The IRS has released an updated version of Form 944 for 2020 and 2021. Below is a summary of the new 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 2h from Worksheet 2 and 2h from Worksheet 4.
This is the same as line 2r from Worksheet 3.
The difference of lines 7 and 8g.
Lines 10b and 10c 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 10a, 10d, 10e, 10f, and 10g.
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 26 through 30 of the Form 944 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 944.
The sum of lines 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and 8e.
Enter this amount in the Form 7200 Payment Information grid on the COVID-19 Acts tab of Setup > Clients. Accounting CS carries over the total for the year to Form 944.
The difference of lines 10h and 10i.
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 944.
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 > for collectively bargained agreements allocable to qualified sick leave wages. Accounting CS carries over the total for the year to Form 944.
Accounting CS calculates the amount from employee pay items that are setup 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 944.
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 944.
Enter the amount from lines 8c and 10e that are from the third quarter.
Enter the amount from lines 8c and 10e 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 4a, 4a(i), 4a(ii), 4b, 4c, and 4d.
Subtracts line 8d from line 7
If line 9 is greater than line 10, line 11 shows the difference of those. If line 9 is less than line 10, line 11 is left blank.
If line 10 is greater than line 9, line 12 shows the difference of those. If line 10 is less than line 9, line 12 is left blank.
Monthly liabilities will be reduced by the value in line 8d (see below) in chronological order.
New lines added for 2020
Worksheet 1 is available on page 20 of the Form 944 instructions. We've put together a spreadsheet to help you with the calculations the program performs behind the scenes. We've also added 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. This is 6.2% only as taxed only on the employee portion.
Notes
- If the Employee FICA-SS taxable wages per payroll check are less than the amount in column 1, the smaller value is placed in column 1 and the difference is used in Worksheet 1.
- An informational diagnostic referencing Worksheet Line 4a(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 in Column 1 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. This is 6.2% only as taxed only on the employee portion.
This amount is the same as line 2j from Worksheet 1.
This amount is the same as line 3h from Worksheet 1.
The sum of lines 8a, 8b, and 8c.
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 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, and 10e.
Enter this amount in the Form 7200 Payment Information grid on the COVID-19 Acts tab on the Setup > Clients.
Subtracts line 10g from line 10f.
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 the 944.
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 the 944
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.
Notes
- The first quarter qualifying period is only March 13, 2020 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 17.
Note: You may need to reduce line 17 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.