Miss the Paper Filing Deadline?

As many of our regular readers should know (we’ve only been posting about it all month), the paper filing deadline form 1099 and W-2 forms was this past Monday, February 29. For e-filers, it was just another Monday. But for scrambling, procrastinating paper filers, it was a Monday for the books.

Unfortunately, when it comes to leaving tasks until the last minute, other things tend to get in the way. And a lot of the time, only the very best of task-jugglers can pull off multiple last minute to-dos right before their deadlines. So what to do if you missed the paper filing deadline this past Monday?

First of all, don’t fret. If you’re not opposed to e-filing, just think of this as missing the practice test (that doesn’t count towards your grade) before the real exam. Sure, it might have helped to have gotten it done, but you’ve still got another chance to provide the information you have to the IRS.

If you decide to e-file instead of sending in your paper forms late, you don’t have to notify the IRS. All you have to do is e-file your forms by March 31, 2016. See? There're an extra 29 days to file without having to do anything at all! And you were going to start fretting.

BUT - and this is an MC Hammer sized “but” - if you’re staunchly against e-filing, you’ll need to complete and send in your paper forms AS SOON AS POSSIBLE because the IRS penalties have already begun.

You see, the IRS fines you for late forms based on when the forms are eventually, correctly, filed. If you get your forms filed within the first 30 days after your deadline (so, by March 29), you’ll only owe $50 per form. If you miss the 30-day deadline but file before August, your penalty goes up to $100 per form. And if you don’t file until after August 1 (or not at all), the IRS can charge you up to $260 per form. The maximum amount you can be fined by the IRS for late filing is $3,193,000 per year ($1,064,000 for small businesses).

Other than e-filing or paper filing as soon as possible, there’s not much else you can do to fix the fact that you’re filing late. There is, however, a small loophole in this whole late-filing-penalty-incurring process. Straight from the horse’s mouth (a.k.a. the IRS website):

“The penalty will not apply to any failure that you can show was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect...you must be able to show that your failure was due to an event beyond your control...You also must be able to show that you acted in a responsible manner and took steps to avoid the failure.”

In other words, get that excuse ready - and try to be a little more creative than just blaming the dog - because it could be the difference between paying $50 to $260 per form and paying $0 per form.

If you need help getting started e-filing, or have any questions about the tax filing deadlines, feel free to get in touch with ExpressIRSForms’s customer support team in Rock Hill, South Carolina. We offer support by phone, chat, and email, in English or Spanish, and we’re always happy to help!

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The Adventures of Ace and the Evil Paper Cut

Welcome back to the Adventures of Ace, the world’s first e-filing superhero! Unfortunately, in Ace’s absence, the city did not fare as well as Ace reassured himself it would.

Little did Ace know that a villain, more villain-y than Confusion, was lurking on the outskirts of ExpressIRSForms. Biding his time, this ne’er-do-well waited for Ace to leave the city before invading. He infiltrated, slowly at first, but soon gathering enough speed to spread the kind of chaos Confusion has nightmares about.

Ace would recognize that tell-tale smell of toner and __ anywhere. He was an old but disastrous foe: Paper Cut. In addition to mixing up paper filing and e-filing information in taxpayers’ heads, a wave of information return forms followed him, flooding the streets with papers passersby can’t help but try to figure out.

As Ace flew closer, he could hear the screams that meant Paper Cut wasn’t far behind.

“The e-filing deadline’s today! I haven’t even started!” screams one taxpayer.

“I already e-filed but didn’t send in a 1096! Now I’m going to have to pay the IRS!!” screams another.

“Why, why would the IRS require people who file more than 250 forms to paper file?” lamented a third. “I think my hand’s going to fall off!”*

“And I’ve got just the thing!” Ace continued as he flew off.

Returning almost immediately with what appeared to be a giant half-lemon. In fact, it was a giant lemon, cut in half. Flying to where Paper Cut set up his Epicenter of Confusion (a throne made of stacked paper), Ace squeezed the lemon half directly over Paper Cut, sending a wash of lemon juice over him and dissolving his throne.

“I’ll get you for this Ace!” Paper Cut screamed as the deluge of citrusy liquid washed him out of town. “You can’t protect your precious e-filers forever!”

“How’d you know what to do so fast, Ace?” the wide-eyed child of one of the confused taxpayers asked Ace.

“It was easy! There’s NOTHING more detrimental to a paper cut than lemon juice! Now, taxpayers, gather round so I can set the record straight on these paper filing and e-filing requirements.”

And so another day in ExpressIRSForms ends peacefully, thanks to the help of Ace and his giant lemon.



*All of these are common paper filing/e-filing mix-ups! For more information on paper filing, check out our previous blog. And if you have any questions regarding e-filing or filing deadlines, you can always contact one of Ace’s sidekicks here at ExpressIRSForms. We’re available by phone, 704-839-4470, and live chat Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. We also offer 24/7 email support 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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