[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 15]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR31.6302-1]

[Page 371-379]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 31_EMPLOYMENT TAXES AND COLLECTION OF INCOME TAX AT SOURCE--Table of Contents
 
Subpart G_Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Employment 
Taxes (Selected Provisions of Subtitle F, Internal Revenue Code of 1954)
 
Sec. 31.6302-1  Federal tax deposit rules for withheld income taxes 

and taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) 
attributable to payments made after December 31, 1992.

    (a) Introduction. With respect to employment taxes attributable to 
payments made after December 31, 1992, an employer is either a monthly 
depositor or a semi-weekly depositor based on an annual determination. 
An employer must generally deposit employment

[[Page 372]]

taxes under one of two rules: the Monthly rule in paragraph (c)(1) of 
this section, or the Semi-Weekly rule in paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section. Various exceptions and safe harbors are provided. Paragraph (f) 
of this section provides certain safe harbors for employers who 
inadvertently fail to deposit the full amount of taxes. Paragraph (c)(3) 
of this section provides an overriding exception to the Monthly and 
Semi-Weekly rules where an employer has accumulated $100,000 or more of 
employment taxes. Paragraph (e) of this section provides the definition 
of employment taxes.
    (b) Determination of status--(1) In general. The determination of 
whether an employer is a monthly or semi-weekly depositor for a calendar 
year is based on an annual determination and generally depends upon the 
aggregate amount of employment taxes reported by the employer for the 
lookback period as defined in paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
    (2) Monthly depositor--(i) In general. An employer is a monthly 
depositor for the entire calendar year if the aggregate amount of 
employment taxes reported for the lookback period is $50,000 or less.
    (ii) Special rule. An employer ceases to be a monthly depositor on 
the first day after the employer is subject to the One-Day ($100,000) 
rule in paragraph (c)(3) of this section. At that time, the employer 
immediately becomes a semi-weekly depositor for the remainder of the 
calendar year and for the following calendar year.
    (3) Semi-weekly depositor. An employer is a semi-weekly depositor 
for the entire calendar year if the aggregate amount of employment taxes 
reported for the lookback period exceeds $50,000.
    (4) Lookback period. The lookback period for each calendar year is 
the twelve month period ended the preceding June 30. For example, the 
lookback period for calendar year 1993 is the period July 1, 1991 to 
June 30, 1992. In determining status as either a monthly or semi-weekly 
depositor, an employer should determine the aggregate amount of 
employment tax liabilities reported on its quarterly returns (Form 941) 
for the four quarters constituting this period. New employers shall be 
treated as having employment tax liabilities of zero for any calendar 
quarter during which the employer did not exist.
    (5) Adjustments. The tax liability shown on an original return for 
the return period shall be the amount taken into account in determining 
whether more than $50,000 has been reported during the lookback period. 
In determining the aggregate employment taxes for each quarter in a 
lookback period, an employer does not take into account any adjustments 
for the quarter made on a supplemental return filed after the due date 
of the return. However, adjustments made on a Form 941c, Statement to 
Correct Information, attached to a Form 941 filed for a subsequent 
quarter are taken into account in determining the employment tax 
liability for the subsequent quarter.
    (c) Deposit rules--(1) Monthly rule. An employer that is a monthly 
depositor must deposit employment taxes accumulated with respect to 
payments made during a calendar month in an authorized financial 
institution on or before the 15th day of the following month. If the 
15th day of the following month is not a banking day, taxes will be 
treated as timely deposited if deposited on the first banking day 
thereafter in accordance with paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
    (2) Semi-Weekly rule--(i) In general. An employer that is a semi-
weekly depositor for a calendar year must deposit its employment taxes 
in an authorized financial institution on or before the dates set forth 
below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Payment dates/semi-weekly periods              Deposit date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, Thursday and/or Friday.........  On or before the following
                                             Wednesday.
Saturday, Sunday, Monday and/or Tuesday...  On or before the following
                                             Friday.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Semi-weekly period spanning two return periods. A special rule 
is provided in the case of a return period (quarterly or annual) that 
ends during a semi-weekly period. In this case, an employer must 
complete the Federal Tax Deposit (FTD) coupon in a manner which 
designates the proper return period for which the deposit relates (the 
return period in which the payment is

[[Page 373]]

made). In addition, if the return period ends during a semi-weekly 
period in which an employer has two or more payment dates, two deposit 
obligations may exist. For example, if one quarterly return period ends 
on Thursday and a new quarterly return period begins on Friday, 
employment taxes from payments on Wednesday and Thursday are subject to 
one deposit obligation, and taxes from payments on Friday are subject to 
a separate obligation. Two separate Federal Tax Deposit coupons are 
required.
    (iii) Special rule for non-banking days. Semi-weekly depositors 
shall have at least three banking days following the close of the semi-
weekly period by which to deposit employment taxes accumulated during 
the semi-weekly period. Thus, if any of the three weekdays following the 
close of a semi-weekly period is a holiday on which banks are closed, 
the employer shall have an additional banking day by which to make the 
required deposit. For example, if the Monday following the close of a 
Wednesday to Friday semi-weekly period is a holiday on which banks are 
closed, the required deposit for the semi-weekly period may be made by 
the following Thursday rather than the following Wednesday.
    (3) Exception--One-Day rule. Notwithstanding paragraphs (c)(1) and 
(c)(2) of this section, if on any day within a deposit period (monthly 
or semi-weekly) an employer has accumulated $100,000 or more of 
employment taxes, those taxes must be deposited in an authorized 
financial institution by the close of the next banking day. For purposes 
of determining whether the $100,000 threshold is met--
    (i) A monthly depositor takes into account only those employment 
taxes accumulated in the calendar month in which the day occurs; and
    (ii) A semi-weekly depositor takes into account only those 
employment taxes accumulated in the Wednesday-Friday or Saturday-Tuesday 
semi-weekly period in which the day occurs.
    (4) Deposits required only on banking days. If taxes are required to 
be deposited under this section on any day that is not a banking day, 
the taxes will be treated as timely deposited if deposited on the first 
banking day thereafter.
    (d) Examples. The provisions of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this 
section are illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1. Monthly depositor. (i) Determination of status. For the 
calendar year 1993, Employer A determines its depositor status using the 
lookback period July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1992. For the four calendar 
quarters within this period, A reported aggregate employment tax 
liabilities of $42,000 on its quarterly Forms 941. Because the aggregate 
amount did not exceed $50,000, A is a monthly depositor for the entire 
calendar year 1993.
    (ii) Monthly rule. During January 1993, A (a monthly depositor) 
accumulates $3,500 in employment taxes. A has a $3,500 deposit 
obligation that must be satisfied by the 15th day of the following 
month. Since February 15, 1993, President's Day, is a holiday which is 
not a banking day, A's deposit obligation will be satisfied if the 
deposit is made by the next banking day after February 15.
    Example 2. Semi-weekly depositor. (i) Determination of status. For 
the four calendar quarters spanning July 1991 to June 1992, Employer B 
reported $88,000 in aggregate employment tax liabilities on its Forms 
941. Because that amount exceeds $50,000, B is a semi-weekly depositor 
for the entire calendar year 1993.
    (ii) Semi-weekly rule. On Friday, January 1, 1993, B ( semi-weekly 
depositor) has a pay day on which it accumulates $4,000 in employment 
taxes. B has a $4,000 deposit obligation that must be satisfied on or 
before the following Wednesday, January 6, 1993.
    (iii) Deposit made within three banking days after payroll. The 
example is the same as Example 2 (ii), except that B deposits its 
accumulated employment taxes within three banking days after payroll. B 
deposits its $4,000 in employment taxes on Wednesday, January 6, three 
banking days after its Friday payroll. Because B deposited its 
employment taxes on or before the following Wednesday, B has satisfied 
its semi-weekly deposit obligation. An employer who deposits within 
three banking days after payroll will always meet the Semi-Weekly rule.
    Example 3. One-Day rule. On Monday, January 4, 1993, Employer C 
accumulates $110,000 in employment taxes with respect to wages paid on 
that date. C has a deposit obligation of $110,000 that must be satisfied 
by the next banking day. If C was not subject to the semi-weekly rule on 
January 4, 1993, C becomes subject to that rule as of January 5, 1993. 
See paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
    Example 4. One-Day Rule in combination with subsequent deposit 
obligation. Employer D is subject to the semi-weekly rule for calendar 
year 1993. On Monday, January 4, 1993, D accumulates $110,000 in 
employment taxes. D has a $110,000 deposit obligation that must be

[[Page 374]]

satisfied by the next banking day. On Tuesday, January 5, D accumulates 
an additional $30,000 in employment taxes. Although D has a previous 
$110,000 deposit obligation incurred earlier in the semi-weekly period, 
D has an additional and separate deposit obligation of $30,000 on 
Tuesday that must be satisfied by the following Friday.
    Example 5. Special non-banking day rule for semi-weekly depositors. 
Employer E, a semi-weekly depositor, accumulates $8,000 in employment 
taxes on Friday, February 12, 1993, a payment date. Under the general 
rule, E would be required to deposit the employment taxes on or before 
the following Wednesday, February 17. However, because Monday, February 
15, is President's Day (a holiday on which banks are closed), E will 
have an additional day by which to satisfy its $8,000 deposit 
obligation. E's deposit obligation is due on or before Thursday, 
February 18, 1993.

    (e) Employment taxes defined. (1) For purposes of this section, the 
term ``employment taxes'' means--
    (i) The employee portion of the tax withheld under section 3102;
    (ii) The employer tax under section 3111;
    (iii) The income tax withheld under sections 3402 and 3405, except 
income tax withheld with respect to payments made after December 31, 
1993, on the following--
    (A) Certain gambling winnings under section 3402(q);
    (B) Retirement pay for service in the Armed Forces of the United 
States under section 3402;
    (C) Certain annuities described in section 3402(o)(1)(B); and
    (D) Pensions, annuities, IRAs, and certain other deferred income 
under section 3405; and
    (iv) The income tax withheld under section 3406, relating to backup 
withholding with respect to reportable payments made before January 1, 
1994.
    (2) The term ``employment taxes'' does not include taxes with 
respect to wages for domestic service in a private home of the employer, 
unless the employer is otherwise required to file a Form 941 under Sec. 
31.6011(a)(4) or (5). In the case of employers paying advance earned 
income credit amounts, the amount of taxes required to be deposited 
shall be reduced by advance amounts paid to employees. Also, see Sec. 
31.6302-3 concerning a taxpayer's option with respect to payments made 
before January 1, 1994, to treat backup withholding amounts under 
section 3406 separately.
    (f) Safe harbor/De minimis rules--(1) Single deposit safe harbor. An 
employer will be considered to have satisfied its deposit obligation 
imposed by this section if--
    (i) The amount of any shortfall does not exceed the greater of $100 
or 2 percent of the amount of employment taxes required to be deposited; 
and
    (ii) The employer deposits the shortfall on or before the shortfall 
make-up date.
    (2) Shortfall defined. For purposes of this paragraph (f), the term 
``shortfall'' means the excess of the amount of employment taxes 
required to be deposited for the period over the amount deposited for 
the period. For this purpose, a period is either a monthly, semi-weekly 
or daily period.
    (3) Shortfall make-up date--(i) Monthly rule. A shortfall with 
respect to a deposit required under the Monthly rule must be deposited 
or remitted no later than the due date for the quarterly return, in 
accordance with the applicable form and instructions.
    (ii) Semi-Weekly rule and One-Day rule. A shortfall with respect to 
a deposit required under the Semi-Weekly rule or the One-Day rule must 
be deposited on or before the first Wednesday or Friday (whichever is 
earlier), falling on or after the 15th day of the month following the 
month in which the deposit was required to be made or, if earlier, the 
return due date for the return period.
    (4) De Minimis rule. For quarterly and annual return periods 
beginning on or after January 1, 2001, if the total amount of 
accumulated employment taxes for the return period is less than $2,500 
and the amount is fully deposited or remitted with a timely filed return 
for the return period, the amount deposited or remitted will be deemed 
to have been timely deposited.
    (5) Examples. The provisions of this paragraph (f) may be 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1. Safe-harbor rule satisfied. On Monday, January 4, 1993, J 
(a semi-weekly depositor), pays wages and accumulates employment taxes. 
As required under this section, J makes a deposit on or before the 
following Friday, January 8, 1993, in the

[[Page 375]]

amount of $4,000. Subsequently, J determines that it was actually 
required to deposit $4,090 by Friday. J has a shortfall of $90. The $90 
shortfall does not exceed the greater of $100 or 2% of the amount 
required to be deposited (2% of $4,090=$81.80). Therefore, J satisfies 
the safe harbor of paragraph (f)(1) of this section as long as the $90 
shortfall is deposited by the first deposit date (Wednesday or Friday) 
on or after the 15th day of the next month (in this case Wednesday, 
February 17, 1993).
    Example 2. Safe-harbor rule not satisfied. The facts are the same as 
in Example 1 except that on Friday, January 8, 1993, J makes a deposit 
of $25,000, and later determines that it was actually required to 
deposit $26,000. Since the $1,000 shortfall ($26,000 less $25,000) 
exceeds $520 (the greater of $100 or 2% of the amount required to be 
deposited (2% of $26,000=$520)), the safe harbor of paragraph (f)(1) of 
this section is not satisfied, and absent reasonable cause, J will be 
subject to a failure-to-deposit penalty under section 6656.

    (g) Agricultural employers--special rules--(1) In general. An 
agricultural employer reports wages paid to farm workers annually on 
Form 943 (Employer's Annual Tax Return for Agricultural Employees) and 
reports wages paid to nonfarm workers quarterly on Form 941 (Employer's 
Quarterly Federal Tax Return). Accordingly, an agricultural employer 
must treat employment taxes reportable on Form 943 (``Form 943 taxes'') 
separately from employment taxes reportable on Form 941 (``Form 941 
taxes''). Form 943 taxes and Form 941 taxes are not combined for 
purposes of determining whether a deposit of either is due, whether the 
One-Day rule of paragraph (c)(3) of this section applies, or whether any 
safe harbor is applicable. In addition, separate Federal tax deposit 
coupons must be used to deposit Form 943 taxes and Form 941 taxes. (See 
paragraph (b) of this section for rules for determining an agricultural 
employer's deposit status for Form 941 taxes.) The determination of 
whether an agricultural employer is a monthly or semi-weekly depositor 
of Form 943 taxes is made according to the rules of this paragraph (g).
    (2) Monthly depositor. An agricultural employer is a monthly 
depositor of Form 943 taxes for a calendar year if the amount of Form 
943 taxes accumulated in the lookback period (as defined in paragraph 
(g)(4) of this section) is $50,000 or less. An agricultural employer 
ceases to be a monthly depositor of Form 943 taxes on the first day 
after the employer is subject to the One-Day rule in paragraph (c)(3) of 
this section. At that time, the agricultural employer immediately 
becomes a semi-weekly depositor of Form 943 taxes for the remainder of 
the calendar year and the succeeding calendar year.
    (3) Semi-weekly depositor. An agricultural employer is a semi-weekly 
depositor of Form 943 taxes for a calendar year if the amount of Form 
943 taxes accumulated in the lookback period (as defined in paragraph 
(g)(4) of this section) exceeds $50,000.
    (4) Lookback period. For purposes of this paragraph (g), the 
lookback period for Form 943 taxes is the second calendar year preceding 
the current calendar year. For example, the lookback period for calendar 
year 1993 is calendar year 1991.
    (5) The following example illustrates the provisions of this 
section.

    Example. A, an agricultural employer, employs both farm workers and 
nonfarm workers (employees in its administrative offices). A's depositor 
status for calendar year 1993 for Form 941 taxes will be based upon its 
employment tax liabilities reported on Forms 941 for the third and 
fourth quarters of 1991 and the first and second quarters of 1992 (the 
period July 1 to June 30). A's depositor status for Form 943 taxes will 
be based upon its employment tax liability reported on its annual Form 
943 for calendar year 1991.

    (h) Time and manner of deposit--deposits required to be made by 
electronic funds transfer--(1) In general. Section 6302(h) requires the 
Secretary to prescribe such regulations as may be necessary for the 
development and implementation of an electronic funds transfer system to 
be used for the collection of the depository taxes as described in 
paragraph (h)(3) of this section. Section 6302(h)(2) provides a phase-in 
schedule that sets forth escalating minimum percentages of those 
depository taxes to be deposited by electronic funds transfer. This 
paragraph (h) prescribes the rules necessary for implementing an 
electronic funds transfer system for collection of depository taxes and 
for effecting an orderly and expeditious phase-in of that system.
    (2) Applicability of requirement--(i) Deposits for return periods 
beginning before

[[Page 376]]

January 1, 2000. (A) Taxpayers whose aggregate deposits of the taxes 
imposed by Chapters 21 (Federal Insurance Contributions Act), 22 
(Railroad Retirement Tax Act), and 24 (Collection of Income Tax at 
Source on Wages) of the Internal Revenue Code during a 12-month 
determination period exceed the applicable threshold amount are required 
to deposit all depository taxes described in paragraph (h)(3) of this 
section by electronic funds transfer (as defined in paragraph (h)(4) of 
this section) unless exempted under paragraph (h)(5) of this section. If 
the applicable effective date is January 1, 1995, or January 1, 1996, 
the requirement to deposit by electronic funds transfer applies to all 
deposits required to be made on or after the applicable effective date. 
If the applicable effective date is July 1, 1997, the requirement to 
deposit by electronic funds transfer applies to all deposits required to 
be made on or after July 1, 1997 with respect to deposit obligations 
incurred for return periods beginning on or after January 1, 1997. If 
the applicable effective date is January 1, 1998, or thereafter, the 
requirement to deposit by electronic funds transfer applies to all 
deposits required to be made with respect to deposit obligations 
incurred for return periods beginning on or after the applicable 
effective date. In general, each applicable effective date has one 12-
month determination period. However, for the applicable effective date 
January 1, 1996, there are two determination periods. If the applicable 
threshold amount is exceeded in either of those determination periods, 
the taxpayer becomes subject to the requirement to deposit by electronic 
funds transfer, effective January 1, 1996. The threshold amounts, 
determination periods and applicable effective dates for purposes of 
this paragraph (h)(2)(i)(A) are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Applicable effective
        Threshold amount                           Determination period                            date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$78 million.....................  1-1-93 to 12-31-93...................................  Jan. 1, 1995.
$47 million.....................  1-1-93 to 12-31-93...................................  Jan. 1, 1996.
$47 million.....................  1-1-94 to 12-31-94...................................  Jan. 1, 1996.
$50 thousand....................  1-1-95 to 12-31-95...................................  July 1, 1997.
$50 thousand....................  1-1-96 to 12-31-96...................................  Jan. 1, 1998.
$50 thousand....................  1-1-97 to 12-31-97...................................  Jan. 1, 1999.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) Unless exempted under paragraph (h)(5) of this section, a 
taxpayer that does not deposit any of the taxes imposed by chapters 21, 
22, and 24 during the applicable determination periods set forth in 
paragraph (h)(2)(i)(A) of this section, but that does make deposits of 
other depository taxes (as described in paragraph (h)(3) of this 
section), is nevertheless subject to the requirement to deposit by 
electronic funds transfer if the taxpayer's aggregate deposits of all 
depository taxes exceed the threshold amount set forth in this paragraph 
(h)(2)(i)(B) during an applicable 12-month determination period. This 
requirement to deposit by electronic funds transfer applies to all 
depository taxes due with respect to deposit obligations incurred for 
return periods beginning on or after the applicable effective date. The 
threshold amount, determination periods, and applicable effective dates 
for purposes of this paragraph (h)(2)(i)(B) are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Applicable effective
        Threshold amount                           Determination period                            date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50 thousand....................  1-1-95 to 12-31-95...................................  Jan. 1, 1998.
$50 thousand....................  1-1-96 to 12-31-96...................................  Jan. 1, 1998.
$50 thousand....................  1-1-97 to 12-31-97...................................  Jan. 1, 1999.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (C) This paragraph (h)(2)(i) applies only to deposits required to be 
made for return periods beginning before January 1, 2000. Thus, a 
taxpayer, including a taxpayer that is required under this paragraph 
(h)(2)(i) to make

[[Page 377]]

deposits by electronic funds transfer beginning in 1999 or an earlier 
year, is not required to use electronic funds transfer to make deposits 
for return periods beginning after December 31, 1999, unless deposits by 
electronic funds transfer are required under paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of 
this section.
    (ii) Deposits for return periods beginning after December 31, 1999. 
Unless exempted under paragraph (h)(5) of this section, a taxpayer that 
deposits more than $200,000 of taxes described in paragraph (h)(3) of 
this section during a calendar year beginning after December 31, 1997, 
must use electronic funds transfer (as defined in paragraph (h)(4) of 
this section) to make all deposits of those taxes that are required to 
be made for return periods beginning after December 31 of the following 
year and must continue to deposit by electronic funds transfer in all 
succeeding years. Thus, a taxpayer that exceeds the $200,000 deposit 
threshold during calendar year 1998 is required to make deposits for 
return periods beginning in or after calendar year 2000 by electronic 
funds transfer.
    (iii) Voluntary deposits. A taxpayer that is not required by this 
section to use electronic funds transfer to make a deposit of taxes 
described in paragraph (h)(3) of this section may voluntarily make the 
deposit by electronic funds transfer, but remains subject to the rules 
of paragraph (i) of this section, pertaining to deposits by Federal tax 
deposit (FTD) coupon, in making deposits other than by electronic funds 
transfer.
    (3) Taxes required to be deposited by electronic funds transfer. The 
requirement to deposit by electronic funds transfer under paragraph 
(h)(2) of this section applies to all the taxes required to be deposited 
under Sec. Sec. 1.6302-1, 1.6302-2, and 1.6302-3 of this chapter; 
Sec. Sec. 31.6302-1, 31.6302-2, 31.6302-3, 31.6302-4, and 31.6302(c)-3; 
and Sec. 40.6302(c)-1 of this chapter.
    (4) Definitions--(i) Electronic funds transfer. An electronic funds 
transfer is any transfer of depository taxes made in accordance with 
Revenue Procedure 97-33, (1997-30 I.R.B.), (see Sec. 601.601(d)(2) of 
this chapter), or in accordance with procedures subsequently prescribed 
by the Commissioner.
    (ii) Taxpayer. For purposes of this section, a taxpayer is any 
person required to deposit federal taxes, including not only 
individuals, but also any trust, estate, partnership, association, 
company or corporation.
    (5) Exemptions. If any categories of taxpayers are to be exempted 
from the requirement to deposit by electronic funds transfer, the 
Commissioner will identify those taxpayers by guidance published in the 
Internal Revenue Bulletin. (See Sec. 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this 
chapter.)
    (6) Separation of deposits. A deposit for one return period must be 
made separately from a deposit for another return period.
    (7) Payment of balance due. If the aggregate amount of taxes 
reportable on the applicable tax return for the return period exceeds 
the total amount deposited by the taxpayer with regard to the return 
period, then the balance due must be remitted in accordance with the 
applicable form and instructions.
    (8) Time deemed deposited. A deposit of taxes by electronic funds 
transfer will be deemed made when the amount is withdrawn from the 
taxpayer's account, provided the U.S. Government is the payee and the 
amount is not returned or reversed.
    (9) Time deemed paid. In general, an amount deposited under this 
paragraph (h) will be considered to be a payment of tax on the last day 
prescribed for filing the applicable return for the return period 
(determined without regard to any extension of time for filing the 
return) or, if later, at the time deemed deposited under paragraph 
(h)(8) of this section. In the case of the taxes imposed by chapters 21 
and 24 of the Internal Revenue Code, solely for purposes of section 6511 
and the regulations thereunder (relating to the period of limitation on 
credit or refund), if an amount is deposited prior to April 15th of the 
calendar year immediately succeeding the calendar year that includes the 
period for which the amount was deposited, the amount will be considered 
paid on April 15th.
    (i) Time and manner of deposit--(1) General rules. A deposit 
required to be made by this Sec. 31.6302-1 must be made separately from 
a deposit required by any other section. See Sec. 31.6302-3 for an

[[Page 378]]

exception in the case of backup withholding amounts. Further, a deposit 
for a deposit period in one return period must be made separately from a 
deposit for a deposit period in another return period.
    (2) Payment of balance due. If the aggregate amount of taxes 
reportable on the return for the return period exceeds the total amount 
deposited by the employer with regard to the return period pursuant to 
this section, the balance due must be remitted in accordance with the 
applicable form and instructions.
    (3) Federal Tax Deposit (FTD) coupon. Each deposit required to be 
made under this section must be accompanied by an FTD coupon (Form 
8109). The FTD coupon shall be prepared in accordance with the 
instructions applicable thereto. The deposit, together with the FTD 
coupon, shall be forwarded to a financial institution authorized as a 
depository for Federal taxes in accordance with 31 CFR part 203.
    (4) Procurement of FTD coupons. A new employer should receive its 
initial supply of FTD coupon books after receiving its employer 
identification number. In the event that a deposit is required to be 
made before receipt of the FTD coupon books, the employer should contact 
the local IRS office and furnish the following information: the business 
name as it appears on IRS records, the employer identification number, 
address where the coupon books are to be sent, and the number of coupon 
books being requested. Filers of Form 1120, Form 990-C, Form 990PF (with 
net investment income), Form 990-T or Form 2438 must also provide the 
month the employer's tax year ends. If an employer has applied for an 
employer identification number but has not received it, and a deposit is 
required to be made, the employer should send a check or money order for 
the deposit amount to its Internal Revenue Service center. There should 
be included on the payment, the name and address of the entity as shown 
on Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, the kind 
of tax, the period covered, and the date on which the employer applied 
for the employer identification number.
    (5) Time deemed deposited. The timeliness of a deposit will be 
determined by the date stamped on the FTD coupon by the authorized 
financial institution or, if section 7502(e) applies, by the date the 
deposit is treated as received under section 7502(e).
    (6) Time deemed paid. In general, amounts deposited under this 
section will be considered as paid at the time deemed deposited under 
paragraph (h)(5) of this section, or on the last day prescribed for 
filing the return (determined without regard to any extension of time 
for filing the return), whichever is later. For purposes of section 6511 
and the regulations hereunder (relating to the period of limitation on 
credit or refund), if an amount is deposited prior to April 15th of the 
calendar year immediately succeeding the calendar year that contains the 
period for which the amount was deposited, the amount will be considered 
paid on April 15th.
    (j) Voluntary payments by electronic funds transfer. Any person may 
voluntarily remit by electronic funds transfer any payment of tax 
imposed by subtitle C of the Internal Revenue Code. Such payment must be 
made in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Commissioner.
    (k) Special rules--(1) District Director notice exception. The 
provisions of this section are not applicable with respect to employment 
taxes for any month in which the employer receives notice from the 
district director that a return is required under Sec. 31.6011(a)-5 (or 
for any subsequent month for which such a return is required), if those 
taxes are also required to be deposited under the separate accounting 
procedures provided in Sec. 301.7512-1 of the Regulations on Procedure 
and Administration (which procedures are applicable if notification is 
given by the district director of failure to comply with certain 
employment tax requirements). In cases in which a monthly return is 
required under Sec. 31.6011(a)-5 but the taxes are not required to be 
deposited under the separate accounting procedures provided in Sec. 
301.7512-1, the provisions of this section shall apply except those 
provisions shall not authorize the deferral of any deposit to a date 
after the

[[Page 379]]

date on which the return is required to be filed.
    (2) Wages paid in nonconvertible foreign currency. The provisions of 
this section are not applicable with respect to wages paid in 
nonconvertible foreign currency pursuant to Sec. 301.6316-7.
    (l) [Reserved]
    (m) Cross references--(1) Failure to deposit penalty. For provisions 
relating to the penalty for failure to make a deposit within the 
prescribed time, see section 6656.
    (2) Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. For provisions relating to 
the time for performance of acts where the last day falls on Saturday, 
Sunday, or a legal holiday, see the provisions of Sec. 301.7503-1.
    (n) Effective date. Sections 31.6302-1 through 31.6302-3 apply with 
respect to the deposit of employment taxes attributable to payments made 
after December 31, 1992. To the extent that the provisions of Sec. Sec. 
31.6302-1 through 31.6302-3 are inconsistent with the provisions of 
Sec. Sec. 31.6302(c)-1 and 31.6302(c)-2, a taxpayer will be considered 
to be in compliance with Sec. Sec. 31.6301-1 through 31.6302-3 if the 
taxpayer makes timely deposits during 1993 in accordance with Sec. Sec. 
31.6302(c)-1 and 31.6302(c)-2.

[T.D. 8436, 57 FR 44102, Sept. 24, 1992; 57 FR 48724, Oct. 28, 1992, as 
amended by T.D. 8504, 58 FR 68035, Dec. 23, 1993; T.D. 8436, 59 FR 6218, 
Feb. 10, 1994; T.D. 8723, 62 FR 37493, July 14, 1997; T.D. 8771, 63 FR 
32736, June 16, 1998; T.D. 8822, 64 FR 32409, June 17, 1999; T.D. 8828, 
64 FR 37676, July 13, 1999; T.D. 8909, 65 FR 76153, Dec. 6, 2000; T.D. 
8946, 66 FR 28370, May 23, 2001; T.D. 8947, 66 FR 32542, June 15, 2001; 
T.D. 8952, 66 FR 33831, 33832, June 26, 2001]