What is the difference between de 9 and de 9C?

Asked by: Prof. Arlie Konopelski PhD  |  Last update: August 18, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (42 votes)

In California, Form DE 9 and Form DE 9C are both part of the Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages used for payroll taxes, but they serve different purposes. The DE 9 reports company-level grand totals (taxes owed), while the DE 9C provides the detailed, employee-level wage breakdown, as stated in this TaxBandits article.

Is it de 9 or de 9C?

California's Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages comprises Form DE-9 (grand totals & return) and Form DE-9C (detailed employee wage continuation). Employers use these forms to report total taxable wages, contributions, PIT withheld, and to remit UC/SDI/ETT contributions as applicable.

How to amend DE9 and DE9C?

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.

What are subject wages on DE9?

Subject wages are the total amount of wages, regardless of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Employment Training Tax (ETT) taxable wage limits. They must be reported and are used to determine the amount of UI, SDI, and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits a person can receive if they file a benefit claim.

Is it better to have deductions pre-tax or post-tax?

Both pre-tax and post-tax benefits have their pros and cons. Generally, pre-tax deductions provide an immediate tax break but impact an employee's taxable income. Meanwhile, post-tax deductions don't provide immediate tax relief but aren't taxed when benefits are used in the future.

CA DE-9/DE-9C E-File

17 related questions found

What are the downsides of pre-tax accounts?

You enjoyed the ability to not pay taxes when you were saving but when it comes time to use your money, your contributions and all growth on your investments will be taxed as ordinary income. A large pre-tax retirement account will increase your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) calculation.

What are common payroll mistakes to avoid?

7 Common Payroll Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  • Incomplete or incorrect employee payroll data. ...
  • Not coding overtime correctly. ...
  • Not processing payroll garnishments appropriately (or at all) ...
  • Not taxing employee earnings correctly. ...
  • Filing employment taxes late or incorrectly.

What is the 85% rule for social security?

The Social Security 85% rule refers to the federal tax rule where up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can become taxable if your "combined income" (Adjusted Gross Income + non-taxable interest + half your SS benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, specifically over $34,000 for singles or $44,000 for married couples filing jointly. Below these levels, only 0% or 50% of benefits are taxed, but once you cross the higher threshold, the maximum taxable portion jumps to 85%. 

How do you avoid the 22% tax bracket?

To avoid the 22% tax bracket (or any higher bracket), focus on reducing your taxable income through strategies like maxing out 401(k)s and HSAs, deferring bonuses, tax-loss harvesting, smart charitable giving, and strategic asset location, understanding that higher rates only apply to income within that bracket, not your entire income.

Will amending my return trigger an audit?

Note: filing an amended return does not affect the selection process of the original return. However, amended returns also go through a screening process and the amended return may be selected for audit. Additionally, a refund is not necessarily a trigger for an audit.

Should I put 0 or 1 for tax withholding?

You no longer claim "0 or 1" allowances on the modern IRS Form W-4 (Employee's Withholding Certificate) because allowances were eliminated in 2020; instead, you provide filing status, dependents, and other income details for more accurate withholding, but claiming 0 generally means more tax withheld (larger refund) while claiming 1 (in the old system, or equivalent on the new form) meant less withheld (smaller refund/potential owed tax). If you're single, have one job, and want to minimize owing taxes, you'll generally fill out the new W-4 to withhold accurately, perhaps by claiming 0 allowances or using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. 

Does DE follow federal extension?

Please note a federal extension automatically extends the Delaware due date. An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay.

Are DB9 and DE9 the same?

A: the same. The term "DB9" is the most commonly used name, but "DE9" is the technically correct designation. The "D" signifies the connector's D-shape, the "E" denotes its specific shell size, and the "9" indicates it has nine pins.

What is the de 9 used for?

The DE 9 reconciles reported wages and paid taxes for each quarter. If your DE 9 shows an overpayment, we will send you a refund automatically. If a tax payment is due, you should submit your payment separately with a Payroll Tax Deposit (DE 88/DE 88ALL).

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 a month rule is a retirement guideline suggesting you need about $240,000 saved for every $1,000 per month in desired income, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate (5% of $240k is $12k/year, or $1k/month). It's a simple way to set savings goals, but it doesn't account for inflation, taxes, or other income like Social Security, so it's best used as a starting point, not a complete plan. 

How much is a $100,000 bonus taxed?

Bonuses under $1 million are typically taxed at a flat rate of 22%. Example: If you receive a bonus of $20,000, the flat federal tax rate of 22% would amount to $4,400. If you receive a bonus above $1 million, you'd pay the 22% rate on the first million. Beyond that, the rate jumps to 37%.

How do I avoid paying 40% tax on my bonus?

You can't entirely avoid taxes on a bonus, but you can significantly lower the amount by contributing to tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), IRA, HSA), deferring the bonus to a year you expect to be in a lower tax bracket, or making charitable donations, thereby reducing your taxable income or increasing deductions at tax time.

What is ghost payroll?

Ghost employee fraud is a common form of internal occupational fraud where an employee, typically with payroll access, adds a non-existent employee (the “ghost”) to the company's payroll. The fraudster then collects the wages and/or benefits that were intended for the phantom employee.