[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: 26CFR31.6413(a)-1] [Page 394-395] 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. 31.6413(a)-1 Repayment by employer of tax erroneously collected from employee. (a) Before employer files return--(1) Employee tax under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or the Railroad Retirement Tax Act. (i) If an employer-- (a) During any return period collects from an employee more than the correct amount of tax under section 3101 or section 3201, or a corresponding provision of prior law, (b) Repays the amount of the over-collection to the employee before the return for such period is filed with the district director, and (c) Obtains and keeps as part of his records the written receipt of the employee showing the date and amount of the repayment, the employer shall not report on any return or pay to the district director the amount of the overcollection. (ii) Any overcollection not repaid to and receipted for by the employee as provided in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section shall be reported and paid to the district director with the return for the return period in which the overcollection was made. Such return shall be accompanied by a statement explaining the overcollection, setting forth the account number (if known) and name of the individual from whom the overcollection was made, and showing the total amount overcollected from and not repaid to the individual. If the employer is not required to make a return for such period, the employer nevertheless shall furnish to the district director a statement as described in the preceding sentence, on or before the date fixed for filing a return for such period, and shall pay the amount of the overcollection with such statement. (2) Income tax withheld from wages. (i) If an employer-- (a) During any return period collects from an employee more than the correct amount of tax under section 3402, (b) Repays the amount of the overcollection to the employee before the return for such period is filed with the district director and before the end of the calendar year in which the overcollection was made, and (c) Obtains and keeps as part of his records the written receipt of the employee showing the date and amount of the repayment, the employer shall not report on any return or pay to the district director the amount of the overcollection. (ii) Any overcollection not repaid to and receipted for by the employee as provided in subdivision (i) of this subparagraph shall be reported and paid to the district director with the return for the return period in which the overcollection was made. (b) After employer files return--(1) Employee tax under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or the Railroad Retirement Tax Act. (i) If an employer collects from any employee and pays to the district director more than the correct amount of employee tax under section 3101 or section 3201, or a corresponding provision of prior law, and if the error is ascertained within the applicable period of limitation on credit or refund, the employer shall repay or reimburse the employee in the amount thereof prior to the expiration of the return period following the return period in which the error is ascertained and prior to the expiration of such limitation period. This subparagraph has no application in any case in which an overcollection is made the subject of a claim by the employer for refund or credit, and the employer elects to secure the written consent of the employee to the allowance of the refund or credit under the procedure provided in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of Sec. 31.6402(a)-2. (ii) If the amount of an overcollection is repaid to an employee, the employer shall obtain and keep as part of his records the written receipt of the employee, showing the date and amount of the repayment. If, in any calendar year, an employer repays or reimburses an employee in the amount [[Page 395]] of an overcollection of employee tax under section 3101, or a corresponding provision of prior law, which was collected from the employee in a prior calendar year, the employer shall obtain from the employee and keep as part of his records a written statement (a) that the employee has not claimed refund or credit of the amount of the overcollection, or if so, such claim has been rejected, and (b) that the employee will not claim refund or credit of such amount. See Sec. 31.6413(c)-1. (iii) If the employer does not repay the employee the amount overcollected, the employer shall reimburse the employee by applying the amount of the overcollection against the employee tax which attaches to wages or compensation paid to the employee prior to the expiration of the return period following the return period in which the error is ascertained and prior to the expiration of the applicable period of limitation on credit or refund. If the amount of the overcollection exceeds the amount so applied against such employee tax, the excess amount shall be repaid to the employee as required by this subparagraph. (iv) For purposes of this subparagraph, an error is ascertained when the employer has sufficient knowledge of the error to be able to correct it. (v) For the period of limitation upon credit or refund of taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, see Sec. 301.6511(a)-1 of this chapter (Regulations on Procedure and Administration). For the period of limitation upon credit or refund of any tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1939, see the regulations applicable with respect to such tax. (2) Income tax withheld from wages. (i) If, in any return period in a calendar year, an employer collects from any employee more than the correct amount of tax under section 3402, and the employer pays the amount of such overcollection to the district director, the employer may repay or reimburse the employee in the amount thereof in any subsequent return period in such calendar year. (ii) If the amount of the overcollection is repaid to the employee, the employer shall obtain and keep as part of his records the written receipt of the employee, showing the date and amount of the repayment. If the employer does not repay the amount of the overcollection, the employer may reimburse the employee by applying the amount of the overcollection against the tax under section 3402 which otherwise would be required to be withheld from wages paid by the employer to the employee in the calendar year in which the overcollection is made.