The
Internal Revenue Service reminds small businesses of the many free products
available to help them understand and comply with the law. Products ranging
from online calculators, printable calendars, step-by-step guides and a series of educational webinars are all available on IRS.gov.
Federal
law requires most employers to withhold federal taxes from their employees'
wages. IRS tools can help small businesses understand some of the requirements
for withholding, reporting, and paying employment taxes. The IRS website,
IRS.gov, provides easily accessible information and guides on what forms employers
should use as well as how and when to deposit and report employment taxes.
Federal Income Tax- Small businesses first need to figure out how much tax to withhold.
Small business employers can better understand the process by starting with an
employee’s Form W-4 and the withholding tables described in Publication 15, Employer's Tax Guide.
Social Security and Medicare Taxes- Most employers also withhold social security and Medicare taxes from employees' wages and deposit them
along with the employers’ matching share. In 2013, employers became responsible
for withholding the Additional Medicare Tax on wages that exceed a threshold amount. There is no employer match for the
Additional Medicare Tax and certain types of wages and compensation are not subject to withholding.
Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax- Employers report and pay FUTA tax separately from other taxes. Employees
do not pay this tax or have it withheld from their pay. Businesses pay FUTA
taxes from their own funds.
Depositing Employment Taxes- Generally,
employers pay employment taxes by making federal tax deposits through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). The
amount of taxes withheld during a prior one-year period determines when to make
the deposits. Publication
3151-A, The ABCs of FTDs: Resource Guide for Understanding Federal Tax Deposits and the IRS Tax
Calendar for Businesses and Self-Employed are helpful tools.
Failure to make a timely
deposit can mean being subject to a failure-to-deposit
penalty of up to 15 percent. But the penalty can be waived if an employer has a
history of filing required returns and making tax payments on time. For more
information, see the Penalty Relief
Due to First Time Penalty Abatement page on IRS.gov.
Reporting Employment Taxes - Generally, employers report wages and compensation paid to an employee by filing the required forms with the IRS. E-filing Forms 940, 941, 943, 944
and 945 is an easy, secure and accurate way to file employment tax forms.
Employers filing quarterly tax returns with an estimated total of $1,000 or
less for the calendar year may now request to file Form 944
annually instead. At the end of the year, the employer must provide employees with Form W-2, Wage and Tax
Statement, to report wages, tips and
other compensation. Small businesses file Forms W-2 and Form W-3, Transmittal of
Wage and Tax Statements, with the Social Security Administration and if required, state
or local tax departments.
Related Resources:
- Small Business Taxes: The Virtual
Workshop (video
series)
- Publication 5104, Small Business Taxes: The Virtual
Workshop
- Small Business and
Self-Employed Tax Center
- IRS Tax Calendar
for Businesses and Self-Employed
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