Electronic W-2 and 1099 Transmittal Programs
IMPORTANT:
The outdated Easy Web Upload and Acknowledgement Inquiry Application were decommissioned October 2023 and are no longer available.
Electronic filing methods for Forms W-2 and W-2c
Electronic filing of Forms W-2 and W-2c is mandatory. The Illinois Department of Revenue does not accept Forms W-2 and W-2c that are submitted by mail. Payroll providers and employers must electronically submit Forms W-2 and W-2c using one of the following methods:
- MyTax Illinois LOGIN Version: This method allows for manual entry of the information or upload of a comma, separated, value (CSV) formatted file. This method will not accept EFW2 or EFW2C formatted files. If you do not have a MyTax account, you must sign up for one. You will need to log into your MyTax account to enter all of the information on the Forms W-2 and W-2c and submit them to Illinois. This method is ideal for employers that have a small number of employees and do not want to use third-party software. For more information, see the MyTax Illinois Guide for Filing Forms W-2 and 1099. The following guides will assist you in creating and submitting comma separated value files using the login version only:
- Comma Separated Value Instructions for Form W-2 – MyTax Illinois
- Comma Separated Value Instructions for Form W-2c – MyTax Illinois
The following methods only accept properly formatted EFW2 and EFW2C files:
- MyTax Illinois Non-Login Bulk Upload: This method only accepts properly formatted EFW2 and EFW2C files. This method will not accept CSV formatted files. This method does not require a MyTax Illinois account and allows both transmitters and taxpayers to submit properly formatted EFW2 and EFW2C files - see IDR-986, Forms W-2 and W-2c Electronic Transmission Program Guide for formatting requirements. This method for bulk upload does not mimic the standard transmission process. For details on use, see IDR-996, MyTax Illinois Non-Login Bulk Upload Submission Guide, EFW2/EFW2C/FIRE Format.
- Forms W-2 and W-2c Electronic Transmission Program - This method only accepts properly formatted EFW2 and EFW2C files. This method will not accept CSV formatted files. Your file must be developed following the Social Security Administration’s Specifications (EFW2 and EFW2C) for Filing Forms W-2 and W-2C Electronically, and the additional Illinois requirements in the IDR-986, Forms W-2 and W-2c Electronic Transmission Program Guide.
Due Date
W-2s must be submitted to the Illinois Department of Revenue no later than January 31 of the year following the year of the withholding.
Any time a due date falls on a weekend or state recognized holiday, we adjust the due date to the next business day.
Additional Resources
Electronic filing methods for Form W-2G
Electronic filing of Forms W-2G is mandatory. The Illinois Department of Revenue does not accept Forms W-2G that are submitted by mail. Issuers of Form W-2G must electronically submit these forms to us using one of the following methods:
- MyTax Illinois LOGIN Version: This method allows for manual entry of the information or upload of a comma, separated, value (CSV) formatted file. This method will not accept EFW2 or EFW2C formatted files. If you do not have a MyTax account, you must sign up for one. You will need to log into your MyTax account to enter all of the information on the Form W-2 and submit them to Illinois. This method is ideal for employers that have a small number of employees and do not want to use third-party software. For more information, see the MyTax Illinois Guide for Filing Forms W-2 and 1099. The following guides will assist you in creating and submitting comma separated value files using the login version only:
- Comma Separated Value Instructions for Form W-2G – MyTax Illinois
The following methods only accept properly formatted FIRE files:
- MyTax Illinois Non-Login Bulk Upload: This method only accepts properly formatted FIRE files. This method will not accept CSV formatted files. This method does not require a MyTax Illinois account and allows both transmitters and taxpayers to submit properly formatted FIRE files - see IDR-987, Forms W-2G and 1099 Illinois Electronic Transmission Program Guide for formatting requirements. This method for bulk upload does not mimic the standard transmission process. For details on use, see IDR-996, MyTax Illinois Non-Login Bulk Upload Submission Guide, EFW2/EFW2C/FIRE Format.
- W-2G and 1099 Illinois FIRE Electronic Transmission Program - This method only accepts properly formatted FIRE files. This method will not accept CSV formatted files. Your file must be developed following the Internal Revenue Service’s Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) format, and the additional requirements in the IDR-987, Forms W-2G and 1099 Illinois Electronic Transmission Program Guide.
Due Date
W-2Gs must be submitted to the Illinois Department of Revenue no later than March 31 of the year following the year of the withholding.
Any time a due date falls on a weekend or state recognized holiday, we adjust the due date to the next business day.
Businesses that make a reasonable and good faith effort to comply with the deadline will not be penalized.
Additional Resources
Electronic filing method for Form 1099-K
You are required to submit Forms 1099-K issued to a payee with an Illinois address electronically if:
- you are required by the IRS to electronically file Forms 1099-K; or
- the payee has four or more separate transactions, and the cumulative total exceeds $1,000.
All other Forms 1099 are not included in the electronic filing mandate or are not required to be submitted to Illinois unless we request them. The Illinois Department of Revenue does not accept Forms 1099-K submitted by mail if you are mandated to electronically submit them. Currently, issuers of Form 1099-K can electronically submit them using the following methods:
- MyTax Illinois Non-Login Bulk Upload: This method only accepts properly formatted FIRE files. This method will not accept CSV formatted files. This method does not require a MyTax Illinois account and allows both transmitters and taxpayers to submit properly formatted FIRE files - see IDR-987, Forms W-2G and 1099 Illinois Electronic Transmission Program Guide for formatting requirements. This method for bulk upload does not mimic the standard transmission process. For details on use, see IDR-996, MyTax Illinois Non-Login Bulk Upload Submission Guide, EFW2/EFW2C/FIRE Format.
- W-2G and 1099 Illinois FIRE Electronic Transmission Program - This method only accepts properly formatted FIRE files. This method will not accept CSV formatted files. Your file must be developed following the Internal Revenue Service's Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) format, and the additional requirements in the IDR-987, Forms W-2G and 1099 Electronic Transmission Program Guide.
Due Date
1099-Ks must be submitted to the Illinois Department of Revenue no later than March 31 of the year following the year of the withholding.
Any time a due date falls on a weekend or state recognized holiday, we adjust the due date to the next business day.
Businesses that make a reasonable and good faith effort to comply with the deadline will not be penalized.
Additional Resources
Electronic filing methods for other Forms 1099 (not Forms 1099-K)
As noted above, not included in the electronic filing mandate are all other Forms 1099 that have been sent to individual Illinois recipients. You are not required to submit them to Illinois unless we request them. Issuers of Forms 1099 (other than Form 1099-K) that have been sent to individual Illinois payees can electronically submit these forms using one of the following methods:
- MyTax Illinois LOGIN Version: This method allows for manual entry of the information or upload of a comma, separated, value (CSV) formatted file. This method will not accept FIRE formatted files. If you do not have a MyTax account, you must sign up for one. You will need to log into your MyTax account to enter all of the information on the Forms 1099 (other than Form 1099-K) and submit them to Illinois. This method is ideal for employers that have a small number of employees and do not want to use third-party software. For more information, see the MyTax Illinois Guide for Filing Forms W-2 and 1099. The following guides will assist you in creating and submitting comma separated value files using the login version only:
- Comma Separated Value Instructions for Form 1099 – MyTax Illinois
The following methods only accept properly formatted FIRE files:
- MyTax Illinois Non-Login Bulk Upload: This method only accepts properly formatted FIRE files. This method will not accept CSV formatted files. This method does not require a MyTax Illinois account and allows both transmitters and taxpayers to submit properly formatted FIRE files - see IDR-987, Forms W-2G and 1099 Illinois Electronic Transmission Program Guide for formatting requirements. This method for bulk upload does not mimic the standard transmission process. For details on use, see IDR-996, MyTax Illinois Non-Login Bulk Upload Submission Guide, EFW2/EFW2C/FIRE Format.
- W-2G and 1099 Illinois FIRE Electronic Transmission Program - This method only accepts properly formatted FIRE files. This method will not accept CSV formatted files. Your file must be developed following the Internal Revenue Service's Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) format, and the additional requirements in the IDR-987, Forms W-2G and 1099 Electronic Transmission Guide.
Additional Resources
General record-keeping requirements
You must maintain employee Forms W-2, W-2c, W-2G, 1099 series, or other withholding tax records for a period of three years from the due date or payment date, whichever is later.