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               North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner

               GuGuidelineGuideline -- IncomeIncome TaxTax WithholdingWithholding &ideline&                                                                            - Income Tax Withholding &
                                      I                                              IInformation Returnsnformation Returnsnformation Returns

Table of Contents
Section 1 - Income Tax Withholding From Wages
 • Withholding Requirement .........................................................................................................................2
 • Wages Subject To Withholding .................................................................................................................3  
 • Employer Registration ..............................................................................................................................4
 • Amount To Withhold ..................................................................................................................................5
 • Reporting And Payment Of Tax Withheld .................................................................................................6
   ○  Form 306 - Income Tax Withholding Return .......................................................................................6
   ○  Filing And Payment Methods For Form 306 .......................................................................................6
Section 2 - Non-Wage Payments With Voluntary Withholding .............................................................................9
 • General Rule For Non-Wage Payments ...................................................................................................9
 • Voluntary Withholding ...............................................................................................................................9
Section 3 - Information Returns For Wages And Non-Wage Payments With Voluntary Withholding ................. 11
 • Who Must File ......................................................................................................................................... 11  
 • How And When To File ...........................................................................................................................12
Section 4 - Information Returns For Non-Wage Payments With No Withholding ...............................................15  
 • Who Must File .........................................................................................................................................15
 • How And When To File ...........................................................................................................................17
Section 5 - Income Tax Withholding From Oil and Gas Royalty Payments ........................................................ 20
 • Part 1 - Withholding Requirement ...........................................................................................................            20 
   ○  Definitions .........................................................................................................................................20
   ○  Who Must Withhold ...........................................................................................................................21
   ○  Exemptions From Withholding Requirement ....................................................................................22
   ○  Amount To Withhold ..........................................................................................................................23
   ○  Remitter Registration ........................................................................................................................24
 • Part 2 - Reporting And Payment Of Tax Withheld ...................................................................................25
   ○  Form RWT-941 - Royalty Withholding Return...................................................................................25
   ○  Filing And Payment Methods For Form RWT-941 ............................................................................25
 • Part 3 - Information Returns For Oil And Gas Royalty Payments ...........................................................27
   ○  How And When To File Forms 1099-MISC And 1042-S ...................................................................28
   ○  Form RWT-1096 - Royalty Withholding Annual Return And Transmittal ........................................... 30
   ○  Reporting By A Publicly Traded Partnership .....................................................................................                     30
Assistance ..........................................................................................................................................................31
   ○  Registration Assistance ....................................................................................................................31
   ○  Technical Assistance .........................................................................................................................31

28221 (12/2021)

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                                    600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept 127 | Bismarck, ND 58505-0599 
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Income Tax Withholding &
Information Returns Guideline

Section 1 - Income Tax Withholding From Wages

 This section explains the requirements for withholding North Dakota income tax from
wages paid by employers to employees.
 See Section 3 for year-end information return filing requirements.

CHANGE FOR 2022 AND AFTER—For calendar years 2022 and after, Form 306, Income
Tax Withholding Return, and the tax due on it must be submitted electronically if the amount of
North Dakota income tax withheld during the previous calendar year was $1,000 or more. See
“Filing And Payment Methods For Form 306” later in this section.

Withholding Requirement
An employer is subject to North Dakota’s income tax withholding requirement and must register for a
withholding account if both of the following apply:
 The employer pays wages to (a) an employee for services performed in North Dakota or (b) a North
Dakota resident for services performed outside North Dakota (including outside the United States).
Exception for North Dakota resident working outside North Dakota. A North Dakota-based
employer does not have to withhold North Dakota income tax from wages paid to a North Dakota
resident who works outside North Dakota if the employer is required to withhold another state’s income
tax from the wages.
 The wages are subject to federal income tax withholding.
Unless otherwise stated, the terms used in Section 1 of this guideline have the same meaning as defined in
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for purposes of federal income tax withholding from wages.
An “employer” includes the State of North Dakota and any of its political subdivisions. North Dakota Century
Code (N.D.C.C.) §§ 57-38-01(10) and 57-38-59(1)(2)

Nonresident alien of United States working in North Dakota
Wages paid to a nonresident alien of the United States for services performed within North Dakota are subject
to North Dakota income tax withholding if they are subject to federal income tax withholding. Even if wages
paid to a nonresident alien are exempt from federal income tax withholding because of an income tax treaty
between the United States and a foreign country, they are subject to North Dakota income tax withholding.
Unless an income tax treaty between the United States and a foreign country specifically exempts wages from
taxation by a U.S. state, the treaty exemption is not recognized for North Dakota income tax purposes.
To determine the amount of North Dakota income tax to withhold from the wages paid to a nonresident alien
for services performed in North Dakota, do the following:
• Complete a separate Federal Form W-4 for North Dakota withholding purposes. Write “North Dakota
only— nonresident alien” at the top of the form.
• Fill in the name and address of the nonresident alien. For the address, provide the permanent address
in the home country of the nonresident alien. If there is no permanent address in the home country,
provide the address used in the United States.

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Income Tax Withholding &
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• Fill in the social security number if one is available. If the nonresident alien does not have to obtain a
social security number for any federal purpose, one does not have to be obtained just for North Dakota
withholding purposes, in which case write “Not required” in the space for the social security number.
• Check the “Single” box.
• Calculate the North Dakota income tax withholding based on the Federal Form W-4 as filled out above.
(Note: The “Exempt” status may not be claimed.)

Wages Subject To Withholding
Except as provided under “Exceptions” below, “wages” means any remuneration includable in wages as
defined under I.R.C. § 3401 for purposes of federal income tax withholding from wages. Any payment excluded
from wages under I.R.C. § 3401, such as compensation paid for domestic service in a private home, is not
subject to the North Dakota withholding requirement, even if an employer and employee voluntarily agree to
withhold federal income tax from the compensation. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-01(10)
Exceptions. The following wage payments are exempt from North Dakota income tax withholding:
• Wages paid to a nonresident of North Dakota for performing regularly assigned duties in more than
one state for an interstate motor, rail, air, or water carrier company, to the extent the wages are exempt
from state income tax or state income tax withholding under federal interstate commerce law. See
U.S. Code, title 49, sections 11502 (rail carrier), 40116(f)(2) (air carrier), 14503(a) (motor carrier), and
14503(b)(2) (water carrier).
• Wages paid to a Minnesota or Montana resident that are exempt from North Dakota income tax under
reciprocity, provided the employee completes and gives a Form NDW-R, Reciprocity Exemption
From Withholding For Qualifying Minnesota and Montana Residents Working in North Dakota, to the
employer. (Note: Under the agreement with Minnesota, the employee must return to his or her home
in Minnesota at least once every month to qualify for the exemption.) The employee must renew the
exemption from withholding at the beginning of each year by completing and giving a new
Form NDW-R to the employer on or before February 28. The employer is responsible for making
Form NDW-R available to employees. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.1
• Wages paid to a Native American Indian who (1) is an enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian
tribe, (2) lives on an Indian reservation, and (3) performs the services for which the wages are paid on
an Indian reservation.
• Wages paid by a farmer or rancher to an employee solely for agricultural labor.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(10)
• Wages paid to an eligible civilian spouse of a U.S. armed forces service member for services performed
in North Dakota if (1) both the civilian spouse and service member are nonresidents of the state,
(2) the service member’s permanent duty station is in the state, and (3) the civilian spouse is residing
and working in the state only because the civilian spouse wants to be with the service member. If
a civilian spouse working in North Dakota meets these conditions, the civilian spouse may claim
exemption from North Dakota income tax withholding on the North Dakota wages by completing
and filing Form NDW-M with the civilian spouse’s employer. This exemption must be renewed each
year by completing and filing a new Form NDW-M with the employer by January 31 of the new year.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. 4001.

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Income Tax Withholding &
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• Wages paid to a nonresident of North Dakota under North Dakota’s nonresident mobile workforce
exclusion. Subject to exception for certain employees, the exclusion applies if (1) the nonresident
has no other income from sources in North Dakota for the tax year; (2) the nonresident is present in
North Dakota to perform employment duties for not more than twenty days during the tax year; and
(3) the nonresident’s state of residence provides a substantially similar exclusion or does not impose
an individual income tax, or the nonresident’s income is exempt from state taxation under the United
States Constitution or federal statute. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.3

Severance pay
Severance pay granted to an employee upon termination that is based on past services is included in wages.
Severance pay to a former employee who is a North Dakota resident at the time of payment are taxable and
subject to North Dakota income tax withholding whether the employer is based inside or outside North Dakota.
Severance pay to a former employee who is a nonresident of North Dakota at the time of payment are taxable
and subject to North Dakota income tax withholding to the extent the payment is based on past services in
North Dakota. For example, if a former employee is an Arizona resident at the time of payment, and if the
employee had worked in North Dakota for nine years and one year in Arizona, 90% of the payment is taxable
and subject to withholding in North Dakota. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-03 and 57-38-04(1)

Voluntary withholding
In certain cases where wages are not subject to North Dakota income tax withholding, an employee may
request the employer to voluntarily withhold North Dakota income tax from the wages. If an employer agrees to
voluntarily withhold North Dakota income tax for an employee’s convenience, the employer must register for a
North Dakota withholding account and comply with the reporting and payment requirements.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-61

Employer Registration
Every employer subject to the requirement to withhold North Dakota income tax from wages paid to employees
must register with the Office of State Tax Commissioner by applying for an income tax withholding account.
Application is made through Taxpayer Access Point (TAP), the online tax filing and account access application
on the Office of State Tax Commissioner’s website. To set up a TAP account, go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap and
click on “Sign Up For Access.” North Dakota Administrative Code (N.D. Admin.Code) § 81-03-03.1-02

Cash deposit or bond
If required by the Office of State Tax Commissioner, an employer must make a cash deposit or post a bond or
undertaking executed by a surety company authorized to do business in North Dakota. The amount of the cash
deposit, bond, or undertaking must be reasonably calculated to ensure the payment of North Dakota income
tax withheld from wages by the employer. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(9)

Funds held in trust
North Dakota income tax withheld from employees’ wages are held by the employer in trust for the State of
North Dakota for payment to the Office of State Tax Commissioner in the manner and at the time prescribed by
law, subject to the lien provided by law. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(8)

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Income Tax Withholding &
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Personal liability
The president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of a corporation; or the governors, managers, or
members of a limited liability company (LLC); or the general partners of a partnership who, jointly or severally,
are charged with the responsibility for the filing of the withholding returns and payment of the tax due are
personally liable for the failure of the business to file any return or pay any tax due. Dissolution of the business
does not discharge this personal liability. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-60.1(1), 57-38-60.2(1), and 57-38-60.3(1)

Election to make cash deposit or bond or undertaking in lieu of personal liability. The persons personally
liable for the failure to file or pay may elect to not be personally liable, provided the corporation, LLC, or
partnership makes a cash deposit or posts a bond or undertaking executed by a surety company authorized
to do business in North Dakota. The amount of the cash deposit, bond or undertaking must be equal to the
estimated annual income tax withholding liability of the corporation, LLC, or partnership. The business must
contact the Office of State Tax Commissioner to make this election. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-60.1(2), 57-38-60.2(2),
and 57-38-60.3(2)

Change in federal employer identification number (FEIN)
If an employer’s FEIN is changed for any reason, the employer must register the change by completing a new
application for an income tax withholding account.

Payroll service provider
If an employer contracts with a payroll service provider to handle the employer’s wage withholding, filing, and
payment duties, the employer must complete the appropriate part of the registration form to designate and
identify the provider. The designation of the provider on the registration form will constitute the employer’s
consent for the Office of State Tax Commissioner to communicate directly with the provider about the
employer’s wage withholding returns and payments. An employer may revoke the provider designation and
consent by completing and filing a new registration application on which the employer requests the revocation.

Closing an account
If an employer ceases to conduct business in North Dakota or permanently ceases to pay wages subject
to North Dakota withholding, the employer must notify the Office of State Tax Commissioner to close
the withholding account. This can be done on the final Form 306 or final Form 307 filed for the closing
year, or through Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) at www.tax.nd.gov/tap, by letter, or sending an email to
taxregistration@nd.gov. Note: Form 307 (if required), Form W-2, and any Form 1099 and 1042-S reporting
non-wage payments (other than oil and gas royalties) must be filed for the year the account is closed.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-61

Amount To Withhold
The amount of North Dakota income tax to withhold is based on the employee’s federal Form W-4 on file
with the employer. There are two methods available to employers for calculating the amount to withhold—the
Percentage Method and the Wage Bracket Method—which are similar to the federal income tax withholding
methods. For complete details, see the separate document Income Tax Withholding Rates & Instructions at
www.tax.nd.gov/IncomeTaxWithholding. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59

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Income Tax Withholding &
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Reporting And Payment Of Tax Withheld

Form 306 - Income Tax Withholding Return
Form 306, North Dakota Income Tax Withholding Return, must be filed to report and remit the amount of North
Dakota income tax withheld during the period for which it is filed. Form 306 must be filed on a calendar quarter
basis, or if eligible, on an annual basis—see “When to file Form 306” later in this section. Form 306 must be
filed even if no wages were paid during the period covered by the return.
Form 306 can be obtained on the Office of State Tax Commissioner’s website at www.tax.nd.gov/forms. If an
employer is required to electronically file Form 306, or an employer chooses to file Form 306 electronically, the
paper Form 306 will no longer be mailed to the employer—see “Filing and Payment Methods For Form 306”
below. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(1)(2)

Filing And Payment Methods For Form 306

2021 calendar year. For the 2021 calendar year, Form 306 may be filed electronically or on paper.
Calendar years 2022 and after. For calendar years 2022 and after, Form 306 and the tax due on it must be
submitted electronically if either of the following apply:
 The amount required to be withheld from wages paid during the previous calendar year is $1,000 or
more.
 The employer contracts with a third-party payroll service provider to file and remit North Dakota income
tax withheld on the employer’s behalf, and the third-party payroll service provider electronically files and
remits the employer’s withholding taxes for federal tax purposes.
If an employer can show good cause, the employer may request a waiver of the electronic filing requirement.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(2)

Electronic filing and payment options
Form 306 and the tax due on it can be submitted electronically in the same transaction using either of the
following two methods:
 Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) - If an employer has a TAP account with the Office of State Tax
Commissioner, Form 306 and any tax due on it can be electronically submitted through the account. If
there is a tax due, it can be paid through an ACH Debit transaction, which authorizes the Office of State
Tax Commissioner to withdraw the funds from the employer’s checking or savings account.
Don’t have a TAP account? To set up a TAP account, go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap and click on “Sign
Up For Access.”
ACH Debit block: If an employer has placed an ACH Debit block on the employer’s bank account,
the employer must contact the financial institution to authorize an ACH Debit payment prior to the
transaction to prevent rejection of the payment. The financial institution will need the Office of State Tax
Commissioner’s Originator ID number for this purpose. Use the applicable Originator ID below:
 To authorize the Office of State Tax Commissioner to debit a savings or checking account, use
Originator ID number 1450309764.
 To pay with a debit card, use Originator ID number 1621868563.

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Income Tax Withholding &
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• ACH Credit – If there is a tax due on Form 306, both the return and the tax due can be electronically
submitted through an ACH credit transaction, which is an electronic transfer of funds from the
employer’s bank to the Bank of North Dakota. The employer initiates this through its own bank and is
responsible for any fees to make the transfer. The ACH Credit transaction satisfies the Form 306 filing
requirement.
To use this method, complete and submit Form 301-EF, ACH Credit Authorization, to the Office of State
Tax Commissioner. For more information, go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap and click on “Make A Payment,”
then select “ACH Credit Information.” Note: The addenda record layout specified for “Income Tax
Withholding” must be used.

Paper filing and payment options
Form 306 may be filed on paper only if an employer is not required to file it electronically or has obtained a
waiver of the electronic filing requirement. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(2)
Payment options. If filing a paper Form 306, payment of the tax due on the form can be electronically
submitted through the employer’s TAP account or through the Make A Payment feature on the Office of State
Tax Commissioner’s website at www.tax.nd.gov/tap. If paying with a paper check, complete Part III of Form
306 and submit the check with Form 306.
When to file Form 306
Except as provided under “Annual filing” below, Form 306 must be filed for each calendar quarter on or before
the following due dates:
Calendar Quarter Due Date
January, February and March April 30
April, May and June July 31
July, August and September October 31
October, November and December January 31 N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(1)

Annual filing. In lieu of filing and paying on a quarterly basis, an annual filing and payment option is available
to eligible employers under which one Form 306 is filed for the entire calendar year on or before January 31
following the end of the calendar year. An employer is eligible to file an annual Form 306 for a calendar year if
all the following apply:
• The employer filed Form 306 for all four quarters of the preceding calendar year.
• The employer filed and paid the full amount of North Dakota income tax due on Form 306 on or before
the due date for all four quarters of the preceding calendar year.
• The total North Dakota income tax withheld by the employer during the preceding calendar year was
less than $1,000.
For eligible employers who wish to file Form 306 on an annual basis, contact the Office of State Tax
Commissioner at withhold@nd.gov prior to filing the first quarter’s withholding income tax return.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(1)

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Income Tax Withholding &
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Failure To Timely File Or Pay
If Form 306 is not filed, or if full payment is not remitted, on or before the due date, penalty and interest applies 
as follows:
 •     Penalty
         Late filed return—If an original return is not filed by the due date, the penalty is 5% of the tax due or 
           $5.00, whichever is greater, for the month in which the return is due, plus an additional 5% for each 
           additional month (or fraction of a month) during which the tax remains unpaid, not to exceed 25% of 
           the tax due.
         Late payment—If an original return is filed on or before the due date, but the full amount of tax due 
           on it is not paid by the due date, the penalty is 5% of the tax due or $5.00, whichever is greater.
         Amended return—If an amended return is filed after the due date of the original return, and there is 
           a tax due on the amended return, a penalty of 5% of the tax due on the amended return or $5.00, 
           whichever is greater, applies.
       N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-45(2) and 57-38-61
 •     Interest. Interest accrues at the rate of 1% of the tax due for each month (or fraction of a month) the tax 
       remains unpaid, starting with the month following the month in which the original return was due. This 
       also applies to tax due on an amended return filed after the due date of the original return. N.D.C.C.
       §§ 57-38-45(1) and 57-38-61

Amended return
An amended Form 306 can be filed electronically in TAP, or on paper if the employer is not required to file it 
electronically.

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Income Tax Withholding &
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Section 2 - Voluntary Income Tax Withholding From
Non-Wage Payments

 This section explains the requirements and procedures that apply if North Dakota income
tax is voluntarily withheld from non-wage payments reportable on Forms 1099, 1042-S, and
W-2G.
 See Section 3 of this guideline for the requirements and procedures for filing Forms 1099,
1042-S, and W-2G reporting non-wage payments from which North Dakota income tax is
withheld.

General Rule For Non-Wage Payments
Non-wage payments are not subject to North Dakota income tax withholding, except for the three types listed
below. North Dakota income tax may be voluntarily withheld from non-wage payments otherwise exempt from
withholding—see “Voluntary Withholding” below.
 North Dakota oil and gas royalty payments—Certain oil and gas royalty payments reportable on
Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S are subject to North Dakota income tax withholding. See Section 5 of
this guideline for the requirements and procedures. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4
 North Dakota lottery prize payments—A North Dakota lottery prize payment reportable on Form
W-2G is subject to North Dakota income tax withholding at the highest marginal rate for individuals if
the prize is over $5,000. Currently, the withholding rate is 2.90%. North Dakota lottery prize payments
and the withholding of income taxes from them are administered by the North Dakota Lottery, a division
of the Office of Attorney General. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.2
 North Dakota unemployment benefit payments—North Dakota unemployment compensation
payments reportable on Form 1099-G are subject to North Dakota income tax withholding, but only if
the benefit recipient elects have both federal income tax and North Dakota income tax withheld. North
Dakota unemployment payments and the withholding of income taxes from them are administered by
Job Service North Dakota. N.D.C.C. § 52-06-30(2)

Voluntary Withholding
For non-wage payments other than the three identified above, North Dakota income tax may be voluntarily
withheld if the payment recipient requests it and the payor agrees to do so. If a payor agrees to voluntarily
withhold North Dakota income tax, the following procedures apply:
1. Register for a withholding account with the Office of State Tax Commissioner. Application is made through
Taxpayer Access Point (TAP), an online tax filing and account access application on the Office of State
Tax Commissioner’s website at www.tax.nd.gov/tap.
2. Calculate the amount to withhold as explained under “Amount to withhold” below.
3. Report and pay the North Dakota income tax withheld in the same manner as wage payments, as
provided under “Filing And Payment Methods For Form 306” in Section 1 of this guideline.

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Income Tax Withholding &
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  4.  File the information returns—Forms 1099, 1042-S, or W-2G—in the same manner as wage payments, as 
 provided in Section 3 of this guideline.
   Complete the state information boxes on the Form 1099, 1042-S, or W-2G to identify the state, 
        provide the payor’s state identification number, and show the state income tax withheld. Note: The 
        state identification number for North Dakota purposes consists of the payor’s federal employer 
        identification number (FEIN) with the suffix “01” at the end.
   The Combined Federal/State Program may not be used to satisfy the requirement to file a 
        Form 1099 information return with North Dakota if North Dakota income tax is withheld from the 
        payment.

Amount to withhold
Because the withholding is voluntary, the payment recipient may choose the amount to withhold. This may be a 
percentage of the payment or a specific dollar amount. If the recipient does not specify a percentage or amount 
to withhold, or is uncertain about the amount to withhold, multiply the payment by 2.90%.

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Income Tax Withholding &
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Section 3 - Information Returns For Wages And
Non-Wage Payments With Voluntary Withholding

 This section explains the year-end filing requirements for the following information returns:
o Form W-2.
o Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G reporting non-wage payments (other than oil and gas
royalty payments) from which North Dakota income tax was withheld.
 IMPORTANT—The procedures in this section do not apply to the following information
returns:
o Forms 1099 and 1042-S reporting oil and gas royalty payments from which North
Dakota income tax is required to be withheld under North Dakota Century Code
§ 57-38-59.4. Instead, see Section 5.
o Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G reporting non-wage payments (other than oil and gas
royalty payments) without North Dakota income tax withholding. Instead, see Section 4.

CHANGE FOR 2022 AND AFTER - For calendar years 2022 and after, all Forms W-2, and any
Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G showing North Dakota income tax withholding, must be filed
electronically. See “How And When To File” later in this section.

Who Must File

Information return for wages (Form W-2)
Every employer who pays wages must file an information return to report the wages and any North Dakota
income tax withheld if all the following apply:
 The employer is located, or carries on a trade or business, in North Dakota. “Employer” includes the
state of North Dakota and its political subdivisions.
 The employer pays wages to (a) an employee for services performed in North Dakota or (b) a North
Dakota resident for services performed outside North Dakota (including outside the United States).
 The employer is required to file a Form W-2 for federal purposes to report the wages.
This filing requirement applies even if the employer is not required to register for a withholding account or no
North Dakota income tax was withheld during the calendar year. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(3)(4)
Third-party sick pay—Reconciliation statement. If a third-party payer of sick pay withholds and remits North
Dakota income tax using the third-party payer’s name and federal employer identification number (FEIN), but
the withheld taxes are reported on the Forms W-2 filed by the employer, the employer must provide a written
statement with the Forms W-2 when filed to reconcile the amounts paid with Form 306 and the amounts
reported on Form W-2. If the employer electronically files the Forms W-2, the statement may be submitted
through the employer’s TAP account, by letter, or as an email attachment to withhold@nd.gov. The statement
must contain the following:

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 The heading: Third-Party Sick Pay Reconciliation Statement For Withholding Purposes.
 Calendar year in which the sick pay payments from which North Dakota income tax was withheld were
made to the employees.
 Employer’s name, FEIN, and North Dakota withholding account number.
 For each employee who received sick pay from which North Dakota income tax was withheld:
 Name
 Social security number
 Amount of sick pay
 Amount of North Dakota income tax withheld
N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-56, 57-38-60, and 57-38-61

Information return for non-wage payments with voluntary withholding (Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G)
If an employer or other person voluntarily withholds North Dakota income tax from non-wage payments
reportable to North Dakota on Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G, the information returns must be filed with North
Dakota using the procedures explained in this Section 3 of the guideline. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-42(1)

How And When To File
For North Dakota purposes, the requirement to file information returns is satisfied by filing with North Dakota a
copy of the Form W-2, 1099, 1042-S, or W-2G filed with the Social Security Administration or Internal Revenue
Service. The state information section on the information return must be completed for North Dakota purposes
to show the North Dakota wages or income paid and North Dakota income tax withheld for the calendar year.
N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-42(1) and 57-38-60(3)(4)

How to file
2021 calendar year. For calendar year 2021, all Forms W-2, and any Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G
showing North Dakota income tax withholding, must be electronically filed if there is a requirement to file them
electronically for federal purposes and the number of forms required to be filed with North Dakota is 10 or
more. A payroll service provider must file the forms electronically, regardless of the number of forms. N.D.C.C.
§ 57-38-60(11)(12), effective for calendar years before 2022.
Calendar years 2022 and after. For calendar years 2022 and after, all Forms W-2, and any Forms 1099,
1042-S, and W-2G showing North Dakota income tax withholding, must be filed electronically. If an employer
or payor can show good cause, a request for a waiver of the electronic filing requirement may be requested.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-60(12), effective for calendar years 2022 and after.
Either of the following two electronic filing methods may be used:

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3. After logging into account, select File W-2s or 1099s and follow the online instructions.
Tip: If using TAP only to file information returns, select Third party access.
Need help? Step-by-step instructions on how to file the information returns in TAP can be found
at www.tax.nd.gov/IncomeTaxWithholding in the “Need Help With Filing?” section. These
instructions also apply to filing Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G reporting North Dakota income tax
withholding.
• Method 2: Electronic upload web service through accounting software
If an employer or other person uses accounting software that supports the transmission of information
returns via an upload web service, the information returns can be submitted directly through the
software. The software streamlines filing and provides confirmation that the information returns were
successfully submitted.
Anyone interested in incorporating the upload web service into their software or system can find
technical information at www.tax.nd.gov/SoftwareDevelopers under the Technical Guidance section.

Please note:
1. If the information returns are electronically filed with North Dakota, do not file North Dakota Form 307,
Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statement. Form 307 is to be used only if the information returns are filed
on paper—see “Paper filing” later in this section.
2. A Form 1099 reporting a payment from which North Dakota income tax was withheld must be filed
separately using the procedures in this Section 3 of the guideline. This applies even if it was included
in the information filed with the IRS under the Combined Federal/State Program. If possible, do
not include a Form 1099 reporting North Dakota income tax withholding in a filing under the
Combined Federal/State Program.

Formatting Form W-2, 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G Data Files
Form W-2 files must be formatted according to the specifications in SSA Publication 42-007 (EFW2).
Form 1099 and W-2G files must be formatted according to the specifications in IRS Publication 1220.
Form 1042-S files must be formatted using the formatting specifications contained in IRS
Publication 1187.
For additional technical information on file specifications specific to North Dakota, go to
www.tax.nd.gov/SoftwareDevelopers.

Testing Form W-2 and 1099 Data Files
The following two secure processes are available for testing W-2 and 1099 file formatting:
Option 1—Submit file through TAP account
If filer has access to a TAP account—whether as owner, employee, or third party—a test file can
be securely submitted through the account’s messaging feature. Log into TAP account and click
“Send message” under the “I Want To” section. Then choose Message Type “10. W2 1099 Test File.”
Enter a subject and message, attach the file, and click “Submit.” The test file will be reviewed, and a
response message will be sent to the TAP account. The response will either confirm the file passed
validation with zero errors or identify any errors in the file and explain how to correct them.

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Option 2—Submit file using “Test W-2 & 1099 Files” feature in TAP
A test file can also be submitted without having, or logging into, a TAP account. In TAP, under
Resources, click on “Test W-2 & 1099 Files” and follow the instructions for uploading the file. Unlike
Option 1 above, this feature is limited to providing an immediate response that either confirms zero
errors or identifies any errors; it does not explain how to correct the errors.
Don’t have a TAP account? To set up a TAP account, go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap and click on “Sign
Up For Access.”

When To File
Whether filing electronically or on paper, all Forms W-2 and any Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G showing
North Dakota income tax withholding must be filed with North Dakota on or before the due date for filing
Form W-2 with the Social Security Administration. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-42 and 57-38-60(3)(4)

Failure To File
A penalty of $10 per information return, up to a maximum amount of $2,000, may be assessed for failure to file
North Dakota information returns. This penalty may be assessed if information returns are not filed within thirty
days after the Office of State Tax Commissioner provides written notice of the failure to file. N.D.C.C.
§§ 57-38-42(1) and 57-38-60(5)

Corrections To Form W-2 And Forms 1099, 1042-S, And W-2G With Withholding
If a Form W-2c, or a Form 1099, 1042-S, or W-2G with North Dakota income tax withholding, is filed with the
Internal Revenue Service to report a correction, a copy of the corrected form must be filed with North Dakota.
This includes any correction, including a change to the name or federal identification number of the employee
or payee.
If a correction needs to be made only to the state information on the form, and a corrected form is not going to
be filed for federal purposes, report the correction to North Dakota using a Form W-2c or a Form 1099, 1042-S,
or W-2G (with the “CORRECTED” box checked). For state-only corrections, the forms can be marked “For
State Purposes Only.”
For North Dakota purposes, correction forms cannot be electronically filed but must be filed on paper. North
Dakota Form 307, Transmittal Of Wage And Tax Statement, must be completed and filed with the Form W-2c
or corrected Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G.

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Section 4 - Information Returns For Non-Wage
Payments With No Withholding

                                      IMPORTANT
     This section explains the general year-end information return filing requirements for 
        Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G reporting non-wage payments without North Dakota 
        income tax withholding.
       IMPORTANT—The procedures in this section do not apply to the following information 
        returns:
        o  Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G reporting non-wage payments (other than oil and gas 
         royalty payments) from which North Dakota income tax was withheld. See Section 3.
        o  Forms 1099 and 1042-S reporting oil and gas royalty payments from which North 
         Dakota income tax is required to be withheld under North Dakota Century Code
         § 57-38-59.4. See Section 5.

   CHANGE FOR 2022 AND AFTER - For calendar years 2022 and after, Forms 1099, 1042-S, 
   and W-2G must be filed electronically. See “How And When To File” later in this section.

Who Must File
Every person making certain payments—see “Reportable Payments” below—must file an information return to 
report the payment to North Dakota if both of the following apply: 
 • The person resides, owns property, or carries on a trade or business in North Dakota.
 • The person is required to file a 1099, 1042-S or W-2G to report the same payment for federal purposes.
   Note: Other types of information returns, such as Forms 1098, 1098-E, 1098-T, or 5498, are not 
   required for North Dakota purposes.
For this purpose, “person” includes an individual, partnership, fiduciary, corporation, limited liability company, 
and an officer or employee of the state of North Dakota or any of its political subdivisions. N.D.C.C.
§§ 57-38-01(9) and 57-38-42(1)

Reportable Payments
For North Dakota purposes, reportable payments include the following:
 • Rents, royalties, crop insurance proceeds, taxable prizes and awards, and any other income reportable 
   on Form 1099-MISC.
   Exception: For payments of North Dakota-sourced oil and gas royalties subject to North Dakota 
   income tax withholding, do not use the procedures in this Section 4; instead, see Section 5 for how to 
   report these payments. If North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments and any other reportable payments 
   are reported on the same Form 1099-MISC, the submission of the Form 1099-MISC under the 
   procedures in Section 5 satisfies the North Dakota information return reporting requirements under this 
   Section 4 for the other reportable payments.

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 • Payment of compensation for services performed by a nonemployee reportable on Form 1099-NEC.
 • Gambling winnings reportable on Form W-2G.
 • Unemployment benefits, taxable grants, agricultural payments, and any other income reportable on 
   Form 1099-G.
 • Proceeds from real estate transactions, including sales of mineral rights, reportable on Form 1099-S.
 • Proceeds from broker and barter exchange transactions reportable on Form 1099-B.
 • Gambling winnings, royalties, lease bonuses, compensation for services, and any other income paid to 
   a nonresident alien, foreign partnership or corporation, or a foreign fiduciary of an estate or trust that is 
   reportable on Form 1042-S, provided that the income is sourced, and is subject to income tax, in North 
   Dakota.
   Exception: For payments of North Dakota-sourced oil and gas royalties subject to North Dakota 
   income tax withholding, do not use the procedures in this Section 4; instead, see Section 5 for how to 
   report these payments. If North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments and any other reportable payments 
   are reported on the same Form 1042-S, the submission of the Form 1042-S under the procedures in 
   Section 5 satisfies the North Dakota information return reporting requirements under this Section 4 for 
   the other reportable payments.
 N.D.C.C. § 57-38-42(1)

Nonreportable payments
Except where North Dakota income tax is withheld from the payment, an information return does not have to 
be filed to report the following payments:
 • Interest income reportable on Form 1099-INT or 1042-S.
 • Original issue discount reportable on Form 1099-OID.
 • Dividend income reportable on Form 1099-DIV, 1042-S or 1099-PATR.
 • Distribution from a retirement or profit-sharing plan, an IRA, a SEP, or an annuity contract reportable on 
   Form 1099-R or 1042-S.
 Note: If North Dakota income tax is withheld from any of the above payment types, an information return 
 must be filed using the procedures in Section 3 of this guideline.
 N.D.C.C. § 57-38-42(1)

Resident and nonresident individual payees
In the case of an individual payee, this information return reporting requirement applies regardless of 
whether the individual is a resident or nonresident of North Dakota; however, in the case of a nonresident, 
the requirement applies only if the income is sourced in North Dakota. In general, income is sourced in North 
Dakota if it meets any of the following:
 • It is attributable to services performed in North Dakota.
 • It is derived from tangible property in North Dakota, such as rents, oil and gas royalties, and gain from 
   the sale or exchange of the property.
 • It is derived from a trade or business carried on in North Dakota, whether as a sole proprietorship, 
   partnership, S corporation, or limited liability company.

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• It is from an estate or trust, but only to the extent the income is derived from tangible property or a trade
or business in North Dakota.
• It is derived from gambling activity carried on in North Dakota.
N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-03, 57-38-04, and 57-38-42(1)

State information section on information return
If the information return has a section for providing state information, please complete that section, particularly
the state abbreviation code (“ND” in the case of North Dakota), to indicate the state in which the income is
sourced. This is very helpful to both the payee and the Office of State Tax Commissioner.

How And When To File
For North Dakota purposes, the requirement to file information returns is satisfied by filing with the Office of
State Tax Commissioner a copy of the Form 1099, 1042-S, or W-2G filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-42(1)(4)

How to file
2021 calendar year. For calendar year 2021, Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G must be electronically filed if
there is a requirement to file them electronically for federal purposes and the number of forms required to be
filed with North Dakota is 10 or more. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-42(1)
Calendar years 2022 and after. For calendar years 2022 and after, all Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G
must be filed electronically. If an employer or payor can show good cause, a waiver of the electronic filing
requirement may be requested. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-42(7)
The following electronic filing methods are available:

• Method 1: Taxpayer Access Point (TAP)
The information returns can be filed in TAP, the Office of State Tax Commissioner’s online tax filing and
account access system for businesses. In TAP, the data can be uploaded or manually keyed from the
returns. To do so:
1. Go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap.
2. If new to TAP, select Sign Up for Access to create an account. If an existing user, select Log On.
3. After logging into account, select File W-2s or 1099s and follow the online instructions.
Tip: If using TAP only to file information returns, select Third party access.
Need help? Step-by-step instructions on how to file the information returns in TAP can be found at
www.tax.nd.gov/IncomeTaxWithholding in the “Need Help With Filing?” section.

• Method 2: Electronic upload web service through accounting software
If an employer, payor or other person uses accounting software that supports the transmission of
information returns via an upload web service, the information returns can be submitted directly through
the software. The software streamlines filing and provides confirmation that the information returns
were successfully submitted.
Anyone interested in incorporating the upload web service into their software or system can find
technical information at www.tax.nd.gov/SoftwareDevelopers under the Technical Guidance section.

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• Method 3: Combined Federal/State Program
North Dakota participates in the Combined Federal/State Program offered by the IRS. Rather than
submitting Form 1099 information separately to the IRS and North Dakota, the payor can request the
IRS to provide a copy of the information to North Dakota. Only Form 1099 information can be submitted
under this program. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-42(5)
If this option is chosen, please note the following:
 The payor does not need to notify the Office of State Tax Commissioner that Form 1099 information
will be filed through the Combined Federal/State Program.
 Format Forms 1099 using the specifications in the most current version of IRS Publication 1220.
Be sure to provide the state data in the “B” record.
 Forms 1042-S and W-2G cannot be filed through the Combined Federal/State Program and must
be filed with North Dakota using Method 1 (TAP) or Method 2 (upload web service).
 A Form 1099 reporting a payment from which North Dakota income tax was withheld must be filed
separately with North Dakota using the procedures in Section 3 of this guideline. This applies even
if it was included in the information filed with the IRS under the Combined Federal/State Program. If
possible, please do not include a Form 1099 reporting North Dakota income tax witholding in
a filing under the Combined Federal/State Program.

Formatting Form 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G Data Files
Form 1099 and W-2G files must be formatted according to the specifications in IRS Publication 1220.
Form 1042-S files must be formatted using the formatting specifications contained in IRS
Publication 1187.
For additional technical information on file specifications specific to North Dakota, go to
www.tax.nd.gov/SoftwareDevelopers.

Testing Form 1099 Data Files
The following two secure processes are available for testing 1099 file formatting:
Option 1—Submit file through TAP account
If filer has access to a TAP account—whether as owner, employee, or third party—a test file can
be securely submitted through the account’s messaging feature. Log into TAP account and click
“Send message” under the “I Want To” section. Then choose Message Type “10. W2 1099 Test File.”
Enter a subject and message, attach the file, and click “Submit.” The test file will be reviewed, and a
response message will be sent to the TAP account. The response will either confirm the file passed
validation with zero errors or identify any errors in the file and explain how to correct them.
Option 2—Submit file using “Test W-2 & 1099 Files” feature in TAP
A test file can also be submitted without having, or logging into, a TAP account. In TAP, under
Resources, click on “Test W-2 & 1099 Files” and follow the instructions for uploading the file. Unlike
Option 1 above, this feature is limited to providing an immediate response that either confirms zero
errors or identifies any errors; it does not explain how to correct the errors.
Don’t have a TAP account? To set up a TAP account, go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap and click on “Sign
Up For Access.”

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When To File
Whether filing electronically or on paper, the information returns must be filed with the Office of State Tax
Commissioner on or before the due date for filing Forms 1099, 1042-S or W-2G with the Internal Revenue
Service. Forms 1099 filed through the Combined Federal/State Program are considered timely filed with North
Dakota if timely filed with the IRS. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-42(3)

Corrections To Forms 1099, 1042-S, And W-2G
If a corrected Form 1099, 1042-S, or W-2G is filed with the Internal Revenue Service, a copy of the corrected
form must be filed with North Dakota. This includes any correction, including a change to the recipient’s name
or federal identification number.
If a correction needs to be made only to the state information on the form, and a corrected form is not going to
be filed for federal purposes, report the correction to North Dakota using a Form 1099, 1042-S, or W-2G (with
the “CORRECTED” box checked). For state-only corrections, the forms can be marked “For State Purposes
Only.”
For North Dakota purposes, corrected Forms 1099, 1042-S, and W-2G cannot be electronically filed but must
be filed on paper. There is no state transmittal form to be submitted with the corrected forms; submit a copy of
the Form 1096 filed with the corrected forms for federal purposes.

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Section 5 - Income Tax Withholding From Oil And Gas
Royalty Payments

 This section applies to persons responsible for making oil and gas royalty payments to
owners of royalty interests in oil and gas produced in North Dakota.
 Part 1 of this section explains the requirements and procedures for withholding North
Dakota income tax from royalty payments made to nonresident individuals and non-North
Dakota domiciled business entities under N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4.

 Part 2 of this section explains the year-end information return filing requirements for
Forms 1099 and 1042-S reporting North Dakota oil and gas royalty payments subject to
North Dakota income tax withholding.

CHANGES FOR 2022 AND AFTER
 For calendar years 2022 and after, Form RWT-941, Royalty Withholding Return, and
the tax due on it must be submitted electronically if the amount of North Dakota income
tax withheld during the previous calendar year was $1,000 or more. See “Reporting And
Payment Of Tax Withheld” in Part 1 of this section.

 For calendar years 2022 and after, Forms 1099 and 1042-S reporting North Dakota oil and
gas royalty payments must be filed electronically. See Part 2 of this section.

Part 1 - Withholding Requirement

Definitions

Unless otherwise stated, the following definitions of terms used in this section apply:
Non-North Dakota domiciled business entity means a business entity with a commercial domicile outside
North Dakota. Commercial domicile is the principal place from which the trade or business is directed or
managed. A business entity includes a partnership, corporation, and any person other than an individual.
Nonresident individual means an individual who is not a legal resident of North Dakota for the entire year.
This includes an individual who is a legal resident of a foreign country. Legal residence refers to an individual’s
place of permanent residence to which an individual always returns whenever absent from it. Absences
attributable to employment, vacation, military service, attending college, etc., do not affect an individual’s place
of legal residence if the individual intends on returning to it when the activity is completed.
North Dakota oil or gas royalty means a payment to a royalty owner that represents the royalty owner’s
share of receipts from the sale of oil or gas extracted from within the boundaries of North Dakota. The amount
that is subject to North Dakota income tax withholding is the gross amount of the North Dakota oil or gas
royalty reported in Box 2 of the federal or state-only Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S.
Person means an individual, estate, trust, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, and any other
type of entity recognized under North Dakota law. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-01(9)

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Remitter means a person responsible for issuing a royalty payment to a royalty owner. A remitter may be the
person that produces the oil or gas or the person that distributes the royalty on behalf of a producer. In all
cases, the remitter is the person whose name and federal employer identification number (FEIN) are required
to be entered in the payer boxes on the federal or state-only Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S. N.D.C.C.
§ 57-38-59.4(1)(b)
Royalty owner means a person entitled to receive periodic royalty payments for a nonworking interest in
the production of oil or gas, and the person to whom a remitter is required to issue a federal or state-only
Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S to report the royalty payments. If a royalty owner is a single-member limited
liability company (LLC) that is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes, the owner of the single-
member LLC is the royalty owner, and the federal or state-only Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S must be issued
in the name and taxpayer identification number (social security number or FEIN) of the LLC’s owner. (Note: If
a remitter receives a federal Form W-9 on which it is indicated that the royalty owner is a single-member LLC
that is disregarded, the name and taxpayer identification number on the Form W-9 should be that of the LLC’s
owner instead of the LLC itself.) N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(1)(c)
State-only Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S means a federal Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S prepared on a pro forma
basis for North Dakota income tax purposes for a royalty owner with North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments
for whom a Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S is not required to be issued for federal income tax purposes. See
“Information returns for royalty owners” later in this guideline for more information.

Who Must Withhold
A remitter is required to withhold North Dakota income tax from North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments made
to nonresident individuals and non-North Dakota domiciled business entities. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(2)

Determining residency or commercial domicile status of a royalty owner
A remitter needs to know the residency or commercial domicile status of a royalty owner. The remitter may use
any reasonable means to determine the status. This may include reliance on the address to which a royalty
payment is mailed or the address provided by the royalty owner on a federal Form W-9. In some cases, a
remitter may need to contact the royalty owner to obtain the information.

Nonresident alien
This withholding requirement applies to an individual royalty owner who is a nonresident alien of the United
States. It applies even if the royalty income is exempt from U.S. income tax because of an income tax treaty
between the United States and a foreign country. Except where an income tax treaty between the United
States and foreign country specifically exempts oil or gas royalty income from taxation by a U.S. state, income
tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries are not recognized for North Dakota income tax
purposes, and North Dakota oil or gas royalty income is subject to North Dakota income tax.

Voluntary agreement to withhold
A remitter and a royalty owner other than a nonresident individual or non-North Dakota domiciled business
entity may mutually agree to have North Dakota income tax withheld on a voluntary basis from the royalty
owner’s North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments. If North Dakota income tax is voluntarily withheld, the
remitter must comply with the registration, reporting, and payment requirements explained in this section of the
guideline.

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Accounting service provider
A remitter may arrange with a third-party accounting service to handle the withholding, reporting, and payment
duties on behalf of the remitter. However, the remitter remains responsible for any failure to comply with any of
the withholding requirements. See “Registration requirement” later in this guideline for more information.

Exemptions From Withholding Requirement
A remitter does not have to withhold North Dakota income tax if any of the following exemptions apply:

Exemption 1: Qualifying Small Producer
A remitter does not have to withhold North Dakota income tax from North Dakota oil and gas royalty payments
during the calendar year if the remitter is an oil or gas producer whose production in North Dakota during the
preceding calendar year was less than 350,000 barrels of oil or 500 million cubic feet of gas. However, the
remitter must still file an annual report—see “Annual reporting requirement” below. This exemption does not
prohibit a remitter from voluntarily withholding income tax from the royalty payments made to royalty owners.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(4)(a)
Measuring the production threshold. The volume of production used to determine whether the threshold is
exceeded is the amount reported by a well operator to the North Dakota Industrial Commission, Oil and Gas
Division, on Forms 5 and 5B for the preceding calendar year. If the production data reported to the Industrial
Commission by the remitter includes production attributable to other producers, only use the production data
for the remitter’s respective interest in the production for purposes of the production threshold. If the remitter
acquired or disposed of production interests during the calendar year, only use the production attributable to
the period the remitter had an interest in the production.
Annual reporting requirement. Even though a remitter is not required to withold tax because of this
exemption, the remitter is still subject to the information return filing requirements—see “Information Returns
For Oil and Gas Royalty Payments” in Part 2 of this section.

Exemption 2: Payments To Certain Types Of Royalty Owners
A remitter is not required to withhold North Dakota income tax from North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments
made to any of the following entities:
• The United States or any of its agencies, or any state and its political subdivisions.
• A federally recognized Indian tribe with respect to on-reservation oil and gas production pursuant to a
lease entered under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1938 [25 U.S.C. 396a – 396g].
• The United States as trustee for individual Indians.
• A publicly traded partnership, as defined in Internal Revenue Code § 7704, that is not treated as
a corporation. But see “Exempt status notification” below. Also see “Reporting by a publicly traded
partnership” in Part 2 of this section.
• An organization that is exempt from North Dakota income tax under N.D.C.C. § 57-38-09. But see
“Exempt status notification” below. This exemption does not affect the taxation of an entity’s unrelated
business taxable income (UBTI), if any, under North Dakota income tax law.
• The same person or entity as the remitter.
N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(3)

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Exempt status notification. A publicly traded partnership or an organization exempt from North Dakota
income tax must complete Form RWT-EXM, Exemption Status For Royalty Withholding For Publicly Traded
Partnership And Tax-Exempt Organization. A copy of Form RWT-EXM must be provided to each remitter and
the Office of State Tax Commissioner to verify its exempt status. This form needs to be filed only one time; a
new form does not have to be filed each year. If the entity receives North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments
from more than one remitter, the entity should provide a copy of Form RWT-EXM to each remitter. If an entity
fails to meet the definition of a publicly traded partnership or loses its exempt status under N.D.C.C.
§ 57-38-09, the entity must complete a new Form RWT-EXM on which it indicates that it is no longer exempt
from withholding and provide a copy to the remitter and the Office of State Tax Commissioner. N.D.C.C.
§ 57-38-59.4(5)(b)

Exemption 3: Payment Amount Below Statutory Threshold
Upon written request, the Office of State Tax Commissioner will allow a remitter to forego withholding North
Dakota income tax from any North Dakota oil or gas royalty payment that is less than either of the following
statutory thresholds:
• For royalty payments made on a quarterly basis, no withholding is required from a payment that is less
than $600.
• For royalty payments made on other than a quarterly basis—for example, monthly or semiannually—no
withholding is required from a payment that, when annualized, is less than $1,000.
o Example 1: If a remitter makes royalty payments monthly, no withholding is required if the amount
of the payment is $83.33 or less. $83.33, when annualized, equals $999.96 ($83.33 x 12 months),
which is less than $1,000. Withholding would be required on a monthly payment that is more than
$83.33.
o Example 2: If a remitter makes royalty payments semiannually, no withholding is required if the
amount of the payment is $499.99 or less. $499.99, when annualized, equals $999.98 ($499.99 x
2 semiannual periods), which is less than $1,000. Withholding would be required on a semiannual
payment that is $500 or more.
Making the written request. A remitter may request to use this exemption by completing the applicable part
of the Application to Register for Royalty Withholding, the registration form that all remitters must complete
and file with the Office of State Tax Commissioner. If a remitter has already filed the registration form without
requesting the use of this exemption, the remitter may submit a letter to the Office of State Tax Commissioner
to request the use of the exemption under N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(6). For more information, see “Remitter
Registration” later in this section. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(6)

Amount To Withhold
The amount to withhold is determined by multiplying the gross amount of the North Dakota oil or gas royalty
by 2.15%.* This applies to all types of royalty owners, regardless of whether the royalty owner is an individual,
estate, trust, partnership, or other type of business entity. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(2)
* The withholding rate is equal to the highest marginal individual income tax rate reduced by 0.75%.
Currently, the highest marginal individual income tax rate is 2.90%. This rate is subject to change by the
North Dakota Legislature.

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Funds held in trust. Any North Dakota income tax withheld from royalty payments, whether or not properly
withheld, is held by the remitter in trust for the State of North Dakota. All amounts withheld must be submitted
to the Office of State Tax Commissioner in the manner and at the time prescribed by law, as explained in this
guideline. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(8)

Remitter Registration
Every remitter must register with the Office of State Tax Commissioner by completing and filing an Application
to Register for Royalty Withholding. A remitter must register even if any of the exceptions to the withholding
requirement apply or the remitter does not withhold any tax for any reporting period. Every remitter is subject to
reporting requirements regardless of whether the remitter is required to withhold any tax—see “Reporting and
Payment of Tax Withheld” in Part 2 of this section for more information. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(2) and
N.D. Admin. Code § 81-03-03.1-02

Accounting service provider
A remitter that arranges with another party to handle the remitter’s royalty withholding filing and payment
duties must complete the appropriate part of the registration form to designate and identify the provider. The
designation of the provider on the registration form will constitute the remitter’s consent for the Office of State
Tax Commissioner to communicate directly with the provider about the remitter’s royalty withholding returns
and payments. A remitter may revoke the provider designation and consent by completing and filing a new
Application to Register for Royalty Withholding on which the remitter requests the revocation.

Request to forego withholding from a payment below statutory threshold
If a remitter qualifies for Exemption 3 under “Exemptions From Withholding Requirement,” the remitter may
satisfy the written request requirement by completing the appropriate part of the registration form.

Change in FEIN
If a remitter’s FEIN is changed for any reason, or the quarterly or annual return will be filed under a different
FEIN, the remitter must complete and file a new Application to Register for Royalty Withholding to register the
change.

Cash deposit or bond
If required by the Office of State Tax Commissioner, a remitter must make a cash deposit or post a bond or
undertaking executed by a surety company authorized to do business in North Dakota. The amount of the cash
deposit, bond, or undertaking must be reasonably calculated to ensure the payment of the tax withheld by the
remitter. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(9)

Closing an account
If a remitter ceases activity as a remitter or will no longer be making North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments,
the remitter must notify the Office of State Tax Commissioner to close the withholding account. This can be
done on the final Form RWT-941 or final Form RWT-1096 filed for the closing year, or through Taxpayer Access
Point (TAP) at www.tax.nd.gov/tap, by letter, or sending an email to taxregistration@nd.gov.
Note: Form RWT-1096, Royalty Withholding Annual Return and Transmittal, and Forms 1099-MISC and
1042-S must be filed for the year the account is closed. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-61

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Part 2 - Reporting And Payment Of Tax Withheld

Form RWT-941 - Royalty Withholding Return
Form RWT-941, North Dakota Royalty Withholding Return, must be filed to report and remit the amount of
North Dakota income tax withheld during the period for which it is filed. Form RWT-941 must be filed on a
calendar quarter basis or, if eligible, on a monthly or annual basis—see “When to file Form RWT-941” later in
this section. Form RWT-941 must be filed even if a remitter did not pay any royalties or did not withhold any tax
during the period covered by the return. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(1)(2)

In the case of a new remitter, or an existing remitter currently filing on paper, a paper Form RWT-941 is
automatically mailed to the remitter prior to the end of each reporting period (quarterly, monthly, or annually,
whichever applies). Failure to receive the form for any reason does not relieve the obligation to timely file or
pay. Form RWT-941 can be obtained on the Office of State Tax Commissioner’s website at
www.tax.nd.gov/forms. If a remitter is required to electronically file Form RWT-941, or a remitter chooses to
file Form RWT-941 electronically, the paper Form RWT-941 will no longer be mailed to the remitter—see “Filing
and Payment Methods For Form RWT-941” below.

Filing And Payment Methods For Form RWT-941

2021 calendar year. For the 2021 calendar year, Form RWT-941 may be filed electronically or on paper.
Calendar years 2022 and after. Starting with the 2022 calendar year, Form RWT-941 and the tax due on it
must be submitted electronically if the amount required to be withheld from North Dakota oil and gas royalty
payments during the previous calendar year is $1,000 or more. If a remitter can show good cause, the remitter
may request a waiver of the electronic filing requirement. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(2)

Electronic filing and payment options
Form RWT-941 and the tax due on it can be submitted electronically in the same transaction using either of the
following two methods:
• Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) - If a remitter has a TAP account with the Office of State Tax
Commissioner, Form RWT-941 and any tax due on it can be electronically submitted through the
account. If there is a tax due, it can be paid through an ACH Debit transaction, which authorizes
the Office of State Tax Commissioner to withdraw the funds from the remitter’s checking or savings
account.
Don’t have a TAP account? To set up a TAP account, go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap and click on “Sign
Up For Access.”
ACH Debit block: If a remitter has placed an ACH Debit block on the remitter’s bank account,
the remitter must contact the financial institution to authorize an ACH Debit payment prior to the
transaction to prevent rejection of the payment. The financial institution will need the Office of State Tax
Commissioner’s Originator ID number for this purpose. Use the applicable Originator ID below:
 To authorize the Office of State Tax Commissioner to debit a savings or checking account, use
Originator ID number 1450309764.
 To pay with a debit card, use Originator ID number 1621868563.

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• ACH Credit – If there is a tax due on Form RWT-941, both the return and the tax due can be
electronically submitted through an ACH Credit transaction, which is an electronic transfer of funds from
the remitter’s bank to the Bank of North Dakota. The remitter initiates this through its own bank and is
responsible for any fees to make the transfer. The ACH Credit transaction satisfies the Form RWT-941
filing requirement. For more information, go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap and click on “Make A Payment,”
then select “ACH Credit Information.” Note: The addenda record layout specified for “Royalty
Withholding Tax” must be used.
If a remitter provided an email address on the application form when registering for the royalty withholding
account, a timely reminder to file will be sent to that email address. Failure to receive a reminder does not
relieve the remitter’s obligation to timely file Form RWT-941.

Paper filing and payment options
Form RWT-941 may be filed on paper only if a remitter is not required to file it electronically or has obtained a
waiver of the electronic filing requirement.
Payment options for paper filers. If filing a paper Form RWT-941, payment of the tax due on the form can be
electronically submitted through the remitter’s TAP account or through the payment options at
www.tax.nd.gov/tap. If paying with a paper check, submit the check with Form RWT-941.

When to file Form RWT-941
Except as provided under “Monthly filing” or “Annual filing” below, Form RWT-941 must be filed for each
calendar quarter on or before the following due dates:
Calendar Quarter Due Date
January, February, and March April 30
April, May, and June July 31
July, August, and September October 31
October, November, and December January 31 N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(1)

Monthly filing. In lieu of filing and paying on a quarterly basis, a remitter may elect to file Form RWT-941 and
pay the tax due monthly. This option is available only if a remitter files and pays electronically. A remitter must
contact the Office of State Tax Commissioner to arrange for monthly filing and payment. If this election is made
and approved, a remitter must continue to file and pay monthly until it obtains permission to change.
Annual filing. In lieu of filing and paying on a quarterly basis, a remitter may elect to file Form RWT-941 and
pay the tax due on an annual basis if all the following conditions apply:
• The remitter had an obligation to file Form RWT-941 for all four quarters of the preceding calendar year.
• The remitter filed Form RWT-941 and paid the full amount of North Dakota income tax required to be
withheld on or before the due date for all four quarters of the preceding calendar year.
• The total North Dakota income tax withheld by the remitter during the preceding calendar year was less
than $1,000.
A remitter must contact the Office of State Tax Commissioner to arrange for annual filing and payment.
N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(1)

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Failure To Timely File Or Pay
If Form RWT-941 is not filed, or if full payment is not remitted, on or before the due date, penalty and interest 
applies as follows:
 •   Penalty
       Late filed return—If an original return is not filed by the due date, the penalty is 5% of the tax due or 
         $5.00, whichever is greater, for the month in which the return is due, plus an additional 5% for each 
         additional month (or fraction of a month) during which the tax remains unpaid, not to exceed 25% of 
         the tax due.
       Late payment—If an original return is filed on or before the due date, but the full amount of tax due 
         on it is not paid by the due date, the penalty is 5% of the tax due or $5.00, whichever is greater.
       Amended return—If an amended return is filed after the due date of the original return, and there is 
         a tax due on the amended return, a penalty of 5% of the tax due on the amended return or $5.00, 
         whichever is greater, applies.
     N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-45(2), 57-38-59.4(2), and 57-38-61

 •   Interest. Interest accrues at the rate of 1% of the tax due for each month (or fraction of a month) the tax 
     remains unpaid, starting with the month following the month in which the original return was due. This 
     also applies to tax due on an amended return filed after the due date of the original return. N.D.C.C.
     §§ 57-38-45(1), 57-38-59.4(2), and 57-38-61

Amended return
Form RWT-941 is also used to correct a previously filed Form RWT-941. An amended Form RWT-941 cannot 
be electronically filed; it must be filed on paper.

Part 3 - Information Returns For Oil And Gas Royalty Payments
Every remitter must file with the Office of State Tax Commissioner a copy of all federal Forms 1099-MISC and 
1042-S reporting North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments. This applies whether or not North Dakota income 
tax was withheld from the payments. For North Dakota purposes, the requirement to file information returns is 
satisfied by filing with North Dakota a copy of the Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S filed with the Internal Revenue 
Service. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(3)(4)
State-only Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S. If a remitter is not required to file a federal Form 1099-MISC 
or 1042-S for a royalty owner for federal income tax purposes—for example, the royalty owner is a 
corporation—the remitter must prepare and file a copy of a state-only Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S. The 
state-only Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S must show the same information that would have been reported on 
a federal Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S had one been required to be filed for federal income tax purposes. 
Note: A reference to Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S in this section of the guideline includes a state-only 
Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-56, 57-38-59.4(2), 57-38-60, and 57-38-61 

State information. Be sure to complete the state information boxes on the Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S to 
identify the state, provide the remitter’s federal identification number, and show the North Dakota income tax 
withheld.
Multiple types of payments on same Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S. If North Dakota oil or gas royalty 
payments and any other type of reportable payments (identified in Section 4 of this guideline) are reported on 
the same Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S, the submission of the Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S under the procedures 
in this Section 5 satisfies the North Dakota information return reporting requirements under Section 4 for the 
other reportable payments.

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Information returns for royalty owners. On or before January 31 following the end of the calendar year,
a remitter must provide each royalty owner a copy of the federal or state-only Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S
showing the amount of North Dakota oil or gas royalties paid and the amount of North Dakota income tax
witheld from the payments.

How And When To File Forms 1099-MISC And 1042-S

How to file
2021 calendar year. For calendar year 2021, Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S must be electronically filed if
there is a requirement to file them electronically for federal purposes and the number of forms required to
be filed with North Dakota is 10 or more. An accounting service provider must file the forms electronically,
regardless of the number of forms. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(11)(12), effective for calendar
years before 2022.
Calendar years 2022 and after. For calendar years 2022 and after, Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S must be
filed electronically. If a remitter can show good cause, the remitter may request a waiver of the electronic filing
requirement. N.D.C.C. §§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(12), effective for calendar years 2022 and after.

Either of the following electronic filing methods may be used:

• Method 2: Electronic upload web service through accounting software
If a remitter uses accounting software that supports the transmission of information returns via an
upload web service, the information returns can be submitted directly through the software. The
software streamlines filing and provides confirmation that the information returns were successfully
received and processed.
Anyone interested in incorporating the upload web service into their software or system can find
technical information at www.tax.nd.gov/SoftwareDevelopers under the Technical Guidance section.

Please note:
1. Even if Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S are electronically filed, North Dakota Form RWT-1096
must be filed separately on paper—see “Form RWT-1096, Royalty Withholding Annual Return
and Transmittal” later in this section for more information. If Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S are
electronically filed, do not submit paper copies of the forms with Form RWT-1096; however, the
date of the electronic transmission must be provided on Form RWT-1096.

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2. Forms 1099-MISC reporting North Dakota oil and gas royalty payments subject to North Dakota
income tax withholding must be filed using the procedures in this section of the guideline.
Filing the forms through the Combined Federal/State Program does not satisfy the reporting
requirements of this section. If possible, do not include a Form 1099-MISC reporting North
Dakota income tax withholding in a filing under the Combined Federal/State Program.

Formatting Form 1099-MISC and 1042-S Data Files
Form 1099-MISC files must be formatted according to the specifications in IRS Publication 1220.
Form 1042-S files must be formatted using the formatting specifications contained in IRS
Publication 1187.
For additional technical information on file specifications specific to North Dakota, go to
www.tax.nd.gov/SoftwareDevelopers.

Testing Form 1099-MISC Data Files
The following two secure processes are available for testing the formatting of a Form 1099-MISC
data file:
Option 1—Submit file through TAP account
If filer has access to a TAP account—whether as owner, employee, or third party—a test file
can be securely submitted through the account’s messaging feature. Log into TAP account and
click “Send message” under the “I Want To” section. Then choose Message Type “10. W2 1099
Test File.” Enter a subject and message, attach the file, and click “Submit.” The test file will be
reviewed, and a response message will be sent to the TAP account. The response will either
confirm the file passed validation with zero errors or identify any errors in the file and explain how
to correct them.
Option 2—Submit file using “Test W-2 & 1099 Files” feature in TAP
A test file can also be submitted without having, or logging into, a TAP account. In TAP, under
Resources, click on “Test W-2 & 1099 Files” and follow the instructions for uploading the file.
Unlike Option 1 above, this feature is limited to providing an immediate response that either
confirms zero errors or identifies any errors; it does not explain how to correct the errors.
Don’t have a TAP account? To set up a TAP account, go to www.tax.nd.gov/tap and click on
“Sign Up For Access.”

Paper filing
Unless a remitter has requested and been granted a waiver of the electronic filing requirement,
Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S must be electronically filed. If a waiver is obtained and paper forms are going
to be filed, submit the paper copies with Form RWT-1096—see “Form RWT-1096—Royalty Withholding
Annual Return And Transmittal” below.

When to file Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S
Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S must be filed with Form RWT-1096, which is due on or before February 28
following the end of the calendar year—see “Form RWT-1096 - Royalty Withholding Annual Return And
Transmittal” below.

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Failure to file
A penalty of $10 per information return, up to a maximum amount of $2,000, may be assessed for failure to file
North Dakota information returns. This penalty may be assessed if information returns are not filed within thirty
days after the Office of State Tax Commissioner provides written notice of the failure to file. N.D.C.C.
§§ 57-38-59.4(2) and 57-38-60(5)

Corrections to Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S
If a corrected Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S reporting North Dakota oil or gas royalty payments is filed with the
Internal Revenue Service, a copy of the corrected form must be filed with North Dakota. This includes any
correction, including a change to the name or federal identification number of the employee or payee.
If a correction needs to be made only to the state information on the form, and a corrected form is not going to
be filed for federal purposes, report the correction to North Dakota using a Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S (with
the “CORRECTED” box checked). For state-only corrections, the forms can be marked “For State Purposes
Only.” For North Dakota purposes, corrected forms cannot be electronically filed but must be filed on paper.
North Dakota Form RWT-1096, Royalty Withhholding Annual Return and Transmittal, must be completed and
filed with the corrected Forms 1099-MISC or 1042-S.

Form RWT-1096 - Royalty Withholding Annual Return And Transmittal

All remitters must file Form RWT-1096, Royalty Withholding Annual Return and Transmittal, to report and
reconcile the North Dakota income tax withheld and remitted for the calendar year.
Small producing remitter. Even if a remitter qualifies for the small producing remitter exemption, the remitter
still must file Form RWT-1096 to report the North Dakota oil or gas royalties paid. The remitter must report the
amount of oil or gas production for the preceding calendar year on Form RWT-1096 to certify the remitter’s
eligibility for the exemption.
IMPORTANT—Paper filing only. Currently, Form RWT-1096 cannot be filed electronically; it must be
filed on paper. This applies even if Forms 1099-MISC and 1042-S are electronically filed. A preaddressed
Form RWT-1096 is mailed to every registered remitter in early January following the end of the calendar
year. Failure to receive the form for any reason does not relieve the obligation to timely file the form.
Form RWT-1096 can be obtained on the Office of State Tax Commissioner’s website at
www.tax.nd.gov/forms.
When to file Form RWT-1096
Form RWT-1096 must be filed onPageor22before February 28 following the end of the calendar year.

Reporting by a Publicly Traded Partnership
A royalty owner that is a publicly traded partnership must electronically transmit a copy of all of its federal
Schedule K-1 forms to the Office of State Tax Commisisoner if (1) the publicly traded partnership’s North
Dakota oil or gas royalty payments are exempt from North Dakota income tax withholding and (2) the publicly
traded partnership electronically files its federal Schedule K-1 forms with the IRS. Contact the Office of State
Tax Commissioner for instructions on how to submit this information. N.D.C.C. § 57-38-59.4(5)(a)

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Assistance
Phone:   701-328-1248
         Speech/hearing impaired – call Relay North Dakota at 1-800-366-6888
Fax:     701-328-0146

Email:   withhold@nd.gov
Website: tax.nd.gov
Write:   Office of State Tax Commissioner
         600 E Boulevard Ave., Dept. 127
         Bismarck, ND 58505-0599
Visit:   State Capitol Building, 8th floor
         Monday through Friday (except state holidays) 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Registration Assistance

Phone:   701-328-1241
Fax:     701-328-0332

Email:   taxregistration@nd.gov

Technical Assistance

Email:   magmedia@nd.gov

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