Payroll
2016 Review of W-2/1099 Filer From EG Systems
Oct. 23, 2016
W-2/1099 Filer
EG Systems Inc.
Best Firm Fit: Accounting firms that currently or plan to handle year-end compliance reporting and filing for multiple clients.
Product Strengths
- Users can easily access prior year data
- Offers both federal and state electronic form filing
- Very affordably priced
Potential Limitations
- Does not offer an online version of the product
W-2/1099 Filer offers year-end form compliance and processing. The product continues to update each year with new product enhancements including the availability of a 1095 module for Affordable Care Act (ACA) 1095-c/1094 reporting, as well as the availability of a service bureau which will handle printing and filing tasks.
From the 2016 review of W-2 and 1099 preparation and filing systems.
Basic System Functions – 4.75 Stars
W-2/1099 Filer can be installed on local workstations, as well as used in a network environment at no additional cost. The user interface offers a menu bar at the top that provides access to system functions such as File, Edit, Classic Forms, Interactive Forms, Trees, Quick Entry, and others. The product contains numerous data entry options for users to choose from, which include Classic Entry, featuring traditional data entry options, Tree entry, which allows users to expand menus to view needed details, Quick Entry, which uses a spreadsheet format and is only available for commonly used fields such as 1099-MISC, and Interactive Entry, which displays a mirror image of the form being processed.
Users can easily carry forward prior year totals, and users can set system passwords to limit access to sensitive information. Prior year data can be viewed in a side-by-side format with current year data. The product is designed to use pre-printed forms, and an optional Laser Engine is available that allows users to print to blank paper. The product supports all electronic tax filing and magnetic media filing at no additional cost. W-2/1099 Filer supports unlimited filing, and a Bulk TIN Matching feature is included in the product as well. A to-do manager is available in the product, providing users with a mechanism to keep notes and due dates and assign them to a specific client.
Reporting – 4.75 Stars
W-2/1099 Filer supports all common year-end compliance forms including W-2, W-2C, W-2G, all 1099’s (1099 MISC, 1099-A, 1099-B, 1099-C, 1099-R, 1099 OID, 1099 PATR, 1099 DIV, 1099 INT, 1099-G, 1099-S, 1099-K, 1099-CAP), all 1098’s (1098, 1098-E, 1098-T, 1098-C), and forms 5498, 3921, 3922, 941, 940, 943, 1042-S, 1095-B, 1095-C. The product supports electronic filing for all federal forms as well as state forms, with users able to use the included direct links to log in directly to the website and be taken to the area where files are uploaded and check the status of the filing at any time. The system keeps a log of all electronic filings for future reference, and keeps a duplicate copy of the file.
The product is designed to use pre-printed forms, and an optional laser engine module can be purchased to expand print options in the system. Summary reports are also available for processing, and users can also print labels for form recipients or print directly onto envelopes. W-2/1099 will also handle any corrected or reissued form filings as well.
Integration/Import/Export – 4.75 Stars
W-2/1099 Filer will import both W-2 and 1099 data directly from QuickBooks using the optional QuickBooks Import Facility. There is also a Universal Import Facility available for those using legacy accounting applications that do not support exporting of data. The product will also import data from Microsoft Excel, as well as a variety of text file formats. Data files can also be imported or exported using ASCII and Dbase files, though users have to map out import/export fields, but there is a wizard available to guide users through the process.
Help/Support – 4.75 Stars
A comprehensive user guide is included with W-2/1099 filer; providing access to a quick tutorial, as well as access to electronic filing tutorials and quick access to system support. Toll-free technical support is included in the price of the software, and support is also available via email as well. A remote desktop support feature is also available, allowing EG Software support personnel to access a system remotely in order to provide support.
Summary & System Pricing
W-2/1099 Filer can be easily downloaded from the EG Software website. This very affordable product offers a multitude of features that aren’t available in products twice the cost. The base W-2/1099 program is $109.00 for the first year, with a renewal cost of $79.00 annually. Add-on modules are also available including the Laser Engine for Form W2 and 1099, ($40.00), the 1095 ACA module ($100.00), and the QuickBooks Import Facility which runs $35.00.
2016 Overall Rating: 4.75 Stars