Creating a Business Services Online (BSO) Account

A BSO account is required to e-file W-2's. Allow at least 2 weeks to complete the registration process, which takes longer than previous years, and well ahead of the January filing deadline.

SSA's Business Services Online added extra security starting in 2023, which also requires existing users to re-authenticate.
  1. Go to the BSO website.
  2. Under Employers, click Create account.
    This is the appropriate place to start your registration if you are a:
    • Practitioner filing on behalf of your clients. This is also where, later, you will log into your account.
    • Sole proprietor or partnership (with or without employees)
    • Employee working on behalf of your employer
    • Volunteer of an organization with an FEIN
    • Employer
  3. Click Sign in with ID.me or Sign in with LOGIN.GOV and follow the prompts to obtain a User ID. See BSO User ID and Accuwage Online.
    Before you can create a BSO Account you must verify your identity with ID.me or LOGIN.GOV. If you run into issues with authentication try clearing cookies from your web browser.
    You can sign in using your personal Social Security account username and password if you have created a my Social Security account prior to September 18, 2021 once redirected from the employer webpage. The username and password will be associated with your BSO User ID.
    Social Security uses different levels of security depending on the sensitivity of the information being accessed and may ask for additional identify proof.
  4. If you are an employee (or volunteer), or a self-employed person (whether a Sole Proprietor or General Partnership), fill in the Employer Information, reading the instructions carefully.
    1. For employees: input your employer's information including their FEIN, their business name (as associated with their FEIN number), address and any other information requested.
    2. For practitioners: fill in only your business information (not that of your clients).
    3. For sole proprietors: enter your name as associated with your FEIN (usually your individual name).
If you are not prompted to enter Employer information, click Add/Edit Employer Information on the left hand menu.
  1. Request access to the SSA Services Suite for Employers to complete the BSO account set-up. Make sure that you complete your request for the Service Suite for Employers (as well as filling in your company information) as part of your registration process.  (Sometimes the order of entries prompted by BSO can vary.) 
    Also see BSO Service - How do I know if I need to (re-) request SSA’s Services Suite for Employers?
    BSO may have to complete your authentication process before they allow you to request services.  If you have any problems call BSO at 800-772-6270.  If you aren't able to request services immediately go back to log in and request them (under Request New Services on BSO's lefthand menu). 
  2. Part of the BSO authentication process includes mailing the company an activation code, which then needs to be entered on the BSO website under the Registrant's Login.
    BSO is unable to mail an activation code to new users registering without an EIN. This includes Self-Employed and Household employers.

    Therefore, you are unable to file electronically. If you do not have an EIN, you will need to mail paper W-2/W-3 and W-2c/W-3c to Wilkes-Barre Direct Operations Center. Visit the Paper Forms W-2 & Instructions page for address information.
You must change your password at least every 90 days to keep it from expiring.
Problems? Call 800-772-6270 Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Additional Information

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BSO changes login procedure and users must re-authenticate

Fixing a mistake made after e-filing W-2s

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