Payroll Professionals Tax Center

Hot Topics

Form W-2/SSN Data Theft: Information for Businesses and Payroll Service Providers
This email scam uses a corporate officer’s name to request employee Forms W-2 from company payroll or human resources departments. The email is sent to an employee in the payroll or human resources departments, requesting a list of all employees and their Forms W-2. See the full article for steps to take in contacting the IRS if businesses and payroll service professionals received the email and/or lost data to this scam.

Employer Tax Credits
Many businesses that have been severely impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) will qualify for two new employer tax credits – the Credit for Sick and Family Leave and the Employee Retention Credit.

Worker Classification

Worker Classification (Independent Contractors vs. Employees)
Are you or your help independent consultants or employees? Before you can know how to treat payments you make for services, you must first know the business relationship that exists between you and the person performing the services.

Voluntary Classification Settlement Program
The Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP) is a voluntary program that provides an opportunity for taxpayers to reclassify their workers as employees for employment tax purposes for future tax periods with partial relief from federal employment taxes.

Employees and Employment Taxes

Employment Taxes for Businesses
This is the starting point on irs.gov for employment tax information. These links provide good, basic information on employment taxes and worker classification (independent contractors vs. employees).

Businesses with Employees
This section briefly discusses a variety of topics that employers and/or businesses who have employees should know.

Correcting Employment Taxes
Information on correcting errors on previously filed employment tax returns.

Outsourcing Payroll and Third Party Payers
Many employers outsource some of their payroll and related tax duties to third-party payroll service providers. They can help assure filing deadlines and deposit requirements are met and greatly streamline business operations.

Staying Up to Date

Subscribe to a variety of electronic newsletters from this page, including: 

• e-News for Payroll Professionals - information specifically affecting federal payroll tax returns
• e-News for Tax Professionals - news for tax professionals, links to resources on IRS.gov and local news and events by state
• e-News for Small Businesses - information about IRS small business outreach products and programs

Electronic Options

Information Returns Processing
The Information Reporting Program website is designed to help you meet your Information Reporting Requirements. Included are help-line telephone numbers and direct links to aid you in reporting information returns. You will also find information about how to file returns electronically or magnetically, as well as information on backup withholding and the “B” notice process.

FIRE (Filing Information Returns Electronically)
The FIRE (Filing Information Returns Electronically) system is set up for financial institutions and others to file Information Return Forms 1042-S, 1098, 1099, 5498, 8027 or W-2G. The law requires any corporation, partnership, employer, estate and/or trust, who is required to file 250 or more information returns for any calendar year, must file electronically.

Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) On-Line Matching
TIN matching gives the authorized user the opportunity to match 1099 payee information against IRS records prior to filing information returns. An authorized payor is one who has filed information returns with the IRS in at least one of the two past tax years.

Employment Taxes - Electronic Filing and Payment Options
Information on the Employment Tax e-file System and electronic filing of Forms 940, 941 and 944.

Electronic Federal Tax Payments (EFTPS)
Businesses and individuals can use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to pay all their federal taxes electronically, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via the phone, personal computer (PC) software or the Internet. Visit the EFTPS website for all the latest information! Or visit the Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Services Web page on EFTPS.

Other Information for Payroll Professionals and Employers

Voluntary Certification Program for Professional Employer Organizations (CPEOs)
The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, enacted Dec. 19, 2014, requires the IRS to establish a voluntary certification program for professional employer organizations (PEOs). PEOs handle various payroll administration and tax reporting responsibilities for their business clients and are typically paid a fee based on payroll costs.

Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
Are you looking for information on employee retirement plans in order to provide better service to all your clients?

EITC Toolkit for Employers
Four out of five eligible workers file for and get the EITC they earned. Employers can help more eligible workers get this important financial boost by telling their workers about EITC.

Social Security Administration (SSA) – Business Services Online
The Business Services Online Suite of Services allows organizations, businesses, individuals, employers, attorneys, non-attorneys representing Social Security claimants, and third-parties to exchange information with Social Security securely over the internet.