How to Fill Out 941x for Employee Retention Credit

Find out how to fill out 941-X for the Employee Retention Credit . This blog post will show you step by step instructions on how to fill out the form correctly.

Checkout this video:

What is the Employee Retention Credit?

The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit for eligible employers that retain their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible employers can claim the credit for each eligible employee that they retain and pay during the pandemic. The credit is available for eligible employers that experience a full or partial suspension of operations during the pandemic, or that experience a significant decline in gross receipts.

Overview of the Employee Retention Credit

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a refundable tax credit available to eligible employers that helps to offset the cost of payroll. The credit is provided for each eligible employee on the payroll, up to $5,000 for the entire year.

In order to be eligible for the credit, an employer must have experienced either a full or partial shutdown due to COVID-19, or have a significant decline in gross receipts. If an employer meets either of these criteria, they can claim the credit on their quarterly 941-X form.

The credit is calculated based on qualified wages paid to employees, and is generally equal to 50% of those wages (up to the $5,000 per employee limit). For employers with 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, all wages paid are eligible for the credit. For larger employers, only wages paid to employees who are not providing services due to the shutdown or decline in gross receipts are eligible.

The ERC is available for wage payments made between March 13, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Employers can claim the credit on their quarterly 941-X forms, or they can request an advance payment from the IRS.

How to Qualify for the Employee Retention Credit

To be eligible for the credit, an eligible employer must:
– Have experienced an undertaking first established after February 15, 2020, and before July 1, 2020, of fully or partially suspending operation due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel or group meetings (for commercial, social or religious reasons) due to COVID-19; OR
– Have experienced a significant decline in gross receipts for any calendar quarter beginning after December 31, 2019. A significant decline in gross receipts is defined as a decline of more than 50% when compared to the same calendar quarter in 2019.

To claim the credit, eligible employers must file Form 941-X, Adjusted Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund, for each calendar quarter in which they are claiming the credit. Eligible employers may elect to receive advance payments of the credit by reducing their deposit of federal employment taxes otherwise due on their Form 941 for the corresponding calendar quarter.

How to Fill Out Form 941x

The IRS Form 941-X is used to make corrections to employer’s quarterly federal tax return. The form is used to report overpayments or underpayments of taxes, as well as to make adjustments to the employer’s liability. The 941-X can also be used to request a refund of federal taxes paid.

When to File Form 941x

You should file Form 941-X for each quarter that you need to make an adjustment to your employment taxes. For example, if you want to claim the Employee Retention Credit for the first and second quarters of 2020, you would need to file two separate Form 941-X forms – one for each quarter.

You may need to file Form 941-X if any of the following apply:
-You overreported wages, tips, or other compensation on your Forms W-2.
-You underreported Social Security, Medicare, or Additional Medicare tax withholding on your Forms W-2.

How to Complete Form 941x

The instructions for Form 941-X indicate that the form must be filed by the due date of the regular return (generally, April 15 for 1st quarter returns, etc.), even if an extension of time to file has been granted. If you e-file your return, and have a balance due, you may pay the balance due with your debit or credit card.

When filing Form 941-X, you must include copies of all paid Forms W-2 for each employee for whom you are claiming the credit. You must file a separate Form 941-X for each quarter for which you claim the credit. You cannot file Form 941-X electronically.

You should complete and file Form 941-X to correct any errors on Forms 941, 941 PR, 941 SS or CT-1 that caused a underpayment of tax. Do not file Form 941-X to request an adjustment for amounts reported on lines 3 through 10 of Form 941 that pertain to additional taxes owed because the employee did not provide a validSocial Security number (SSN).

Generally, if any corrections are made after the original return was filed, then interest and penalties will apply to the underpayment from the date the original return was due until the date of payment. An exception may apply if you can show that the underpayment is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.

What to Include With Form 941x

When you file Form 941x, you must include:

-A separate Form 941x for each quarter you’re claiming the employee retention credit for
-Payroll tax deposits for the quarter (or overpayment applied to the next quarter)
-W-2 forms for each employee you’re claiming the credit for
-1099-MISC forms for any eligible self-employed individuals you’re claiming the credit for