Overview

The Service Bureau stops processing IRS/SSA/State eFile and Full Service uploads at the end of each year. This is because the IRS shutters at yearend to perform annual maintenance. Additionally, the Service Bureau uses the last few weeks of December to transition our internal system to the new Pub. 1220 and 1887 specifications for the upcoming Tax Year. Bulk TIN Match uploads are typically not impacted.

eFile & Full Service Uploads

1098/1099/392x/5498/W-2G and 1042-S forms are electronically filed via the IRS FIRE System. The FIRE System goes down for annual maintenance in late Fall through the first week of January. During this down period, the IRS cannot accept eFile submissions. When FIRE reopens in January, all eFiles must be submitted per current Pub. 1220 or Pub. 1187 specifications. Service Bureau customers will have their eFile and Full Service uploads automatically converted to the new TY specs. Customers who self-file must manually edit their electronic file to TY 2022 IRS filing specifications. Sovos 1099 Pro does not provide any guidance in manually editing files, nor can we edit files on your behalf.

• FIRE System Dates: https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/filing-information-returns-electronically-fire
• Pub 1220 Specifications: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1220.pdf
• Pub 1187 Specifications: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1187.pdf 

Last Call

The Service Bureau accepts IRS/SSA/State eFile and Full Service uploads until approximately a week BEFORE the FIRE System goes down. This is because we require a window of time to submit eFiles, then receive the IRS/SSA Good-Accepted or Bad-Rejected response. 

• For calendar year 2022, the Service Bureau accepts eFile and Full Service uploads through 11/21/2022 5PM PT. 
• For calendar year 2022, the Service Bureau accepts Print Only uploads through 12/21/2022 5PM PT.

Downtime Uploads

Desktop Customers Only

• eFile and Full Service uploads received AFTER 11/21/2022 5PM PT will be queued for processing in February 2023. In January, the Service Bureau exclusively processes Original TY 2022 and Corrected TY 2022 uploads. In February, we update our system to convert PRIOR YEAR filings to TY 2022 specifications. If you submit an eFile upload during our downtime, it will automatically be submitted per TY 2022 specifications in February. The Service Bureau converts your file as a courtesy; standard Service Bureau rates apply.  We cannot process eFile uploads submitted during our downtime BEFORE February - we appreciate your understanding. 

Corporate Suite Customers - IMPORTANT

Corporate Suite software is not designed to submit Prior Year eFile uploads directly to the Service Bureau. Instead, Corporate Suite customers must submit prior year efiles as detailed at Corporate Suite Prior Year eFiles. Once the Service Bureau stops accepting eFile uploads for the calendar year, all eFile uploads are effectively "prior year" and must be submitted to the Service Bureau per that process. The Service Bureau cannot hold or queue prior year Corporate Suite Prior Year efile submissions. 

There is a special process for Corporate Suite customers to submit Prior Year efiles. Once the Service Bureau stops processing eFiles for the calendar years - a

• Corporate Suite users should NOT submit electronic file uploads during Service Bureau downtime. Rather, CS users should hold the

Since these are PY mag files – we don’t have the ability to convert mag files to the latest and greatest specs before submission in Feb 2023. So usually we have them re-submit in Feb 2023 with the latest/greatest specs so that way we don’t have to do any conversion or manual updates to the file.