Form 941

What is Form 941?

IRS Form 941 (known officially as the Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return) is a mandatory tax form that US employers use to report the payroll taxes withheld from their employees’ wages, such as income tax, Social Security, and Medicare.

Employers also use this form to report their Social Security and Medicare contributions, as well as any additional adjustments or credits (such as for qualified sick leave or employee retention credits).

Form 941 must be filed quarterly, typically by the last day of the month following the end of each quarter. Employers must also remit tax payments on a semi-weekly or monthly schedule, depending on their total tax liability.

Learn more: How do quarterly tax returns work?

Why does it matter for employers?

Form 941 is a critical component of payroll tax compliance for US businesses. Failure to file or pay on time can result in penalties, interest charges, and enforcement action by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Accurate reporting on Form 941 also helps reconcile year-end filings, such as W-2 forms and annual Form 940 (Federal Unemployment Tax Act reporting).

When filing Form 941, employers must ensure they:

• Accurately calculate and report tax withholdings
• Align the reported wages and tax amounts with their payroll records
• Submit the form and any payments by the due dates

Using an automated payroll system can reduce errors and streamline compliance with these requirements.

How can Remote help?

When you hire US-based employees through Remote, we handle all IRS reporting obligations on your behalf, including timely and accurate filing of Form 941. Our payroll platform ensures your state, local, and federal tax responsibilities are fulfilled without administrative overhead. Learn more.