IRS directions

Supply your name, address, and EIN.

If you do not have an EIN, you may apply for one online. Visit IRS.gov and enter "EIN" in the search box. You may also apply for an EIN by faxing or mailing Form SS-4 to the IRS. If you have applied for an EIN but do not have your EIN by the time a return is due, write "Applied For" and the date you applied in the space shown for the number.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks pulls this information from the company information provided in the Legal Information section of the Company Information window.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

If this information is incorrect, choose Company Information from the Company menu. Make any necessary correction to the Legal Information section, and click OK.

IRS directions

If you stop paying wages during the year and do not expect to pay wages again, file a final return for 2014. Be sure to mark the box above line 1 on the form indicating that you do not have to file returns in the future. If you later become liable for any of the taxes, notify the IRS.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks does not supply this information.

IRS directions

Enter the number of agricultural employees on your payroll during the pay period that included March 12, 2014. Do not include household employees, persons who received no pay during the pay period, pensioners, or members of the Armed Forces.

An entry of 250 or more on line 1 indicates that you must file Forms W-2 electronically. Call the SSA at 1-800-772-6270 or visit the SSA's Employer W-2 Filing Instructions & Information website at www.socialsecurity.gov/employer for more information about filing electronically.

QuickBooks behavior

If you had any employees with a pay period that included the date March 12, 2014, they will be added here.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

It is not unusual to see a number that is less than the total number of employees who were paid this year. This is due to their being paid in periods that did not include the March 12 date.

1. Make a note of the net amount of the check.
2. Double click on the check in question and click Paycheck Details.
3. Change the pay period. If you get a message asking you if you want to get time data for that period, click No.
4. Make sure the net of the check did not change and click Save and Close.

IRS directions

Enter the total cash wages subject to social security tax that you paid to your employees for farmwork during the calendar year. Enter the amount before deductions. Cash wages include checks, money orders, etc. Do not include the value of noncash items, such as food or lodging, or pay for services other than farmwork. See section 3 of Pub. 51 (Circular A) for information on taxable wages.

For 2014, the rate of social security tax on taxable wages is 6.2% (.062) for the employer and 6.2% (.062) for the employee or 12.4% (.124) for both. Do not report an employee's social security wages over $117,000 for 2014. If you, as a qualifying employer, receive an approved Form 4029, Application for Exemption From Social Security and Medicare Taxes and Waiver of Benefits, from one or more of your employees, write "Form 4029" to the right of the entry space.

QuickBooks behavior

If you had any employees with a pay period that included the date March 12, 2014, their wages are added here.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

1. From the QuickBooks Reports menu, choose Employees & Payroll, and then Payroll Summary.
2. Click the Modify Report (or Customize Report) button.
3. Click the Display tab and then set the date range to the year in question.
4. In the Display columns by drop-down list, select Total only, and clear the Hours and Rate checkboxes.
5. Click the Filters tab.
6. Choose Payroll Item in the Filter drop-down list, and then choose Selected payroll items in the Payroll Item drop-down list.
7. In the Payroll Item window, select Social Security Company, and Social Security Employee.
8. Clear any other selected items and then click OK.
9. Click OK to return to the Payroll Summary report.
10. Double-click the Social Security Employee Total amount to display the Transactions by Payroll Item report.
11. The Wage Base column total should match amount on line 2.

To correct line 2:

1. The wage base amount uses each paycheck and year-to-date adjustment entered into QuickBooks for the quarter. If the wage base amount is incorrect, your payroll items may be set up incorrectly. Verify the setup of all payroll items used in the calendar year by choosing Payroll Item List from the QuickBooks Lists menu, and then double-click each payroll item to review or correct it.
2. To locate and fix any incorrect employee wage bases, choose Run Payroll Checkup from the Employees menu.
3. Enter in any liability adjustments as needed. Keep in mind that adjusted amounts may need to be collected from or refunded to the employee.

      Click here for more information on making liability adjustments.

IRS directions

Multiply line 2 by 12.4% (.124) and enter the result on line 3.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks calculates what should have been collected based on the taxable social security wages listed on line 2 by multiplying the line 2 amount by 12.4%.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

See troubleshooting steps for line 2.

IRS directions

Enter the total cash wages subject to Medicare tax that you paid to your employees for farmwork during the calendar year. Enter the amount before deductions. Do not include the value of noncash items, such as food or lodging, or pay for services other than farmwork. There is no limit on the amount of wages subject to Medicare tax. If you, as a qualifying employer, receive an approved Form 4029, Application for Exemption From Social Security and Medicare Taxes and Waiver of Benefits, from one or more of your employees, write "Form 4029" to the right of the entry space.

QuickBooks behavior

The wage base for Medicare is used on this line. QuickBooks does not have a way to specify wages as farmwork, so all wages paid and liability adjustments associated with an employee subject to Medicare tax are included.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

1. From the QuickBooks Reports menu, choose Employees & Payroll, and then Payroll Summary.
2. Click the Modify Report (or Customize Report) button.
3. Click the Display tab and then select Last Calendar Year from the Dates drop-down list.
4. In the Display columns by drop-down list, select Total only, and clear the Hours and Rate checkboxes.
5. Click the Filters tab.
6. Choose Payroll Item in the Filter drop-down list, and then choose Selected payroll items in the Payroll Item drop-down list.
7. In the Payroll Item window, select Medicare Company, and Medicare Employee.
8. Clear any other selected items and then click OK.
9. Click OK to return to the Payroll Summary report.
10. Double-click the Medicare Employee Total amount to display the Transactions by Payroll Item report.
11. The Wage Base column total should match amount on line 4.

To correct line 4:

1. The wage base amount uses each paycheck and year-to-date adjustment entered into QuickBooks for the year. If the wage base amount is incorrect, your payroll items may be set up incorrectly. Verify the setup of all payroll items used in the calendar year by choosing Payroll Item List from the QuickBooks Lists menu, and then double-click each payroll item to review or correct it.
2. To locate and fix any incorrect employee wage bases, choose Run Payroll Checkup from the Employees menu.
3. Enter in any liability adjustments as needed. Keep in mind that adjusted amounts may need to be collected from or refunded to the employee.

      Click here for more information on making liability adjustments.

IRS directions

Multiply line 4 by 2.9% (.029) and enter the result on line 5.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks calculates what should have been collected based on the taxable Medicare wages listed on line 4 by multiplying the line 4 amount by 2.9%.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

See troubleshooting steps for line 4.

IRS directions

Enter all wages that are subject to Additional Medicare Tax withholding. You are required to begin withholding Additional Medicare Tax in the pay period in which you pay wages in excess of $200,000 to an employee and continue to withhold it each pay period until the end of the calendar year. Additional Medicare Tax is only imposed on the employee. There is no employer share of Additional Medicare Tax. All wages that are subject to Medicare tax are subject to Additional Medicare Tax withholding if paid in excess of the $200,000 withholding threshold.

For more information on what wages are subject to Medicare tax, see the chart, Special Rules for Various Types of Services and Payments, in section 15 of Pub. 15 (Circular E). For more information on Additional Medicare Tax, visit IRS.gov and enter "Additional Medicare Tax" in the search box.

QuickBooks behavior

The wage base for the Medicare Employee Addl Tax payroll item is used on this line. QuickBooks does not have a way to specify wages as farmwork, so all wages paid and liability adjustments associated with an employee subject to Medicare tax are included.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

1. From the QuickBooks Reports menu, choose Employees & Payroll, and then Payroll Summary.
2. Click the Modify (or Customize) Report button.
3. Click the Display tab and then select the calendar year from the Dates drop-down list.
4. In the Display columns by drop-down list, select Total Only, and clear the Hours and Rate checkboxes.
5. Click the Filters tab.
6. Choose Payroll Item in the Filter drop-down list, and then choose Selected payroll items in the Payroll Item drop-down list.
7. In the Payroll Item window, select Medicare Employee Addl Tax.
8. Clear any other selected items, and click OK.
9. Click OK to return to the Payroll Summary report.
10. Double-click the Medicare Employee Addl Tax Total amount to display the Transactions by Payroll Item report. The Wage Base column total should equal the line 6 amount.

To correct line 6:

The wage base amount for Medicare Employee Addl Tax uses each paycheck and year-to-date adjustment entered into QuickBooks for the year once the employee's wages exceed $200,000 as long as the payroll item was on the employee's record before the employee was paid $200,000. If the wage base amount is incorrect, your payroll item may be set up incorrectly, or you may not have had the Medicare Employee Addl Tax payroll item added to the employee's record before the employee was paid $200,000. Verify the setup of the Medicare Employee Addl Tax payroll item.

As long as you have at least one transaction with the Medicare Employee Addl Tax payroll item on the employee record, you can locate and fix any incorrect employee wage bases by choosing My Payroll Service > Run Payroll Checkup from the Employees menu. If any wage bases require correction, QuickBooks will post a liability adjustment to the employee if still in the same calendar year.

Enter in any liability adjustments as needed. Keep in mind that adjusted amounts may need to be collected from or refunded to the employee. If the calendar year has passed or amended 943 forms need to be filed, contact your accountant.

If you didn't set up the Medicare Employee Addl Tax payroll item and didn't withhold this tax from employee's wages over $200,000, you'll need to report this to the IRS following the instructions here. (If you're an Assisted Payroll user, you need to contact Assisted Payroll support at 888-712-9702 for assistance.)

IRS directions

Multiply line 6 by 0.9% (.009) and enter the result on line 7.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks calculates the amount by multiplying line 6 by 0.9%. This amount should match the Amount column total from the Payroll Summary report (within a few cents rounding difference).

How to verify your QuickBooks result

See troubleshooting steps for line 6.

IRS directions

Enter federal income tax withheld on wages paid to your employees. Generally, you must withhold federal income tax from employees from whom you withhold social security and Medicare taxes. See sections 5 and 13 of Pub. 51 (Circular A) for more information on withholding rules.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks combines federal withholding taxes from employee paychecks with year-to-date (YTD) adjustments for the year.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

Run the Payroll Summary report for the year, and change the column to total only. The amount for Federal Withholding should match line 8.

IRS directions

Add the total social security tax (line 3), Medicare tax (line 5), Additional Medicare Tax withholding (line 7), and federal income tax withheld (line 8). Enter the result on line 9.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks calculates the amount by adding lines 3, 5, 7, and 8.

IRS directions

Use line 10 to:

• Adjust for rounding of fractions of cents, or
• Adjust for the uncollected employee share of social security and Medicare taxes on third-party sick pay or group-term life insurance premiums paid for former employees. See section 9 in Pub. 51 (Circular A).

Use a minus sign (if possible) to show a decrease to the amounts reported on lines 3 or 5. Otherwise, use parentheses.

Adjustment for fractions of cents. If there is a small difference between total taxes after adjustments (line 11) and total deposits (line 12), it may be caused by rounding to the nearest cent each time you computed payroll. This rounding occurs when you figure the amount of social security and Medicare tax to be withheld from each employee's wages. If the fractions of cents adjustment is the only entry on line 10, write "Fractions Only" on the dotted line to the left of the entry space for line 10.

Adjustment for sick pay. Enter the adjustment for the employee share of social security and Medicare taxes that were withheld and deposited by your third-party sick pay payer with regard to sick pay paid by the third-party. These wages should be included on line 2, line 4, and, if the withholding threshold is met, line 6.

Increases and decreases in tax liability. Because any amount shown on line 10 increases or decreases your tax liability, the adjustment must also be included on your Monthly Summary of Federal Tax Liability on Form 943 (line 17) or Form 943-A, Agricultural Employer's Record of Federal Tax Liability. For details on how to report adjustments on the Monthly Summary of Federal Tax Liability, see the instructions for line 17. For details on how to report adjustments on Form 943-A (for use by semiweekly depositors only), see the Form 943-A instructions.

QuickBooks behavior

If the difference between your net taxes, line 9, and your liability for the year, line 11, is within $1.00, QuickBooks automatically places the adjustment in the adjustment to taxes field, line 10, to allow for fractions of a cent. If you need to adjust this amount for other reasons you may override this amount by right clicking, selecting override, and entering the desired number.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

If the amount of adjustment exceeds $1.00, it may be necessary to check lines 3, 5, 7, and 8, for the amount of taxes collected, or line 11. See verification for these lines for details.

IRS directions

Combine lines 9 and 10; enter the result on line 11.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks calculates the amount by adding lines 9 and 10.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

If this amount is wrong, see the verification steps for lines 9 and 10.

IRS directions

Enter your total Form 943 deposits for the year, including any overpayment that you applied from filing Form 943-X and any overpayment that you applied from your 2013 return.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks combines all liability checks and prior payments that have paid-through dates for the year, with federal withholding, social security, and Medicare payroll tax items.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

1. From the QuickBooks Reports menu, choose Employees & Payroll, and then Payroll Summary.
2. Click the Modify Report (or Customize Report) button.
3. Click the Display tab and then select All from the Dates drop-down list.
4. In the Columns drop-down list, clear Name and select Paid Through and Payroll Item.
5. Click the Filters tab. In the Choose Filter drop-down list:
1. Select Transaction Type, and then Selected Transaction Types in the Transaction Type drop-down list.
2. In the Select Transaction Types window, make sure Payroll Liability Check and Liability Adjustment are selected and all other options cleared, and then click OK.
3. Select Paid Through and then Last Calendar Year in the Paid Through drop-down list.
4. Select Payroll Item, and then Selected Payroll Items in the Payroll Item< drop-down list.
5. In the Select Payroll Items window, choose Federal Withholding, Medicare Company, Medicare Employee, Medicare Employee Addl Tax, Social Security Company, and Social Security Employee.
6. Clear any other selected items and then click OK.
6. In the Current Filter Choices list, choose Detail Level, and then choose All.
7. Click OK to return to the Payroll Transactions by Payee report.

The Amount column total should equal the line 10 amount.

Ensure that all Form 943 deposits for the year were paid through the Pay Liabilities window. From the QuickBooks Employees menu, choose Pay Payroll Liabilities. The Payroll Transactions by Payee report created above should match the paper record of deposits for the quarter, including the date of deposit, the period they were paid through, and the total amount for each payroll item.

QuickBooks may report liability payments incorrectly if the liability check was edited after it was created. If a liability check was edited, delete and then re-create it with the updated information.

If you know you've recorded the deposit in your QuickBooks, find the deposit and check that the type is specifically LIAB CHK and not just CHK.

IRS directions

Do not enter any information on line 13a.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks leaves this line blank.

IRS directions

Do not enter any information on line 13b.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks leaves this line blank.

IRS directions

Do not enter any information on line 14.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks leaves this line blank.

IRS directions

If line 11 is more than line 12, enter the difference on line 15. Otherwise, see Overpayment below. You do not have to pay if line 15 is under $1. Generally, you should show a balance due on line 15 only if your total taxes after adjustments for the year (line 11) is less than $2,500. However, see section 7 of Pub. 51 (Circular A) regarding payments made under the "accuracy of deposits" rule.

If you were required to make federal tax deposits, pay the amount shown on line 15 by EFT. If you were not required to make federal tax deposits, you may pay the amount shown on line 15 using EFT, credit card, debit card, check, money order, or EFW. For information on electronic payment options, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/e-pay.

If you pay by EFT, credit card, or debit card, file your return using the Without a payment address under Where to file. Do not file Form 943-V, Payment Voucher.

If you pay by check or money order, make it payable to "United States Treasury." Enter your EIN, Form 943, and the tax period on your check or money order. Complete Form 943-V and enclose with Form 943.

Caution: If you did not make deposits as required and instead pay the taxes with Form 943, you may be subject to a penalty.

What if I cannot pay in full? If you cannot pay the full amount of tax you owe, you can apply for an installment agreement online. You can apply for an installment agreement online if:

• You cannot pay the full amount shown on line 11,
• The total amount you owe is $25,000 or less, and
• You can pay the liability in full in 24 months.

To apply using the Online Payment Agreement Application, go to IRS.gov, click on Tools, then click on Online Payment Agreement.

Under an installment agreement, you can pay what you owe in monthly installments. There are certain conditions you must meet to enter into and maintain an installment agreement, such as paying the liability within 24 months, and making all required deposits and timely filing returns during the length of the agreement.

If your installment agreement is accepted, you will be charged a fee and you will be subject to penalties and interest on the amount of tax not paid by the due date of the return.

QuickBooks behavior

If line 11 is greater than line 12, QuickBooks reports the difference on line 15.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

See verification steps for lines 11 and 12.

IRS directions

If line 12 is more than line 11, enter the difference on line 16. Never make an entry on both lines 15 and 16.

If you deposited more than the correct amount for the year, you can have the overpayment refunded or applied to your next return by checking the appropriate box on line 16. Check only one box on line 16. If you do not check either box or if you check both boxes, generally we will apply the overpayment to your account. We may apply your overpayment to any past due tax account that is shown in our records under your EIN.

If line 16 is under $1, we will send you a refund or apply it to your next return only if you ask us in writing to do so.

QuickBooks behavior

If line 12 is greater than line 11, QuickBooks reports the difference here.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

See the verification steps for lines 11 and 12.

IRS directions

This is a summary of your yearly tax liability, not a summary of deposits made. If line 11 is less than $2,500, do not complete line 17 or Form 943-A.

Complete line 17 only if you were a monthly schedule depositor for the entire year and line 11 is $2,500 or more. The amount entered on line 17M must equal the amount reported on line 11. See section 7 of Pub. 51 (Circular A) for details on the deposit rules. You are a monthly schedule depositor for the calendar year if the amount of your "Total taxes after adjustments" reported for the lookback period is not more than $50,000. The lookback period is the second calendar year preceding the current calendar year. For example, the lookback period for 2015 is 2013.

Caution: If you were a semiweekly schedule depositor during any part of the year, do not complete line 17. Instead, complete Form 943-A.

Reporting adjustments on line 17. If your net adjustment during a month is negative and it exceeds your total liability for the month, do not enter a negative amount for the month. Instead, enter "-0-" for the month and carry over the unused portion of the adjustment to the next month.

QuickBooks behavior

If you selected Yes in the Interview section under "Do you need a Form 943-A" and line 11 is less than $2,500, QuickBooks will not fill out line 17. If you selected No in the interview section under "Do you need a Form 943-A" and line 11 is greater than $2,500, QuickBooks will list your liabilities by month on line 17A – 17L and total them on 17M.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

1. From the QuickBooks Reports menu, choose Employees & Payroll, and then Payroll Summary.
2. Click the Modify (or Customize) Report button.
3. Click the Display tab and then set the date range the year in question.
4. In the Display columns by drop-down list, select Month, and clear the Hours and Rate checkboxes.
5. Click the Filters tab.
6. Choose Payroll Item in the Filter drop-down list, and then choose Selected payroll items in the Payroll Item drop-down list.
7. In the Payroll Item window, select Federal Withholding, Medicare Company, Medicare Employee, Social Security Company, and Social Security Employee. Clear any other selected items and then click OK.
8. Click OK to return to the Payroll Summary report.
9. Ignoring any negative signs, add up each column's amounts for Federal Withholding, Medicare Company, Medicare Employee, Social Security Company, and Social Security Employee taxes. The totals should correspond to the amounts in 15A – 15L. Any of the numbers on the report can be double clicked to see what transactions contribute to their amounts.

IRS directions

If you want to allow an employee, a paid tax preparer, or another person to discuss your Form 943 with the IRS, check the "Yes" box in the Third-Party Designee section. Then tell us the name, phone number, and the five-digit personal identification number (PIN) of the specific person to speak with--not the name of the firm who prepared your tax return. The designee may choose any five numbers as his or her PIN.

By checking the "Yes" box, you authorize the IRS to talk to the person you named (your designee) about any questions we may have while we process your return. You also authorize your designee to do all of the following:

• Give us information that is missing from your return.
• Call us for information about processing your return.
• Respond to certain IRS notices that you have shared with your designee about math errors and return preparation. The IRS will not send notices to your designee.

You are not authorizing the designee to bind you to anything (including additional tax liability), or otherwise represent you before the IRS. If you want to expand your designee's authorization, see Pub. 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney.

The authorization will automatically expire 1 year from the due date (without regard to extensions) for filing your Form 943. If you or your designee want to terminate the authorization, write to the IRS office for your locality using the "Without a payment" address.

QuickBooks behavior

QuickBooks does not supply this information.

IRS directions

The following persons are authorized to sign the return for each type of business entity.

• Sole proprietorship - The individual who owns the business.
• Corporation (including an LLC treated as a corporation) - The president, vice president, or other principal officer duly authorized to sign.
• Partnership (including an LLC treated as a partnership) or unincorporated organization - A responsible and duly authorized partner, member, or officer having knowledge of its affairs.
• Single member LLC treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes - The owner of the LLC or a principal officer duly authorized to sign.
• Trust or estate - The fiduciary.

Form 943 may also be signed by a duly authorized agent of the taxpayer if a valid power of attorney has been filed.

Alternative signature method. Corporate officers or duly authorized agents may sign Form 943 by rubber stamp, mechanical device, or computer software program. For details and required documentation, see Rev. Proc. 2005-39 on page 82 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 2005-28 at www.irs.gov/irb/2005-28_IRB/ar16.html.

QuickBooks behavior

You can manually fill in the fields for Print Name, Date, Phone, and Title. QuickBooks may also prefill some of this information if it has been entered into the Company Information. You must sign the form after you print it.

How to verify your QuickBooks result

If the name or phone is incorrect, choose Company Information from the Company menu. Make any necessary correction to the Payroll Tax Form Information section, and click OK.

IRS directions

A paid preparer must sign Form 943 and provide the information in the Paid Preparer Use Only section if the preparer was paid to prepare Form 943 and is not an employee of the filing entity. Paid preparers must sign paper returns with a manual signature. The preparer must give you a copy of the return in addition to the copy to be filed with the IRS.

If you are a paid preparer, write your Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) in the space provided. Include your complete address. If you work for a firm, write the firm's name and the EIN of the firm. You can apply for a PTIN online or by filing Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) Application and Renewal. For more information about applying for a PTIN online, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/ptin. You cannot use your PTIN in place of the EIN of the tax preparation firm.

Generally, do not complete this section if you are filling the return as a reporting agent and have a valid Form 8655, Reporting Agent Authorization, on file with the IRS. However, a reporting agent must complete this section if the reporting agent offered legal advice, for example, advising the client on determining whether its workers are employees or independent contractors for federal tax purposes.

QuickBooks behavior

If the form is prepared by a third party, fill out the appropriate information in fields for Paid Preparer Name, Firm Name, Address, City, State, Zip code, Date, Preparer PTIN, and Firm EIN. You can sign the form once you print it.

If you are using QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition, this section can be automatically filled in using information located under the Company menu by clicking on Company Information and clicking the Auto-fill Contact Info... button.