Beginning in 2011, if you make your payroll tax liability deposits in any manner other than paying them with the quarterly return, you will be required to deposit them electronically through EFTPS. You will no longer be allowed to pay them at your bank with a coupon.
The IRS has announced that, as a part of an initiative to reduce the amount of paper transactions it handles, most employers that are now allowed to use Federal Tax Deposit Coupons and checks to make payroll tax deposits will have to make those deposits electronically through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) beginning in 2011. The primary exemption will be for employers that have $2,500 or less in quarterly payroll tax liability and that pay their liability when filing their employment tax returns.
As soon as possible, you will need to sign up for EFTPS. It is easy and it is free. Just go to www.eftps.gov and enroll. Some of the items that you will need to complete the registration besides the company name and address include your company’s Federal I.D. number and banking information. You will also need to assign a designated individual as the primary contact.
Once your company is enrolled, you can make any of your federal tax deposits via the internet or telephone. By 8:00 p.m.(ET) at least one calendar day in advance of the due date, you access EFTPS directly to report your tax information. You will instruct EFTPS to move the funds from your account to the Treasury’s account for payment of your federal taxes. Funds will not move from your account until the date you indicate. You receive an immediate acknowledgement of your payment instructions, and your bank statement will confirm the payment was made. You can initiate your tax payment 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As an added convenience, EFTPS allows taxpayers to schedule tax payments in advance. Businesses can schedule payments up to 120 days in advance of their tax due date. Individuals can schedule payments up to 365 days in advance of their tax due date. EFTPS will automatically make your payments for you on the due date you indicate. Scheduled payments can be changed or cancelled up to 2 business days in advance of the scheduled payment date.
If you have any questions regarding this program or anything else regarding your payroll or business, please contact us.
