The Internal Revenue Service has released Publication 15 (a/k/a Circular E) Employer’s Tax Guide for use in 2025. Publication 15 explains an employer’s tax responsibilities, important updates for 2025, and employer instructions for payroll and non-payroll tax withholding.
Some of the highlights of “What's New” in the 2025 Publication 15 are as follows:
Social security and Medicare taxes for 2025. The rate of social security tax on taxable wages is 6.2% each for the employer and employee. The social security wage base limit is $176,100.
The Medicare tax rate is 1.45% each for the employee and employer, unchanged from 2024. There is no wage base limit for Medicare tax.
Social security and Medicare taxes apply to the wages of household workers you pay $2,800 or more in cash wages in 2025. Social security and Medicare taxes apply to election workers who are paid $2,400 or more in cash or an equivalent form of compensation in 2025.
Electronic filing of some amended employment tax returns now available.
The following forms can now be filed electronically using Modernized e-File (MeF):
· Amended Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return
· Form 941-X, Adjusted Employer's QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund
· Form 943-X, Adjusted Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees or Claim for Refund
· Form 945-X, Adjusted Annual Return of Withheld Income Tax or Claim for Refund,
At this time, MeF can’t be used to file Form 944-X, Adjusted Employer's ANNUAL Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund; or Form CT-1 X, Adjusted Employer's Annual Railroad Retirement Tax Return or Claim for Refund.
For more information on electronic filing, go to IRS.gov/EmploymentEfile.
For a copy of the 2025 Publication 15, find it here.
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