Discussion of Form 1042, Form 1042-S and Form 1042-T

 

Use Form 1042, Annual Withholding Tax Return for U.S. Source Income of Foreign Persons, to report:

  • Tax withheld under chapter 3 on certain income of foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, foreign partnerships, foreign corporations, foreign estates, and foreign trusts;
  • The tax withheld under chapter 4 on withholdable payments under Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA);
  • The tax withheld pursuant to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 5000C on specified federal procurement payments;
  • The tax withheld under IRC section 877A on payments of eligible deferred compensation items or distributions from nongrantor trusts to a covered expatriate;
  • Payments that are reported on Form 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding, under the IRC sections named above.

Use Form 1042-S to report:

  • Amounts paid to foreign persons from U.S. sources that are reportable under chapter 3 or 4 (regardless of whether withholding was required or not);
  • Amounts withheld under chapters 3 and 4;
  • Specified federal procurement payments subject to withholding under section 5000C, and certain payments subject to section 877A;
  • Certain distributions by publicly traded trusts, qualified investment entities, and publicly traded partnerships.
  • Payments to foreign sellers of certain partnership interests subject to IRC 1446(f)

Caution! Carefully review the Instructions for Form 1042-S and ensure that the proper Form 1042-S is used for income paid during that year. For example, the 2019 Form 1042-S must be used to report income paid in 2019.

Use Form 1042-T, Annual Summary and Transmittal of Forms 1042-S, to transmit paper Forms 1042-S to the Internal Revenue Service. Use a separate Form 1042-T to transmit each type of Form 1042-S.

Caution! Do not use Form 1042-T if you submit Forms 1042-S electronically.

When due

The Forms 1042, 1042-S and 1042-T must be filed by March 15 of the year following the calendar year in which the income subject to reporting was paid. If March 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is the next business day.

Who must file

Every withholding agent.

Reporting agent authorization

You must use Form 8655, Reporting Agent Authorization to inform the IRS if a different entity is acting as your reporting or paying agent for Forms 1042 or 1042-S. See Reporting Agents File.

Extension of time to file

You may request an extension of time to file Form 1042 by filing Form 7004, Application for Extension of Time to File Certain Excise, Income, Information, and Other Returns. Form 7004 does not extend the time for payment of tax. A separate extension Form 8809, Application for Extension of Time to File Information Returns, is used to request an extension of time to file Forms 1042-S. See Publication 1187, Specifications for Filing Form 1042S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding PDF, for electronic filing options. See Publication 1187 or the instructions for Form 1042-S for any requests to extend the March 15 due date for the providing the recipient copies.

Interest and penalties

If you file Form 1042 and/or Form 1042-S late, or fail to pay or deposit the tax when due, you may be liable for penalties and interest unless you can show that the failure to file or pay was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. For more information refer to the instructions attached to Form 1042-S.

Refer to the Instructions for Forms 1042, 1042-S and 1042-T, and Publication 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities, for more details.

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