Mandatory Efiling Late Returns?

[equinecpa]

I have a late return to file. I thought efiling was staying open year round? I transmitted the file and received this error message back"

"The efile sent is currently not being accepted by the EFC at this time. Please resubmit once the EFC has began accepting these types of e-files"

So are we supposed to paper file returns after 10/15 ? I have a couple stragglers completed and need to get them filed! Do we attach 8948 to these returns?

Thanks

CArolyn

[David1980]

The IRS efile calendar is pretty good. It's already updated for next year now, but you'll see the basic dates and they don't change much year to year.

http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/providers/article/0,,id=174255,00.html

This year October 15th fell on a Saturday so that became October 17th. And then of course, due to the extension for certain disaster areas efile was kept open through October 31st or so, but not all software supported that.

The efile mandate does give exceptions for returns that cannot be filed electronically because of forms or schedules not accepted. My guess is the same exception would probably apply, but the efile help desk doesn't take long to get a human being and no doubt this is a common question so they'd know the answer right off. 866-255-0654 (from http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=109708,00.html )

[equinecpa]

Thanks I just found the deadline info on the IRS website.

I did call them today but it is a government holiday! I will use form 8948 and hope they go through OK.

Carolyn

[ChEAr$]

Thanks I just found the deadline info on the IRS website.

I did call them today but it is a government holiday! I will use form 8948 and hope they go through OK.

Carolyn

Well now, since the Oct 15th deadline has passed, you can't efile a refurn, and therefore are not required to file what you can't file, right?

No form 8948 called for.

[taxxcpa]

Well now, since the Oct 15th deadline has passed, you can't efile a refurn, and therefore are not required to file what you can't file, right?

No form 8948 called for.

Maybe it would be best to include Form 8948 to let the IRS know that you couldn't e-file it since the deadline had passed. (The IRS might need it explained to them in case they have lost their calendar.)

[equinecpa]

Ok this why I thought efile was still open. What does this mean:

"Dear Valued Customer,

The IRS has announced that its 1040 Modernized e-File (MeF) system will shut down from Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011 until Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. We strongly recommend that you transmit any outstanding returns as soon as possible so that you have adequate time to receive acknowledgments and fix rejected returns before the shutdown occurs.

This shutdown does not affect Business MeF. You can continue to send business returns to the EFC as usual.

On Jan. 17, the 1040 MeF system will reopen and begin accepting 2011 returns as well as 2010 returns that qualify for MeF. Legacy e-filing will also begin on this date."

[David1980]

Modernized E-File has been around since 2004 for business returns, but only since 2009 for 1040's. It's been rather limited in that many returns cannot be processed through the MeF system. There's a list of forms that can be sent through it somewhere. Also, many (most I think) states don't have an MeF system yet - though they will in the near future.

The limitations are that not all software supports MeF, and even the software that does support it may shut down their filing servers with legacy efile rather than trying to explain why X return can still be sent and Y return cannot.

I think MeF is supposed to basically support everything next year, but don't quote me on that. The states however are still trailing behind, quite a few still on the legacy system.

I suppose if the return is simple enough you could find out who is still processing MeF 1040 returns and buy their software. I don't think the IRS actually expects you to go through that trouble to efile the few returns outstanding that would even qualify for it.

Here's the list of forms that were accepted for 2010, and what will be accepted next year.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-schema/option_1_-_1040_forms_by_phases_09092010_hf.pdf

So looking at that, you can see if you had a return with Schedule F for example it wouldn't have been permitted through MeF.

[ChEAr$]

additionally, modernized efile and legacy filing are different forms of efiling. Just because one might still be open, doesn't obligate you to efile after the October 15th window closes.