IRS Form 1042-S (Tax Year 2026)

No. We handle the IRS IRIS filing process using our established IRIS A2A transmission system. You do not need to obtain a TCC, complete IRIS enrollment, or configure IRS accounts yourself.

In most cases, yes. You must e-file if you file 10 or more information returns in total for the year. Forms 1099, W-2 and 1042-S all count toward that 10. Financial institutions must e-file no matter how many forms they have.

For 2026 forms, IRIS is the only e-file option, since the IRS FIRE system is retiring.

Form 1042-S reports U.S.-source income paid to foreign people and entities, and the tax withheld on it. Each form needs more detail than a 1099:

• An income code
• Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 status codes (see the codes)
• An exemption code or tax rate
• The recipient’s country and foreign TIN
• A unique 10-digit form identifier

You also need a separate 1042-S for each type of income a recipient receives. Our free import template lists every field, and you approve a PDF of every form before anything is filed.

They work as a pair. If you file any Form 1042-S, you must also file Form 1042.

• Form 1042-S is filed for each foreign recipient. It shows what you paid that person and the tax you withheld. It goes to the IRS through IRIS, with a copy to the recipient.
• Form 1042 is your annual withholding tax return. It totals the income and tax from all of your 1042-S forms and reports the tax you deposited. It goes to the IRS through MeF.

The IRS checks that the totals on Form 1042 match your 1042-S forms, so it helps to file both together. Both are due March 15. We file both: you enter your Form 1042 data in our secure web app, and we e-file it for you. See our Form 1042 filing service.

Yes. We file originals, amended forms and prior-year returns. An amended 1042-S keeps the same unique form identifier as the original and adds an amendment number. Corrections and prior years are quoted separately, so just ask. More on 1042-S corrections.

For tax year 2026, Form 1042-S is due to the IRS and to recipients by March 15, 2027.

We don’t file extension requests, but you can. Form 8809 gives an automatic 30-day extension to file with the IRS. Form 15397 can give up to 30 more days to furnish recipient copies, but it must be faxed and received by March 15. Send us your data early so there’s time to review it.

Yes. After you approve the PDFs, we can print and mail recipient copies for you, so you don’t have to handle printing, envelopes or postage.

1099FIRE used to sell Form 1042-S software for the IRS FIRE system, where you created a file and uploaded it to the IRS yourself. IRIS works differently. Our filings go through a secure A2A connection, which can’t be packaged as downloadable software.

So we now offer a 1042-S e-filing service instead. Upload your Excel file to our secure client portal, approve the PDF copies, and we file it through IRIS.