Beginning July 1, 2011, the 0.2% federal unemployment tax (FUTA) surtax is no longer in effect. Thus, the FUTA tax rate, before consideration of state unemployment tax credits, is now 6.0%. Employers need to separately track FUTA taxable wages paid before July 1, 2011, and FUTA taxable wages paid after June 30, 2011, since the FUTA tax rates are different during those two periods. Employers whose FUTA tax is more than $500 for the calendar year need to make quarterly FUTA deposits. The next quarterly payment is due on Aug. 1, 2011, but that payment is based on taxable wages paid through June 30, 2011, so it will be computed using the 6.2% FUTA tax rate. However,the payment after that is due on Oct. 31, 2011, and it will be computed using the 6.0% FUTA tax rate if legislation is not enacted to retroactively reinstate the FUTA surtax beginning July 1, 2011.
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