2019 Publication 15 - IRS tax forms

1 Department of the Treasury Contents Internal Revenue Service What's New .. 1. Reminders .. 2. Publication 15. Cat. No. 10000W Calendar .. 8. (Circular E), Introduction .. 9. 1. Employer Identification Number (EIN) .. 11. Employer's 2. Who Are Employees? .. 11. 3. Family Employees .. 13. Tax Guide 4. Employee's Social Security Number (SSN) .. 13. 5. Wages and Other Compensation .. 14. For use in 2019 6. Tips .. 18. 7. Supplemental Wages .. 19. 8. Payroll Period .. 20. 9. Withholding From Employees' Wages .. 20. 10. Required Notice to Employees About the Earned Income Credit (EIC) .. 25. 11. Depositing Taxes .. 25. 12. Filing form 941 or form 944 .. 30. 13. Reporting Adjustments to form 941 or form 944 .. 33. 14. Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax .. 35. 15. Special Rules for Various Types of Services and Payments .. 38. 16. Third-Party Payer Arrangements .. 43. 17. Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods .. 44. How To Get Tax Help .. 68. Index .. 70. Future Developments For the latest information about developments related to Pub.

2 15, such as legislation enacted after it was published, go to What's New Social security and Medicare tax for 2019. The social security tax rate is each for the employee and em- ployer, unchanged from 2018. The social security wage base limit is $132,900. Get forms and other information faster and easier at: The Medicare tax rate is each for the employee (English) ( ). (Espa ol). and employer, unchanged from 2018. There is no wage (Pусский). ( ) (Ti ngVi t) base limit for Medicare tax. Dec 17, 2018. Social security and Medicare taxes apply to the wages Backup withholding. 115-97 lowered the backup of household workers you pay $2,100 or more in cash wa- withholding rate to 24% for tax years beginning after 2017. ges for 2019. Social security and Medicare taxes apply to and before 2026. For more information on backup with- election workers who are paid $1,800 or more in cash or holding, see Backup withholding, later. an equivalent form of compensation in 2019. Qualified small business payroll tax credit for in- 2019 withholding tables.

3 This Publication includes the creasing research activities. For tax years beginning 2019 Percentage Method Tables and Wage Bracket Ta- after 2015, a qualified small business may elect to claim bles for Income Tax Withholding; see section 17. up to $250,000 of its credit for increasing research activi- 2019 federal income tax withholding. Notice 2018-92, ties as a payroll tax credit against the employer's share of 2018-51 1038, available at social security tax. The payroll tax credit must be elected 2018-51_IRB#NOT-2018-92, provides that until April 30, on an original income tax return that is timely filed (includ- 2019, an employee who has a reduction in a claimed ing extensions). The portion of the credit used against the number of withholding allowances solely due to changes employer's share of social security tax is allowed in the from the new tax legislation enacted on December 22, first calendar quarter beginning after the date that the 2017 ( 115-97, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act), isn't required qualified small business filed its income tax return.

4 The to give his or her employer a new form W-4 until May 10, election and determination of the credit amount that will 2019 (10 days after April 30, 2019). However, if an em- be used against the employer's share of social security ployee no longer reasonably expects to be entitled to a tax are made on form 6765, Credit for Increasing Re- claimed number of withholding allowances because of a search Activities. The amount from form 6765, line 44, change in personal circumstances not solely related to must then be reported on form 8974, Qualified Small changes made by 115-97 (for example, an employ- Business Payroll Tax Credit for Increasing Research Ac- ee's child no longer qualifies as the employee's depend- tivities. form 8974 is used to determine the amount of the ent because of the child's change in residence), the em- credit that can be used in the current quarter. The amount ployee must furnish his or her employer a new form W-4 from form 8974, line 12, is reported on form 941 or within 10 days after the change.

5 In addition, if an em- 941-SS, line 11 (or form 944, line 8). For more informa- ployee who claimed married filing status on form W-4 be- tion about the payroll tax credit, see Notice 2017-23, comes divorced from his or her spouse, the employee 2017-16 1100, available at must furnish his or her employer a new form W-4 within 2017-16_IRB#NOT-2017-23, and 10 days after the change. An employee who has a reduc- ResearchPayrollTC. Also see the line 16 instructions in tion in a claimed number of withholding allowances after the Instructions for form 941 (line 13 instructions in the In- April 30, 2019, for any reason is required to give his or her structions for form 944). employer a new form W-4 within 10 days of the change in Certification program for professional employer or- status resulting in the reduction in withholding allowances. ganizations (PEOs). The Tax Increase Prevention Act of See section 9 for more information about form W-4. 2014 required the IRS to establish a voluntary certification Withholding allowance.

6 The 2019 amount for one with- program for PEOs. PEOs handle various payroll adminis - holding allowance on an annual basis is $4,200. tration and tax reporting responsibilities for their business clients and are typically paid a fee based on payroll costs. Disaster tax relief. Disaster tax relief is available for To become and remain certified under the certification those impacted by recent disasters. For more information program, certified professional employer organizations about disaster relief, go to (CPEOs) must meet various requirements described in sections 3511 and 7705 and related published guidance. Certification as a CPEO may affect the employment tax li- Reminders abilities of both the CPEO and its customers. A CPEO is generally treated for employment tax purposes as the em- Moving expense reimbursement. 115-97 sus- ployer of any individual who performs services for a cus- pends the exclusion for qualified moving expense reim- tomer of the CPEO and is covered by a contract descri- bursements from your employee's income for tax years bed in section 7705(e)(2) between the CPEO and the beginning after 2017 and before 2026.

7 However, the ex- customer (CPEO contract), but only for wages and other clusion is still available in the case of a member of the compensation paid to the individual by the CPEO. To be- Armed Forces on active duty who moves because of come a CPEO, the organization must apply through the a permanent change of station. The exclusion applies only IRS Online Registration System. For more information or to reimbursement of moving expenses that the member to apply to become a CPEO, go to Also could deduct if he or she had paid or incurred them with- see Revenue Procedure 2017-14, 2017-3 426, out reimbursement. See Moving Expenses in Pub. 3, available at #RP-2017-14. Armed Forces' Tax Guide, for the definition of what consti- Outsourcing payroll duties. Generally, as an employer, tutes a permanent change of station and to learn which you're responsible to ensure that tax returns are filed and moving expenses are deductible. deposits and payments are made, even if you contract Withholding on supplemental wages.

8 115-97 with a third party to perform these acts. You remain re- lowered the withholding rates on supplemental wages for sponsible if the third party fails to perform any required ac- tax years beginning after 2017 and before 2026. See tion. Before you choose to outsource any of your payroll section 7 for the new rates. and related tax duties (that is, withholding, reporting, and Page 2 Publication 15 (2019). paying over social security, Medicare, FUTA, and income ANNUAL Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund), re- taxes) to a third-party payer, such as a payroll service pro- spectively, to claim the COBRA premium assistance vider or reporting agent, go to credit. Filing a form 941-X (or form 944-X) before filing a OutsourcingPayrollDuties for helpful information on this form 941 (or form 944) for the return period may result in topic. If a CPEO pays wages and other compensation to errors or delays in processing your form 941-X (or form an individual performing services for you, and the services 944-X).

9 For more information, see the Instructions for are covered by a contract described in section 7705(e)(2) form 941 (or the Instructions for form 944), or go to between you and the CPEO (CPEO contract), then the CPEO is generally treated as the employer, but only for Medicaid waiver payments. Notice 2014-7 provides wages and other compensation paid to the individual by that certain Medicaid waiver payments are excludable the CPEO. However, with respect to certain employees from income for federal income tax purposes. See Notice covered by a CPEO contract, you may also be treated as 2014-7, 2014-4 445, available at an employer of the employees and, consequently, may 2014-04_IRB#NOT-2014-7. For more information, includ- also be liable for federal employment taxes imposed on ing questions and answers related to Notice 2014-7, go to wages and other compensation paid by the CPEO to such employees. For more information on the different types of No federal income tax withholding on disability pay- third-party payer arrangements, see section 16.

10 Ments for injuries incurred as a direct result of a ter- Aggregate form 941 filers. Agents and CPEOs must rorist attack directed against the United States. Disa- complete Schedule R ( form 941), Allocation Schedule for bility payments for injuries incurred as a direct result of a Aggregate form 941 Filers, when filing an aggregate terrorist attack directed against the United States (or its al- form 941. Aggregate forms 941 are filed by agents ap- lies) aren't included in income. Because federal income proved by the IRS under section 3504 of the Internal Rev- tax withholding is only required when a payment is includi- enue Code. To request approval to act as an agent for an ble in income, no federal income tax should be withheld employer, the agent files form 2678 with the IRS. Aggre- from these payments. gate forms 941 are also filed by CPEOs approved by the Voluntary withholding on dividends and other distri- IRS under section 7705. CPEOs file form 8973, Certified butions by an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC).