IRS 941 PDF Form

The IRS Form 941 is a quarterly tax return that employers use to report income taxes, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax withheld from employee paychecks. This form is essential for maintaining compliance with federal tax obligations and ensuring accurate reporting of payroll taxes. Understanding how to fill out this form correctly is crucial for every employer; click the button below to get started.

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Overview

Common mistakes

Incorrect Employer Identification Number (EIN): Many people mistakenly enter the wrong EIN. This number is crucial for identifying your business with the IRS. Double-check it to ensure accuracy.
Omitting Wages and Withholdings: Some filers forget to include all wages paid and withholdings made during the quarter. This can lead to discrepancies and potential penalties. Always review your payroll records carefully.
Not Updating Changes: If there are changes in your business, such as a change in ownership or structure, failing to update the IRS can create issues. Make sure to notify the IRS of any significant changes promptly.
Missing Signatures: It might seem trivial, but forgetting to sign the form can delay processing. Always ensure that the form is signed and dated before submission.

Similar forms

The IRS Form 941 is a crucial document for employers in the United States, as it reports payroll taxes withheld from employees. Several other forms share similarities with Form 941 in terms of purpose and reporting requirements. Below is a list of documents that are comparable to Form 941:

Form 944: This form is designed for smaller employers who have a lower annual payroll tax liability. Like Form 941, it reports payroll taxes, but it is filed annually instead of quarterly.
Arizona Hold Harmless Agreement: This legal document protects one party from liability for certain risks associated with an activity or event, ensuring that individuals do not hold the other party responsible for injuries or damages. More information can be found at https://azformsonline.com/hold-harmless-agreement.
Form 945: This document is used to report non-payroll withholding, such as backup withholding on interest and dividends. It shares the same reporting nature as Form 941 but focuses on different types of income.
Form W-2: Employers use this form to report wages paid to employees and the taxes withheld. While it serves a different function than Form 941, both documents are essential for reporting employee compensation and tax withholdings.
Form W-3: This is a summary form that accompanies the W-2s when they are submitted to the Social Security Administration. It consolidates the information reported on multiple W-2s, similar to how Form 941 summarizes quarterly payroll tax information.
Form 1099: This form is used to report various types of income other than wages, salaries, and tips. Like Form 941, it is a reporting document, but it applies to independent contractors and other non-employee payments.
Form 720: This form is used to report and pay federal excise taxes. Although it covers different types of taxes than Form 941, both require periodic reporting and payment to the IRS.
Form 1094-C: This form is used to report health insurance coverage offered by employers under the Affordable Care Act. While it addresses health coverage rather than payroll taxes, it is another form that requires detailed reporting to the IRS.

Understanding these forms can help ensure compliance with tax obligations and maintain accurate records. Each document serves a specific purpose, but they all contribute to the broader framework of tax reporting in the United States.

Dos and Don'ts

When filling out the IRS 941 form, attention to detail is crucial. Here are ten important dos and don’ts to keep in mind:

Do ensure all information is accurate and complete.
Do double-check your calculations for accuracy.
Do use the correct tax period for the form.
Do sign and date the form before submission.
Do keep a copy of the completed form for your records.

Don't leave any fields blank; fill in all required information.
Don't forget to report all wages and tips accurately.
Don't use outdated forms; always use the most current version.
Don't submit the form late; adhere to deadlines.
Don't ignore any instructions provided with the form.

Preview - IRS 941 Form

Form 941 for 2023:	Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return	950122
		950122
(Rev. March 2023)	Department of the Treasury — Internal Revenue Service	OMB No. 1545-0029

Employer identification number (EIN)

—

Name (not your trade name)

Trade name (if any)

Address

Number	Street			Suite or room number


City			State		ZIP code


Foreign country name		Foreign province/county			Foreign postal code

Report for this Quarter of 2023

(Check one.)

1: January, February, March

2: April, May, June

3: July, August, September

4: October, November, December

Go to www.irs.gov/Form941 for instructions and the latest information.

Read the separate instructions before you complete Form 941. Type or print within the boxes.

Part 1: Answer these questions for this quarter.

1	Number of employees who received wages, tips, or other compensation for the pay period
	including: Mar. 12 (Quarter 1), June 12 (Quarter 2), Sept. 12 (Quarter 3), or Dec. 12 (Quarter 4) 1


2	Wages, tips, and other compensation						.	2
3	Federal income tax withheld from wages, tips, and other compensation						.	3
4	If no wages, tips, and other compensation are subject to social security or Medicare tax
				Column 1		Column 2.
5a	Taxable social security wages* . .			.	× 0.124 =	Column 2.
							.
5a	(i)	Qualified sick leave wages* .		.	× 0.062 =		.
							.
5a	(ii)	Qualified family leave wages* .		.	× 0.062 =		.
							.
5b	Taxable social security tips . . .			.	× 0.124 =		.
							.
5c	Taxable Medicare wages & tips. .			.	× 0.029 =		.
5d	Taxable wages & tips subject to
5d	Taxable wages & tips subject to			.	× 0.009 =		.
	Additional Medicare Tax withholding			.	× 0.009 =		.
5e	Total social security and Medicare taxes. Add Column 2 from lines 5a, 5a(i), 5a(ii), 5b, 5c, and 5d							5e
5f	Section 3121(q) Notice and Demand—Tax due on unreported tips (see instructions) .						.	5f
6	Total taxes before adjustments. Add lines 3, 5e, and 5f						.	6
7	Current quarter’s adjustment for fractions of cents						.	7
8	Current quarter’s adjustment for sick pay						.	8
9	Current quarter’s adjustments for tips and group-term life insurance						.	9
10	Total taxes after adjustments. Combine lines 6 through 9						.	10
11a	Qualified small business payroll tax credit for increasing research activities. Attach Form 8974							11a
11b	Nonrefundable portion of credit for qualified sick and family leave wages for leave taken
	before April 1, 2021		. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .				.	11b

Check and go to line 6.

*Include taxable qualified sick and family leave wages paid in this quarter of 2023 for leave taken after March 31, 2021, and before October 1, 2021, on line 5a. Use lines 5a(i) and 5a(ii) only for taxable qualified sick and family leave wages paid in this quarter of 2023 for leave taken after March 31, 2020, and before April 1, 2021.

11c Reserved for future use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11c

You MUST complete all three pages of Form 941 and SIGN it.

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the back of the Payment Voucher.

Cat. No. 17001Z

Form 941 (Rev. 3-2023)

951222

Name (not your trade name)		Employer identification number (EIN)
		–
Part 1:	Answer these questions for this quarter. (continued)

11d Nonrefundable portion of credit for qualified sick and family leave wages for leave taken after March 31, 2021, and before October 1, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11d


11e	Reserved for future use	. . . . . . . . . 11e	.
11f	Reserved for future use
11f	Reserved for future use

11g	Total nonrefundable credits. Add lines 11a, 11b, and 11d	11g
12	Total taxes after adjustments and nonrefundable credits. Subtract line 11g from line 10 .	12

13a	Total deposits for this quarter, including overpayment applied from a prior quarter and
	overpayments applied from Form 941-X, 941-X (PR), 944-X, or 944-X (SP) filed in the current quarter	13a
13b	Reserved for future use	13b

13c Refundable portion of credit for qualified sick and family leave wages for leave taken
before April 1, 2021	13c
13d Reserved for future use	13d

13e Refundable portion of credit for qualified sick and family leave wages for leave taken after March 31, 2021, and before October 1, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13e

13f	Reserved for future use	13f
13g	Total deposits and refundable credits. Add lines 13a, 13c, and 13e	13g
13h	Reserved for future use	13h
13i	Reserved for future use	13i

14Balance due. If line 12 is more than line 13g, enter the difference and see instructions . . . 14


15	Overpayment. If line 13g is more than line 12, enter the difference	.	Check one:

Apply to next return.

Send a refund.

Part 2: Tell us about your deposit schedule and tax liability for this quarter.

If you’re unsure about whether you’re a monthly schedule depositor or a semiweekly schedule depositor, see section 11 of Pub. 15.

16 Check one:

Line 12 on this return is less than $2,500 or line 12 on the return for the prior quarter was less than $2,500, and you didn’t incur a $100,000 next-day deposit obligation during the current quarter. If line 12 for the prior quarter was less than $2,500 but line 12 on this return is $100,000 or more, you must provide a record of your federal tax liability. If you’re a monthly schedule depositor, complete the deposit schedule below; if you’re a semiweekly schedule depositor, attach Schedule B (Form 941). Go to Part 3.

You were a monthly schedule depositor for the entire quarter. Enter your tax liability for each month and total

liability for the quarter, then go to Part 3.


Tax liability: Month 1	.

Month 2	.

Month 3	.

Total liability for quarter	.	Total must equal line 12.

You were a semiweekly schedule depositor for any part of this quarter. Complete Schedule B (Form 941),

Report of Tax Liability for Semiweekly Schedule Depositors, and attach it to Form 941. Go to Part 3.

You MUST complete all three pages of Form 941 and SIGN it.

Page 2

Form 941 (Rev. 3-2023)

950922

Name (not your trade name)

Employer identification number (EIN)

–

Part 3: Tell us about your business. If a question does NOT apply to your business, leave it blank.

17 If your business has closed or you stopped paying wages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Check here, and

enter the final date you paid wages

/ /

; also attach a statement to your return. See instructions.

18 If you’re a seasonal employer and you don’t have to file a return for every quarter of the year . . .

Check here.

19Qualified health plan expenses allocable to qualified sick leave wages for leave taken before April 1, 2021

20Qualified health plan expenses allocable to qualified family leave wages for leave taken before April 1, 2021

21	Reserved for future use
22	Reserved for future use

23Qualified sick leave wages for leave taken after March 31, 2021, and before October 1, 2021

24Qualified health plan expenses allocable to qualified sick leave wages reported on line 23

25Amounts under certain collectively bargained agreements allocable to qualified sick

leave wages reported on line 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26Qualified family leave wages for leave taken after March 31, 2021, and before October 1, 2021

27Qualified health plan expenses allocable to qualified family leave wages reported on line 26

28Amounts under certain collectively bargained agreements allocable to qualified family leave wages reported on line 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


19	.

20	.

21	.

22	.

23	.

24	.

25	.

26	.

27	.

28	.

Part 4: May we speak with your third-party designee?

Do you want to allow an employee, a paid tax preparer, or another person to discuss this return with the IRS? See the instructions

for details.

Yes. Designee’s name and phone number

Select a 5-digit personal identification number (PIN) to use when talking to the IRS.

No.

Part 5: Sign here. You MUST complete all three pages of Form 941 and SIGN it.

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return, including accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer (other than taxpayer) is based on all information of which preparer has any knowledge.

Sign your name here

Date

/ /

Print your name here

Print your title here

Best daytime phone

Paid Preparer Use Only

Preparer’s name

Preparer’s signature

Firm’s name (or yours if self-employed)

Address

City

State

Check if you’re self-employed . . .

PTIN

Date	/	/
EIN
EIN
Phone
Phone

ZIP code

Page 3

Form 941 (Rev. 3-2023)

951020

This page intentionally left blank

Form 941-V, Payment Voucher

Purpose of Form

Complete Form 941-V if you’re making a payment with Form 941. We will use the completed voucher to credit your payment more promptly and accurately, and to improve our service to you.

Making Payments With Form 941

To avoid a penalty, make your payment with Form 941 only if:

•Your total taxes after adjustments and nonrefundable credits (Form 941, line 12) for either the current quarter or the preceding quarter are less than $2,500, you didn’t incur a $100,000 next-day deposit obligation during the current quarter, and you’re paying in full with a timely filed return; or

•You’re a monthly schedule depositor making a payment in accordance with the Accuracy of Deposits Rule. See section 11 of Pub. 15 for details. In this case, the amount of your payment may be $2,500 or more.

Otherwise, you must make deposits by electronic funds transfer. See section 11 of Pub. 15 for deposit instructions. Don’t use Form 941-V to make federal tax deposits.

▲! Use Form 941-V when making any payment with Form 941. However, if you pay an amount with

CAUTION Form 941 that should’ve been deposited, you may be subject to a penalty. See Deposit Penalties in section 11 of Pub. 15.

Specific Instructions

Box 1—Employer identification number (EIN). If you don’t have an EIN, you may apply for one online by visiting the IRS website at www.irs.gov/EIN. You may also apply for an EIN by faxing or mailing Form SS-4 to the IRS. If you haven’t received your EIN by the due date of Form 941, write “Applied For” and the date you applied in this entry space.

Box 2—Amount paid. Enter the amount paid with Form 941.

Box 3—Tax period. Darken the circle identifying the quarter for which the payment is made. Darken only one circle.

Box 4—Name and address. Enter your name and address as shown on Form 941.

•Enclose your check or money order made payable to “United States Treasury.” Be sure to enter your

EIN, “Form 941,” and the tax period (“1st Quarter 2023,” “2nd Quarter 2023,” “3rd Quarter 2023,” or “4th Quarter 2023”) on your check or money order. Don’t send cash.

Don’t staple Form 941-V or your payment to Form 941 (or to each other).

•Detach Form 941-V and send it with your payment

and Form 941 to the address in the Instructions for Form 941.

Note: You must also complete the entity information above Part 1 on Form 941.

Detach Here and Mail With Your Payment and Form 941.

Form		941-V			Payment Voucher		OMB No. 1545-0029
Form		941-V			Payment Voucher

	Department of the Treasury		Don’t staple this voucher or your payment to Form 941.				2023
	Internal Revenue Service		Don’t staple this voucher or your payment to Form 941.				2023
	1 Enter your employer identification			2		Dollars		Cents
		number (EIN).			Enter the amount of your payment.
					Enter the amount of your payment.
		–			Make your check or money order payable to “United States Treasury.”
3		Tax Period		4 Enter your business name (individual name if sole proprietor).

		1st	3rd
		1st	3rd
		Quarter	Quarter		Enter your address.

		2nd	4th
		2nd	4th		Enter your city, state, and ZIP code; or your city, foreign country name, foreign province/county, and foreign postal code.
		Quarter	Quarter

Form 941 (Rev. 3-2023)

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for the information on Form 941 to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. We need it to figure and collect the right amount of tax. Subtitle C, Employment Taxes, of the Internal Revenue Code imposes employment taxes on wages and provides for income tax withholding. Form 941 is used to determine the amount of taxes that you owe. Section 6011 requires you to provide the requested information if the tax is applicable to you. Section 6109 requires you to provide your identification number. If you fail to provide this information in a timely manner, or provide false or fraudulent information, you may be subject to penalties.

You’re not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books and records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law.

Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by section 6103. However, section 6103 allows or requires the IRS to disclose or give the information shown on your tax return to others as described in the Code. For example, we may disclose your tax information to the Department of

Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and possessions for use in administering their tax laws. We may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.

The time needed to complete and file Form 941 will vary depending on individual circumstances. The estimated average time is:

Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . . . 22 hr., 28 min.

Learning about the law or the form . .	. . 53 min.
Preparing, copying, assembling, and
sending the form to the IRS	1 hr., 18 min.

If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or suggestions for making Form 941 simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. You can send us comments from www.irs.gov/FormComments. Or you can send your comments to Internal Revenue Service, Tax Forms and Publications Division, 1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526, Washington, DC 20224. Don’t send Form 941 to this address. Instead, see Where Should You File? in the Instructions for Form 941.

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Misconceptions

The IRS Form 941 is a critical document for employers, but several misconceptions can lead to confusion. Here are seven common misunderstandings about this form:

Form 941 is only for large businesses. Many believe that only large employers need to file Form 941. In reality, any business that pays wages to employees must file this form, regardless of size.
Form 941 is filed annually. Some think that Form 941 is an annual requirement. However, this form must be filed quarterly, which means it’s due four times a year.
Filing Form 941 is optional. There’s a misconception that filing Form 941 is optional for employers. In truth, if you have employees, you are legally required to file this form.
Only federal taxes are reported on Form 941. Some people believe that Form 941 is solely for federal tax reporting. It actually reports federal income tax withheld, Social Security, and Medicare taxes as well.
Form 941 is the same as Form 944. There’s confusion between Form 941 and Form 944. Form 944 is designed for smaller employers who have a lower annual tax liability, while Form 941 is for those with higher payroll taxes.
Late filing of Form 941 has no consequences. Some think that filing late won’t lead to any repercussions. In reality, late filings can result in penalties and interest on unpaid taxes.
Form 941 can be filed without supporting documentation. It’s a common belief that Form 941 can be filed without any backup documents. However, employers should maintain records of wages paid and taxes withheld to support the information reported on the form.

Understanding these misconceptions can help ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary penalties. Always consult a tax professional if there are uncertainties about filing requirements.

How to Use IRS 941

Filling out the IRS Form 941 is an important task for employers to report their payroll taxes. After completing the form, you will need to submit it to the IRS, ensuring that your business remains compliant with federal tax regulations.

Gather necessary information, including your Employer Identification Number (EIN), business name, and address.
Determine the reporting period for the form, which is typically quarterly.
Complete Part 1 by entering the number of employees, wages paid, and taxes withheld during the reporting period.
Fill out Part 2, which covers the tax liability and adjustments for the quarter.
In Part 3, provide information about the third-party designee if applicable.
Sign and date the form in the designated area, confirming the accuracy of the information provided.
Review the completed form for any errors or omissions.
Submit the form to the IRS by the due date, either electronically or by mail, depending on your preference.

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