Trying to file Q2 Form 941, and I keep getting "This form will be available soon. Please check back later". I've never gotten this message in the past, ever.

Hello there, @LAC1.

The Internal Revenue Service issues update to Form 941. Our engineers are working with the IRS to ensure the accuracy of the information. We're unable to give the exact date when they will be finished. 

The changes include additional entries that are connected to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act which added various types of payroll tax relief. Should you want to review the 941 draft form from IRS, please check out this URL: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/f941--dft.pdf.

To know more about the updates of the 941 Quarterly form in QuickBooks here's an article you can check: Forms unavailable (blocked) - Federal and State Forms. This also includes FAQs about the availability of the form.

Please don't' hesitate to tap on us if you have other concerns or questions. Stay safe and have a nice day ahead.

@MarsStephanieL In the link you provided ( Forms unavailable (blocked) - Federal and State Forms),

there is no information about Q2 Form 941, only Q1 Form 941.  I successfully filed my Q1 Form 941 earlier this year without a hitch. But now, I cannot file my Q2 Form 941. It continues to say the form is unavailable and to check back.  What if Q2 Form 941 isn't available to file by the due date of 7/31/2020? How can I manually file it and still have record of it in QBO? 

Hi there, LAC1.

I'll provide information on why you're getting the message that form is unavailable and to check back. Then, how to manually file the Q2 Form 941.

The Q2 2020 form 941 is currently included as one of the blocked forms, which means it's unavailable. That's the reason you received the message. Rest assured, making this form available is our top priority. The team is working and doing the best to release it as soon as possible.

Then, there is information about Q2 Form that is blocked from the link provided by my colleague. I attached a screenshot below for visual reference.

I suggest going to the IRS website. From there, you can manually file the Q2 Form 941. Before doing so, I recommend printing a copy of your 941 forms as your guide when filling the form. Here's how:

1. From the Taxes tab, select Payroll Tax.
2. Click the Quarterly Forms under the Forms section.
3. Select the 941 forms.
4. Select a period.
5. Click View.
6. In the PDF page, click the print icon.

Once done, you're good to enter the details according to their lines in the forms. Then, manually file it to the IRS.

I've also added a link that explains the equivalent of each line in the report: How QuickBooks Populates The 941.

Please know that you're always welcome to post if you have any other concerns. Wishing you and your business continued success.

@ChristieAnn  QBO is not allowing me to even VIEW my Q2 Form 941 for 2020.  When I follow your instructions, I get this message each and every day: "This form will be available soon. Please check back later." 

So, if QBO doesn't allow me to e-file my Q2 Form 941 by the 7/31/2020 due date, what happens then? I've never had this problem in the past with e-filing my federal forms. 

I'll share the details regarding your follow-up concern, @LAC1.

We are working actively to fix the error message as soon as possible. We'll also do our very best to ensure that we can provide your Form 941 for Q2 2020 timely. To get updates once it's available in the program, I'd recommend bookmarking this article: Forms Unavailable In QBO (Federal And State Forms). 

In case you want to submit the form now, I suggest manually filing it to the IRS. Just perform the steps provided by ChristieAnn above. 

You can always go to the Payroll Tax Center from the Taxes menu. From there, you can view your e-filed and archived annual and quarterly forms in the program, such as your 941. 

I'll lend a helping hand if you need anything else. Keep safe always, @LAC1.  

@RaymondJayO If I manually file my 2020 Q2 Form 941 by mailing to the IRS (because QBO isn't allowing me to e-file as I've done for the past 18 months, and I've NEVER had to paper file in the past), how do I enter the data in QBO so that my QBO account will have record of the form filing under "View and Print Archived Forms"? 

I hope you're doing fine today, LAC1.

I see how important to get your Q2 2020 form 941 in QuickBooks.The Q2 2020 form 941 is one of our top priorities. Rest assured, we are working with your state to make this updated form available in QuickBooks Online soonest. 

If you manually file the form by sending an email to the IRS, you can archive the form once available. This way, you'll have a copy and record under View and Print Archived Forms.

Here are the steps on how to do it:

1. Go to Taxes on the left panel.
2. Click the Payroll Tax tab.
3. Select Quarterly Forms under the Forms column.
4. Locate the Q2 2020 form 941. Then, click the Archive button.

I would also suggest checking the articles shared by my colleagues above. That way, you'll be able to gather more details about the filed forms in QuickBooks.

Know that our team is striving hard to make this form available as soon as possible. If you have other questions, don't hesitate to post here. We are all here to back you up. Keep safe.

There is no option to view the 2nd quarter 941 form.  What reports will I need to use to figure out what figures to use if I have to manually file the 941 form?

Having same problem! I have filled out the IRS online form, but rather submit through QB Online so there's digital record.

So, you can run payroll summary reports from the report section that will give you the information you need. 

I ran the Payroll Tax Liability Report for June that SHOULD show the amount of taxes you will need to pay for the month. Then I did if for April and May too. I filled out the 941 online (from the IRS) and just followed the examples of the past 941 reports.

Then I changed the report date to the "quarter", to get the total liability for the quarter, which matched my entries on the form when added up.

The online version is different in that it has the added lines referenced above for COVID... so I am holding off as long as possible before I submit them. Like you, I prefer to do it through QB so I have it in my archives.

I am hoping that this issue will be solved before the due date.  Quickbook should have a way to manually process the form.  This is very frustrating and the form on IRS website seems complicated.

The form will be available before the due date, Nhat.

For now, we can manually file the 2nd quarter of the 941 forms. Before doing so, we can print the form as your guide when filing it:

1. From the Taxes tab, select Payroll Tax.
2. Click the Quarterly Forms under the Forms section.
3. Select the 941 forms.
4. Select a period.
5. Click View.
6. In the PDF page, click the print icon.

Afterward, you're good to enter the details on the form. 

I've added these articles when you're ready to file the form to the IRS:

• Forms unavailable (blocked) - Federal and State Forms
• 941 for 2020
• How QuickBooks Populates The 941

I'm just a post-away if you still need help. Take care!

@Adrian_A  Here within the community, QB admins and employees keep offering that same 6-step set of instructions not understanding that in QBO right now, we cannot view or print our 2020 Form 941 Q2, period. When we attempt to e-file or view, we see "This form will be available soon. Please check back later".  

@tmansavage @Rebellee Same here, and we're now 8 days into July with no date in sight as to when we will be able to e-file our 2020 Q2 Form 941.  

The form IS complicated.  You should review the changes created as a result of the CARES Act to ensure that you know what parts apply to you.  

I'm sorry, but this is very frustrating.  My clients pay  A LOT of money to use Quickbooks payroll each month.  I have other payroll software vendors who made the Q2 941 available on July 1st.  This is not an IRS issue, this is an Intuit Quickbooks issue and it's very disappointing.  We are 8 days into the new quarter. Also, I find it incredibly discouraging that there is no estimated release date.  

Hi All.

I'd be glad to provide you an update regarding this issue.

We're pleased to inform you that the issue has been resolved. The resolution has been implemented and everyone should be able to access the Q2 941 form.

Here's how to access the form:

1. Go to the Taxes menu and choose Payroll Tax.
2. Under Forms, click the Quarterly Forms.
3. From the list of Quarterly Tax Forms, choose Employer's Quarterly Tax Return (941).
4. Select the correct period from the Select the period drop-down.
5. Click the View button.

For references, you can check out the following recommended resources below. It has in-depth details about how to correct and amend quarterly tax forms. Also, this will provide you a detailed explanation of each line of the payroll form:

How QuickBooks Populates The 941

File quarterly tax forms

We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Have a great rest of your day!

I am able to view and print out my Q2 941, but I do not have the option to efile.  I have always efiled in the past and there aren't any errors present in my form.  When will this be resolved?

I've been having this problem for weeks, and I keep calling and they say they have started an investigation. And now form is due in 3 days. I can do it manually, but the help reps say that the investigators and engineers are not communicating with them about the problem. What an absurd company system!!! Does anyone out there know of a functional payroll system that works with QBO? Or better yet a smaller, functional accounting software system??

I can't even see the form or access my payroll tax module. I've called QB help too many times to count and they just keep creating case numbers and investigations, but no one knows when forms will be available. It's hard for me to believe that the form will be available even after the due date. We are also trying to prepare our PPP application and so I created a pdf 941 myself. Luckily I have Adobe Acrobat so I can make it look like a QB form!

Thanks for getting this to our attention, @melissaluce274,

We want to ensure you don't get behind your tax processing. We've received updates that other users are able to access their Quarter 2 Federal Forms after the maintenance.

This article will tell you which forms are being worked on by our engineers: Federal and State Forms Availability. Notice that Q2 is already curated and ready for use.

May I know if you have tried accessing it in a private browser or clearing your cache perhaps? We need to refresh QuickBooks to ensure fixes are updated on the program. Use these keyboard shortcuts to launch a new private window:

• Google Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + N  
• Mozilla Firefox: press Ctrl + Shift + P
• Safari: press Command + Shift + N

Once done, try accessing the Payroll Tax menu and see if you're able to process the forms and pay taxes for Q2.

Let me know the result in the comments as I want to ensure you're all set. I'll be right here if you need further help. 

It is now October 2, 2020 and on my to-do list appears Form 941 for 2nd quarter 2020; I was not aware of the issue that I now see in this forum and received no communication from Intuit Online Payroll so wasn't aware that my Form 941 for Quarter 2 wasn't actually filed by the 7/31/2020.  It never appeared in my to-do list and without communication from my Intuit, it just "appears" and shows due date of 7/31/20; more than 2 months ago.  Of course, now I can't file electronically and I'm concerned that by filing manually it will be recorded as late and there might be a penalty.  I thought the point of using a professional payroll service was to advise me early enough of any issues since I'm not a payroll expert to avoid such an issue.  I'm very distraught and disappointed.  Has there been any communication from the IRS about any type of amnesty or forgiveness for late submission of Q2 report of Form 941 for this year due to the revision and access to form? Please advise so I know how to proceed before I mail paper copy of form and then file Q3 electronically.  Thank you.

Hello there, @dlandmon.

I appreciate you for reaching out to the Community. I know how important filing forms on time. Let me help you get the support you need regarding the quarterly form 941.

Since you're using Intuit Online Payroll, I recommend contacting our Payroll Support Team. One of them will need to take over and check your account in a more secure space.

They have the tools to check the filing history and provide additional guidance on what to do with the Q2 report. In case you need the steps, here's how:

1. Access your IOP account.
2. Click the Help option in the upper-right corner.
3. Press Contact us. 
4. Select Intuit Online Payroll.

Additionally, I recommend visiting the following article to learn more about how to handle a tax notice from IRS: Tax Notice Handling for IOP, QBOP, and Core.

Keep us posted if you need anything else regarding the setup. Wishing you all the best.

Hi,

I am also having this issue. I have noticed that when I have switched from quickbooks desktop to quickbooks online, QB online stated that it autofiled my State quarterly forms CA DE 9 and DE9C. When I login into my State account, it shows that it has not been filed and I was penalized for this. I looked into the my QB online the archived records did not show that the State quarterly filings were completed. 

I want to create the form in QB Online and have reviewed this QB web support content. My QB online payroll does not show an area for the Quarterly Form as demostrated in photos above. There is no menu showing that. Why is that? How can I create Quarterly forms on my own like in QB Desktop? 

Best,

Leo