Federal e-Filing and Household Employment
We are receiving an unusual number of phone calls this year related to e-Filing issues. Here are the most common issues. In all cases filing a paper tax return this year is the corrective action needed.
#1 Household Employer in a "Credit Reduction State"
20 states who took Federal loans to continue funding the payment of unemployment benefits are in arrears in their repayment of the loans. As a consequence, employers in these states (called Credit Reduction States) have surcharges imposed on their FUTA taxes. The IRS e-filing systems are preventing the electronic submission of tax returns with a Schedule H with the Credit Reduction State Worksheet.
The states include: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Virgin Islands and Wisconsin.
#2 Household Employee with a Form W-2 from a First Time Employer
The IRS has very strict controls on its e-File system to protect against fraud and abuse. Consequently, the employees of new household employers will need to file a paper return. The second year after an Employer Identification Number (EIN) has been issued, the fraud control measures will recognize the EIN has having been used in a prior tax year and the employees will be able to e-File.
#3 Either Employer or Employee is filing their First Ever US Income Tax Return
Similar to #2 above, fraud control measures do not recognize the newly issued Social Security Number and will block e-filing.
Our Annual Payroll Tax Filings FAQ will answer these and other questions that household employers may have.
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