Prior Year Electronic Filing

Suzette Ciplickas Updated by Suzette Ciplickas

E-Filing W-2s and 1099's

  • You must use the current year's W2/1099 E-File Add-on software to E-File prior year's returns.
  • The current W2/1099 E-File Add-on module supports current year filing as well as the 4 prior years. For example, Payroll System 2023 W2/1099 E-File Add-on software supports E-Filing for 2019 through 2023.
  • The W2/1099 E-File Add-on software becomes obsolete in December of each year because the IRS releases new specifications each year. Users must then use the newly released W2/1099 E-File Add-on software.
  • The IRS will reject files submitted using prior year W2/1099 E-file Add-on software.
  • Visit Methods to E-File prior year returns.

E-Filing 941's

  • You must use the prior year's program to E-File prior year's 941s.
  • Electronic filing is supported for current year and 2 years prior. For example, see table below for 2024 3rd quarter (when the filing deadline is 10/31/24).

            Payroll System 2024

 current year

            Payroll System 2023

 prior year

Payroll System 2022

prior year 3rd and 4th quarter

E-Filing 941-X, 943-X, 944-X, Amended 940

The IRS allows E-Filing of Form 941-X effective 7/1/2024. Year-end corrected Forms 943-X, 945-X, and Amended 940 can be E-Filed effective 6/16/2024.
  • For the initial E-Filing of Form 941-X, the IRS only allows corrections for tax year 2024 so users must use Payroll System 2024 and Form 941-X, rev. 4-2024.
  • Form the initial E-Filing of Form 943-X, 945-X, and Amended 940, the IRS only allows corrections for tax year 2023 so users must use Payroll System 2023 with the latest versions of the corrected forms. Payroll System 2024 will allow E-Filing of year-end corrected forms after the 2024 year-end Forms 943, 945, and 940 are released by the IRS, and the corresponding corrected forms are released.

E-Filing CA Sales Tax

  • CA Sales Tax prior year filing is dependent on whether the schema changes. If it doesn't change, then prior years can be E-Filed with the prior year program.
  • If the schema changes, then prior year returns must be paper-filed or web-filed.

How did we do?

Printing SSA-approved, black scannable W-3 forms

The modules in W2/1099 are in red text instead of black text

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