Replacement check from prior quarter included on current 941 form

Whether cashed or not, the original check was the record of payroll. Changing its date, as you found, makes it part of a different payroll.

Here is a workaround that does not void the original but lets you cut a new check in a later quarter.

Create a clearing bank account if you do not have one.  Change original check from 2019 to be drafted from this clearing account. It will have a negative account balance as of 12/31 but your operating account was up by same amount.  NOW, write a replacement check from your payroll checking account  as of later date but instead of payroll , post its detail to the cleaning account, which now brings its balance to zero and currently has no effect on payroll taxes.

OK, thanks. Now I know how to do this correctly, if it comes up again.

How can I fix the error I've already created?

I need my Q2 2020 941 wages to match the Schedule B.

I entered a liability adjustment, but don't see any way to adjust the wages reported.

Thank you for posting here, @ekileen.

We have two ways to help you resolve your concern. The first is to create a dummy employee and then process a zero net paycheck.  So when you pull up the 941 form it will show zero wages at the File Forms window. Then, make sure that when you print it, the check date and the period are matched. 

Once finished, file the printed form directly to the IRS. Then, you can now delete the dummy employee and the paycheck.

Second, is to fill out the form through the IRS website. You'll need to do this manually and use the 941 PDF return and from there, enter the necessary information. When done, select the Print icon.

For more details on how QuickBooks populates the 941, you can visit this link: Form 941. 

Also, to learn more about the withholdings, unemployment, other taxes, e-file, pay, agency, and employer registration. You might want to visit this article: Internal Revenue Service Payroll Tax Compliance. Just click the View button to see the information.  

Please know that you're always welcome to post if you have any other concerns. Take care always, @ekileen.

The liability adjustment was the culprit.  The correct liability for 2019 when the original check was issued was paid and forms filed.  By adjusting the liability you would affect 2019 tax returns all the way around, including issued W2s.  By creating a copy of the original check you posted wages to the current quarter when that check should not be a payroll check but a replacement of the original at net only.

If you can, reverse the liability adjustment and start over. If the extra check was posted as payroll, DELETE/VOID it.  That will remove any errant liability that should not be there.

Other than the dummy bank account as I outlined, another method to clean it up and reissue the stale check in current period is to make a dummy deposit to regular payroll checking from any current liability account. This will give you an offset to reconcile away the check from 2019. Now issue a new check with detail of the just used current liability, returning that to prior balance or zero.

I do not care for the option proposed of a dummy employee - that's the problem with the world, too many dummy employees, LOL