Form 941
In accounting, form 941 means the quarterly return of wages paid, federal income tax withheld and both halves of Social Security and Medicare tax, reconciled to the quarter's deposits. Due April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31 — ten days later if every deposit was on time.
Also called Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return.
Authority: Form 941 (Rev. March 2026) (opens in a new tab). Sources
The lessons that teach this
From the free founder back-office course, taught on one company's books, with exercises to work it yourself.
For founders
The same idea written for a founder: what it costs a startup that ignores it, and what to do in a real month.
- Form 941 and payroll tax deposits for startupsWhat Form 941 reports, monthly vs semiweekly deposits, the $100,000 next-day rule, FUTA, the R&D payroll credit, and what your provider can’t do.
- Startup tax deadlines by month for a C-corpFederal tax deadlines for a calendar-year C-corp, month by month: W-2s, 1099s, Form 941, Form 1120, estimated taxes and Delaware franchise tax.
- First-year compliance calendar for a Delaware C-corpDelaware franchise tax, 1099s, the federal return, payroll filings, state annual reports and sales tax: the deadlines a young C-corp misses most, by month.
What it is not called
Each of these means something else. Use one here and an accountant reading the product notices.
- Form 940 (annual FUTA)
- W-2
Components that render the terms it depends on
No component names this concept outright, but it's built from terms that components do name. These render reconciled.
Also in Payroll
Defined in Lexicon. This page is generated from that document, so the two can't disagree.