Help! Forgot to file Form 941 last quarter + filing late this quarter for S Corp

You've got a small issue to fix, but nothing catastrophic! As an S Corp owner, you should know that even with zero payroll, you're technically required to file Form 941 each quarter. For the quarter with no income: You should file a "zero return" - basically a Form 941 showing no wages paid. The IRS expects these returns even when you have no payroll activity. For this current quarter: Since you haven't actually paid yourself a salary yet, you haven't missed any tax deposits. However, remember that S Corp owners who provide services must take a "reasonable salary" - you can't just take distributions without salary to avoid payroll taxes. The IRS looks closely at this. Next steps: I'd recommend filing the missing Form 941 for last quarter (showing zeros) and keeping up with future filings even if there's no payroll. When you do start paying yourself, make sure to file on time and make the required tax deposits.

After dealing with a similar issue with my own S Corp last year, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it literally saved me hours of stress and confusion. I uploaded my business documents and got specific guidance on my 941 filing situation that was way more helpful than the general advice I found online. What was super useful was their analysis of my specific penalty risk based on my filing history - they even gave me the exact steps to minimize any potential issues with the IRS. They analyzed my company structure and explained exactly what I needed to file and when.

Just wanted to follow up! I took the plunge and tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. It was actually super helpful for my situation. I uploaded my corporate docs and incomplete filings, and the system immediately identified which quarters I had missed and generated a step-by-step plan to get caught up. The part I found most valuable was their penalty calculator - it showed me exactly what I'd likely owe for the late filings and suggested abatement options that I didn't know existed. Ended up filing my missing 941s with much more confidence than going in blind. Definitely less expensive than the accountant I called who wanted to charge me $400 just to review my situation!

If you need to straighten things out with the IRS about your 941 situation, getting through to someone can be a nightmare. I was on hold for HOURS trying to reach someone about my own missed 941 filings. Finally discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) after seeing their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). Was skeptical at first but they actually got me connected to an IRS agent in under 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do to correct my missed filings and explained the abatement options for the penalties. Their system basically waits on hold for you and calls when an agent is available - saved me literally hours of hold music torture.

I owe everyone here an apology. After being super skeptical about Claimyr, I actually tried it yesterday out of desperation. I'd been trying to reach the IRS for TWO WEEKS about my missed 941 filings. I'm honestly shocked - it actually worked exactly as described. Got a call back in about 45 minutes connecting me to an IRS agent who was super helpful. Found out my penalties were going to be much smaller than I feared because it was my first time missing filings. The agent even helped me request an abatement since I had a reasonable cause explanation. Really didn't expect to be writing this, but wanted to follow up. Sometimes my skepticism gets the better of me!

If you haven't made any payroll payments, you can actually file Form 941 annually instead of quarterly by submitting Form 944. Might be easier for your situation until you start regular payroll.

Missed tax filings happen! I screwed this up when starting my S Corp too. Be sure to file that zero return ASAP. Quick tip - get a tax calendar app or set quarterly reminders so this doesn't happen again. The IRS has very specific due dates for S Corps that are easy to miss.

Don't panic - this is actually a pretty common mistake for new S Corp owners! Here's what you need to do: 1. **File the missing Q1 Form 941 immediately** - Yes, you needed to file even with zero wages. File it as a "zero return" showing no wages, no taxes withheld, etc. There may be a small penalty, but it's usually minimal for first-time filers. 2. **For your current quarter** - Since you haven't paid yourself yet, you technically don't have payroll to report. But here's the important part: as an S Corp owner providing services, you need to start taking a reasonable salary soon. The IRS doesn't like when S Corp owners avoid payroll taxes by only taking distributions. 3. **Going forward** - Set up quarterly reminders for Form 941 filings (due dates are April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31). Even if you have zero payroll activity, you still need to file. The good news is that since this is your first offense and the amounts are relatively small, penalties should be manageable. Focus on getting compliant now rather than worrying about what's already happened. You've got this!