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Quarterly and year-end tax forms
The app builds your federal worksheets, W-2s, and 1099s from pay-run history — including the exact e-file uploads. You do the actual filing, under your own EIN. E-filing straight from the app is coming soon; we’re working on it.
- Set your employer details firstBooks & Payroll → Settings → "Business (employer) info": business name, EIN, address, and Employer kind — "Agricultural (farm/ranch — files Form 943)" or "Non-agricultural (files Form 941)." That choice decides which federal form you're shown.
- Open the Tax forms cardOn the Payroll tab, find the "Tax forms" card (titled for 943-annual or 941-quarterly per your setting) and pick the Tax year.
- The federal payroll returnClick "Open form" next to Form 941 (choosing the quarter) or Form 943. A printable worksheet opens in a new tab — use it to fill out the actual IRS return.
- The FUTA return"Open form" next to Form 940 — Annual FUTA works the same way.
- W-2s and the W-3For "W-2 (per employee, annual)," pick the employee and Open form. "W-3 Transmittal of W-2s" totals every W-2 for the year.
- 1099-NECs and the 1096Same pattern for contractors: "1099-NEC (per contractor, annual)" per person, "Form 1096 Transmittal" for the totals.
- E-file W-2s with the SSAIn the "W-2 e-file · SSA EFW2 file" card, fill in your Submitter details (BSO User ID, EIN, contact info), "Save details," then "Download W-2 file." Upload that file at a free Social Security Business Services Online (BSO) account — it's the exact format the SSA specifies.
- E-file 1099s with the IRSIn the "1099-NEC e-file · IRS IRIS Portal CSV" card, click "Download 1099-NEC CSV" and upload it at the IRS IRIS portal (you'll need a one-time Transmitter Control Code). Do a test upload first — IRIS flags formatting before it counts.
- Under 10 forms? Paper is fineOpen the "How do I actually file these W-2s & 1099s?" panel: if your W-2s and 1099s combined total fewer than 10, you may print and mail them — no BSO or IRIS account needed. Ten or more must be e-filed.
- You file; the app preparesNo button here submits anything to the government. The app builds correct numbers and files; you download and upload/mail them yourself, so you always control what's filed and when. E-filing straight from the app is coming soon; we’re working on it.
Good to know- Every "Open form" opens a new tab — print it or Save as PDF for your records.
- State forms: North Carolina's NC-5 and NCUI-101 come as worksheets. For Virginia, the state due dates appear on the Deposit obligations card. For the other states, What to do next on the Taxes screen names each state report, where to file it, and its due date.