The IRS has released an updated version of Form 943 for 2020 and 2021. Below is a summary of the new and updated fields on the form and how Accounting CS populates those fields.
Changes for 2021
With the addition of new lines, some lines were moved to a different page.
The sum of line 12h from Worksheet 2 and line 2h from Worksheet 4.
This is the same as line 2r from Worksheet 3.
The difference of lines 11 and 12g.
Lines 14b and 14c are now reserved for future use.
The sum of line 2i from Worksheet 2 and line 2i from Worksheet 4.
This is the same as line 2s from Worksheet 3.
This is the same as line 2h from Worksheet 5.
The sum of lines 14a, 14d, 14e, 14f, and 14g.
Accounting CS calculates the amount from employee pay items that are set up with the special type ARPA self care and ARPA other care.
New lines added for 2021
Worksheets 1 through 5 for 2021 are available on pages 25 through 29 of the Form 943 instructions. We have created a spreadsheet to help you with the calculations that Accounting CS performs behind the scenes. We also provide informational diagnostics for the worksheets.
This is the same as line 2g from Worksheet 5.
Enter this number in the Number of Individuals field for each quarter in the Federal 94X Information (ARPA) section on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients. Accounting CS carries over the total for the year to Form 943.
The sum of lines 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, and 12e.
Ener this amount in the Form 7200 Payment Information grid on the COVID-19 Acts tab of the Setup > Clients screen. Accounting CS carries over the total for the year to Form 943.
Note: If your employer type is Regular (941) and Agricultural (943) or Regular (944) and Agricultural (943), the 7200 payment information, the COBRA premium assistance information, the qualified health plan expenses information, and the amounts under certain collectively bargained agreements information will not flow to this form, but will appear on Form 941 or 944, respectively.
The difference of lines 14h and 14i.
Enter this amount in the Sick Leave Wages field for the quarter in the Federal 94X Information (ARPA) section on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients for health plan expenses allocable to special type ARPA related wages. Accounting CS carries over the total for the year to Form 943.
Enter this amount in the Sick Leave Wages field for the quarter in the Federal 94X Information (ARPA) section on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients for collectively bargained agreements allocable to qualified sick leave wages. Accounting CS carries over the total for the year to Form 943.
Accounting CS calculates the amount from employee pay items that are set up with the special type ARPA extended care.
Enter this amount in the Family Leave Wages field for the quarter in the Federal 94X Information (ARPA) section on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients for health plan expenses allocable to special type ARPA related wages. Accounting CS carries over the total for the year to Form 943.
Enter this amount in the Family Leave Wages field for the quarter in the Federal 94X Information (ARPA) section on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients for collectively bargained agreements allocable to qualified family leave wages. Accounting CS carries over the total for the year to Form 943.
Enter the amount from lines 12c and 14e that are from the third quarter.
Enter the amount from lines 12c and 14e that are from the fourth quarter.
Changes for 2020
With the addition of new lines, some lines were moved to a different page.
The sum of lines 3, 3a, 3b, 5, 7, and 8.
The difference of lines 11 and 12d.
If line 13 is greater than line 14h, line 15 shows the difference of those. If line 13 is less than line 14h, line 15 is left blank.
If line 14h is greater than line 13, line 16 shows the difference of those. If line 14h is less than line 13, line 16 is left blank.
Monthly (or daily, whichever applies) liabilities will be reduced by the value in line 12d (see below) in chronological order.
New lines added for 2020
Worksheet 1 is available on page 18 of the Form 943 instructions. We've put together a spreadsheet to help you with the calculations Accounting CS performs behind the scenes. We also provide informational diagnostics for Worksheet 1.
Accounting CS calculates the amount from employee pay items that are set up with the special type COVID-19 self-care and COVID-19 Other Care. This amount only includes amounts up to the FICA-SS wage limit.
Notes:
- If the Employee FICA-SS taxable wages per payroll check are less than this amount, the smaller value is placed here and the difference in Worksheet 1.
- An informational diagnostic referencing Worksheet Line 2a(i) displays if there is a difference between total COVID-19 wages and FICA-SS taxable wages.
- You can filter the Wages Register report to show only the COVID-19 self-care and Other care pay items for the year.
- You can filter the Payroll Journal with Taxable Wages to show the employees with COVID-19 self-care or COVID-19 Other care wages. This report is helpful to see which checks use the FICA-SS taxable amount.
Accounting CS calculates the amount from employee pay items that are set up with the special type COVID-19 extended child care. This amount only includes amounts up to the FICA-SS wage limit.
Accounting CS calculates the amount of line 2a multiplied by 0.062.
Accounting CS calculates the amount of line 2b multiplied by 0.062.
This line is the same as line 2j from Worksheet 1.
This amount is the same as line 3h from Worksheet 1.
The sum of lines 12a, 12b, and 12c.
Accounting CS reports the ERFICA-SS amount from open liabilities that have a status of Deferred.
You can see the liabilities on the Manage Payroll Liabilities screen. They'll have the Deferred column marked.
Accounting CS reports the EEFICA-SS amount from open liabilities that have a status of Deferred.
You can see the liabilities on the Manage Payroll Liabilities screen. They'll have the Deferred column marked.
This amount is the same as line 2k from Worksheet 1.
This amount is the same as line 3i from Worksheet 1.
The sum of lines 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and 14e.
Enter this amount in the Form 7200 Payment Information grid on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients.
Note: If your employer type is Regular (941) and Agricultural (943) or Regular (944) and Agricultural (943), the 7200 payment information will not flow to this form, but will appear on Form 941 or 944, respectively.
The difference of lines 14f and 14g.
Enter this amount in the Sick Leave Wages field for the year in the Federal 94X Information section on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients. Accounting CS carries over the amount to Form 943.
Enter this amount in the Family Leave Wages field for the year in the Federal 94X Information section on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients. Accounting CS carries over the amount to Form 943.
Accounting CS calculates this amount if there are any checkboxes marked in the Employee Retention Credit section in the COVID-19 Acts tab on the Setup > Clients screen. This amount is the total qualified ERFICA-SS taxable wages for the year under the $10,000 limit.
The first quarter qualifying period is only March 31 to March 31, 2020.
You can quickly verify this amount using the Employee Retention Credit Summary report in the Accounting CS Report Library.
Enter the amount of qualified health plan expenses allocable to the wages reported on line 20.
Note: You may need to reduce line 20 if qualified wages plus qualified health plan expenses reach the $10,000 limit for any employee. Accounting CS calculates up to the limit based on qualified wages; it does not account for the qualified health plan expenses.
Enter the amount from line 11 on Form 5884-C.