Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted Feb 8, 2020 2:05:38 AM

If i'm filing efile returns how do I attach my w2 1099?

0 4 3243
4 Replies
Level 15
Feb 8, 2020 2:12:51 AM

You asked:  "If i'm filing efile returns how do I attach my w2 1099?"

 

With electronic filing you don't have to "attach" a W-2, 1099, etc.   You merely enter the info into the return.  The IRS will get its copy of the W-2, 1099, etc. from the source that provided it.

 

The beauty of electronic filing is that nothing has to be attached or mailed in the vast majority of cases, with a few rare exceptions like the 1099-B option I mentioned in my next comment below.

Level 15
Feb 8, 2020 2:19:14 AM

Addendum:

 

You didn't say what kind of 1099, so I answered generically above.  If it happens to be a 1099-B with a lot of investment transactions, instead of entering all the individual sales, the program does have an optional method where one can choose to enter a summary and then mail a sales statement showing the transactions to the IRS.   But without more info, it doesn't sound like that is what you are asking.   Plus you appear to be using Free Edition, which doesn't allow for 1099-B anyway.

Level 1
Apr 9, 2025 1:13:48 PM

I understand, but if this is true, why do we need to attch W2 and 1099-R (when tax withheld) when filing by mail? Like you aid IRS has that information?

 

thanks

Hal

Level 15
Apr 9, 2025 3:01:54 PM


@ halds

 wrote:

I understand, but if this is true, why do we need to attch W2 and 1099-R (when tax withheld) when filing by mail? Like you aid IRS has that information?

thanks

Maybe that will be phased out, too, someday.  But for now, that's they what the IRS still requests with paper returns.   They likely are just aware of the logistical impracticality of doing that with electronic filing.   For efilers, it's still possible for the IRS in a letter to later ask for a copy of a W-2/1099  at some point "down the road" if the data doesn't match properly with their records.   By attaching the forms with withholding to a paper return, it likely avoids the IRS having to send letters to request a copy should they ever need one.

 

If there's some other reason, you'd need to ask someone more familiar with the IRS operations/regulations.  The community has several Enrolled Agents (EA) answering questions in the forum, and one might see this thread.  However,  in fact, today only there is a live realtime discussion forum going on right now with the forum tax experts and anyone in the community who has a question.   You could ask there in realtime, if you wish, and the tax experts should see it.   When you go to the page below, look for a button

"Ask a Question"

(near the top center)

  or a blue button

"Post Your Question" 

in the right column.

  Address it to an "EA" or "Enrolled agent.'   That forum is live until 5 PM Pacific today (7 PM Central/8 PM Eastern.)

If you have any other questions, you can ask there, too.

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/file-with-turbotax/discussion/02/asktheexperts