IRS Form 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return) is used by employers to report wages paid to employees and the amounts of federal income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax withheld from employees’ paychecks. In addition, Form 941 reports the employer’s share of payroll taxes on employee wages.

Who Must File Form 941

Form 941 is filed each quarter by an employer that pays wages to its employees.

For example, Company A LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (LLC), operates a restaurant. The company hires a full-time chef, a restaurant manager, and two servers. It has four employees on its payroll and must file quarterly Form 941s to report the wages, taxes withheld, and employer share of the payroll taxes.

Filing Due Dates

Form 941 is filed quarterly, with specific due dates:

  • 1st Quarter (January – March): Due by April 30.
  • 2nd Quarter (April – June): Due by July 31.
  • 3rd Quarter (July – September): Due by October 31.
  • 4th Quarter (October – December): Due by January 31 of the following year.

Employers are encouraged to file returns and pay taxes electronically.

Information Required on Form 941
  • Employer Information. Name of the employer, address, and employer identification number (EIN).
  • Employee Count. The number of employees who received wages, tips, or other compensation during the quarter.
  • Wages and Taxes. Detailed reporting of total wages paid, federal income tax withheld, and Social Security and Medicare taxes (both employee and employer portions).
  • Deposits and Payments. Total payroll tax deposits made for the quarter (if any), including any overpayments or underpayments from previous quarters.
  • Tax Credits. If applicable, the employer reports business payroll tax credits for increasing research activities.
Video Tutorials on Form 941

Please visit our channel for some video tutorials on how to complete Form 941:

Additional Information

Taxpayers can find more information in the Form 941 Instructions and on the IRS website.