The Enemy Below (my prices)

[Black Bart]

Black Bart, I just clicked on the link and it allowed me to place an order for some W-2's.

Did you try clicking on the link I posted?

Yes I did and it worked for me too this time. Since it didn't work the last time I tried it, I had assumed they'd discontinued the freebie service.

Thanks from a "fellow dinosaur".

[veritas]

I heartily agree

Inside Sam's Club this morning and checking out the DIY competition, I discovered that Intuit's TurboTax (the dirty, rotten, low-down, inexcrupulous rats) are up to/down to their usual underhanded/underpricing tricks. Itemizers' "A" package-$39.99/ "D" & "E" package-$69.99/ W-2 box (up-to-40 employees)-$19.99/ 1099 box (40 contractors)-$19.99.

I don't care about the income tax boxes (who wants clients looking to cram beaucoup stocks through 8949 for less than $70 anyway?); but 40 times an average $15-$20 per is lots of our "gravy" work out the window.

P.S. I hereby solemnly swear; the next person who comes through the door saying (usually) "I need some W-2/1099 forms...is there any charge for these?" I'm going to be "out", give them the 800-829-1040 number (without mentioning 3676) and say "I hope you appreciate classical music."

Give 'em "Das Boot".

[KC-CPA]

1099 MISC Pricing

How much do you charge for preparation of 1099 MISC, I have a "new" client who has 70 that total almost $4mm, he realizes he is late, wants them entered, printed and mailed.

[Gretel]

Same here on blank forms - I do not provide - however, I do have a question,

What are some of you using to "efile" the 1099 Forms - Intuit/QB pricing is outrageous for my QB clients - so I need to find an alternative outside of QB - so I can prepare the 1099 forms and efile?

Thanks

Sandy

I agree that QB pricing is outrageous for 1099's. I know you asked about e-filing but I would like to share that I have given up on that because of costs. I order a package of forms online (Costco), I even can tell them in packs of 25's how many 1096's I want. It's a breeze to print them through QB. I have all my clients sign the red forms in my office and then mail them altogether later in February. I found this the easiest way after giving a lot of consideration to e-filing.

[S T]

Efiling 1099 Forms

This was an old post and brought forward - I since have signed on with Drake, and I receive the CWU package as well, which I can prepare 1099 forms and e-file (you have to sign up on the FIRE system- but that also was pretty easy)

Now without the costs on Form 1099 paper, mailing, etc. I am making a few dollars more in my pocket and the efiling through Drake and the Fire system has worked out really well.

Sandy

[joanmcq]

I use ATX and their payroll module included in my package efiles 1099s. Since I opened my practice, I printed and mailed a 1096 exactly once. After I started efiling them the next year, I've never gone back. And my cost to do them is zip.

[tpnl]

FIRE system to file 1099s

We are using the FIRE system. First time, so cross your fingers for us. They will be processed through our payroll software and then submitted using FIRE. I'm not exactly sure how it will work (hence, the crossed fingers), but our payroll software company assured us it is simple.

We had many clients asking over the years for "blank forms" and we slowly weaned them off saying "we process all of ours on the computer and don't have the forms." Last year we only had one client ask for forms. He just stopped in that particular day and asked that we mail them to him. We told him if he wanted them, he would have to wait for them, or get his own. He said he couldn't see buying a pack at the local office supply store just to do a couple. So, he waited . . . a while. And, we gave him the red 1096.

This year, he stopped in and asked. We told him we didn't order any red copies (because we didn't) this year and wouldn't be able to provide any blank 1099s. I told him, "since we process all of ours over the computer, I couldn't see buying any this year." So I think we have officially ended the practice of providing these forms to anyone. It only took about 4 years to wean everyone off.

[Mo Sheets]

Forms are free from the IRS

I agree that QB pricing is outrageous for 1099's. I know you asked about e-filing but I would like to share that I have given up on that because of costs. I order a package of forms online (Costco), I even can tell them in packs of 25's how many 1096's I want. It's a breeze to print them through QB. I have all my clients sign the red forms in my office and then mail them altogether later in February. I found this the easiest way after giving a lot of consideration to e-filing.

The 1099 forms and 1096 forms can still be ordered for free from the IRS (same with W-2's/W-3s). If you are still doing them hard-copy, you might want to just order from the IRS going forward. I normally order mine in November and have them within a day or two at no cost. I purchase the perforated paper for W-2's with the instructions printed on the back and print through QuickBooks. The use the original red copy from the IRS to submit to Social Security.

[Black Bart]

Amazing what

you can find digging through the bowels of this website -- "Tales From The Crypt" as F.E. would say (by the way, where are you, my old electrified nemesis? The "dirty, rotten, low-down, inexcrupulous rat" I was referring to in this old thread was TurboTax - not you!). I miss the challenge; besides, I think our dentally-challenged comrade, Snaggletooth, was simply having a bad day when he declared you...what was it?...antagonistic? surly? a grump? persona non-grata? Sump'n like that.... but I know your intellectual curiousity forces you to check the board -- I can feel you out there. Anyway, I herewith extend the olive branch to you as I'm thinking of E-filing 1099s and W-2s (sometime in the future) -- a grand gesture from a "paper dinosaur," I might add.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/More-Taxpayers-Filing-from-Home-Computers-in-2014--Many-Taxpayers-Eligible-to-Use-Free-File

But back to my original point, it looks like (per the link above) we're only getting half the business available lately. It says (rounded off) that 60M returns are filed and pros only get 35M. I don't know if TurboTax is considered a "tax professional" or not, but if they are, according to a newspaper article last week wherein a company rep claimed TT processed 30 million returns last year, then that only leaves 5 million crumbs for the rest of us to fight over. Whoda thunk it would've sunk to this level?

Oh well; no use crying over spilt milk I guess. I've only handed out a dozen paper 1099s to one of my contractors who can't stand to pay me ten bucks per man and gave a couple of W-2s to church treasurers (I ask if they want a W-3 cover and they say "That's okay, I don't need that" - who knows if IRS ever sees any of it). So next year, I'm ordering only two dozen and I'm through. I don't do many W-2/1099s anymore and hate to efile just a few; I don't personally use the IRS forms (currently using Busiforms in Chattanooga/800-716-4600/$60 disc-cheap, simple, excellent results/honest small company). No, I don't get a cut on my next order for that.

TurboTax appeared on my bank's website the other day. They're everywhere.

The 1099 forms and 1096 forms can still be ordered for free from the IRS (same with W-2's/W-3s). If you are still doing them hard-copy, you might want to just order from the IRS going forward. I normally order mine in November and have them within a day or two at no cost. I purchase the perforated paper for W-2's with the instructions printed on the back and print through QuickBooks. The use the original red copy from the IRS to submit to Social Security.

Say, Mo - paper W-2s are no longer required to be printed on the "red" paper -- only the 1099's are. You can just print out the black and white W-3 and W-2s on your laser printer and mail to Social Security like that.