Fill Templates Online

Fill Templates Online

Homepage Download IRS W-3 Template
Content Overview

The IRS W-3 form plays a crucial role in the annual reporting process for employers in the United States. It serves as a summary of all W-2 forms issued to employees, providing the Social Security Administration with essential information about wages and taxes withheld. Employers must file the W-3 alongside the W-2 forms to ensure accurate reporting of income and tax contributions. This form includes key details such as total wages paid, the number of employees, and the amounts withheld for Social Security and Medicare. Filing the W-3 is not just a requirement; it helps maintain the integrity of the tax system and ensures that employees receive proper credit for their earnings. Understanding the W-3 form and its significance can help employers navigate their reporting obligations more effectively, minimizing the risk of errors and potential penalties.

Key takeaways

The IRS W-3 form is an important document for employers. It summarizes the total earnings, Social Security wages, and taxes withheld for all employees. Here are some key takeaways regarding its completion and use:

  • The W-3 form must be submitted along with the W-2 forms for each employee.
  • Ensure accurate information is provided, including the employer's name, address, and Employer Identification Number (EIN).
  • Verify that the total wages reported on the W-3 match the total of all W-2 forms submitted.
  • Use the W-3 to report the total amount of federal income tax withheld from employees.
  • The form must be filed with the Social Security Administration (SSA) by the last day of February if filing on paper or by the end of March if filing electronically.
  • Employers should keep a copy of the W-3 and W-2 forms for their records.
  • Filing the W-3 is essential for accurate reporting of employee earnings and taxes to the government.
  • Incorrect information on the W-3 can lead to penalties or delays in processing.
  • Consider using electronic filing options for quicker processing and confirmation.
  • Review the instructions provided by the IRS for any updates or changes to the form requirements.

Guide to Writing IRS W-3

Once you have gathered all the necessary information, you can begin filling out the IRS W-3 form. This form is essential for summarizing the total earnings and tax withholdings for all employees. After completing the W-3, you will submit it along with the W-2 forms to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

  1. Obtain the Form: You can download the W-3 form from the IRS website or request a physical copy from your local IRS office.
  2. Fill in Your Employer Information: At the top of the form, enter your employer's name, address, and Employer Identification Number (EIN).
  3. Provide Total Number of W-2 Forms: Indicate the total number of W-2 forms being submitted. This number should match the number of W-2s you are sending.
  4. Enter Total Earnings: Fill in the total wages, tips, and other compensation that your employees received during the tax year.
  5. Report Social Security Wages: Include the total amount of wages subject to Social Security tax.
  6. Indicate Medicare Wages: Report the total amount of wages subject to Medicare tax.
  7. Complete Additional Boxes: If applicable, fill in any additional boxes that pertain to your business, such as adjustments or other information.
  8. Sign and Date the Form: An authorized person must sign and date the form to certify that the information provided is accurate.
  9. Submit the Form: Send the completed W-3 along with the W-2 forms to the SSA by the specified deadline.

Form Preview Example

Attention:

You may file Forms W-2 and W-3 electronically on the SSA’s Employer W-2 Filing Instructions and Information web page, which is also accessible at www.socialsecurity.gov/employer. You can create fill-in versions of Forms W-2 and W-3 for filing with SSA. You may also print out copies for filing with state or local governments, distribution to your employees, and for your records.

The maximum amount of dependent care assistance benefits excludable from income may be increased for 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 permits employers to increase the amount of dependent care benefits under their plans that can be excluded from an employee’s income from $5,000 ($2,500 for married filing separately) to up to $10,500 ($5,250 for married filing separately). See section C of Notice 2021-26 in

Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2021-21 | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov) for more information.

Note: Copy A of this form is provided for informational purposes only. Copy A appears in red, similar to the official IRS form. The official printed version of this IRS form is scannable, but the online version of it, printed from this website, is not. Do not print and file Copy A downloaded from this website with the SSA; a penalty may be imposed for filing forms that can’t be scanned. See the penalties section in the current General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3, available at www.irs.gov/w2, for more information.

Please note that Copy B and other copies of this form, which appear in black, may be downloaded, filled in, and printed and used to satisfy the requirement to provide the information to the recipient.

To order official IRS information returns such as Forms W-2 and W-3, which include a scannable Copy A for filing, go to IRS’ Online Ordering for Information Returns and Employer Returns page, or visit www.irs.gov/orderforms and click on Employer and Information returns. We’ll mail you the scannable forms and any other products you order.

See IRS Publications 1141, 1167, and 1179 for more information about printing these tax forms.

DO NOT STAPLE

33333

b

Kind of Payer

(Check one)

a Control number

 

 

For Official Use Only

 

 

 

 

 

OMB No. 1545-0008

 

941

Military

943

 

944

 

 

 

 

 

Kind

 

 

Hshld.

Medicare

of

 

CT-1

Employer

 

emp.

govt. emp.

 

 

 

 

 

(Check one)

None apply

501c non-govt.

Third-party

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sick pay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Check if

State/local

State/local 501c Federal govt.

non-501c

applicable)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c Total number of Forms W-2

 

d Establishment number

1 Wages, tips, other compensation

2 Federal income tax withheld

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

e Employer identification number (EIN)

3 Social security wages

4 Social security tax withheld

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

f Employer’s name

 

5

Medicare wages and tips

6 Medicare tax withheld

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

Social security tips

8 Allocated tips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

10 Dependent care benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 Nonqualified plans

12a Deferred compensation

 

 

g Employer’s address and ZIP code

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

h Other EIN used this year

 

13 For third-party sick pay use only

12b

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 State

Employer’s state ID number

14 Income tax withheld by payer of third-party sick pay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16 State wages, tips, etc.

 

17 State income tax

18 Local wages, tips, etc.

19 Local income tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer’s contact person

 

 

Employer’s telephone number

For Official Use Only

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer’s fax number

 

 

Employer’s email address

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying documents, and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete.

Signature

Title

 

Date

Form W-3 Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements

2022

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

Send this entire page with the entire Copy A page of Form(s) W-2 to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Photocopies are not acceptable. Do not send Form W-3 if you filed electronically with the SSA.

Do not send any payment (cash, checks, money orders, etc.) with Forms W-2 and W-3.

Reminder

Separate instructions. See the 2022 General Instructions for Forms

W-2 and W-3 for information on completing this form. Do not file Form

W-3 for Form(s) W-2 that were submitted electronically to the SSA.

Purpose of Form

Complete a Form W-3 transmittal only when filing paper Copy A of Form(s) W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. Don’t file Form W-3 alone. All paper forms must comply with IRS standards and be machine readable. Photocopies are not acceptable. Use a Form W-3 even if only one paper Form W-2 is being filed. Make sure both the Form W-3 and Form(s) W-2 show the correct tax year and employer identification number (EIN). Make a copy of this form and keep it with Copy D (For Employer) of Form(s) W-2 for your records. The IRS recommends retaining copies of these forms for 4 years.

E-Filing

The SSA strongly suggests employers report Form W-3 and Forms W-2 Copy A electronically instead of on paper. The SSA provides two free e-filing options on its Business Services Online (BSO) website.

W-2 Online. Use fill-in forms to create, save, print, and submit up to 50 Forms W-2 at a time to the SSA.

File Upload. Upload wage files to the SSA you have created using payroll or tax software that formats the files according to the SSA’s Specifications for Filing Forms W-2 Electronically (EFW2).

W-2 Online fill-in forms or file uploads will be on time if submitted by January 31, 2023. For more information, go to www.SSA.gov/bso. First- time filers, select “Register”; returning filers, select “Log In.”

When To File Paper Forms

Mail Form W-3 with Copy A of Form(s) W-2 by January 31, 2023.

Where To File Paper Forms

Send this entire page with the entire Copy A page of Form(s) W-2 to:

Social Security Administration

Direct Operations Center

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001

Note: If you use “Certified Mail” to file, change the ZIP code to “18769-0002.” If you use an IRS-approved private delivery service, add “ATTN: W-2 Process, 1150 E. Mountain Dr.” to the address and change the ZIP code to “18702-7997.” See Pub. 15 (Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide, for a list of IRS-approved private delivery services.

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions.

Cat. No. 10159Y

Documents used along the form

The IRS W-3 form serves as a summary of all W-2 forms issued by an employer for a given tax year. It is essential for ensuring that the Social Security Administration receives accurate wage and tax information. Alongside the W-3, several other forms and documents play crucial roles in the reporting process. Here are five important forms often used in conjunction with the W-3:

  • W-2 Form: This form reports an employee's annual wages and the taxes withheld from their paychecks. Employers must provide a W-2 to each employee by January 31st of the following year.
  • 1099 Form: This form is used to report income received by independent contractors or freelancers. It is essential for those who are not classified as employees but still earn income that must be reported to the IRS.
  • W-4 Form: Employees fill out this form to inform their employer of their tax withholding preferences. It helps employers determine how much federal income tax to withhold from an employee's paycheck.
  • Schedule C: This document is used by sole proprietors to report income and expenses related to their business. It is filed as part of the individual income tax return (Form 1040).
  • RV Bill of Sale: Essential for recording the transfer of ownership of a recreational vehicle, this document provides proof of sale and legal compliance. For detailed information and to ensure accuracy, use the RV Bill of Sale form.
  • Form 941: Employers use this form to report quarterly payroll taxes, including income tax withheld and Social Security and Medicare taxes. It provides a snapshot of the employer's payroll tax obligations throughout the year.

Understanding these forms and their purposes can significantly streamline the process of tax reporting and compliance. Each document contributes to a comprehensive view of an individual's or business's financial activities, ensuring that all income is accurately reported to the IRS.