment is made. If a valid EIN isn't provided, the

tax, and Medicare tax. You must also withhold Additional

return or payment won't be processed. This may result in

Medicare Tax from wages you pay to an employee in excess

penalties.

of $200,000 in a calendar year. Under the withholding

system, taxes withheld from your employees are credited to

Electronic funds withdrawal (EFW). If you file Form 941

your employees in payment of their tax liabilities.

electronically, you can e-file and e-pay (EFW) the balance

due in a single step using tax preparation software or through

Federal law also requires you to pay any liability for the

a tax professional. However, don't use EFW to make federal

employer's portion of social security and Medicare taxes.

tax deposits. For more information on paying your taxes

This portion of social security and Medicare taxes isn't

withheld from employees.

-2-

Instructions for Form 941 (Rev. 1-2016)

Instructions For Form 941 - Employer'S Quarterly Federal Tax Return - 2016 Page 2

Related Articles

Related forms

Related Categories