I totally agree.  I am waiting for Quickbooks to fix this.  Updating and rebooting did not solve the problem.

Please get Intuit to fix the problem.  I have done these forms for years...all of a sudden line 5A isn't printing and it's our fault.  I don't think so.  This is frustrating.  

I could fill the form out by hand but then my reports would be off.  

I have update and restarted 3x and am still waiting for this problem to be fixed .  

Welcome aboard to the Community, @RWCLLC.

Let me share some updates about the issue with the form in QuickBooks Desktop.

We have received reports that users are getting incorrect amounts in Box 5a of the federal form. Our engineers are all hands on deck to get the tax form working again.

While waiting for the permanent fix, we will have to add the company of the affected users to the notification list. It helps ensure you receive email updates regarding the resolution status.

Since the safety of your personal data is our top priority, I recommend contacting our Payroll Support Team. They can gather account information in a secure space.

Here’s how to get in touch to our support team:

1. Open your QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Select Help from the top menu bar, then choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Click Contact Us.
4. Enter a brief description of your issue, then select Continue.
5. Select how you want to reach out to our support team.
6. To expedite the process, provide this number: INV-48246.

The investigation not only keeps you updated on the status but also provides the engineers with the information they can use to implement a permanent fix.

Additionally, here are some helpful references that you can check out about the payroll tax forms, like how to ensure compliance with federal tax regulations, as well as some payroll news and updates:

• Process, print, and save QuickBooks Desktop Payroll tax forms
• Internal Revenue Service Payroll Tax Compliance
• Latest payroll news and updates

Feel free to hit that Reply button if you have any other questions. Have a great day ahead.

Thank you SO much for your post.  I just experienced the same issue...Line 5 social security wages were blank on Form 941.  I installed the update (which I wasn't prompted to do), and the Form is now correct.

This is exactly what is happening to me.  How do I fix this?

Thanks Andrea

I had already run all updates and I am having the same issue as of the afternoon of 7/10/20.  In multiple Quickbooks files, not with just one client.

Thanks for joining the thread, @Angeatwork   and you're welcome, @sfvaughan.

I appreciate you for updating your QuickBooks and payroll tax table to the latest release.

The issue about the blank and incorrect amounts showing on line 5a of Form 941 is currently under investigation. Rest assured, our product engineers are working hard to get you back up and running.

Meanwhile, I suggest contacting our QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Support Team so they can add you to the affected users' list. This way, you'll be notified once the fix is available. Here's how:

1. Go to the Help menu, and then select QuickBooks Desktop Help or press F1 on your keyboard.
2. Click the Contact Us button.
3. Type your issue or question on the search box like "INV-48246", and then tap Search to continue.
4. Choose either the Get a Callback or Start Messaging options.
   
   

Check out the QuickBooks Desktop section of this article for the support hours to ensure we address your issue on time: Support hours and types.

You can also read through this resource for the latest payroll news and updates: Latest Payroll news and updates.

Please let me know if you have more questions about managing your payroll or anything else related to QuickBooks. I'd be glad to help. Take care and stay safe always.

I am on QuickBooks Accountant Desktop 2018 and I am having the same problem with my 2nd Qtr 941 not populating correctly (similar to others in the thread).  I tried the updates, as suggested, and it did not work.  I went to contact the QB Desktop Payroll Support team, and I don't have a contact us button when I select Quickbooks Desktop Help.  I am not sure how to get added to the affected users list since this option is not working for me.  I want to make sure that I am looped in when communication occurs on this issue.

Thanks for following the steps above and for joining the thread, @LAS4.

You can see the Contact Us button at the bottom left part of the Have a Question? page. I've added a screenshot for visual reference:

Also, here's a great resource you can use to ensure you're compliant with state payroll tax regulations: Payroll Tax Compliance.

Feel free to get back to us if you need help with managing your payroll or other QuickBooks-related concerns. Thanks for the patience and take care always.

I wanted to reply that I had an empty line 5a on the new 941 Rev 4-2020 (2020-quarter2). While all my checking showed that I was on R7 and had all the updates and handled all of that already, I gave it one more try, doing the update exactly as instructed here and then restarted my computer. (Actually I made a backup of my data file first, because if this didn't work I was going to go in and start playing with how I had setup my accounts for the COVID-19 Credits [ERC, new FMLA/sick, etc] to see if that was cancelling out this line). I opened quickbooks and noticed a slightly different layout, now showing PPP information across the top of the main screen, and when I opened the 941 the proper SS wages were populated on line 5a.

I was having same issue on clients laptop using QB desktop 2019.  I removed Mcafee, updates quickbooks desktop, updated payroll and now it populates correct amount in box 5a as should. 

Same issue in 2018 and 2019.  Also, not populating the correct figures for FCRRA payroll either.  What a waste!!!

I think when you perform the QuickBooks update as described in the post above (using the Help menu item Update QB) you must run QuickBooks as Administrator.  To accomplish this right-click on the QB program icon and choose "run as administrator".  You will need to enter your Administrator  password in the next window in order to continue.  Perform the QuickBooks update and then perform the Payroll Update again.  When I tried this and then re-opened QB with my usual login info the 941 form still did not populate the social security fields so I closed and opened QB choosing "run ad administrator" again.  Then the "PPP" message appeared on my homepage and when I tried the 941 form it worked properly.  I closed & re-opened with my usual user info and the 941 was still working properly.  I hope this helps.

Same here!  I am assuming this has something to do with the CARES act that allows employers to hold back the employer portion of the Social Security, but it should still populate.  I am over-riding each form to match the medicare unless they have tips or are over the social security limit.  Please fix this QB as well as the non printing of zero 941s.

Hello there, ncexpression,

It seems that you posted the same question earlier. My colleague has answered it for you. Please refer to this link: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/employees-and-payroll/re-form-941-not-opening/01/6....

Let me know if you have other concerns.

Same problem with 941. So I attempted to do payroll update now I am jammed up. It stopped update at 99% and now freezes up. I had  no problem till you offered the free 2020 update from QB 2019. Each time I start up QuickBooks and try to process payroll form this is what I get. Which was the same message I got when I started payroll update.

I experienced a similar issue yesterday and did get it fixed.  The only difference is that my line 5a was blank.  After reading through all of the suggestions on updates, I did do the following and after restarting everything was fixed.  Most of the other comments about doing an update didn't have step 4 that you will see below so maybe that is what is required on the update to fix it.  I hope this helps! 

Here's how:

1. In Quickbooks:

    

   1. Go to the Help tab.
   2. Select Update QuickBooks Desktop.
   3. Click Update Now.
   4. Tick the Reset Update and make sure that all categories are checked.
   5. Tap Get Updates. 
   6. Hit OK and click Install Now.
   7. Restart Quickbooks after the install.

I am having this same problem and I just followed all of the update steps above and it is not resolved. What should be done to correct this issue?

I got my 2020 Accountant's version to populate Form 941, 11b and 13c.  Here's how:

First, I manually completed Worksheet 1 by googling for the form.

On Form 941, I put my $ 395.00 of Sick Leave Wages on Line 5(a)(i).  I then subtracted this amount from Line 5(a).

On the QB Interview screen, page 1, under Credit for Sick Leave and Family Leave Wages, even though my client's Sick Leave Wages had absolutely nothing to do with Health Plan Expenses, I put $ 395.00 on Line A.  And even though Line B is supposed to be the "portion of" Line A, I added my $ 5.73 of Employer share of Medicare tax on qualified Sick Leave wages (the $ 395.00) and put $ 400.73 on Line B.  Yes, this amount is more than Line A.

Wallah!  Lines 11b and 13c populated with the $ 198.89 and $ 201.84 amounts, respectively, per Lines 2j and 2k on my manually prepared Worksheet 1.

Give it a try!!

Brian C. Gilliam, CPA (Lucas, TX)

Follow-up:

White out the amount on Line 19.

You won't be able to e-file Form 941 through QB due to an Error Message appearing.

Brian

THANK YOU FOR THOSE INSTRUCTIONS.  That worked perfect for me.  The "Reset Update" / Step 4 was the thing that seemed to have worked for me.  

Same problem 2019 qb deaktop, all up to date per automated updates. Called help desk & they seemed unaware of issue, did multiple updates. Final solution was to manually enter 5a and all good, the form allowed this. Sheesh big disappoint with qb, ugh, wasted hours.

Ugh! This is sooo frustrating! I've called customer service twice and they keep saying they will call me back and it isn't happening. UGH!!!!