Are You Prepared for the 2017 Filing Changes?

Whether you’re ready for it or not, there are some big changes coming in 2017. And with the way 2016 has been moving, they’ll be here before we know it.

Now, as you know, the information return filing you do to report things like your employees’ salaries and their healthcare benefits or your independent contractors’ earnings is done at the beginning of each year. That’s not changing: you still need to prepare to file W-2s, 1099s, and ACA Forms starting in just a month and a half.

So just what is different about this year? We’re glad you asked:

New Deadlines

• ACA Forms
• The deadline to have copies of Form 1095-B/C to your employees/recipients, which was March 31 last year, will be January 31, 2017.
• The deadline to paper file Form 1094 and 1095 with the IRS, which was May 31 last year, will be February 28, 2017.
• The deadline to e-file Form 1094 and 1095 with the IRS, which was June 30 last year, will be March 31, 2017.
• W-2 Forms
• The deadline to have employee copies of Form W-2 furnished and to have SSA copies filed (e-filed or by paper) will be January 31, 2017.
• In previous years, copies of Form W-2 were due to employees by January 31, to the SSA if paper filing by February 28/29, and to to the SSA if e-filing by March 31. For 2016 filing, all W-2 Forms must be delivered to the appropriate recipient by January 31.
• Also, note that extensions for Form W-2 are no longer automatic. You can still apply for a 30-day extension, however, by filing Form 8809.
• 1099 Forms
• If you’re reporting nonemployee compensation payments in box 7 on Form 1099-MISC, that form must be filed with the IRS, as well as mailed to the recipient, by January 31, 2017.
• This new deadline only applies for the Form 1099-MISC in the 1099 Form Series and only if box 7 is completed. Otherwise, the form may be filed with the IRS by February 28 (if paper filing) or by March 31 (if e-filing).

New Codes and Costs

• ACA Forms
• On Line 14 of Form 1095, where the code for the corresponding offer of coverage is entered, the IRS has gotten rid of code 1I (Qualifying Offer Transition Relief 2015) and added code 1J (MEC offered to employee and spouse) and code IK (MEC offered to employee, spouse, and dependents). 
• On Line 16 of Form 1095, where the code for applicable safe harbor relief is entered, the IRS has gotten rid of code 2I (non-calendar year transition relief).
• W-2 Forms
• Before, the most you stood to pay for late, incorrect, or missing W-2s was at most $3 million ($1 million for small businesses). For the 2016 tax year and future years, late or incorrect W-2 Forms will be charged $50, $100, or $260 per form.
• The fee is determined based on when the complete, correct Form W-2 is filed and cannot exceed $3,193,000 ($1,064,000 for small businesses) per calendar year.

Same Reliable ExpressIRSForms
ExpressIRSForms can keep you prepped and ready for all these new changes! We’re already busy updating and perfecting our software for the new codes and deadlines coming in 2017. And you’ll find that all your favorite features to keep your filing fast and easy are still here, like bulk upload and postal mailing (where we mail your recipient copies for you!).

And, as always, if you have any questions, our support team is here to help! We’re available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST, by phone (704-684-4751) or live chat; we’re also available 24/7 at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

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Getting to Know Form W-2

Buckle up, ExpressIRSForms readers, because this month we’re switching gears from ACA and general-tax-talk to really get to know one of our most popular forms: Form W-2!

Now, before we get to the real nitty gritty with Form W-2, let’s first learn a bit more about it. Form W-2 is an IRS information return, also known as a Wage and Tax Statement, that’s used to report wages paid to employees and the taxes withheld from them throughout the year.

Who Needs to File Form W-2?
Form W-2 is filed each year by every employer who paid employees for their services performed, including noncash payments of $600 or more, that year. A W-2 form must be filed for each employee by the employer for whom:

• Income, Social Security, or Medicare tax was withheld.
• Income tax would have been withheld if the employee claimed one or fewer withholding allowances on Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate.

Where is Form W-2 Filed?
At ExpressIRSForms, of course! We’ve got one of the fastest, easiest, IRS-authorized e-filing programs for W-2s on the market! And while the IRS and SSA encourage employers to e-file - and require employers to if they have more than 250 forms - you may not be the e-filing type. We understand that, and we’re still here to help. Paper filers should file Copy A of Form W-2 with Form W-3 with the following address:

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

But, as we said, it’s much easier to e-file with ExpressIRSForms than it is to paper file. And since it’s free to create an account, why not give it a go? With ExpressIRSForms, you don’t pay until you’re ready to file, so we invite you to try out all of the built-in features that make W-2 filing even better than you could’ve imagined!

Have Any Questions?
Here at ExpressIRSForms, we’re committed to helping you through every step of the e-filing process. If you have any questions about getting started or e-filing your W-2 returns, don’t hesitate to contact our all-star customer support team. We’re available by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat (through our site) Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, and we offer 24/7 email assistance at support@ExpressIRSForms.com!

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ExpressIRSForms E-filing Features: Address Book

Wouldn’t it be great if your IRS e-filing software remembered not only your business’s information but your employees’ information, year to year? It sure would make it easier to e-file your 1094, 1095, 1099, and W-2 IRS information return forms.

Okay, so maybe something like that isn’t on your front burner at the moment, so to speak. But now that you’re thinking about it, wouldn’t it be nice to have?

Well, guess what? You can! With ExpressIRSForms.

With your ExpressIRSForms cloud-based account comes a categorized Address Book to help you keep track of your business(es) and employees, basically anyone you’d need to report tax information for or about.

And that part about “cloud-based” means anywhere you have access to the internet you’re able to access your account. So anytime you need to pull up contact information for one of your employees, just log into your account through our website, which is mobile-friendly for your convenience.

You can add employees to your Address Book by actually entering them into your Address Book (individually or by bulk upload), or by filing your returns. Once you create a return for a business and enter your employee forms, their contact information is saved to your Address Book. This means next year, when you need to file for the same all-star employees again, their contact information will already be filled in and all you’ll need to do is update any financial data.

Of course, the Address Book is just one of many awesome features that come with your (absolutely free) ExpressIRSForms account. Head on over to our site today to learn more or get started creating your account!


Got questions? We’re here to answer! Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, we’re available by phone (704-684-4751) and live webchat. We also offer 24/7 email assistance at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

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Happy Thanksgiving from ExpressIRSForms!

Let all of us at ExpressIRSForms be the first to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! We’d also like to extend our gratitude for each and every one of our customers this holiday season. Without your support for ExpressTaxFilings, we never could have grown into the team we are today. And with even more more forms added to our same quick and easy e-filing service, we know you’ll love filing this tax season with ExpressIRSForms!

(Okay, maybe “love” is a strong word, but “Your tax filing season will be the most bearable one yet” just sounds dull.)

Our office will be open during regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m today, November 25 with phone (704-839-2270), live chat, and email support. We will be closed tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, and on Friday, November 27th. Email support will be back up and running on Friday and throughout the weekend at support@expressirsforms.com.

Thank you again for choosing ExpressIRSForms. We appreciate your business and wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings.

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