Form 941 (Year 2011) - Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return
What’s New
Social security and Medicare tax for 2011. The employee tax rate for social security is 4.2%. The employer tax rate for social security remains unchanged at 6.2%. The Medicare tax rate is 1.45% each for employers and employees.
Do not withhold or pay social security tax after an employee reaches $106,800 in social security wages for the year. There is no limit on the amount of wages subject to Medicare tax.
Section 3121(q) Notice and Demand - Tax due on unreported tips. A new line has been added to Form 941 for reporting social security and Medicare taxes on unreported tips. An employer now reports the amount of the taxes shown on the Section 3121(q) Notice and Demand on line 5e of the employer’s Form 941 for the calendar quarter in which notice and demand is made. Previously, a section 3121(q) liability was reported on the line for “Current quarter’s adjustments for tips and group-term life insurance.”
Qualified employer’s social security tax exemption expired. The qualified employer’s exemption for their share (6.2%) of social security tax on wages/tips paid to qualified employees expired on December 31, 2010.
COBRA premium assistance credit. The credit for COBRA premium assistance payments applies to premiums paid for employees involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008, and May 31, 2010, and to premiums paid for up to 15 months. See COBRA Premium Assistance Payments on page 7.
Advance payment of earned income credit (EIC). The option of receiving advance payroll payments of EIC is no longer available after December 31, 2010. Individuals eligible for EIC in 2011 can still claim the credit when they file their federal income tax return. Individuals who received advance payments of EIC in 2010 must file a 2010 federal income tax return.
Federal tax deposits must be made by electronic funds transfer. Beginning January 1, 2011, you must use electronic funds transfer to make all federal tax deposits (such as deposits of employment tax, excise tax, and corporate income tax). Forms 8109 and 8109-B, Federal Tax Deposit Coupon, cannot be used after December 31, 2010. Generally, electronic funds transfers are made using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). If you do not want to use EFTPS, you can arrange for your tax professional, financial institution, payroll service, or other trusted third party to make deposits on your behalf. Also, you may arrange for your financial institution to initiate a same-day wire payment on your behalf. EFTPS is a free service provided by the Department of Treasury. Services provided by your tax professional, financial institution, payroll service, or other third party may have a fee.
For more information on making federal tax deposits, see section 11 of Pub. 15 (Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide (for use in 2011). To get more information about EFTPS or to enroll in EFTPS, visit www.eftps.gov or call 1-800-555-4477. Additional information about EFTPS is also available in Publication 966, The Secure Way to Pay Your Federal Taxes.
Resources:
Form 941 Instructions
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i941.pdf
publication 15
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15.pdf
Basic Information about Form 941
http://www.halfpricesoft.com/business-blog/post/2011/03/14/Form-941-Employers-Quarterly-Federal-Tax-Form.aspx
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