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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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. The FUTA return"Open form" next to Form 940 — Annual FUTA works the same way.
  5. 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.
  6. 1099-NECs and the 1096Same pattern for contractors: "1099-NEC (per contractor, annual)" per person, "Form 1096 Transmittal" for the totals.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
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