Complete Guide to IRS Form 941 Schedule B (2026)

Payroll tax compliance remains a critical responsibility for U.S. employers, especially those required to follow the semiweekly deposit schedule. One form that often causes confusion is IRS Form 941 Schedule B. While it may look simple, errors on this schedule can lead to IRS notices and penalties.

This updated 2026 guide explains what Form 941 Schedule B is, who must file it, how the semiweekly depositor rules work, and what the Schedule B number means—in a clear, practical, and up-to-date way.

Note: Although this article is published in 2026, employers are still filing employment tax returns based on the IRS’s most current Form 941 revision, which continues to apply until a newer version is officially released.

Table of Contents

1. What Is IRS Tax Form 941 Schedule B?
   
   

2. Who Is Required to File Form 941 Schedule B?
   
   

3. Understanding the 941 Semiweekly Schedule Depositor Rules
   
   

4. How Federal 941 Schedule B Reporting Works
   
   

5. What Is the Schedule B Number on Form 941?
   
   

6. Common Filing Mistakes to Avoid in 941 Form Schedule B
   
   

7. Final Thoughts on IRS Schedule B 941 in 2026
   
   

What Is IRS Tax Form 941 Schedule B?

Form 941 Schedule B is a supporting schedule filed along with Form 941, the employer’s quarterly federal payroll tax return. This schedule is used only by semiweekly depositors to report their daily payroll tax liability for the quarter.

While Form 941 provides quarterly totals, 941 Schedule B shows exactly when those tax liabilities occurred, based on payroll dates—not deposit dates. This helps the Internal Revenue Service verify whether deposits were made on time.

In simple terms:

• Form 941 summarizes quarterly payroll taxes
  
  

• Schedule B (Form 941) itemizes those taxes by payroll date
  
  

Who Is Required to File Form 941 Schedule B?

You must file IRS Schedule B 941 if:

• You are classified as a semiweekly schedule depositor, and
  
  

• You withhold federal income tax, plus employee and employer Social Security and Medicare taxes
  
  

Employers who follow the monthly deposit schedule do not file Schedule B. Filing it unnecessarily—or failing to file it when required—can create compliance issues.

Understanding the 941 Semiweekly Schedule Depositor Rules

The 941 semiweekly schedule depositor status is determined using your lookback period, which generally covers the previous four quarters.

You are a semiweekly depositor if:

• Your total employment tax liability during the lookback period exceeded $50,000
  
  

Deposit timing rules:

• Payroll paid Wednesday to Friday → Deposit by the following Wednesday
  
  

• Payroll paid Saturday to Tuesday → Deposit by the following Friday
  
  

Schedule B is how the IRS checks whether your deposits align correctly with these payroll dates.

How Federal 941 Schedule B Reporting Works

When completing Federal 941 Schedule B, you must:

• List each day payroll was paid during the quarter
  
  

• Enter the total tax liability for that specific payroll date
  
  

• Leave rows blank for days when no payroll was issued
  
  

The total of all daily liabilities on Schedule B must exactly match Line 12 on Form 941. Even small mismatches can trigger IRS notices.

What Is the Schedule B Number on Form 941?

A frequent question from employers is: “What is the Schedule B number?”

The Schedule B number is not a reference ID or code. It refers to the daily payroll tax liability amount reported for each payroll date.

Each Schedule B number includes:

• Federal income tax withheld
  
  

• Employee Social Security tax
  
  

• Employee Medicare tax
  
  

• Employer share of Social Security and Medicare
  
  

These amounts represent when the tax liability was incurred, not when the payment was made.

Common Filing Mistakes to Avoid in 941 Form Schedule B

Even experienced employers make mistakes with 941 form Schedule B, including:

• Reporting deposit dates instead of payroll dates
  
  

• Entering weekly or monthly totals instead of daily liabilities
  
  

• Totals on Schedule B not matching Form 941
  
  

• Forgetting to attach Schedule B despite being a semiweekly depositor
  
  

Because Schedule B is a key IRS compliance tool, accuracy is essential.

Final Thoughts on IRS Schedule B 941 in 2026

As of 2026, IRS Schedule B 941 continues to be a crucial requirement for semiweekly depositors. While the financial year for many businesses may still be in progress, the filing rules remain unchanged until the IRS issues an updated revision.

Maintaining accurate payroll records and understanding when tax liability arises—not just when payments are made—can help employers avoid penalties and unnecessary correspondence from the IRS.

If your payroll runs frequently or your tax liability fluctuates, professional payroll or accounting support can make Schedule B compliance far more manageable.