This article shows you how to view the quarterly tax returns Gusto files on your behalf and how tax reconciliation debits work. You need admin access to your Gusto account to view tax forms.
A few weeks after each quarter ends, you can see all the quarterly returns we filed on your behalf by going to Taxes & Compliance in your account.
Not looking for tax returns? Learn how to run reports.
Adjustments to tax-related info can be made by an employer (ex., unemployment rate change), the employee themselves (address change means taxes change), or Gusto. To cover this difference, we'll debit your company for any additional taxes owed on a "tax reconciliation" payroll.
For a full list of the forms filed by Gusto, click here.
Sign in to your admin account.
Click the Taxes & compliance and select Tax documents.
If you do not see this section, you may be viewing another profile (employee, contractor, and more) and just need to switch accounts.
If you do not see this in your admin account, you may not have the required permissions and should contact your primary admin for help.
Gusto sorts forms by type in different tabs. Select from Federal, State/Local, Amended forms (this will only appear if Gusto amended a form on your company's behalf), or W-2s and 1099s forms.
Filter by the year or search the form for the form you want to view.
If you're looking for a form that a previous payroll provider filed on your behalf, reach out to them.
Some forms, coupons, or payment vouchers that we file electronically may not appear in your Tax documents. You can find those payment receipts by running an agency payments report.
If you cannot find a specific form that you believe Gusto filed on your behalf, we can help.
As a Gusto Partner, you can download quarterly tax packages and end of year W-2 and 1099 forms for all your clients.
If any of your clients have amended returns, you'll need to reach out to a company admin to retrieve them.
When payroll is run, we deduct the required amount of taxes and send them to the government (and file related forms).
If something changes after payroll is done, or forms were filed—like new info that changes the tax amount—you might owe more money or get some money back.
To fix this, we run a special payroll called a tax reconciliation. It helps make sure the right amount of taxes are paid and reported.
You may owe more taxes. If so, we’ll take the extra amount from your company’s default bank account in Gusto.
You may get a refund. If we still have the extra money you paid, we’ll send it back to the default bank account in Gusto.
Some tax reconciliation payrolls happen automatically as a result of changes to your account, or on a quarterly basis (to correct potential tax discrepancies ahead of filing). Other times, they may be run by our team, as needed, as a response to one of the situations below.
State unemployment rate change: This occurs when your State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) rate changes for the current quarter due to reasons specified by the state unemployment department.
This debit usually happens at the end of the quarter, depending on the timing of the tax rate change.
FUTA credit reduction states: This occurs if you're an employer in a credit reduction state, and a higher tax is due on federal Form 940.
This debit usually happens at the end of the year, contingent upon an employer's status in a credit reduction state.
Non-Gusto payrolls: When you add or remove a non-Gusto payroll, it may impact how previous payrolls should have been taxed. If additional taxes are owed, we'll debit your account and send the tax amounts to the applicable agencies.
Work/home location changes: If your company or an employee has a change in work or home location, you may be liable for additional taxes to federal and state agencies.
Benefit adjustments: Changes to benefits can also change taxes owed.
Exemptions: Adding or removing a tax exemption can result in an increase or decrease in taxes owed.
Click the Reports section.
Scroll to find the “Tax Reconciliation History” report and click View.
Under the “Actions” column, click View details next to the tax reconciliation payroll you want to view.
To download the summary of a specific reconciliation, scroll to the bottom-right corner of the reconciliation details page and click Download.
If you plan to make the tax payments associated with the tax reconciliation payroll outside of Gusto (directly to the agency), you can cancel the Gusto debit. Canceling the debit does not cancel the amount owed or the payroll reporting of the amount.
This option is available until we've initiated the debit.
Click the Reports section.
Scroll to find the "Tax Reconciliation History" report and click View.
Under the “Actions” column, click View details next to the tax reconciliation payroll you want to view.
On the top-right of the page, click Cancel debit.
By clicking Yes, cancel debit, you understand that you'll be responsible for making these tax payments yourself to the relevant agencies. Any penalties, interest, over/underpayments, or notices will be your company's responsibility.
Click Yes, cancel debit.
As a reminder, you'll only be able to cancel the entire debit—if you need to cancel specific parts of it, or the tax reconciliation looks wrong, contact us from the Help section of your account.
Email notifications are sent when a tax reconciliation payroll results in a debit of $5.00 or more.
The email will notify you of the factors that impacted the tax reconciliation, the adjustment period, the last four digits of the bank account that will be debited, the debit date, any applicable taxes, and the total debit amount.
The debit typically occurs a few business days after you receive the email.
In certain cases, you may receive an email about a refund from Gusto—we'll let you know if there's any action required on your end, like reimbursing employees for overpaid taxes.