1099 Software Pre-Sales Questions

All of our software functions on any Windows operating system except Windows 2003 and Windows XP. We are really good at keeping up with the latest Windows changes. Our software will function on a 32 or 64 bit Windows 10 operating system and any new Windows system that is released thereafter. The software no longer functions on a 16 bit Windows XP system.

Click on a link below to jump to a common question with answer:

Licenses/Costs
How many licenses do I receive with my purchase?
How much is one additional license?
What is the cost for upgrading?
What is the cost for renewing the software with next year's version?

Installation
Can I install the software on a network?
Can I install the software on a Macintosh operating system?

Activation
How quickly can I get the passcode to activate the software?
I got a new computer. How do I transfer my registration from my old computer to my new computer?
How long is the registration valid for?

Data
Can I import data from excel into the software?
How many records can be imported into the software?
Can I use data from last year in the software?
Is my data secure?

Print
Do I need to print on pre-purchased, red-ink forms?
Where can I get the red-ink forms for free?

Electronic Filing
Do I have to file my 1099s electronically?
What is the minimum number of forms that I can file electronically?
What is the maximum number of forms that I can file electronically?
Can you efile on our behalf?
Do I need an account with the IRS to efile?
How many TCC or Transmitter Control Codes do I need?
Does the 1099FIRE software file electronically through your company or directly to the IRS?
When efiling, does the 1099FIRE software automatically generate a summary Form 1096 or do I have to generate one separately?
I filed my 1099s electronically but forgot to include a few recipients. What should I do?


How many licenses do I receive with my purchase?
One license per purchase.

How much is one additional license?
It depends on the software and whether you purchased the paper or electronic filing version. Please call sales at (480) 706-6474 and they can let you know the cost for an additional license. Or e-mail sales at info@1099fire.com.

What is the cost for upgrading?
Difference in cost between the electronic filing version and the paper filing version you already purchased. Just call our sales office at (480) 706-6474 and they can upgrade your software and provide a passcode that opens up electronic filing features to the software.

What is the cost for renewing the software?
We strive to retain our customers with a low annual renewal. You can see the current cost for renewing software at this link. Typically the renewal rate is $100 off the original purchase price of the electronic filing version.

Can I install the software on a network?
Yes. The software functions on networks or stand-alone personal computers and is compatible with all printers. The network version requires separate passcodes for different users. You can't activate the software on one computer and then multiple people login to use that one version of the software. The software can be activated for different users on any network and each user will need a unique passcode.

Can I install the software on a Macintosh operating system?
Maybe. All of our software is designed to function on a Windows-based operating system. If you install Windows on a Macintosh, then you can run any Windows-based software including this program. We have Macintosh computers here with Windows installed on them and can run the 1099 software and any other Windows software with no problem. Without the Windows operating system though, the software will not function.

How quickly can I get the passcode to activate the software?
Order online and the shopping cart will provide a passcode immediately.

If you order by phone, we have a friendly and courteous staff that is available by day, Monday through Friday, and checks e-mail at night and on weekends and will provide a passcode as quickly as we can, usually the same day that the software was purchased. From mid-December till the end of May, we work hard to staff the phones late into the night and on weekends.

I got a new computer. How do I transfer my registration from my old computer to my new computer?
Your first need to unregister the software from the current machine. To do this, go to Help/Return License and the software will display a return authorization number. Then download and install the software on your other machine and email us the user ID for that new machine as well as the return authorization number from the old computer and we will generate a new passcode and email it back.

How long is the registration valid for?
For the current tax year.

Can I import data from excel into the software?
Yes. You can import xls or xlsx excel file formats. Sample excel import files can be downloaded here . Call or email anytime if you have any problem importing data into the software.

How many records can be imported into the software?
The software has a limit of 2,500 records which can easily be expanded. Just call our sales office at (480) 706-6474 to purchase additional 10,000 record increments. The software can be modified to import any number of records; the IRS does have a limit as to how large of a file they will except. From our experiences, 100,000 records will create a file for electronic submission that is just about the largest the IRS will accept. If you have more than 100,000 records to transmit electronically, you probably have to split the excel files into manageable sizes.

Can I use data from last year in the software?
Typically yes. The IRS modifies the forms every year. If the IRS makes small to reasonable changes to a form, then we go out of our way so you can open last year data file format and/or import from excel using the same layout you had the prior year. If the IRS makes radical changes to a form, then the excel file format used for importing as well as the data file for retrieving has to change and retrieving data from a prior year is more challenging. We can still export the prior year data to excel and show you how to make changes to that excel file to get it to line up to this year's file format.

Is my data secure?
Yes. You download and install the software to your local computer. We have no access to your data whatsoever.

Do I need to print on pre-purchased, red-ink forms?
If you file your data electronically to the IRS, then you are exempt from using the red-ink Copy A forms. Copy B (or any other copies) can be printed with black ink on plain paper and transmitted to the recipient(s).
You need the red-ink forms if you plan on paper filng your data to the IRS. You will need the red-ink Copy A forms as well a red-ink Form 1096.

Where can I get the red-ink forms?
You can order the forms for free from the IRS. Its a great service and everything, including shipping and handling, is free. You can order as many forms as you like by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676), an IRS provided toll-free number. You can also order the forms online by following this link.

Do I have to file my 1099s electronically?
You can print and mail 250 or less information returns to the IRS. The threshold for printing and mailing remains at 250 or less forms filed for tax year 2020, but drops to 100 forms in tax year 2021, and 10 forms in tax year 2022. Which means that by tax year 2022, you can print and mail at most 10 forms to the IRS and must electronically file if you have more than 10 forms to transmit. The IRS encourages electronic filing and is phasing out bulk paper filing.

What is the minimum number of forms that I can file electronically?
There is no minimum. You can efile one return electronically.

What is the maximum number of forms that I can file electronically?
The maximum file size you can transmit to the IRS is 100 MB which is about 80,000 records. You can always split a file.

Can you efile on our behalf?
Yes. Absolutely. We can print and mail as well. Just call our sales office at (480) 706-6474. We can efile any quantity of data using our TCC number.

Do I need an account with the IRS to efile?
Yes. You need a TCC number or transmitter control code to file electronically to the IRS. Its free and easy to attain. It does take about 1-4 weeks to attain the TCC number depending on when you apply. Applying for a TCC number during the summer months and the IRS will send back the TCC number within a week (oftentimes the same or next day that you applied). But if you apply for a TCC number during tax season, the IRS is very slow on replying and it can take at least 4 weeks to attain a TCC number. But once you have attained the TCC, it remains active year after year. You only apply once.

How many TCC or Transmitter Control Codes do I need?
One. One TCC number and you can transmit Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, and/or W-2G for as many payers and as many recipients as you like.

If you are electronically filing Form 1042-S, 8027 and/or 8955-SSA, you need a separate TCC number for each form.

Does the 1099FIRE software file electronically to your service bureau or directly to the IRS?
Our software will transmit you data directly to the IRS and not through us or our service bureau. Other 1099 software products on the market transmit the data to that service bureau and then they efile on your behalf and charge you per record that is transmitted. With our software, you efile directly to the IRS and the IRS sends the results back directly to you.

When efiling, does the 1099FIRE software automatically generate a summary Form 1096 or do I have to generate one separately?
Transmittal Form 1096 is automatically generated and transmitted when filing electronically.

I filed my 1099s electronically but forgot to include a few recipients. What should I do?
First, you will need to create and print a 1099 for each new recipient. Then submit these 1099s to the IRS FIRE System as original returns, not corrections.