Is there a penalty for late filing of Form 941 if tax deposits are made on time?

The situation regarding late filing of Form 941, which is the Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return, is nuanced. When a business makes its tax deposits on time, it is important to note that there is generally no penalty for late filing of Form 941 itself.

The rationale behind this is that the primary obligation is to ensure that the tax liabilities are paid on time. When the deposits are punctual, the IRS recognizes that the employer has fulfilled the most critical requirement — to remit the taxes owed on time. Consequently, a late filed Form 941 does not incur a penalty as long as the tax deposits were made correctly and on schedule.

It is important for employers to comply with filing deadlines to avoid any administrative issues, but the rule provides some leeway by not imposing penalties when tax deposits are timely submitted. This highlights the importance of understanding the differing obligations of filing and paying tax liabilities.