New Changes in Draft Form 941 for 2026 Filing Season

The IRS has released a new draft of Form 941 for the 2026 filing season. A draft IRS form is an early version of a tax form that the IRS uses for informational purposes before the actual tax form is finalized and approved. These draft forms are posted on the IRS website to provide taxpayers, tax professionals, and software developers with a preview of upcoming changes or new forms.

What’s New in the Draft Form 941 for 2026?

The IRS has released the draft version of Form 941, previewing key updates for the 2026 filing season. There are two major changes in the form that stand out:

1. New “Aggregate Return Filers Only” Checkbox

A new checkbox has been added to Form 941. This checkbox will indicate the type of filer, specifically the type of aggregate return filers or entities that file employment tax returns on behalf of multiple clients.

• Section 3504 Agent: Section 3504 agents are authorized by the IRS to act on behalf of their employers. They are responsible for employment tax filing and are often used by agencies or payroll service providers.

• Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO): CPEOs are IRS-certified organizations that co-employ workers with their clients. They usually take on tax filing and payroll responsibilities for smaller and mid-sized businesses.

• Other Third-Party Filer: This is a catch-all category for any third party that doesn’t come under Section 3504 agent or CPEO but still submits Form 941 on behalf of clients.

2. Expanded Line 15: Direct Deposit for Overpayment Refunds

Line 15 is the section where employers indicated if they wanted to apply an overpayment to their next return or receive a refund. In the new draft, Line 15 now has separate subfields to collect bank information for direct deposit refunds.

• Line 15(a) Overpayment: Enter the total amount overpaid for the quarter.
• Line 15(b) Refund Option: You can choose to apply the overpayment to your next return or request a refund.
• Line 15(c) Routing Number: If opting for a refund, provide the bank’s routing number so they can receive it via direct deposit.
• Line 15(d) Type of Account: Specify the type of bank account-checking or savings.
• Line 15(e) Account Number: Enter the account number where the refund should be deposited.

Please note: Draft IRS forms are not meant to be used for actual filing.

IRS Form 941 Filing Deadline

Form 941 must be filed four times a year, i.e., quarterly:

If a due date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline shifts to the next business day.

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