Tax Tips

Written by: Adams Tax Services

At Adams Tax Services, we know that filing multiple forms is a difficult task, so we’re here to help with a brief guide. Filing these forms is a specific, step-by-step process, so here’s everything you need to know to file by paper to the IRS.

First, make sure you know your quantity. If you’re filing 250 or more information returns, STOP! You have exceeded the IRS paper filing threshold and are required to file electronically. (Heads up, that threshold may reduce to 100 forms next tax year and is subject to change).

(As an authorized eFile provider, Tax Forms Helper can still help you fill, prepare and eFile your forms directly to the IRS, SSA, and many states).

Form 1096 is the Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns. You must submit one of these summary transmittals with Copy A forms for each of the following: 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, and W-2G to the IRS. Instructions for completing Form 1096 are listed on the form. The IRS asks that your 1096 and Copy A forms follow these 11 instructions, designed to accelerate their automation processes. If your forms fail to meet any of these requirements, the resulting slowdowns may prove costly: Information Return Penalties.

1. Do not cut or separate Copies A of the forms that are printed two or three to a sheet, except for Form W-2G. Generally, Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, and 5498 are printed two or three to an 8" x 11"sheet. Form 1096 is printed one to an 8" x 11" sheet. These forms must be submitted to the IRS on the 8" x 11" sheet. If at least one form on the page is completed, you must submit the entire page. Forms W-2G are an exception and may be separated and submitted as single forms. Send your forms to the IRS in a flat mailing (not folded).

2. Do not staple, tear, or tape any of these forms. It will interfere with the IRS’s ability to scan the documents.

3. Pinfeed holes on the form are not acceptable. Pinfeed strips outside the 8" x 11" area must be removed before submission without tearing or ripping the form. Substitute forms prepared on continuous feed or strip form paper must be burst and stripped to conform to the size specified for a single sheet (8" x 11") before they are filed with the IRS.

4. Do not use a form to report information that is not properly reportable on that form. If you are unsure of where to report the data, call the information reporting customer service site at 1-866-455-7438 (toll free).

5. Report information only in the appropriate boxes provided on the forms. Make only one entry in each box unless otherwise indicated in the form’s specific instructions.

6. Do not submit anything other than red ink copies to the IRS.

7. Do not use prior year forms unless you are reporting prior year information; do not use subsequent year forms for the current year. Make sure your form is dated for the year that you are filing.

8. Use the official forms or substitute forms that meet the specifications in Pub. 1179. If you submit substitute forms that do not meet the current specifications and that are not scannable, you may be subject to a penalty for each return for improper format. All of Adam’s tax forms meet the proper requirements, so use us as a resource.

9. Do not use dollar signs ($) (they are pre-printed on the forms), ampersands (&), asterisks (*), commas (,), or other special characters in money amount boxes.

10. Do not use apostrophes (’), asterisks (*), or other special characters on the payee name line.

11. No photocopies of any form are acceptable.

Know when to file.

Use this Help link to stay on top of all your tax deadlines: IRS Filing deadlines.

Know where to file.

Send all information returns filed on paper to the following:

If your legal residence or principal place of business or principal office or agency is outside the United States, file with the Internal Revenue Service, Austin Submission Processing Center, P.O. Box 149213, Austin, TX 78714.

State and local tax departments: Contact the applicable state and local tax department for reporting requirements and where to file.

Again, while filing these (and other forms) can feel overwhelming, Adams Tax Services is here to help. From tax tips to step-by-step guides about filing, we’re here for you, and we hope you find this article helpful. Because taxes shouldn’t be taxing.

Written by: Adams Tax Service

Confused about fixing mistakes on your 1099 forms? We’ve got tips for sending a 1099 correction to the IRS when common errors happen.

As a preliminary step, you’ll want to check the type of error that occurred on your 1099. While the IRS technically identifies 2 types of error, Adams Tax Services has broken them down into 3 types for clarity.

Below are the 3 types of 1099 errors that can happen, so you’ll need to determine which one applies to you. The IRS asks for different corrective actions based on the type of error made, and you can always find detailed instructions at the IRS website. But here are the basics.

The 3 types of errors:

Type 1: Incorrect money amount, code, or checkbox, or you filed an unnecessary form.

Type 2: Wrong payee/recipient information (name or taxpayer identification number (TIN)) or you used the wrong form (e.g. you filed a 1099-MISC when you should have filed a 1099-NEC)

Type 3: (Payer Information): Incorrect Payer Name, Payer TIN, or both.

Correct a Type 1 Error

For Type 1 errors, there are cases where the amount of money is wrong, you entered an incorrect code or you checked the wrong box.

Action: To correct Type 1 errors, file the correct form with the correct amount, code, checkbox, name or address, and check the “CORRECTED” box. This overwrites what you originally filed with the IRS under that person or company’s name and TIN. Send the corrected form to the recipient and prepare the red Copy A to send to the IRS with the Form 1096 transmittal if you’re paper filing. If you also had the wrong recipient/payee name or TIN do a Type 2 correction instead.

Correct a Type 2 Error

For Type 2 errors, either the recipient/payee name and/or the TIN are wrong or you used the wrong form (like a 1099-MISC instead of a 1099-NEC).

Action: This is a two-step process.

First, you must zero out what you filed with the IRS under the wrong name/TIN and then file the new form.

Step 1: File a form with the CORRECTED box checked and the exact same payer and recipient information as on the incorrect form, but with all the amounts as zeros. This will remove the originally filed form from the IRS records.

Step 2: File a new Form 1099 with the right information as an originally filed form (not a corrected form).

Correct a Type 3 Error

For Type 3 errors, there is an incorrect Payer Name, Payer TIN, or both.

Action: Write a letter to the IRS.

If you filed with the wrong payer name (yours or your client’s name/company name) or the wrong payer taxpayer identification number (TIN), you don’t need to send in a corrected form. Instead, you should write a letter containing the following information:

1. Name and address of the payer
2. Type of error (including the incorrect payer name/TIN that was reported)
3. Tax year
4. Payer TIN
5. Transmitter Control Code (if you eFiled)
6. Type of return
7. Number of payees
8. Filing method (paper or electronic)
9. Was federal income tax withheld?

Send your letter to:

Internal Revenue Service Information Returns Branch

230 Murall Drive, Mail Stop 4360

Kearneysville, WV 25430

You should expect to hear back from the IRS within 30 days, but sometimes a response takes longer. You should receive an acknowledgment notice confirming the IRS received your letter. If any additional info is needed, an IRS employee will contact you.

What if I filed a form with the wrong address?

If the address of the payer or payee/recipient is incorrect, you don’t need to file a corrected return with the IRS. The IRS does not use the address to process returns. Make sure your recipient received their copy if it was mailed to an incorrect address. And here’s a secret: you won’t always need to file a corrected return. But if you do, Adams Tax Forms Helper Online makes it easy to create a corrected 1099 form for federal agencies. So don’t fret. Just click on “CORRECT A FORM” and follow the onscreen instructions.

Correcting a 1099 form has never been simpler. We hope you find this information useful. As always, Adams Tax Services is happy to help. Because taxes shouldn’t be taxing.

Written by:

Adams Tax Services

As with most things tax-related, filing W2s and W3s by paper can seem complicated. But Adams Tax Services has you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about how (and where) to file by paper to the Social Security Administration. 

First, you’ll need to include your summary transmittal. Form W3 is also known as the Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statement. You need to submit this summary transmittal with all your Copy A W-2 forms. Instructions for completing Form W-3 are listed on the W-3 form.

Second, avoid these common errors. The following errors can cause processing delays (and even financial penalties). 

1. Do not print plain ink copies of your W-2 copy A or W-3 form.
   
2. If a box doesn't apply to you, leave it empty. Do not add "0".
   
3. Do not omit the decimal point and cents from entries. 
4. Do not mistakenly check the “Retirement plan” checkbox in box 13. See Retirement plan details on page 22 of PDF. 
5. Do not misformat the employee’s name in box e. Enter the employee’s first name and middle initial in the first box; his or her surname in the second box; and his or her suffix (such as “Jr.”) in the third box (optional).
   
6. Do not enter the incorrect employer identification number (EIN) or the employee’s SSN for the EIN.
   
7. Do not cut, fold or staple Copy A paper forms mailed to SSA.
   
8. Do not mail any copy other than Copy A of Form W2 to the SSA.

When to File

Click here to view filing deadlines.

Where to File

File your red ink Copy A of Form W-2 with a Form W-3 to the following address:

Social Security Administration

Direct Operations Center

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001

(for Certified Mail Use ZIP code 18769-0002)

File your W-2c (correction forms) and W-3c at the following address:

Social Security Administration

Direct Operations Center

P.O. Box 3333

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18767-3333

If anything is wrong with your filing, you will receive a notice.  

For more details about filing your W2s and W3s, you can click this link to the SSA Website. Or you can eFile your forms in Adams Tax Forms Helper for further help. Because taxes shouldn’t be taxing.