About Tax Forms Software

IRS Approved

How Tax Preparation Software is Approved for Electronic Filing

The IRS requires all tax preparation software used for preparing electronic returns to pass the requirements for Modernized e-File Assurance Testing (ATS) as briefly explained below:

The IRS issues a Publication 4162 that includes a series of test tax returns and Software vendors notify IRS they plan to test and provide a list of forms they plan to include in their tax preparation software. Note: IRS does not require software vendors to support all forms. They are allowed to develop their tax preparation software based on the needs of their clients.
Software vendors use the test tax returns to create test returns and format in the specified Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.
The software vendor transmits the XML formatted test tax returns to IRS.
An IRS tax examiner checks every data entry field on the return.
These checks ensure tax calculations on the test return matches the answers provided by IRS on the test returns.
These checks also ensure the software correctly formats the test tax return data in XML format and the data can be successfully transmitted to, received and the tax return viewed by IRS.
When the IRS determines the software correctly performs all required functions it is approved for electronic filing.
Software vendors are allowed to market their tax preparation software as approved for electronic filing to corporations and/or tax professionals after the approval from IRS is received.

NOTE: The test returns issued by IRS do not include all forms or schedules that can be part of an actual return.

About Tax Forms Software Winfiler Software Information

Q: Do Laser Link and TFP generate the W-2 Federal Copy A and the W3?
A: No. Laser Link and TFP do not generate the Federal Copy A or the W3. You must use the preprinted red scannable copies.

Q: What is the difference between 1099 forms and W-2 forms?
A:

1099-MISC forms are used to report interest payments of $600 or more, such as rent, royalties, prizes, awards, fishing boat proceeds, etc.
1099-INT is used to report interest payments of $10 or more to any one person by banks, credit unions, etc. It does not include the interest paid on an IRA.
1099-R forms report all distributions from pensions, annuities, retirement funds or profit sharing plans.
1099-S forms report gross earnings for the sale of real estate.
1099-G forms report unemployment compensation, state and local income tax refunds, agricultural payments and taxable grants. There are other 1099 forms to report specific interest payments.
W-2 forms are used to report wages.
1098 forms report interest on mortgages.
Transmittal forms are also called Summary forms. One Summary form must be included with each grouped order of W-2s a company files.
W-3s are the Summary forms for W-2s.
1096s are the Summary forms for 1099s.
If it is necessary to correct a W-3, use a W-2C and a W-3C form.
New year W-4 forms are available in December of each year.

Q: What forms are supported by TFP?
A: The following forms are supported by TFP.

Form	Laser Form Description	Laser Item Number	Continuous Form Description	Continuous Item Number
W-2 2 Forms to a Page	Red Federal Copy A	82620	W-2 2-part 1-wide Carbonless	92683
	Employee Copy B	82617	W-2 3-part 1-wide Carbonless	92681
	Employee Copy C or 2	82618	W-2 4-part 1-wide Mailer Carbon	92622
	Employer Copy D or 1	82616	W-2 6-part 1-wide Mailer Carbon	92608
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82631	W-2 5-part 1-wide Mailer Mag Media Dated Carbon	92682
	6-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82632	W-2 3-part 1-wide Carbonless Mag Media	95377
	8-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82633	W-2 4-part 1-wide Carbonless Mag Media	95378
			W-2 5-part 1-wide Carbonless Mag Media	92670
			W-2 3-part Twin Set-Employer Carbonless	92601
			W-2 4-part Twin Set-Employer Carbonless	92604
			W-2 3-part Twin Set-Employer Carbonless	92602
			W-2 4-part Twin Set-Employer Carbonless	92605
			W-2 4-part 1-wide Carbonless	92611 92614
			W-2 6-part 1-wide Carbonless	92606
			W-2 8-part 1-wide Carbonless	92610
W-3 Form to a Page	W3 Federal Transmittal	82630	W-3 Transmittal of Income 2-part 1-wide Carbonless	91625
1099-DIV 2 Forms to a Page>	Red Federal Copy A	82652	1099-DIV Dividend 4-part 1-wide Mailer	91651
	Copy B Recipients Copy	82653	1099-DIV Dividend 4-part 1-wide Carbonless	91638
	Copy C Payer's Copy or Payer's State	82654
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Package Set	82644
1099-INT 3 Forms to a page	Red Federal Copy A	82649	1099-INT Interest 4-part 1-wide Mailer Carbon	91609
	Copy B Recipients Copy	82650	1099-INT Interest 2-part 1-wide Mag Media Mailer Dated Carbon	92658
	Copy C Payer's Copy or Payer's State	82651	1099-INT Interest 4-part 1-wide Carbonless-With State Copy	91637
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82643
1099-MISC 2 Forms to a Page	Red Federal Copy A	82626	1099-MISC Miscellaneous 2-part 1-wide Mailer Mag Media Dated NCR/Carbon	92657
	Copy B Recipients Copy or Recipients State Copy	82627 82625	1099-MISC Miscellaneous 3-part 1-wide Mailer Carbon	95386
	Copy C Payer's Copy or Payer's State	82624		91608
	3-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82610	1099-MISC Miscellaneous 3-part 1-wide Carbonless	92669
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82634	1099-MISC Miscellaneous 4-part 1-wide Carbonless	91636
	5-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82655	1099-MISC Miscellaneous 5-part 1-wide Carbonless	92656
			1099-MISC Miscellaneous 3-part 1-wide Carbon	92674
			1099-MISC Miscellaneous 4-part 1-wide Carbon	92677
1099-R 2 Forms to a Page	Red Federal Copy A	82637	1099-R Retirement 4-part 1-wide Mailer Carbon	92641
	Recipients Copy	82639	1099-R Retirement 4-part 1-wide Carbonless	92654
	Recipient Copy C and/or State, City or Local Copy	82641	1099-R Retirement 6-part 1-wide Carbonless	92639
	Payer Copy D and/or State City or Local Copy	82638	1099-R Retirement 4-part 1-wide Mag Media Carbonless Dated	92638
1099-S 3 Forms to a Page	Red Federal Copy A	82953	1099-S Real Estate Transaction 3-part 1-wide Carbonless	92662
	Copy B Transferor Copy	82954	1099-S Real Estate Transaction 4-part 1-wide Carbonless	92645 92675
	Filers Copy C or Filer's State	82955
1096 1 Form to a page	5100	82629	1096 Annual Summary & Transmittal 2-part 1-wide Carbonless	91626

Q: What forms are supported by Laser Link?
A: The following forms are supported by Laser Link.

Form	Description	Item Number
W-2 Formats	Red Federal Copy A	82620
	Employee Copy B	82617
	Employee Copy C or 2	82618
	Employer Copy D or 1	82616
	Laser 4-up Version 1	82635
	Blank 2-up Format	82621
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82631
	6-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82632
	8-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82633
W3	W3 Federal Transmittal	82630
W2G	3-up Blank Form	82622
1099 B	Red Federal Copy A	82661
	Copy B Recipients Copy	82660
	Copy C Payer's Copy or Payer's State	82663
1099 DIV	Red Federal Copy A	82652
	Copy B Recipients Copy	82653
	Copy C Payer's Copy or Payer's State	82654
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Package Set	82644
1099 INT	Red Federal Copy A	82649
	Copy B Recipients Copy	82650
	Copy C Payer's Copy or Payer's State	82651
	Blank 3-up Form	82622
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82643
1099 MISC	Red Federal Copy A	82626
	Copy B Recipients Copy or Recipients State Copy	82625
	Copy C Payer's Copy or Payer's State	82624
	3-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82610
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82634
	5-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82655
1099 PATR	Blank 3-up Form	82622
1099 R	Red Federal Copy A	82637
	Recipients Copy	82639
	Recipient Copy C and/or State, City or Local Copy	82641
	Payer Copy D and/or State City or Local Copy	82638
	4-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82645
	6-Part Pre-Printed Pre-Packaged Set	82647
1099 S	Red Federal Copy A	82953
	Copy B Transferor Copy	82954
	Filers Copy C or Filer's State	82955
	Blank 3-up Form	82622
1098	Red Federal Copy A	82657
	Payer/Borrower Copy B	82658
	Recipient/Lender and/or State Copy C	82659
	Blank 3-up Form	82622
1098 T	Red Federal Copy A	82961
	Student Copy B	82962
	Filer and/or State Copy C	82963
	Blank 3-up Form	82622
	Blank 3-up Form	82622
1096	1096 Federal Transmittal	82629

Q: When will I receive my TFP or Laser Link software?
A: Typically, TFP and Laser Link software ship at the end of September.

Q: Is there a support line?
A: TPF and Laser Link support may be reached by phone at 1-866-483-8131 or via e-mail at support@custsupp.com

Q: What are the product numbers for the blank perforated paper?
A: 82664 is the product number for the two-to-a-page blank perforated paper that is used for the two-to-a-page (traditional format) W2 and 1099 Miscellaneous.

Q: What are the differences between the software?
A: TFP Software allows users to print W2s and 1099s on continuous or laser preprinted forms.

Laser Link Software allows users to print W2s and 1099s on laser blank perforated paper and/or preprinted forms. If you are going to generate the entire format using a laser printer, use blank perforated paper. Laser Link also allows users to electronically file their W-2 and 1099 forms with the IRS/SSA.

Q: Do I need to purchase the preprinted copy Federal A on the blank perforated paper?
A: You are still required to use the red scannable preprinted Copy A, as either software cannot generate these copies. You must purchase any Federal copy A?s necessary when purchasing 1099s or W2s. You will also need the red scannable preprinted 1096 or W3.

Q: Can TFP generate laser forms?
A: No. TFP software only supports preprinted forms. Laser forms can be generating using Laser Link software.

Q: Why am I having difficulty printing the 1099 Federal Copy A?
A: The 1099 Federal copy A CANNOT be laser generated. The IRS still requires 1099 Federal copy A's to be printed on the red scannable preprinted Federal tax forms, as well as the 1096. You need to purchase these tax forms.

Q: Can I transfer the data from my current program into TFP or Laser Link?
A: If you used TFP or Laser Link last year, you will be able to rollover your files into the 2005 software. If you did not use TFP or Laser Link last year, you will need to manually enter your information.

Q: Once my information is in TFP or Laser Link, do I have to retype the information for next year?
A: No. You will be able to import previous year data when you install the program update.

Q: Why are the State or City Wages doubled on the W-3?
A: The W-3 instructions state: "If the Forms W-2 show amounts from more than one state or locality, report them as one sum in the appropriate box on Form W-3." Although the IRS does not use these fields, TFP and Laser Link calculates this value as specified by the IRS. This can lead to incorrect calculations if you have Payees with multiple states or localities. For example, if a Payee has 2 localities to report on their W-2 and made $10,000, the form will show $10,000 for Locality or City (1) and $10,000 for Locality or City (2). When this amount is reported on the W-3, the values are added together and reported as $20,000. To correct the calculation, print your W-2's. Go back to the W-2 Form, remove one of the states or cities, and print your W-3. When the W-3 prints correctly, go back and add the state or city.

Q: I'm having installation problems, what should I do?
A: For installation problems, please contact (866) 483-8131 or e-mail support@custsupp.com.

Q: How do I electronically file my W-2 and 1099 data?
A: Laser Link allows you to file electronically, following the SSA Online Wage Reporting Service requirements for filing. To use Laser Link to file online you will need the following:

Internet access
A Windows-based personal computer
Windows 98, NT, 2000, ME, XP, Vista or Windows 7
Any of the following web browsers:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher with 128-bit encryption
Netscape Navigator 4.08,4.79, or 6.2 with 128-bit encryption