QuickBooks 2013 For Dummies

Filing Annual Returns and Wage Statements

At the end of the year, you need to file some annual returns — such as the 940 Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return — and the W-2 and W-3 wages statements.

You need to prepare any state unemployment annual summary before you prepare the 940 because the 940 requires information from the state returns.

Using the QuickBooks full-meal-deal Payroll service

If you’re using either of the full-meal-deal payroll services, the service automatically fills out and sends these forms for you.

Using the QuickBooks economy Payroll services

If you’re using one of the economy payroll service options, you need to fill out and send these forms in-house, but you get lots of help from QuickBooks. QuickBooks creates and prints the 940 and W-2s/W-3s for you. All you have to do is choose Employees⇒Payroll Tax Forms and W-2s⇒Process Payroll Forms. QuickBooks asks you for a little information, and then it calculates for you. Just check the QuickBooks records against your own, and if everything matches, print that puppy. To look over the QuickBooks data included in the form and verify its integrity, it helps to print an Employee Earnings Summary report.

If you have a little trouble, call the IRS. If you have a great deal of trouble, splurge and have someone else fill ...