National Payroll Week 2026 runs Sept. 7–11, and the IRS marked the occasion by urging workers and employers to review withholding and payroll tax responsibilities. For Inland Empire employers that means checking Form W-4 settings, deposit routines and record practices before the next quarterly deadline.
National Payroll Week 2026 runs Sept. 7–11 and is organized by PayrollOrg, not the IRS. In IR-2026-105 the IRS marked the week by encouraging workers to check their withholding with Form W-4 and the Tax Withholding Estimator, and reminding employers to withhold accurately, deposit federal taxes electronically, file employment tax returns on time, and keep employment tax records at least four years after filing the fourth quarter.
By Adham Abadier, CPA — Licensed in California, License #158599
Key Takeaways: National Payroll Week 2026
- National Payroll Week 2026 runs Sept. 7–11. It is organized by PayrollOrg; in IR-2026-105 the IRS used it as a checkpoint for reviewing withholding and payroll tax responsibilities.
- Employees can use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to check their withholding, then give a new Form W-4 to their employer. The estimator can pre-fill the W-4; it sends nothing to the IRS.
- Employers must generally withhold federal income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax from employee wages.
- Federal tax deposits must be made by electronic funds transfer, through a business tax account, Direct Pay for businesses, or EFTPS (IRS employment tax due dates).
- Keep employment tax records at least four years after filing the fourth quarter for the year; the same IRS page gives six years for qualified sick and family leave wage and Employee Retention Credit substantiation (IRS employment tax recordkeeping).
- The Q3 2026 Form 941 deadline is Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 for most employers: the return is due the last day of the month after the quarter — Oct. 31, 2026, a Saturday — so it may be filed the next business day (IRS employment tax due dates).
What the IRS Actually Said in IR-2026-105
In IR-2026-105, issued Sept. 4, 2026, the IRS encouraged workers and employers to review withholding and payroll tax responsibilities ahead of National Payroll Week. The IRS does not sponsor the week; it uses the observance as a hook for its own reminders. IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano noted that “Payroll professionals play an essential role in supporting America’s workers, businesses, and tax system.” The release emphasizes two parallel tracks: employees checking their own withholding and employers auditing their internal payroll processes.
The observance is coordinated nationally by PayrollOrg, which founded National Payroll Week in 1996; the IRS confirmed the Sept. 7–11 dates for 2026 in IR-2026-105.
Employee Action: Checking Your Own Withholding
The IRS recommends that employees use the free Tax Withholding Estimator to model whether their current Form W-4 is producing the right amount of federal income tax withholding. The tool takes recent pay statements, income, deductions, and credits into account.
Life changes that generally warrant a fresh W-4 review include:
- Starting or leaving a job
- Working multiple jobs simultaneously
- Marriage or divorce
- Birth or adoption of a child
- A significant change in income
If the estimator suggests an adjustment, the fix is a new Form W-4 submitted to the employer — not to the IRS. The IRS is explicit that completed W-4s stay with the employer.
Running payroll across Riverside, Moreno Valley, or Corona and not 100% sure your W-4s, deposits, and 941s are buttoned up? A 30-minute review now beats a scramble in November.
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Employer Action: Four Core Payroll Responsibilities
The IRS frames employer obligations around four pillars in IR-2026-105, each of which is worth a National Payroll Week audit:
1. Withhold the Right Taxes, Accurately
Federal income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax are the three employment taxes employers generally must withhold from wages. Errors here compound quickly across a payroll cycle, especially for Inland Empire businesses running mixed hourly, salaried, and contractor payrolls across multiple cities such as Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Corona.
2. Deposit Federal Taxes Electronically
The IRS employment tax due dates page is explicit: “Federal tax deposits must be made by electronic funds transfers (EFT).” The channels named are your business tax account, Direct Pay for businesses, and EFTPS. If your payroll still relies on paper checks or manual bank runs, this is the week to fix that.
3. File Employment Tax Returns On Time
Employers can electronically file many employment tax records, including Forms 940, 941, 943, 944, and 945. Form 941 is due the last day of the month after the quarter ends, and if that falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday it may be filed the next business day (IRS employment tax due dates). Q3 2026 ends Sept. 30, so Oct. 31 — a Saturday — moves the deadline to Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
4. Keep Payroll Records for At Least Four Years
The IRS instruction is to “keep all records of employment taxes for at least four years after filing the 4th quarter for the year” (IRS employment tax recordkeeping). That page’s list covers Forms W-4 and other withholding certificates, wage and payment amounts and dates, employee names and Social Security numbers, deposit dates and amounts, and copies of filed returns; it gives six years for records supporting qualified sick and family leave wages and the Employee Retention Credit. Check your own facts against that page before discarding anything. In practice it means an organized, retrievable system, not documents scattered across inboxes.
Payroll Data Security: A Growing Emphasis
IR-2026-105 also addresses payroll data security. The IRS says employers and payroll professionals should:
- Verify changes to direct deposit or employee information through a trusted channel
- Limit access to payroll systems
- Use multifactor authentication
- Remain alert to phishing and credential theft
Direct-deposit redirection scams targeting payroll administrators have become common enough that the IRS is folding this guidance directly into its National Payroll Week messaging. Treat any “update my bank account” request as suspicious until verified by phone or in person.
Free IRS Webinar and Ongoing Payroll Resources
The release announced a free Sept. 8 webinar, “IRS and Payroll Professionals — Partners in Every Paycheck,” covering employment tax deposits, Trump Account employer contributions, 2026 Form W-2 reporting changes and IRS payroll resources (IR-2026-105). Registration and the current schedule sit on the IRS webinars for tax practitioners page.
Longer-term, the IRS Payroll Professionals Tax Center collects employment tax guidance, e-News for payroll professionals and the monthly payroll industry meetings, alongside Publication 15 (Circular E) and Publication 15-T. Bookmarking these is a low-effort way to stay ahead of mid-year changes rather than scrambling at filing time.
National Payroll Week 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Payroll Week 2026?
National Payroll Week 2026 runs Sept. 7–11. It is organized by PayrollOrg. The IRS does not sponsor it, but confirmed the same dates in IR-2026-105 on Sept. 4, 2026.
What should employees actually do during National Payroll Week?
Run your pay information through the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, especially if you have had a life change such as marriage, a new job, or a significant income shift. If the results suggest a change, complete a new Form W-4 and give it to your employer — never the IRS.
What are the four key employer payroll responsibilities the IRS highlights?
IR-2026-105 lists four: withholding federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare tax accurately; depositing federal taxes electronically; filing Forms 941, 940, 943, 944 and 945 on time; and keeping employment tax records at least four years after filing the fourth quarter (IRS employment tax recordkeeping).
When is the Q3 2026 Form 941 due?
Form 941 is due the last day of the month after the quarter ends; when that day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday it may be filed the next business day (IRS employment tax due dates). Q3 2026 ends Sept. 30, so Oct. 31, 2026 falls on a Saturday and the deadline moves to Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
Does the IRS require paper or electronic tax deposits?
Electronic funds transfer is required (IRS employment tax due dates). The IRS names your business tax account, Direct Pay for businesses and EFTPS; other methods may charge a fee.
How long should payroll records be kept?
The IRS says to keep all records of employment taxes at least four years after filing the fourth quarter for the year, covering wages, withholding certificates such as Forms W-4, deposit dates and amounts, and filed returns; it lists six years for qualified sick and family leave wage and Employee Retention Credit substantiation (IRS employment tax recordkeeping).
Where can I get help reviewing my business’s payroll setup in the Inland Empire?
Catalyst CPA Corporation, based in Moreno Valley and serving Riverside, Corona, Temecula, and the broader Inland Empire, offers payroll compliance reviews as part of a broader payroll services for small business engagement. A quick diagnostic call can surface missing deposits, stale W-4s, or recordkeeping gaps before the Q3 filing deadline.
FREE FOR INLAND EMPIRE BUSINESS OWNERS
Free Payroll Compliance Check
Adham personally reviews your current payroll setup — withholding configuration, deposit method, filing history, and record retention — and flags any gaps to address before the Q3 Form 941 deadline on Nov. 2, 2026.
Putting It Together Before the Q3 2026 Payroll Deadline
National Payroll Week 2026 is a useful forcing function: employees get a nudge to check their W-4, and employers get a nudge to confirm that withholding, deposits, filings, and records are all in order. With the Q3 2026 Form 941 due Nov. 2, there’s still time to correct any gaps you find this week.
If you’d rather not manage this solo, Catalyst CPA’s QuickBooks bookkeeping help team can take payroll and compliance off your plate entirely. Payroll help near Moreno Valley is a phone call away.
About the Author
By Adham Abadier, CPA
California CPA License #158599 · QuickBooks Gold ProAdvisor · AICPA & CalCPA Member
Adham Abadier leads Catalyst CPA Corporation in Moreno Valley, serving small businesses throughout the Inland Empire and nationwide. He specializes in payroll, bookkeeping, and tax compliance for growing California businesses.
Disclaimer
As of September 2026 the linked IRS and PayrollOrg pages are the current published sources for the dates, deposit rules and retention periods described here. Deadlines and IRS guidance change; verify against the linked source before relying on any date. This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or accounting advice. Reading this article does not create a CPA-client relationship. Payroll tax rules and deadlines can change, and individual circumstances vary; readers should consult a licensed CPA about their specific situation before acting on any information here. Catalyst CPA Corporation, 13114 Yellowwood St, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 · (951) 223-1826
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