Rev. 12/22 2023 Ohio Employer and School District Withholding Tax Filing Guidelines records. yer-withholding. EMPLOYER WITHHOLDING Employer’s Liability Electronic Filing Requirement Who Must Withhold Ohio Income Tax Each employer is liable for the Ohio income tax Employers are required to electronically file and pay Ohio employer and school district Every employer maintaining an office or required to be withheld. For purposes of withholding taxes either through the Gateway or transacting business within the state of Ohio and assessment and collection, amounts required to through the Ohio Treasurer of State or by any making payment of any compensation to an be withheld and paid to the Ohio Department of other electronic means prescribed by the tax employee, whether a resident or nonresident, Taxation are considered to be a tax on the commissioner. See Ohio Adm. Code 5703-7-19. must withhold Ohio income tax. employer. The Gateway can be accessed at Withholding is not required in the following The officer or employee having control or gateway.ohio.gov. situations per ORC 5747.06(A): supervision of or charged with the responsibility Agricultural labor as defined in division G of of filing the report and making payment shall be Required Returns and Forms section 3121 of Title 26 of the United States held personally liable for any failure to file the Code. report and/or pay the tax as required by law. Domestic service in a private home, local Ohio IT 4 Employee’s Withholding Exemption college club, or local chapter of a college Certificate (employee form): fraternity or sorority. Registration Each employee must complete an Ohio IT 4, Service performed in any calendar quarter Employee’s Withholding Exemption Certificate, by an employee unless the cash All employers required to withhold Ohio income or the employer must withhold tax based on the remuneration paid for such service is $300 taxes must register within 15 days of when such employee claiming zero exemptions. The or more and such service is performed by an liability begins. Register online through the Ohio current IT 4 revised 12/2020, is a combined individual who is regularly employed by Business Gateway (Gateway) at document that replaces the following forms: such employer to perform such service. gateway.ohio.gov. The FEIN (Federal Employer IT 4 (Employee's Withholding Exemption Services performed for a foreign Identification Number), legal name of the Certificate) government or international organization. business, and e-mail address are needed to IT 4NR (Employee's Statement of Residency Services performed by an individual under register the business and complete the in a Reciprocity State) the age of 18 in the delivery or distribution withholding account registration process. Once IT 4 MIL (Military Employee Withholding of newspapers or shopping news. the registration has been completed, employer Exemption Certificate) Services not in the course of the employer’s withholding and school district withholding IT MIL-SP (Exemption from Withholding - trade or business to the extent paid in any returns and payments can be submitted Military Spouse Employee) medium other than cash. immediately. Residents of Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Note: The employer must keep the IT 4 in its West Virginia, or Pennsylvania earning For questions regarding the registration records for at least four (4) years and must make compensation for services provided in process, call 1-888-405-4089. available to the Ohio Department of Taxation Ohio. upon request. A civilian spouse of a military service How Much Tax to Withhold Ohio IT 501 Return for Income Tax Withheld: member if the service member and spouse have the same state of residency, and their To report and pay the Ohio income tax The employer withholding tables and withheld for the period. state of residency is in another state calculation methods are available at Not required if there is no Ohio income tax pursuant to the service member’s military https://tax.ohio.gov/business/resources/emplo 1 |
liability for the period. W-2 and 1099-R Submission that were withheld or required to be withheld The filing of all IT 501s does not complete during the look-back period. The look-back the filing requirement for the tax year. The period is the 12-month period ending June 30 of All employers are strongly encouraged to submit annual reconciliation is required. See the preceding calendar year. their W-2/1099-R information electronically below. regardless of the number of W-2/1099-R forms Due dates are available at Quarterly: issued. https://tax.ohio.gov/business/resources/e The estimated employer withholding mployer-withholding. remittance amount selected during registration The option to submit W-2/1099-R information or the combined amount of Ohio and school via CD has been eliminated. The only acceptable Ohio IT 941 Annual Reconciliation of Income district withholding taxes withheld during the method to submit this information is through Tax Withheld: st look-back period is $2,000 or less. The IT 501 and the Gateway by the due date of January 31 . The To reconcile the Ohio income tax withheld payment are due by the last day of the month tax year 2022 deadline is January 31, 2023. and payments for the entire calendar year. following the end of each calendar quarter. Filed by employers with quarterly or Employers who registered on or after July 1 of W-2/1099-R withholding must equal total tax monthly filing frequency (see filing the preceding calendar year will also remit withheld reported on the annual reconciliations frequency explanations below). th quarterly, unless notified otherwise. Due by January 31 stof the following tax year (IT 941 or 4 Quarter/Annual IT 942 and SD 141). or no later than 15 days after the Monthly: Employers issuing 10 or more W-2s and 1099- discontinuation of the business. The tax The estimated employer withholding Rs combined: year 2022 deadline is January 31, 2023. remittance amount selected during registration W-2/1099-R information must be submitted Total tax withheld must equal W-2s/1099- or the combined amount of Ohio and school electronically through the W-2/1099 Upload Rs submitted. district withholding taxes withheld during the feature on the Gateway. No paper IT 3 is required look-back period is greater than $2,000 but less to be filed. The W-2/1099 Upload feature will than $84,000. The IT 501 and payment are due Ohio IT 942 Quarterly Reconciliation of extract the IT 3 data from the W-2/1099-R within 15 days following the end of each month. Income Tax Withheld: information submitted. To reconcile the Ohio income tax withheld and payments for each of the 1st, 2 ,ndand Partial-weekly: The Simplified W-2 Upload format is available to 3 rdquarters. The estimated employer withholding employers issuing 500 or less statements. Filed only by employers with a partial- Specifications and helpful content can be found remittance amount selected during registration weekly filing frequency. at https://tax.ohio.gov/W2upload. or the combined amount of Ohio and school Due on the last day of the month following district withholding taxes withheld during the the end of each calendar quarter. Employers issuing less than 10 W-2s and 1099- look-back period is $84,000 or more. The Rs combined: payments must be made by electronic funds Ohio IT 942 4 thQuarter/Annual Reconciliation Use of the W-2/1099 Upload feature or the transfer (EFT) within three banking days from of Income Tax Withheld: Simplified W-2 Upload format on the Gateway is the end of each partial-weekly period in which To reconcile the Ohio income tax withheld strongly encouraged. If neither upload option is the employer issued its payroll. and payments for the 4 thquarter as well as utilized, a paper IT 3 with corresponding W-2s EFT payments must be made through the the entire calendar year. and 1099-Rs must be submitted to the Ohio Treasurer of State. Filed only by employers with a partial- Department. There are two partial-weekly withholding weekly filing frequency. periods each week. One consists of Due January 31 stof the following tax year or If a paper IT 3 is submitted, the Department may Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday no later than 15 days after the and the other consists of Wednesday, discontinuation of the business. The tax still require electronic submission of the W- year 2022 deadline is January 31, 2023. 2/1099-R information using one of the W-2/ 1099 Thursday, and Friday. The partial-weekly Total tax withheld must equal W-2s/1099- Upload options through the Gateway when period is determined based upon the day of Rs submitted. administering its compliance programs. the week that the employer issued its payroll; however, a partial-weekly withholding period cannot extend from one Ohio IT 3 Transmittal of W-2 and 1099-R Filing Frequency calendar year into the next. Statements: This form is required by employers with less If the combined Ohio and school district The initial Ohio withholding filing frequency is than 10 statements. It is not available for income tax withheld by an employer during determined during the withholding account filing on Gateway and must be submitted by a pay period reaches $100,000 or more, registration process. The Ohio employer mail with corresponding W-2s and 1099-Rs. payment of the Ohio income tax portion of withholding filing and payment frequencies are The Ohio IT 3 form is available at this withheld amount (excluding school re-evaluated for each calendar year. http://www.tax.ohio.gov/forms. district income taxes) is due by the first banking day after the date the employer Filing frequency is determined by the combined issued its payroll on which the combined amount of Ohio and school district income taxes withholding equals or exceeds $100,000. 2 |
Changes in Ownership/Entity Type: If a change in ownership or in the business entity Overpayment and Underpayment Recordkeeping type (such as changing from a sole Corrections proprietorship to a corporation) occurs and a Employers required to withhold Ohio income tax new FEIN is issued by the IRS, a final IT 941 or IT If an overpayment is identified during the must maintain accurate records of all persons 942 annual reconciliation must be filed for the current calendar year, the employer must make from whom tax is collected for a period of at current Ohio withholding account number and the correction by reducing the Ohio tax withheld least four years from the due date. the account must be closed. A new employer reported on the next Ohio IT 501(s) filed or EFT withholding account is required for the newly payment(s) made until the credit is consumed. Records must include: issued FEIN. The amounts and dates of all compensation paid, and taxes withheld by pay period. If an overpayment or underpayment is identified The names, addresses, school district of Mergers: after the IT 941 or 4 Quarter/AnnualthIT 942 residence, principal county of employment, If a merger has taken place, the non-surviving Reconciliation has been filed, the employer and the social security numbers of all entity must file a final Ohio IT 941 or IT 942 must file an amended IT 941 or 4 th employees receiving compensation. annual reconciliation and notify us of the merger Quarter/Annual IT by completing a Business Account Update Form 942 Reconciliation reflecting the overpayment The periods of employment, including (BA UF) that can be found on our website at or balance due. periods during which compensation is paid http://www.tax.ohio.gov/forms. while absent due to sickness or injury. Overpayments CANNOT be taken as a credit in a W-2s, 1099s, and IT 3 (if applicable). subsequent year. SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHHOLDING Updating the Employer Withholding If an amended IT 941 or 4 thQuarter/Annual IT 942 Account Information Reconciliation also involves issuing W-2Cs, an IT Who Must Withhold 3 with the updated withholding tax information Name and address changes can be submitted on and copies of the W-2Cs must be submitted by the Business Account Update Form (BA UF) Ohio law requires employers to collect the mail to the employment tax division using the available at http://www.tax.ohio.gov/forms. school district of residence for each employee by mailing address on the IT 3. providing the Ohio form IT 4. Closing the Employer Withholding Employers are required to withhold school Interest and Penalty Account district income tax from compensation for any employee who resides in a taxing school district. Interest is calculated from the return due date Business Closures: This requirement is based on an employee's until the date the tax is paid. The interest rate for A business that withholds individual income address of residence and applies even if the calendar year 2023 is 5%. and/or school district income tax from its employer conducts no business or operations in employee(s), and is closing, may complete the the school district. Failure to withhold will result Failure-to-File Penalty: in penalties and interest for any unpaid tax even Ohio Business Account Update Form (BA UF). An If an employer fails to file the Ohio employer account may also be closed electronically when if the taxes were not withheld. withholding tax return by the due date, the filing the final IT 941 annual reconciliation greater of $50 per month up to a maximum of through the Gateway. Check the box for Cancel School districts and the corresponding four-digit $500, or 5% per month up to a maximum of 50% codes can be verified using The Finder at Withholding Account and enter the date of the of the tax. http://www.tax.ohio.gov/finder or by contacting last day of compensation. the applicable county auditor. Failure-to-Pay Penalty: The employer also must file the Ohio IT 941, If payment of the tax is not received by the due Annual Reconciliation of Income Tax Withheld, Registration date, 10% of the delinquent payment plus no later than 15 days after the discontinuation of double the applicable interest charged. business through the Gateway. EFT filers must file the Ohio IT 942 4 Quarter/Annualth If there is an existing employer withholding account, a separate registration for school Withheld but Not Remitted Penalty: Reconciliation of Income Tax Withheld through district withholding is not required. The If an employer withholds the tax from its the Gateway. employees but fails to remit the amounts to the employer withholding account number is used Department, 50% of the delinquent payment for both employer and school district The employer must submit all W-2/1099-R withholding taxes. plus double the applicable interest. information through the W-2/1099 Upload feature or the Simplified W-2 format through the Bad-Check Fee: Gateway no later than 15 days from the last date How Much Tax to Withhold A fee of $50 for any payment dishonored by the of payroll. bank. See ORC. 5747.15 Traditional Tax Base Districts: Withhold using the same wage base & number of 3 |
exemptions used for employer withholding and Overpayment and Underpayment the school district rate tables located at https://tax.ohio.gov/business/resources/emplo Corrections yer-withholding. If an overpayment is identified for a specific Earned Income Tax Base Districts: school district during the current calendar year, Withhold at a flat rate using the school district the employer must make the correction by withholding rate tables located at reducing the school district withholding https://tax.ohio.gov/business/resources/emplo payment for that same school district on the yer-withholding with no reduction or next SD 101(s) until the credit is consumed. adjustment for personal exemptions. If an overpayment remains at the end of the Required Returns and Forms current calendar year, the employer must claim the overpayment on the annual reconciliation as a refund. Ohio IT 4 Employee’s Withholding Exemption Certificate (employee form): If an overpayment or underpayment is identified Every employer liable for Ohio withholding tax after the SD 141 reconciliation has been filed, the must keep on file the Ohio IT 4, Employee’s employer must file an amended SD 141 Withholding Exemption Certificate, for each reconciliation reflecting the overpayment or employee. This provides a record of the school balance due. district name and number in which the employee resides. Employees must update the Overpayments CANNOT be taken as a credit in a Ohio IT 4 whenever previous information subsequent year. becomes insufficient or incorrect. If an amended SD 141 also involves issuing W- Ohio SD 101 Return for School District Income 2Cs, an IT 3 with the updated school Tax Withheld: district/employer withholding tax information To report and pay Ohio school district and copies of the W-2Cs should be submitted by income tax withheld for the period. mail to the employment tax division using the Not required if there is no Ohio school mailing address on the IT 3. district income tax liability for the period. The filing of all SD 101s does not complete the filing requirement for the tax year. The Interest and Penalty annual reconciliation is required. See below. Interest and penalty charges for school district withholding are the same as employer Ohio SD 141 Annual Reconciliation of School withholding. District Income Tax Withheld: To reconcile the school district income tax Need Assistance? withheld and payments remitted by school district for the entire calendar year. Employers are required to file by January Additional resources, including information 31 stof the following tax year or no later than releases, FAQs, and archived Tax Alerts are 15 days after discontinuation of the available at http://www.tax.ohio.gov. business. The tax year 2022 deadline is January 31, 2023. Taxpayers may also e-mail using the Contact Us Total tax withheld must equal W-2s/1099- link at https://tax.ohio.gov/help-center or call at Rs submitted. 1-888-405-4039 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-750-0750). Any correspondence must include your contact Filing Frequency information (phone, address, email, etc.), withholding account number, and the last four School district income tax withholding filing (4) digits of the employer’s FEIN. frequency is either Quarterly or Monthly based on your Ohio Employer Withholding filing frequency. 4 |