E-filing and Form 1096

If you’ve been filing 1099 Forms for a few years now, you probably remember a time before e-filing. And in this time, Form 1099 was always sent along to the IRS with Form 1096.

What is Form 1096?
The reason Form 1096 was sent with a 1099 Form return is because Form 1096 is the transmittal form for the 1099 Series. Form 1096 basically acts as a summary for all the 1099 Forms mailed to the IRS in that particular return. In fact, Form 1096’s official name is the Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns and it’s used to transmit Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, and W-2G to the IRS.

E-filing and Form 1096
If you made the switch from paper filing to e-filing, you may have noticed that Form 1096 typically isn’t there when you go to e-file your return. All your other information forms are, but how are you going to transmit your return without the transmittal form?

The reason the IRS needed that transmittal form for paper copies is because individual workers would use them to make reviewing returns faster and simpler. When you e-file, a computer does all that so Form 1096 isn’t required.

Form 1096 and ExpressIRSForms
Even though Form 1096 isn’t required when you e-file, many filers find themselves wanting one for their records. Or maybe for the nostalgia of it. Whatever the reason, when you e-file with ExpressIRSForms, we automatically generate an IRS-authorized Form 1096 based on your 1099 return information that you can print and keep! (Just remember you don’t actually need to send it to the IRS.)

For more information on 1099 e-filing and accessing your Form 1096 in your ExpressIRSForms account, don’t hesitate to give us a call! Our expert support team is here to help right from our headquarters in Rock Hill, South Carolina. We’re available by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET and by email 24/7 at support@ExpressIRSForms.com!

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The 1099/W-2 Paper Filing Deadline is Coming Up

All right e-filers, it’s your turn to take the back seat on this one: our blog today contains information for the paper filers. True, ExpressIRSForms is an IRS-authorized e-file service provider, but we like to help all filers - big and small, young and old, paper and electronic - as best we can.

So, paper filers, now that we have your attention, it’s time to buckle down. You only have one week left to file your 1099 and W-2 forms with the IRS. Keep in mind you’ll need to include with your filing a transmittal form, either Form 1096 (with 1099s) or a W-3 Form 9 (with W-2s). If you have different types of Form 1099 to file (ex. 45 1099-MISC forms and 10 1099-INT forms), you’ll need a separate Form 1096 for each type of form.

And we don’t just have federal filing to think of here. You’ll need to know your state requirements. Most states’ paper filing deadlines are the same as the IRS, but some have already passed. And almost every state has a transmittal form or reconciliation requirement form that needs to be filed with your 1099s and W-2s. For more information about filing in your particular state, check out our 1099 and W-2 state filing pages, or contact your state Department of Revenue.

Now, sending your forms in is a little more in depth than just writing, “To The IRS, From Me,” on your envelope. You’ll need to send your forms to the appropriate IRS department, based on which form you’re filing and the state in which your principal business is done. W-2 filers in any state, you’ll send Copy A of Form W-2 with Form W-3 to:

Social Security Administration
Data Operations Center
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001

Form 1099 filers in AL, AZ, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, TX, VT, VA, or WV (or if you’re outside the US) need to mail their forms and Form 1096 to:

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301

Form 1099 filers in AK, CA, CO, D.C., HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, ND, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, or WY mail their forms to:

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service Center
Kansas City, MO 64999

If you’re a little behind, and this seems like a lot to take on in a week, you might want to consider e-filing. There’s no need to alert the IRS you’ll be e-filing instead of paper filing this year; and when you e-file, you automatically get an extra month to file (the e-filing deadline is March 31st). Plus, when you e-file, there’s no need to worry about those pesky 1096 or W-3 forms (although we will generate one for your records when you e-file).

And as always, if you need help filing your 1099s or W-2s (or ACA forms or W-9s), you can reach out to the fabulous ExpressIRSForms support team. Our phone (704-839-2270) and live chat hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, and we offer 24/7 email support at support@expressirsforms.com.

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