IRS Redesigns Form 941
The Internal Revenue Service recently unveiled the redesign of the employment
tax return Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return. The simplified
form should help businesses, tax practitioners and payroll companies avoid
common errors as well as reduce the burden associated with completing and filing
Form 941.
The redesigned form features an improved layout,
plain language instructions,
simplified deposit reporting and paid preparer identification. The form is also scannable, which the IRS expects will reduce transcription errors.
“Where we can, the IRS wants to simplify its forms,” said IRS Commissioner
Mark W. Everson. “The new Form 941 will help achieve that.”
More than 23 million of these forms are filed annually by 6.6 million
employers.
The Form 941 is used to report wages, tips and other compensation paid, as well
as Social Security, Medicare and income taxes collected.
The Office of Taxpayer Burden Reduction led an IRS team in the redesign.
External stakeholders from the payroll tax community provided input. The
revision also reflects information gathered from the public and feedback from
focus group participants.
“The new 941 is much easier on the eye and much more user-friendly,” said
Scott Mezistrano, senior manager of government relations for the American
Payroll Association. “With the shading, bigger boxes and improved instructions
right on the form, you know exactly what you are supposed to report and where to
put it. IRS did a very thorough job of reviewing every line on the 941 and
considering how it could be made more clear.”
The form is available on IRS.gov. Printed copies of the form and instructions
are also available by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-3676.
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