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Payroll Taxes

  1. FUTA
  2. Form 4070
  3. Gross-Up

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Overview Of Form 4070: Employee's Report of Tips to Employer

Updated: July 30, 2024

Overview Of Form 4070: Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer is one of the many IRS forms.

Due to the sheer number of IRS forms, it can be difficult to know exactly where you stand.

Read on as we give you a full breakdown of this form, as well as its purpose, who can file it, how to file it, and answer some of your frequently asked questions. 

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    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • When reporting gratuities to their employers, employees who are paid by tips utilize Form 4070.
    • The form must be submitted by the tenth day of the following month and must include information on any tips that total more than $20 per month.

    What Is Form 4070?

    Form 4070: Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax form that is sent to taxpayers. This form is used by employees to report tip money to their employers after receiving tips from customers. Tips must be reported to the employer every month, by the 10th of the month following the month they are received, unless they are less than $20.

    Tips may be accepted in cash from customers, through a tip-sharing scheme, or by way of credit or debit cards.

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    What Is the Purpose of Form 4070?

    Form 4070 is used in conjunction with Form 4070A to provide a monthly overview of all tips received. The use of this form enables staff to record daily tips received. Additionally, it enables employers to figure out how much tax must be deducted from employee paychecks. 

    Employers are obligated to deduct federal income taxes from employee tip income as well as Social Security and Medicare taxes. These taxes may be deducted from the employee’s pay or in another way.

    Who Can File Form 4070?

    Employees who receive tips must file Form 4070: Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer. Every gratuity that is over $20 must be disclosed. Unless that day is a holiday or weekend, these need to be sent in with their report by the tenth day of the following month. Form 4070A is used to total up daily tips. Any unreported tips of more than $20 must be filed on Form 4137 and your 1040 tax return along with corresponding social security and Medicare taxes.

    How to File Form 4070

    The form must include the names of employees, their addresses, their Social Security numbers, and the month to which the report pertains to. As well as the complete total amount of tips collected for the employee. It must also include the name and address of the employer. The employee must sign the report after completing it.

    Employees may submit a substitute document that includes all of this information in place of submitting the actual form.

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    What Are the Eligibility Criteria for Form 4070?

    This form is used by employees to report tip money to their employers after receiving tips from customers. Any person who works in the service industry or another industry that receives tips is eligible to file Form 4070. 

    The law presumes an average tip rate of 8%. If the tips reported by an employee are less than 8% of their share of food and drink sales, your employer may allocate tips to you. The company will then report to the IRS the difference, tips reported by employees, and the 8% rate allocated among employees.

    Example of Form 4070

    Let’s say that a waiter makes $550 in September from their tips. This waiter would then have to fill out Form 4070 for their employer and declare this income to the IRS.

    However, let’s say that another waiter only makes $14 in September. As this is below the threshold of $20, they would not have to file Form 4070. 

    Summary

    Anyone who works in the service industry will know that there are few things better than leaving a bar or restaurant after a successful tip night. But it is still vital that you keep a track of these tips so that you can report them to the IRS. 

    To file Form 4070, make sure to visit the IRS website. You can also use the IRS Publication 531, Reporting Tip Income, to correctly report your tips.

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    Sandra Habiger is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington. Sandra’s areas of focus include advising real estate agents, brokers, and investors. She supports small businesses in growing to their first six figures and beyond. Alongside her accounting practice, Sandra is a Money and Life Coach for women in business.

    Sandra Habinger headshot

    Written by Sandra Habiger, CPA

    Sandra Habiger is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington. Sandra’s areas of focus include advising real estate agents, brokers, and investors. She supports small businesses in growing to their first six figures and beyond. Alongside her accounting practice, Sandra is a Money and Life Coach for women in business.

    FAQS on Form 4070

    What Happens if You Don’t Report Cash Tips?

    For failure to record or underreport tips of any size, the IRS will impose a penalty. The fine is equal to 50% of what would have been owed in Social Security and Medicare taxes if the tips had been disclosed.

    How Much of Your Tips Should You Claim?

    Any employee who receives more than $20 in tips per month must report their income to their employer and the IRS. When tax season arrives, properly claiming tips ensures that you won’t owe a sizable quantity of money. Additionally, it enables you to avoid audits and obtain financing for expensive purchases.

    Do People Actually Report Their Tips?

    Yes, they do. Remember that it is illegal not to claim your tips. A handy way to keep track of tips is by keeping a daily record of what tips you have made on a typical business day. That way you can keep track of monthly tips far easier. 

    How Do You Prove Tips as Income?

    On your income tax return and on Form 4070, you must disclose all tips you received, including cash and noncash ones. Your Form W-2, Wage, and Tax Statement, box 1 wages include any tips you reported to your employer.

    How Does Claiming Tips Affect Your Paycheck?

    A part of an employee’s tips may be used for an employer’s minimum wage obligation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers are not permitted to remove tip credits from an employee’s wages in any circumstances. Instead, they are permitted to deduct a specific sum from their required minimum payment.

    Payroll Taxes

    1. FUTA
    2. Form 4070
    3. Gross-Up

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