Various types of employers must withhold taxes from employees’ wages, including employers hiring farm workers. If you are an agricultural employer, you likely withhold taxes from your employees’ pay. And, you are responsible for reporting wages on IRS Form 943. So, what is Form 943?
What is Form 943?
Form 943, Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees, is a form agricultural employers use to report taxes withheld from employees’ wages. Form 943 reports taxes such as federal income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax.
Types of farm employees may include harvesters, soil surveyors, and farm managers.
Form 943 requirements
You must file Form 943 if you withheld taxes from one or more farm workers’ wages.
Agricultural employers must withhold taxes from employees’ wages if one of the following is true:
- You pay an employee cash wages of $150 or more during the tax year for farm work
- Total wages (cash and noncash) you pay all farm workers during the year is $2,500 or more
If your business does not meet one of these requirements, do not file Form 943. For more regulations and laws to follow as an agricultural employer, visit the Department of Labor website.
Filling out Form 943
Your 943 tax form requires various pieces of information. Gather information including:
- Contact information, such as mailing address and phone number
- Your business’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
- Your business’s financial records for the tax year (e.g., employee wages and taxes withheld)
Unlike some other tax forms, Form 943 does not require any supporting documents or information, such as receipts. If the IRS needs additional information along with Form 943, they will contact you via mail.
Filing Form 943
If you need to file Form 943, you must know how frequently to file, your due date, and where to file your business’s form.
File Form 943 on an annual basis. After you submit your first Form 943, you must file a return every year, even if you have no taxes to report. File Form 943 annually until you no longer employ or pay agricultural workers.
Form 943 is due on January 31 each year. However, if you make deposits on time and in full for the tax year, you can file your return by February 11.
You can either mail Form 943 or file it online. If you choose to mail Form 943, send the form directly to the IRS. You can electronically file the form on the IRS website.
Check out the IRS website for more information regarding 943 tax form instructions.
Need help calculating Social Security and Medicare taxes or federal income tax to report on Form 943? Patriot’s online payroll can help. Enter your agricultural employees’ hours and pay rate, and we’ll calculate the taxes for you. Try it for free today!
This article has been updated from its original publication date of February 18, 2019.
This is not intended as legal advice; for more information, please click here.