Employment Tax Deposit Deferral FAQs

On its website, IRS has issued FAQs on the deferral of the deposit and payment of the employer's share of Social Security taxes and self-employed individuals to defer payment of certain self-employment taxes that is provided by the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  These employment tax deposit deferral FAQs will be updated to address additional questions as they arise. 1. What deposits and payments of employment taxes are employers entitled to defer? What may be deferred under the CARES Act are the taxes imposed under §3111(a) and, for Railroad employers, so much of the taxes imposed under §3221(a) as are attributable to the rate in effect under §3111(a) (collectively referred to as the "employer's share of social security tax").   But see FAQ 4 regarding...

Employment Tax Deposit Relief Due to COVID-19 Tax Credits

The IRS has issued guidance providing employment tax deposit relief for employers that are entitled to the refundable tax credits provided under two laws passed in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The two laws are the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was signed on March 18, 2020, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act, which was signed on March 27, 2020. Employment tax penalty basics The tax code imposes a penalty for any failure to deposit amounts as required on the date prescribed, unless such failure is due to reasonable cause rather than willful neglect. An employer’s failure to deposit certain federal employment taxes, including deposits of withheld income taxes and taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) is generally subject to...