In QB Desktop, why am I no longer able to file a payroll tax return w/ zero paryoll?

If there's no paycheck created, you're unable to file the 941 forms with zero tax return, @bmarcum.

You can create a dummy employee then process a 0 Net check. This way, you can pull up the 941 forms with zero wages from the File Forms window. Make sure the check date and the period are matched.

Once done, delete the dummy employee and the paycheck. Then, file the printed form directly to the IRS. 

If you're not comfortable with the steps I shared above, you can file out the forms through the IRS website and manually enter the information from there. This way you can print the form with the information you needed:

1. Go to this link: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions
2. In the Search field, enter 941.
3. Tap the form on the result to open a PDF 941 file.
4. Enter the information manually then use the Download or Print option.

You can also visit this website: IRS Payroll Tax Compliance. It contains information about the withholdings, unemployment, other taxes, e-file, pay, agency, and employer registration.

I've included a guide here for you in preparing and printing Form 941, Schedule B, and Form 940. This will ensure that you'll be guided on the process.

If there's anything else that I can help you with, please let me know in the comment section down below. I'm always around happy to lend a helping hand.

Thanks Joesem M for your reply.  Why can't intuit just reinstate the capability to be able to file payroll tax returns with zero wages so that one does not have to take the extra steps you described as a work around?    I have always been able to file zero wage payroll tax returns in the past.  This is the first quarter that I have ran in to this issue.  What changed and why did it change?  Not all of my clients run payroll every quarter.

Thanks Joesem M for your reply.  Why can't intuit just reinstate the capability to be able to file payroll tax returns with zero wages so that one does not have to take the extra steps you described as a work around?    I have always been able to file zero wage payroll tax returns in the past.  This is the first quarter that I have ran in to this issue.  What changed and why did it change?  Not all of my clients run payroll every quarter.    

Thanks for visiting the Community about your concern, @bmarcum.

This isn’t what I want for you to experience when processing tax forms. Allow me to share some information about why you’re unable to file a zero wage payroll tax return.

We didn’t remove or change the mentioned feature above. The issue you’re experiencing is already reported to our engineers (INV-48016). They’re all hands on deck getting the functionality to file a tax return with zero wages working as soon as possible.  

I still suggest following the resolution steps shared by my colleague. This is to ensure you can file the 941 form seamlessly.

To keep you in the loop about the progress of the investigation, I suggest you sign up for the list of affected users. You’ll be notified via email once there’s an update about the issue.

Adding you to the notification list requires collecting sensitive data to verify an account. The Community is a public platform and we’re unable to perform the process for security reasons. Contacting our Payroll Support Team ensures your company is added to the list in a secure space.

Here’s how to reach them:

1. Tap the Help icon at the top menu bar to select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. When the Have a Question window opens, scroll down to choose the Contact us link.
3. This will display the Contact Us screen.
4. Click the Search for something else link and type the issue or topic in the field box.
5. Press the Search button to display the Get Phone Number or Start a Message button.

You can bookmark the Internal Revenue Service Payroll Tax Compliance article for future reference. The guide provides a complete list of payroll taxes supported in QuickBooks as well as filing rules.

I appreciate your patience while this is being worked. Leave a comment below if you need further assistance working in QuickBooks. I’m more than to help you.  Have a good one.

Losing the ability to print zero payroll reports at this time when so many are out of work is difficult to say the lease.  Please fix this so that we can resume printing the reports as before.  Thank you!

Help!  Not being able to print zero reports when necessary is not pleasant.  Thank you for the heads up and for fixing the problem - dfw

Very unhappy camper here.  You forced us to abandon a perfectly working system in QB2017, for this disaster!!  Either "solution" provided still requires many extra steps that are making users spend extra time that they already don't have due to the pandemic!  I'd bill Intuit for my extra time if I could....smh