PURPOSE: This rule provides a guide to employers in properly fulfilling their responsibilities of withholding Missouri taxes from the wages of employees.

1. (1) General Information. The Missouri general assembly in 1972 enacted Senate Bill 549, a new Missouri income tax law. This 12 CSR 10-2

law adopts many provisions and terms of the Internal Revenue Code. Its withholding provisions are applicable to wages paid after December 31, 1972. The “Missouri Employer’s Tax Guide” and this rule are designed to assist employers in withholding Missouri income tax from wages paid from sources in Missouri. An employer may generally follow the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publication titled “Employer’s Tax Guide” Circular E relating to withholding income tax. An employer already assigned a Missouri withholding tax identification number will not need to obtain a new one. If a business is discontinued, transferred or sold, the employer must file an Employer’s Withholding Final Report, Form MO-941F, to close the employer’s withholding account. If the business of another employer is acquired, do not use the number assigned to that business; a new number must be obtained.

1. (2) Employers. An employer is any person, firm, corporation, association, fiduciary of any kind or other type of organization for whom an individual performs service as an employee, unless the person or organization for whom the individual performs service does not have control of the payment of compensation for the service, (section 143.191, RSMo). The term employer means the person, including all government agencies, who controls the payment of the compensation. An employer required to withhold Missouri income tax is personally liable for the tax. Any amount of tax actually deducted and withheld by an employer is a special fund in trust for the director of revenue (section 143.241, RSMo). An employee does not have a right of action against the employer in respect to any money deducted and withheld from his/her wages if it is paid over to the director of revenue in good faith compliance with the Missouri Income Tax Law.
2. (3) Registration of Employers. Every employer must register with the Missouri Department of Revenue by completing the Missouri Tax Registration Application, Form DOR- 2643. A permanent registration number will be assigned. A new application is required, and a new Missouri tax identification number will be assigned, when any change in ownership or ownership type occurs. An employer who receives a new identification number as a result of a change in ownership type, must file an Employer’s Withholding Final Report, Form MO-941F, to close the old account. These numbers are not transferable and should be referred to in all reports and correspondence concerning withholding.
3. (4) Employer With More Than One (1) Payroll Unit—Complex Employer. If a consolidated report and remittance of the tax withheld cannot be made by the employer because of the complexity of the organization, branch offices or divisions may be designated as withholding agents. These agents can perform the actual withholding and remitting. However, regardless of any internal arrangements which may be established by the complex employer, the legal responsibility and liability under the law still rests with the home office. If the complex employer has designated withholding agents, and the agents wish to claim the compensation deduction, only one (1) agent will be entitled to the full deduction and the remaining agents will be entitled to one-half percent (1/2%) deduction of income taxes withheld if the returns are filed timely.
4. (5) Seasonal. If your business is only open for several months out of the year, you may register as a seasonal employer.
5. (6) Employees. The term employee for Missouri withholding purposes has the same meaning as it has for federal withholding (see “Employer’s Tax Guide,” Circular E, published by the IRS). This definition is the same for Missouri residents and nonresidents.
6. (7) Wages. The term wages for Missouri withholding purposes has the same meaning as it has for federal withholding (see “Employer’s Tax Guide,” Circular E, published by the IRS). Wages include all pay given to an employee for services performed. The pay may be in cash or in other forms. It includes salaries, vacation allowances, bonuses and commissions, regardless of how measured or paid.

7. (8) Interstate Transportation Employees.

   1. (A) Rail, Motor and Private Motor Carriers. 49 U.S.C. section 11504, limits state taxation on wages of employees of rail, motor and private motor carriers. Missouri withholding is required on rail, motor and private motor carrier employees whose state of residence is Missouri. Employees of rail carriers and motor carriers who perform regularly assigned duties in more than one (1) state are subject to state income tax only in their state of residency.
   2. (B) Air and Water Carriers. 49 U.S.C. sections 1512 and 11504, limit taxation on wages of employees of air and water carriers to the employee’s state of residence, and to the state in which the employee earns more than fifty percent (50%) of the wages paid by the air or water carrier if different from the state of residence.

8. (9) Nonresident Employees Subject to Withholding. If a nonresident employee performs all services within Missouri, tax shall be withheld from all wages paid as in the case of a resident. If services are performed partly within and partly without the state, only wages paid for services performed within Missouri are subject to Missouri withholding tax. If only a portion of an employee’s wages is subject to Missouri withholding tax, then the amount of Missouri tax required to be withheld is calculated using a percent of the amount listed in the withholding tables. The calculation begins by determining the amount that would be withheld if all the wages were subject to Missouri withholding. This amount is then multiplied by a percent which is determined by dividing the wages subject to Missouri withholding tax by the total federal wages.

   1. (A) Example: Nonresident earns $20,000 in wages, $12,000 from Missouri sources. Missouri withholding would be 60% ($12,000 ÷ $20,000 equals 60%) of the withholding required on $20,000. Therefore, if $100 per month should be withheld for an individual earning $20,000, then for this nonresident, $60 should be withheld each month (100 x 60% = $60).

9. (10) Resident of Missouri Employed in Another State. A Missouri resident paying income tax to another state because of employment in that state may file a Withholding Affidavit For Missouri Residents, Form MO W-4C. If the employee does not complete Form MO W-4C, the employer may withhold Missouri taxes on all services performed, regardless of where performed. All income received for services performed in another state not having a state income tax is subject to Missouri withholding. If services are performed partly within and partly without the state, only wages paid for that portion of the services performed within Missouri are subject to Missouri withholding tax, provided that the services performed in the other state are subject to the other state’s withholding provisions. If a service is partly within and partly without Missouri and only a portion of an employee’s wages is subject to Missouri withholding tax, then the amount of Missouri tax required to be withheld is calculated using a percentage of the amount listed in the withholding tables. The calculation begins by determining the amount that would be withheld if all the wages were subject to Missouri withholding. This amount is then multiplied by a percent, which is determined by dividing the wages subject to Missouri withholding tax by the total federal wages.

   1. (A) Example: A resident employee earns $1,500 per month, is single and claims one allowance. The employee performs 40% of his/her services in Kansas. The remaining 60% of the employee’s services are performed in Missouri. If the total withholding on all earnings is $40 per month, the actual withholding for Missouri would be $24 ($40 x 60% = $24).
10. (11) Missouri Employer with Nonresident Employees. If a nonresident employee performs all services outside Missouri, his/her wages are not subject to Missouri withholding. A nonresident employee performing services in more than one (1) state is subject to withholding as outlined in section (9).

11. (12) Supplemental Wage Payments. If supplemental wages are paid, such as bonuses, commissions, overtime pay, back pay, including retroactive wage increases or reimbursements for nondeductible moving expenses in the same payment with regular wages, withhold Missouri income tax as if the total of the supplemental and regular wages were a single wage payment for the regular payroll period. If supplemental wages are paid in a different payment from regular wages, the method of withholding income tax depends in part on whether income tax is withheld from the employee’s regular wages.

    1. (A) If income tax has been withheld from the employee’s regular wages, choose either one (1) of the following methods for withholding income tax on the supplemental wages:

       1. 1. Method One. Withhold at a flat per-

centage rate of six percent (6%) of the supplemental wages, using zero withholding allowances; or

1. 2. Method Two. Add the supplemental

wages to the employee’s regular wages paid to the employee within the same calendar year for the payroll period and determine the income tax to be withheld as if the aggregate amount were one (1) payment. Subtract the tax already withheld from the regular wage payment and withhold the remaining tax from the supplemental wage payment.

1. (B) If income tax has not been withheld from the regular wages (for example, where an employee’s withholding exemption exceeds his/her wages), use Method Two described in paragraph (12)(A)2. of this rule. Add the supplemental wages to the regular wages paid within the same calendar year for the payroll period and withhold income tax on the total amount as though the supplemental wages and regular wages were one (1) payment for a regular payroll period.

1. (13) Tips Treated as Supplemental Wages. Employers must withhold Missouri income tax based upon total tips reported by the employee. Withhold income tax on tips using the same options indicated for withholding on supplemental wage payments.
2. (14) Vacation Pay. Vacation pay received by an employee is subject to withholding as though it were a regular wage payment made for the payroll periods during the vacation. If vacation pay is paid in addition to regular wages for the vacation period, the vacation pay is treated as a supplemental wage payment. An employee who is not a resident of Missouri but works in Missouri is subject to withholding on his/her vacation pay.
3. (15) Lump-Sum and Periodic Distribution. Missouri follows the federal guidelines for lump-sum and periodic distributions. If a lump-sum distribution, withhold at the rate of six percent (6%). If a periodic distribution, follow the computer formula or tax tables.

4. (16) Determining Proper Amount to Withhold. To determine income tax withholding, take the following factors into account:

   1. (A) Wages paid during the payroll period, including tips and vacation pay;
   2. (B) Marital status—There are separate withholding tables for single and married employees; and
   3. (C) Withholding allowances as indicated on the MO W-4.
5. (17) Exemption for Nontaxable Individuals. Exemption from withholding for an individual is valid only if the employee submits to the employer a completed Form MO W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate), certifying that the employee has no income tax liability from the previous year and expects none for the current year. The employee must file a Form MO W-4 annually if s/he wishes to continue to be exempt.
6. (18) Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate. Each employee is required to file a completed Form MO W-4 to determine the number of exemptions to which the employee is entitled. The Form MO W-4 must be used by the employer to determine the amount of Missouri income tax which must be withheld from each paycheck. If an employee has more than one (1) employer, s/he may want to reduce the number of allowances on any MO W-4 that does not pertain to his/her principal employer. Failure to reduce the MO W-4 allowances could cause an employee to have too little tax withheld and make the employee subject to underpayment penalties. If an employee expects to have income other than his/her wages, s/he may request to have additional amounts withheld in addition to the amounts indicated by the allowances claimed on the employee’s MO W-4. The additional amount should be included on line 6 of the MO W-4. Employers are required to submit a copy of each completed Form MO W-4 or an equivalent form for each new employee to the Missouri Department of Revenue within twenty (20) days of completion of each form. The department will in turn forward the Form MO W-4 to the Division of Child Support Enforcement.
7. (19) Withholding Tables. Withholding tables prepared by the Missouri Department of Revenue take into account allowable deductions; therefore withholding is based on gross wages before any deductions, such as Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA), state unemployment insurance, pension funds, or insurance, etc. In determining the amount of tax to be withheld, the employer should use the table for the correct payroll period—daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semimonthly and monthly periods. Any other period would be a miscellaneous pay period. Tables show wage brackets in the two (2) left-hand columns. The withholding allowances are shown at the top of each of the remaining columns and correspond to the number of allowances claimed by an employee on the Form MO W-4.
8. (20) Percentage Formula Withholding. A percentage withholding formula has been published by the director of revenue and it may be used on electronic data processing equipment for withholding Missouri income tax. Any other method must be submitted to and approved by the director of revenue. The formula is mathematically stated as gross income minus standard deduction, minus personal and dependent exemptions, minus federal income tax withheld equals taxable income. Taxable income multiplied by the rate equals Missouri withholding. The formula is illustrated in the “Missouri Employer’s Tax Guide.” 12 CSR 10-2

9. (21) Filing Frequency Requirements. Missouri withholding returns must be filed by the due date as long as an account is maintained with the Missouri Department of Revenue, even if there was no payroll for the reporting period. Returns must be filed each reporting period, even though there may not have been any tax withheld. There are four (4) filing frequencies: quarter-monthly, monthly, quarterly and annually (section 143.221 and 143.225, RSMo). A newly registered employer is initially assigned a filing frequency on the basis of his/her estimation of future withholdings. If the assigned filing frequency differs from the filing requirements established by statute, it is the employer’s responsibility to immediately notify the Department of Revenue. The time for filing shall be as follows:

   1. (A) Quarter-Monthly. Employers required to withhold nine thousand ($9,000) or more per month for at least two (2) months during the preceding twelve (12) months shall file on a quarter-monthly basis;
   2. (B) Monthly. Employers required to withhold five hundred dollars ($500) per month for at least two (2) months during the preceding twelve (12) months shall file on a monthly basis;
   3. (C) Quarterly. Employers not required to file and pay taxes withheld on a monthly basis who withheld at least twenty dollars ($20) per quarter during at least one (1) quarter of the preceding four (4) quarters shall file on a quarterly basis; and
   4. (D) Annually. Employers required to withhold less than twenty dollars ($20) during any of the preceding four (4) quarters shall file on an annual basis.

10. (22) Reporting Requirement. Every employer withholding Missouri income tax from employee’s wages is required by statute to report and remit the tax to the state of Missouri on the Missouri Form MO-941. See regulation 12 CSR 10-2.016 for information on filing a Form MO-941P to remit required payments on Quarter-Monthly accounts.

    1. (A) A separate reporting form must be filed for each reporting period. A personalized booklet of reporting forms detailing the employer’s name, address, employer identification number, filing frequency and due date is provided to each active account. The voucher booklet supplied to an employer required to pay on a quarter-monthly basis also includes payment vouchers Form MO- 941P, for the four (4) quarter-monthly periods. If an employer misplaces, damages or does not receive the necessary reporting forms, replacement forms should be requested, allowing sufficient time to file a timely return. If a blank form is used, the employer’s name, address and identification number must appear as filed on previous returns and the period for which the remittance is made must be indicated. Failure to receive reporting forms does not relieve the employer of responsibility to report and remit tax withheld. If an employer temporarily ceases to pay wages a return must be filed for each period indicating that no tax was withheld. Failure to do so will result in the issuance of non-filer notices.
    2. (B) On or before February 28, or with the final return filed at an earlier date, each employer must file a Form MO W-3 (Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements) and copies of all withholding tax statements, Form W-2/1099R, copy 1, for the year. Do not include the fourth quarter or twelfth month return with the Form W-2(s)/1099R(s) and Form MO W-3. The last annual remittance must be sent separately with Form MO-

11. 941. Large numbers of forms may be forwarded to the Department of Revenue in packages of convenient size. Each package must be identified with the name and account number of the employer and the packages must be consecutively numbered. Any employee’s copies of the Withholding Statement (Form W-2/1099R) which cannot be delivered to the employee after reasonable effort is exerted, must be kept by the employer for at least four (4) years. The Department of Revenue will accept computer produced magnetic tape records instead of the paper Form W-2/1099R. The employer must meet tape data specifications which are established by the Department of Revenue. The department follows specifications outlined in Social Security Administration Publication 42-007. Employers must also include the Supplemental record (Code S or Code 1 S).

    1. (C) If an employer goes out-of-business or ceases to pay wages, a Final Report MO-941F must be filed. This form, which is included in the voucher booklet, is provided to all active accounts.

12. (23) Time and Place for Filing Returns and Remitting Tax.

    1. (A) All returns and remittances must be filed with the Department of Revenue at the specific address indicated on the form. The dates on which the returns and payments are due are as follows:

       1. 1. Quarter-Monthly (see 12 CSR

10-2.016). The quarter-monthly periods are: the first seven (7) days of a calendar month; the eighth to the fifteenth day of a calendar month; the sixteenth to the twenty-second day of a calendar month; and the twenty-third day through the last day of a calendar month. Payments must be mailed within three (3) banking days after the end of the quarter-monthly period or received by the Department of Revenue or its designated depository within four (4) banking days after the end of the quarter-monthly period. A monthly return (MO-941) reconciling the quarter-monthly payments and detailing any underpayment of tax is due by the fifteenth day of the following month except for the third month of a quarter in which case the MO-941 is due the last day of the succeeding month;

1. 2. Monthly. Return and payment must

be made by the fifteenth day of the following month except for the third month of a quarter in which case the return is due the last day of the succeeding month;

1. 3. Quarterly. Return and payment must

be made on or before the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter; and

1. 4. Annually. Return and payment must

be made on or before January 31 of the succeeding year.

1. (B) When the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the return and payment will be considered timely if made on the next business day (section 143.851, RSMo).

1. (24) Correcting Mistakes in Reporting or Withholding.

   1. (A) Overpayment. If withholding tax has been over reported, the employer must file an Employer’s Withholding Tax Overpayment Amended Report, Form MO-941X along with supporting documentation; such as a copy of your payroll ledger, records or W-2s. A claim for credit or refund of an overpayment of withheld tax must be filed by the taxpayer within three (3) years from the time the return was filed or two (2) years from the time the tax was paid, whichever period expires later. If no return was filed by the taxpayer, a claim for credit or refund must be filed within two (2) years from the time the tax was paid. No claim for credit or refund will be allowed after the expiration of the period of limitation prescribed in section 143.801, RSMo.
   2. (B) Underpayment. If withholding tax has been under-reported, the employer must file an Employer’s Withholding Tax Underpayment Amended Return, Form MO-941U to report the additional withholding.
2. (25) Erroneous Withholding. If Missouri tax has been withheld from an employee’s paycheck and the employee is not subject to Missouri tax, it is the employer’s responsibility to complete an Employer’s Withholding Tax Overpayment Amended Report, Form MO-941X along with supporting documentation; such as a copy of your payroll ledger, records or W-2s.
3. (26) Employer Compensation. For every remittance made to the director of revenue, on or before the respective due date for the payment involved, each employer (except the United States, the state of Missouri and all agencies and political subdivisions of the state of Missouri or the United States government) may deduct and retain as compensation the following percentages of the total amount of the tax withheld and paid annually: two percent (2%) of the first five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less; one percent (1%) of the amount in excess of five thousand dollars up to ten thousand dollars ($5,000–$10,000); one-half percent (1/2%) of the amount collected in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). The employer is not entitled to any compensation if any payment is not made on or before the due date. Compensation for complex employers is covered in section (4).
4. (27) Failure to Pay Taxes Withheld—Special Deposits. Any employer who fails to remit income tax withheld, or to file tax returns as required, may be required to deposit the taxes in a special trust account for Missouri (see section 32.052, RSMo). Penalties are provided for failure to make payment. If the director of revenue finds that the collection of taxes required to be deducted and withheld by an employer may be jeopardized by delay, s/he may require the employer to remit the tax or make a return at any time. A lien outstanding with regard to any tax administered by the director shall be a sufficient basis for this action (see section 143.221.4, RSMo). In addition, any officer, director, statutory trustee or employee of any corporation who has direct control, supervision or responsibility for filing returns and making payments of the tax, who fails to file and make payment, may be personally assessed the tax, including interest, additions to tax and penalties pursuant to section 143.241.2, RSMo.
5. (28) Statements for Employees. Two (2) designated copies of the “W-2 Wage and Tax Statement” must be provided to each employee to whom wages were paid and were subject to withholding whether or not tax was withheld on the payments. Wages include sickness or injury payments made by an employer under wage continuation plans and all remuneration whether paid in cash or otherwise. The W-2 form supplied by the IRS must be used for this purpose unless the employer uses a substitute form approved by the Department of Revenue. If it becomes necessary to correct Form W-2 after it has been issued to an employee, two (2) corrected statements must be issued to the employee and a copy mailed to the Department of Revenue. The new copies must be clearly marked “Corrected by Employer.” In case a withholding statement is lost or destroyed, a substitute copy must be issued to the employee and must be clearly marked “Reissued by Employer.” If employment terminates during the year two (2) copies of Form W-2, copy 2 and C, must be provided to the employee within thirty (30) days of the last payment of wages. Interrupted or intermittent employment is not considered terminated as long as there is reasonable expectation of further employment on the part of both the employer and the employee. If an employee’s services are terminated and a Form W-2 has been provided for the period worked during the year and the employee is later reemployed by the same employer during the calendar year, another withholding statement must be provided to the employee covering only the later period of employment within the calendar year. All withholding statements must be furnished to employees not later than January 31 of the following calendar year for which the W-2 applies.

6. (29) Records to Be Kept by Employers.

   1. (A) The following records must be retained for all employees:

      1. 1. Name, address, Social Security num-

ber and period of employment;

1. 2. Amounts and dates of all wage pay-

ments subject to the Missouri withholding tax;

1. 3. Employees’ state income tax with-

holding allowance certificate;

1. 4. Employer’s state income tax with-

holding registration number;

1. 5. Record of quarter-monthly, monthly,

quarterly and annual returns filed including dates and amounts of payments;

1. 6. Records that would assist the

Missouri Department of Revenue in auditing the employer’s records; and

1. 7. All records should be kept for at least

three (3) years after the date the taxes to which they relate become due, or the date the taxes are paid, whichever is later.

1. (B) In addition to the records listed in paragraphs (29)(A)1.–7., all records of the allocation of working days in the state of Missouri must be retained for all nonresident employees.

1. (30) Penalties, Interest and Additions to Tax.

   1. (A) Interest at the statutory rate must be included on all payments of tax not filed on a timely basis. Interest is subject to change on an annual basis pursuant to section 32.065, RSMo.
   2. (B) An employer’s failure to file a timely return, unless due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, will result in additions to tax of five percent (5%) per month or a fraction of a month not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) pursuant to section 143.741.1, RSMo.
   3. (C) A deficiency is subject to an addition to tax of five percent (5%) if the delinquency is due to negligence or disregard of rules, or fifty percent (50%) if the deficiency is due to fraud pursuant to section 143.751.1 and .2, RSMo.
   4. (D) Failure to timely pay tax requires a five percent (5%) addition to tax pursuant to section 143.751.3, RSMo.
   5. (E) A quarter-monthly penalty of five percent (5%) in lieu of all other penalties, interest or additions to tax will be imposed on a quarter-monthly period underpayment pursuant to section 143.225.6, RSMo.
   6. (F) A person who willfully fails to collect, account for or pay withholding taxes is subject to a penalty equal to the amount not paid to the state, pursuant to section 143.751.4, RSMo. In addition, any officer, director, statutory trustee or employee of any corporation who has direct control, supervision or responsibility for filing returns and making payments of the tax, who fails to file and make payment, may be personally assessed the tax, including interest, additions to tax and penalties pursuant to section 143.241.1, RSMo.
   7. (G) Penalties for criminal offenses are also provided throughout sections 143.911– 143.951, RSMo.
   8. (H) A Certificate of Tax Lien may be filed for record with the recorder’s office. The lien shall arise on the date an assessment becomes final and shall attach to all real and personal property owned by or acquired by the taxpayer. A Certificate of Tax Lien also may be filed with the clerk of the circuit court and shall have the force and effect of a default judgment pursuant to section 143.902, RSMo.
   9. (I) Failure to file a timely Wage and Tax 12 CSR 10-2

Statement, W-2, is subject to a penalty of two dollars ($2) per statement not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) unless the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect pursuant to section 143.741.2, RSMo.

AUTHORITY: section 143.961, RSMo 2000.* This rule was previously filed as “Missouri Employer’s Tax Guide” Feb. 20, 1973, effective March 2, 1973. Original rule filed Jan. 29, 1974, effective Feb. 8, 1974. Emergency amendment filed Jan. 13, 1983, effective Jan. 23, 1983, expired May 23, 1983. Amended: Filed Jan. 13, 1983, effective April 11, 1983. Amended: Filed March 9, 1984, effective July 1, 1984. Amended: Filed June 2, 1993, effective Nov. 8, 1993. Amended: Filed July 28, 1995, effective Jan. 30, 1996. Amended: Filed Feb. 6, 1998, effective Aug. 30, 1998. Emergency amendment filed Nov. 30, 1999, effective Dec. 10, 1999, expired June 6, 2000. Amended: Filed Nov. 30, 1999, effective June 30, 2000. Amended: Filed April 1, 2002, effective Oct. 30, 2002. *Original authority: 143.961, RSMo 1972.