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Notice2026-18730

Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request on U.S. Employment Tax Returns and Related Forms, Schedules, Attachments, and Published Guidance

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Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
September 14, 2026

Issuing agencies

Treasury DepartmentInternal Revenue Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the IRS is inviting comments on the information collection request outlined in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 176 (Monday, September 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 176 (Monday, September 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58254-58255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18730]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request on U.S. 
Employment Tax Returns and Related Forms, Schedules, Attachments, and 
Published Guidance

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
IRS is inviting comments on the information collection request outlined 
in this notice.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before November 13, 
2026 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Andres Garcia, Internal 
Revenue Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20224, or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdbdbface3aea2a0a0a8a3b9be8da4bfbee3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3d4d4f5c135e5250505853494e7d544f4e135a524b">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Include ``OMB Control No. 
1545-0029'' in the subject line of the message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: View the latest drafts of the tax 
forms related to the information collection listed in this notice at 
<a href="https://www.irs.gov/draft-tax-forms">https://www.irs.gov/draft-tax-forms</a>. Requests for additional 
information or copies of this collection should be directed to Kerry 
Dennis, (202) 317-5751.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IRS, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the 
general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on 
proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This 
helps the IRS assess the impact and minimize the burden of its 
information collection requirements. Comments submitted in response to 
this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB 
approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. For this 
reason, please do not include in your comments information of a 
confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information. Comments 
are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of 
operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide 
information.

Tax Compliance Burden

    Tax compliance burden is defined as the time and money taxpayers 
spend to comply with their tax filing responsibilities. Time-related 
activities include recordkeeping, tax planning, gathering tax 
materials, learning about the law, and completing and submitting the 
return. Out-of-pocket costs include expenses such as purchasing tax 
software, paying a third-party preparer, and printing and postage. Tax 
compliance burden does not include a taxpayer's tax liability, economic 
inefficiencies caused by sub-optimal choices related to tax deductions 
or credits, or psychological costs.

Proposed PRA Submission to OMB

    Title: U.S. Employment Tax Returns and Related Forms, Schedules, 
Attachments, and Published Guidance.
    OMB Control Number: 1545-0029.
    Form Numbers and Published Guidance: CT-1, CT-1X, CT-2, SS-8, W-2, 
W-2 AS, W-2 C, W-2 GU, W-2 VI, W-3, W-3 (PR), W-3 C, W-3 C (PR), W-3 
SS, 940, 940 SCH A, 940 SCH R, 941, 941 SCH B, 941 SCH D, 941 SCH R, 
941 X, 943, 943 A, 943 SCH R, 943 X, 944, 944 X, 945, 945 A, 945 X, 
2032, 2678, 8027, 8027 T, 8453 EMP, 8850, 8879 EMP, 8922, 8952, 8974 
and all related forms, schedules, and attachments.
    Abstract: These forms, schedules and attachments are used by 
employers to report their employment tax-related activity. This 
information collection covers the burden associated with preparing and 
submitting employment tax returns and related forms, schedules, and 
attachments, and complying with published guidance.
    Current Actions: There have been changes in regulatory guidance 
related to various forms approved under this approval package during 
the past year. There have been additions and removals of forms included 
in this approval package. It is anticipated that these changes will 
have an impact on the overall burden and cost estimates requested for 
this approval package, however these estimates were not finalized at 
the time of release of this notice. These estimated figures are 
expected to be available by the release of the 30-day comment notice 
from Treasury. This approval package is being submitted for renewal 
purposes.
    Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Employers.
    Preliminary Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,730,000.
    Preliminary Estimated Total Time (Hours): 475,200,000.
    Preliminary Estimated Time per Respondent (Hours): 61 hours 28 
minutes.
    Preliminary Estimated Monetized Time ($): 17,082,000,000.
    Preliminary Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs ($): 21,499,000,000.
    Preliminary Estimated Total Monetized Burden ($): 38,581,000,000.

    Note:  Total Monetized Burden = Out-of-Pocket Costs + Monetized 
Time


    Dated: September 10, 2026.
Kerry Dennis,
Tax Analyst.

Appendix-A: Forms and Schedules

[[Page 58255]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Form No.                              Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CT-1.....................  Employer's Annual Railroad Retirement Tax
                            Return.
CT-1X....................  Adjusted Employer's Annual Railroad
                            Retirement Tax Return or Claim for Refund.
CT-2.....................  Employee Representative's Quarterly Railroad
                            Tax Return.
SS-8.....................  Determination of Worker Status for Purposes
                            of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax
                            Withholding.
W-2......................  Wage and Tax Statement.
W-2 AS...................  American Samoa Wage and Tax Statement.
W-2 C....................  Corrected Wage and Tax Statement.
W-2 GU...................  Guam Wage and Tax Statement.
W-2 VI...................  U.S. Virgin Islands Wage and Tax Statement.
W-3......................  Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements.
W-3 (PR).................  Transmittal of Withholding Statements (Puerto
                            Rican Version).
W-3 C....................  Transmittal of Corrected Wage and Tax
                            Statements.
W-3 C (PR)...............  Transmittal of Corrected Wage and Tax
                            Statements (Puerto Rican Version).
W-3 SS...................  Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements.
940......................  Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA)
                            Tax Return.
940 SCH A................  Multi-State Employer and Credit Reduction
                            Information.
940 SCH R................  Allocation Schedule for Aggregate Form 940
                            Filers.
941......................  Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return.
941 SCH B................  Report of Tax Liability for Semiweekly
                            Schedule Depositors.
941 SCH D................  Report of Discrepancies Caused by
                            Acquisitions, Statutory Mergers, or
                            Consolidations.
941 SCH R................  Reconciliation for Aggregate Form 941 Filers.
941 X....................  Adjusted Employer's QUARTERLY Federal Tax
                            Return or Claim for Refund.
943......................  Employer's Annual Tax Return for Agricultural
                            Employees.
943 SCH R................  Allocation Schedule for Aggregate Form 943
                            Filers.
943 A....................  Agricultural Employer's Record of Federal Tax
                            Liability.
943 X....................  Adjusted Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return
                            for Agricultural Employees or Claim for
                            Refund.
944......................  Employer's ANNUAL Federal Tax Return.
944 X....................  Adjusted Employer's ANNUAL Federal Tax Return
                            or Claim for Refund.
945......................  Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax.
945 A....................  Annual Record of Federal Tax Liability.
945 X....................  Adjusted ANNUAL Return of Withheld Federal
                            Income Tax or Claim for Refund.
2032.....................  Contract Coverage Under Title II of the
                            Social Security Act.
2678.....................  Employer/Payer Appointment of Agent.
4669.....................  Statement of Payments Received.
4670.....................  Request for Relief of Payment of Certain
                            Withholding Taxes.
8027.....................  Employer's Annual Information Return of Tip
                            Income and Allocated Tips.
8027 T...................  Transmittal of Employer's Annual Information
                            Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips.
8453 EMP.................  Employment Tax Declaration for an IRS e-file
                            Return.
8850.....................  Pre-Screening Notice and Certification
                            Request for the Work Opportunity Credit.
8879 EMP.................  IRS e-file Signature Authorization for Forms
                            940, 940-PR, 941, 941-PR, 941-SS, 943, 943-
                            PR, 944, and 945.
8922.....................  Third-Party Sick Pay Recap.
8952.....................  Application for Voluntary Classification
                            Settlement Program (VCSP).
8974.....................  Qualified Small Business Payroll Tax Credit
                            for Increasing Research Activities.
9465.....................  Payment Plan Request.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix-B: Guidance Documents

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Guidance                          Title/document
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Announcement 2000-19.....................  Tip Reporting Alternative
                                            Commitment (TRAC) agreement
                                            for use in industries other
                                            than the food and beverage
                                            industry and the cosmetology
                                            and barber industry in which
                                            tipped employees receive
                                            both cash and charged tips.
Announcement 2000-20.....................  Tip Reporting Alternative
                                            Commitment (TRDA) for use in
                                            industries other than the
                                            food and beverage industry
                                            and the gaming industry.
Announcement 2000-21.....................  Tip Reporting Alternative
                                            Commitment (TRAC) Agreement
                                            for Use in the Cosmetology
                                            and Barber Industry to
                                            Employment Tax.
Announcement 2000-22.....................  Tip Reporting Alternative
                                            Commitment (TRAC) agreement
                                            for use in the food and
                                            beverage industry.
Announcement 2000-23.....................  Tip Rate Determination
                                            Agreement (TRDA) for use in
                                            the food and beverage
                                            industry.
Notice 2000-21...........................  Employer-designed Tip
                                            Reporting Program (EmTRAC)
                                            for the Food and Beverage
                                            Industry.
TD 6516..................................  Employment Taxes, Applicable
                                            on and after January 1, 1955
                                            (26 CFR 31.6001-1; 26 CFR
                                            31.6001-2; 26 CFR 31.6001-3;
                                            26 CFR 31.6001-5).
TD 9405..................................  Employment Tax Adjustments
                                            (Reg-111583-07).
TD 9645..................................  Rules Relating to Additional
                                            Medicare Tax (REG-130074-
                                            11).
TD 9860..................................  Certified Professional
                                            Employer Organizations.
TD 10053.................................  Backup Withholding on Third
                                            Party Network Transactions.
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[FR Doc. 2026-18730 Filed 9-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4831-GV-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on September 14, 2026.

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