IRS pub f1099nec states that 1099-NEC form Copy A must be mailed using the scannable red form from IRS. Turbotax instructions with 1099's say nothing about this. HELP!?!

[Thetooleman]

IRS imposes a fine for submitting a printed 1099-NEC copy A. Turbotax generated copy A and instructs me to print them and mail them to the IRS.

[JulieS]

You can mail your 1099-NEC and 1096 Copy A forms on paper only if they are printed on the red form provided by the IRS. You can order them through the IRS website or buy them from an office supply store.

You can also e-file the information and just print the recipient's copy. 

If you are using Quick Employer Forms to do your 1099-NEC forms, you should be able to e-file them at no additional cost as long as you link to the QEF website from your TurboTax program. 

Click here to learn more about using Quick Employer Forms.

Click here to order red forms from the IRS.

[Thetooleman]

"If you are using Quick Employer Forms to do your 1099-NEC forms, you should be able to e-file them at no additional cost as long as you link to the QEF website from your TurboTax program."

I am using the downloaded TurboTax Home and Business 2021 for Windows. Please explain how to link to the QEF website from the TurboTax program.

I created the 1099-NEC forms in the program but no means of filing them was shown.

Thanks.

[ThomasM125]

In TurboTax desktop, when you go to create a new return, you will see an option to "Prepare W-2's and 1099's for my employees or contractors." So, attempt to enter a new tax return and you will see a link to Quick Employer Forms, where you can log in and access your 1099 forms.

[Critter-3 · Accepted solution]

Do you have the Home & Business version?   Windows or Mac?

WINDOWS  

In the Window's Home & Business or Business Desktop program to Prepare W2s or 1099s, go to Start a New Return or File-New Return.

Then on the next screen it asks What would you like to do?

Check the circle that says Prepare W-2s and 1099s for my employees or contractors.  Then that will expand and give you a choice to prepare them online or on your computer.

If you select to do them online using the Quick Employer Forms the forms are efiled to the IRS.  You then print the copies to give out to your people and print copies for yourself.  See this for more info…..

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/forms/help/what-is-quick-employer-forms/00/25916

If you select to do them on your computer you are responsible to mail the forms to the IRS.

MAC

If you are using the Mac Home & Business CD/Download program you can only prepare W2s and 1099s using QEF-Quick Employer Forms.  At the bottom of the Welcome to Turbo Tax screen it should say Create 1099s for Contractors and W2s for Employees.

Another way to get to the Quick Employer Forms is to go to the Business tab - Continue

Select I'll Choose what I work on (if it comes up)

Top item Profit or Loss from Business - Click Start

Click Edit by your Business

Then either

Scroll down to Business Expenses

On Other Common Business Expenses, click the start or update button

There are two sections where you can start using the QEF for contractors or employees.

For Contractors, on Contract Labor, Click the Start button

On the screen "Enter Contract Labor Expenses" there is shown "Create and File W-2s and 1099s Online with Turbo Tax Quick Employer Forms" and a "Start here" blue highlighted link.  This will take you to the QEF website.

[Thetooleman]

Thank you for the detailed response!

I asked this question because QEF was difficult to find in TurboTax and the URL I used last year no longer works. As a workaround, I created the 1099-NEC's in TurboTax and saved them to a PDF. The last page of the PDF contains the following misleading instructions:

Instructions for filing Forms 1099-NEC and 1096:
1 For each Form 1099-NEC, you should have the following copies:
a Copy A for the Internal Revenue Service (two different forms per page);
b Copies B, C, and 1;
(Copy B for the recipient);
(Copy C for your records);
(Copy 1 for the state tax department, if required).
2 Include all pages of Copy A with Form 1096 (do not staple),
sign Form 1096, and mail to: (IRS address)
no later than 01/31/2022.

There is no mention in these mailing instructions of the requirement to use the official IRS form, which is printed in red. The form must be obtained directly from the IRS. It  cannot be printed from a PDF or TurboTax and mailed to the IRS. The IRS instructions state:

Do not print and file copy A downloaded from this website; a penalty may be imposed for filing with the IRS information return forms that can’t be scanned.

You have been warned!