The payroll templates from my Synergy session

Excel workbook (.xlsx)

Schedule of Withholding Payments

For preparers making payroll tax deposits manually. Log each deposit from its payment confirmation, with the payment date, so every payment is kept in one place.

What it does for you

• Quarter-end totals tie to the payroll tax returns and year-to-date totals tie to the payroll reports, so typos, transpositions and fat-finger errors surface while there’s still time to fix the deposits before the return is filed.
• Catches prior-period errors, such as a payroll check deleted from an earlier period, by flagging variances in the year-to-date totals.
• Ties out to the W-3 and year-end reconciliation forms at year end, completing the circle.
• Doubles as part of the lead schedule for the payroll taxes and accrued payroll taxes workpapers for the tax return.

Download Schedule of Withholding Payments

Excel workbook (.xlsx)

Year-End Payroll Tax Recap

The lead schedule for the quarterly payroll returns, built from the returns exactly as filed. It works whether deposits are made manually or not, and it’s a critical tool when amended payroll returns are being filed.

What it does for you

• Records figures straight from the filed returns, not the software’s internal Form 941, which can update itself when a prior-period check is deleted and wipe out the historical numbers.
• Catches prior-period errors by tying the filed quarterly figures to the year-end returns.
• At year end, enter the Form W-3 figures and tie all four quarters to the payroll returns.
• Once complete, serves as the lead schedule for the payroll returns and Form W-3.

Tip: keep a PDF copy of each return as filed, so you have a record of exactly what was submitted.

Download Year-End Payroll Tax Recap