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How to Correct a Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (DE 9) or Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (Continuation) (DE 9C)

All employers are required to electronically submit employment tax returns, wage reports, and payroll tax deposits to the Employment Development Department. You can use e-Services for Business to comply with the e-file and e-pay mandate. For more information and approved electronic filing and payment methods, visit E-file and E-pay Mandate for Employers.

Most employers, including quarterly household employers, are required to file the DE 9 and DE 9C. These reports can be corrected by filing the appropriate adjustment request through e-Services for Business even if the DE 9 and/or DE 9C was filed using a paper form. 

Refer to the following e-Services tutorials/guide for guidance on how to enroll, file returns, reports, and payments as well as how to file adjustments on e-Services for business:

Adjustments on e-Services for Business

If filing adjustments to a previously filed DE 9 or DE 9C through e-Services for Business, use the table below to determine which return or report needs to be corrected for each type of adjustment. Refer to How to Adjust a previously filed DE 9 on e-Services for Business and/or How to Adjust a previously filed DE 9C on e-Services for Business below this table for step-by-step instructions on how to complete the adjustments to the tax return and/or wage report.

Type of Adjustment How to Make Adjustment
Reported incorrect UI, ETT, SDI, and/or PIT information on a previously filed DE 9.
  • Access the previously filed DE 9 (tax return) for the quarter and adjust the previously reported amounts. If an amount was overpaid, claim the amount overpaid in the Total Taxes Due or Overpaid field of your DE 9ADJ.
  • If taxes are due, select Make a Payment from the confirmation screen to pay the additional tax amount plus penalty and interest. The penalty amount is 15% of the portion of the payment that is late (penalty is 10% for periods prior to 3rd quarter 2014).
Did not report employee(s) on a previously filed DE 9 and DE 9C.
  • Access the previously filed DE 9 for the quarter and adjust the previously reported amounts.
  • If taxes are due, select Make a Payment from the confirmation screen or period to pay the additional tax amount plus penalty and interest. The penalty amount is 15% of the portion of the payment that is late (penalty is 10% for periods prior to 3rd quarter 2014).
  • Access the previously filed DE 9C for the quarter and adjust the previously reported amounts.

    Adding an employee requires one entry for each employee in the Wage Information step of the wage report as follows:

    Enter the unreported employee's Social Security Number (SSN), first name, middle initial (M.I.), last name, total Subject Wages, PIT wages, PIT withheld, and select the wage plan code.
Reported employee(s) on a previously filed DE 9 and DE 9C in error.
  • Access the previously filed DE 9 for the quarter and adjust the previously reported amounts. If an amount was overpaid, claim the amount overpaid in the Total Taxes Due or Overpaid field of your DE 9ADJ.
  • If taxes are due, select Make a Payment from the confirmation screen or period to pay the additional tax amount plus penalty and interest. The penalty amount is 15% of the portion of the payment that is late (penalty is 10% for periods prior to 3rd quarter 2014).
  • Access the previously filed DE 9C for the quarter and adjust the previously reported amounts.

    Removing an employee previously reported in error requires one entry for each employee in the Wage Information step of the wage report as follows:

    Enter employee's SSN, first name, middle initial, last name, enter zero (0.00) for total subject wages, zero (0.00) for PIT wages, zero (0.00) for PIT withheld, and select the wage plan code.

    If the employee was reported under more than one plan code, enter a wage line to zero out amounts for each wage plan code.
Reported incorrect wage and/or PIT withholding information on a previously filed DE 9C.

Access the previously filed DE 9C for the quarter and adjust the previously reported amounts.

Correcting wages and/or PIT information previously reported requires one entry for each employee in the Wage Information step of the wage report as follows:

Enter employee's SSN, first name, middle initial, last name, total subject wages, PIT wages, PIT withheld, and select the wage plan code.

 
Reported incorrect employee Social Security number (SSN) and/or name on a previously filed DE 9C.

Access the previously filed DE 9C for the quarter and adjust the previously reported employee information.

Correcting an SSN or name requires two entries for each employee in the Wage Information step of the wage report as follows:

  • First Entry: Enter the incorrect SSN, employee's first name, middle initial, last name, enter zero (0.00) for total subject wages, zero (0.00) for PIT wages, zero (0.00) for PIT withheld, and select the wage plan code.

  • Second Entry: Enter the correct SSN, employee's first name, middle initial, last name, total subject wages, PIT wages, PIT withheld, and select the wage.

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No SSN reported for employee(s) on a previously filed DE 9C.

Access the previously filed DE 9C for the quarter and adjust the previously reported.

Adding an SSN for an employee previously reported without an SSN requires two entries for each employee in the Wage Information step of the wage report as follows:

  • First Entry: Enter all zeros (000-00-0000) for SSN, employee's first name, middle initial, last name, enter zero (0) for total subject wages, zero (0) for PIT wages, zero (0) for PIT withheld, and select the wage plan code.

  • Second Entry: Enter the SSN, employee's first name, middle initial, last name, total subject wages, PIT wages, PIT withheld, and select the wage plan code.

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Incorrect wage plan code(s) reported on the previously filed DE 9C. Refer to the Information Sheet: Reporting Wage Plan Codes on Quarterly Wage Reports and Adjustments (DE 231WPC) (PDF) for information on wage plan codes and which wage plan code corrections do not need to be reported.

Log in to e-Services for Business and select the appropriate Employment Tax account:

  1. Select Manage Periods and Returns.
  2. Select the filing period for the quarter in which the information was reported incorrectly.
  3. Select File or Adjust a Return or Wage Report.
  4. Select View or Adjust Return under the Action column next to Tax Return.
  5. Select Adjust Return.
  6. If needed, update your answer to the question, Do you have payroll to report by selecting Yes or No.
    • If you answered Yes, select Next then enter the correct information for the following fields:
      • Total Subject Wages Paid this Quarter
      • UI Wages
      • SDI Wages
      • SDI Tax Withheld
      • Personal Income Tax Withheld
      • Contributions and Withholdings Paid for the Quarter
      • Select Next
    • If you answered No, select Next.
  7. Enter the Reason for Adjustment, then select Next.
    • If no credit (decrease) adjustments were requested to SDI and/or PIT, go to step 9.
    • If you requested a credit (decrease) adjustment to SDI and/or PIT, review and answer the questions regarding SDI and PIT overpayments on the Additional Information screen then select Next.
  8. Complete the Declaration information, then select Submit.
  9. Select Ok to submit the request.
  10. Review the information on the Confirmation screen, then select OK.
  11. If an amount is due, select Make a Payment from the Confirmation screen or period.
  12. Select Make a Payment by Period or by Credit Card to pay the additional tax amount plus penalty and interest. The penalty amount is 15% of the portion of the payment that is late (penalty is 10% for periods prior to 3rd quarter 2014).

Adjustments to tax returns can be saved and completed later by selecting Save Draft. To access a saved return or report go to the Action Center.

Log in to e-Services for Business and select the appropriate Employment Tax account:

  1. Select Manage Periods and Returns.
  2. Select the filing period for the quarter in which the information was reported incorrectly.
  3. Select File or Adjust a Return or Wage Report.
  4. Select View or Adjust Return under the Action column next to Wage Report.
  5. Select Adjust Return.
  6. If needed, update your answer to the question, Do you have payroll to report by selecting Yes or No.
    • If you answered Yes, select Next then go to step 7.
    • If you answered No but previously reported wages, select Clear All Fields, and check Confirm in the confirmation box, then select OK. Select Next then go to step 10.
  7. Select Yes or No to indicate if you would like to import a csv file.
    • If you answered Yes, select Upload CSV File to import your file. Select Next when file has been uploaded successfully and verify that the wage detail has been entered correctly. Select Next when all wage line entries have been verified.
    • If you answered No, select Next and report only the wage lines being corrected in the wage detail table. Select Next when all wage line entries have been entered. Refer to the csv instructions on e-Services for Business for information on how to create the csv file.
  1. Enter corrected Number of Employees for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd month in the quarter, if applicable.
  2. Complete the Amended Wage Totals. Report the corrected grand totals for all employees, not just the amended employees.
  3. Enter the Reason for Adjustment, then select Next.
  4. Complete the Declaration, then select Submit.
  5. Select Ok to submit the request.
  6. Review the information on the Confirmation screen, then select Ok.

Adjustments to wage reports can be saved and completed later by selecting Save Draft. To access a saved return or report go to the Action Center.

Filing Adjustments on Paper Adjustment Forms

If filing an adjustment to a previously filed DE 9 or DE 9C on paper, complete a Quarterly Contribution and Wage Adjustment Form (DE 9ADJ). The table below includes the instructions for completing a paper DE 9ADJ. Refer to the Instructions for Completing the Quarterly Contribution and Wage Adjustment Form (DE 9ADJ-I) (PDF) for additional information. Contact the Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886 for assistance.

Type of Adjustment How to Make Adjustment
Reported incorrect UI, ETT, SDI, and/or PIT information on the DE 9.
  • Complete sections I, II, III, and V of the DE 9ADJ. Also, complete section IV (items A and C) of the DE 9ADJ if a correction is needed to the DE 9C for the quarter. If an amount was overpaid, claim the amount overpaid in the Total Taxes Due or Overpaid field of your DE 9ADJ.
  • If taxes are due, send a payment with the DE 9ADJ for the additional tax amount plus penalty and interest. The penalty amount is 15% of the portion of the payment that is late (penalty is 10% for periods prior to 3rd quarter 2014).
Did not report employee(s) on a previously filed DE 9 and DE 9C.
  • Complete sections I, II, III, IV (items A and C), and V of the DE 9ADJ.
  • If taxes are due, send a payment with the DE 9ADJ for the additional tax amount plus penalty and interest. The penalty amount is 15% of the portion of the payment that is late (penalty is 10% for periods prior to 3rd quarter 2014).
Reported employee(s) on a previously filed DE 9 and DE 9C in error.
  • Complete sections I, II, III, IV (items A and C), and V of the DE 9ADJ. If an amount was overpaid, claim the amount overpaid in the Total Taxes Due or Overpaid field of your DE 9ADJ.
Reported incorrect wage and/or PIT withholding information on a previously filed DE 9C.
  • Complete sections I, II, IV (items A and C), and V of the DE 9ADJ. Refer to pages 3 through 5 of the DE 9ADJ-I for detailed instructions and examples of wage line adjustments. Also, complete section III of the DE 9ADJ if a correction is needed to the DE 9 for the quarter.
  • If taxes are due, send a payment with the DE 9ADJ for the additional tax amount plus penalty and interest. The penalty amount is 15% of the portion of the payment that is late (penalty is 10% for periods prior to 3rd quarter 2014).
Reported incorrect employee Social Security number (SSN) and/or name on a previously filed DE 9C.
  • Complete sections I, II, IV (items A and C), and V of the DE 9ADJ. Refer to pages 3 through 5 of the DE 9ADJ-I for detailed instructions and examples of wage line adjustments.
No SSN reported for employee(s) on a previously filed DE 9C.
  • Complete sections I, II, IV (items A and C), and V of the DE 9ADJ. Refer to pages 3 through 5 of the DE 9ADJ-I for detailed instructions and examples of wage line adjustments.
Incorrect wage plan code(s) reported on the DE 9C.
  • Complete sections I, II, IV (items A and B, or items A and C), and V. If correcting wage plan codes for all employees, complete items A and B in section IV. If correcting the wage plan codes for individual employees, complete Items A and C in section IV (C1 through C6 and C9) for each affected employee.

    Refer to the Information Sheet: Reporting Wage Plan Codes on Quarterly Wage Reports and Adjustments (DE 231WPC) (PDF) for information on wage plan codes and which wage plan code corrections do not need to be reported.

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If you have questions, Contact Payroll Taxes. You can also contact the Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886 or visit your local Employment Tax Office.

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