W2 and 1099 Preparation site recommendations for last-minute filing?

Having been through this exact situation, I can tell you there are several legitimate options that the IRS accepts. Both FormSwift and Yearli are valid services, but I personally prefer QuickBooks Payroll if you're already using their ecosystem. If not, IRS-approved e-filing providers like Tax1099, FileTaxes.com, or eFile4Biz are all solid choices. The most important thing is to make sure whatever service you choose is an authorized IRS e-file provider. This ensures your forms are properly formatted and submitted directly to the IRS database. Also, remember that W-2s need to be provided to employees by January 31, and the same deadline applies to 1099s for contractors. For just 4 W-2s and 1 1099, the process should be fairly straightforward with any of these services. You'll need your business EIN, employee SSNs, and complete compensation information.

After going through a similar nightmare last year with a last-minute accountant switch, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a game-changer for my small business. Their system handled both my W2s and 1099s perfectly, and it was way more intuitive than the clunky interfaces on some of those other sites you mentioned. What I really appreciated was that it walked me through exactly what information I needed for each employee and contractor, flagged potential errors, and let me review everything before submission. The forms were accepted by the IRS without any issues, and I was able to print copies for my employees right away while also e-filing. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a time crunch!

I take back my skepticism about taxr.ai from my earlier comment. I was desperate after reading this thread last night and decided to give it a try. It was actually really straightforward and I managed to process all our forms in about 45 minutes. The interface is way cleaner than other services I've tried, and it flagged a potential issue with one of my contractor's TIN numbers that would have definitely caused problems with the IRS. Already got confirmation that everything was submitted correctly. Just wanted to follow up since I was pretty harsh with my initial reaction.

If dealing with the IRS becomes necessary (like if you realize you made a mistake after filing), I can't recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) strongly enough. I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS about a business filing issue last year. After dozens of attempts and hours on hold, I found Claimyr and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 15 minutes. They have this system that basically waits on hold for you and calls you back when an agent is actually on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Saved me so much time and frustration when I needed to correct some W2 information. It's worth keeping in your back pocket if you run into any issues with your filings.

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After dismissing it as BS in my reply, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about a penalty notice, so I tried it anyway. It actually worked exactly as described. I put in my number, their system called the IRS, and about 27 minutes later (which I didn't have to spend listening to hold music), my phone rang and I was talking to an actual IRS representative. I resolved my issue in one call. I've never been more happy to be wrong about something. If you need to actually speak with the IRS, this service is legitimate.

I've had good experiences with Track1099 for my contractors. Super simple interface and reasonable pricing. For W2s, I've used both ezW2 and Patriot Payroll with good results. Just make sure you have all your information ready before starting: - Your company's EIN - Complete info for all employees/contractors (addresses, SSNs/TINs) - Payment details for the year - State ID numbers if you're filing state forms Whatever service you pick, double-check everything before submitting! One wrong digit can cause major headaches later.

Dont waste your money on those fancy services! The IRS has free fillable forms on their website that you can download. Just google "irs fillable w2" and "irs fillable 1099". Print them out, fill them in, and mail them. Saves you $50+ for something that takes 30 minutes.

I've been in this exact situation before and completely understand the panic! Since you're dealing with last-minute filing, I'd strongly recommend going with an established IRS-authorized e-file provider rather than trying to handle paper forms at this point. For your size business (4 W-2s + 1 1099), I've had good results with both TaxAct Business and FreeTaxUSA Business. They're legitimate, reasonably priced (usually under $100 for your volume), and handle both federal and state filing in most cases. The key is making sure whatever service you choose can do electronic filing directly to the IRS - this is much faster than mail and gives you confirmation of receipt. One thing to keep in mind: if you haven't already provided copies to your employees and contractor, that January 31st deadline has already passed, so you'll want to get those physical copies to them ASAP regardless of which electronic filing service you use. Most services will let you print employee copies immediately after you complete the forms. Don't beat yourself up too much - we've all been there with timing issues. The important thing is getting it done correctly now. Good luck!