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Home > Forms and publications > Taxation > Withholding > W-2/1099 FAQ's

W-2 / 1099 Electronic Filing Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to file my reports electronically? [Top]
During the 2006 legislative session, the Kansas legislature passed Senate Bill 432 stating that, "if an employer, payer or organization files statements which report withholding information for more than 51 or more employees or payees, the statements will be filed by electronic means." This bill was subsequently signed into law by the Governor. This action is designed to gather withholding information efficiently and effectively.

If I have less than 51 employees, do I have to file my W-2s electronically?[Top]
No. The current law stipulates that entities "which report such withholding information for 51 or more employees or payees" file by electronic means. If you fall below the mandated filing threshold, you can still take advantage of the online tools to file electronically.

Can I file my W-2s or 1099s electronically if I have less than 51?[Top]
Yes. Anyone filing withholding information can file electronically. For smaller companies, using the interface to input individual W-2s will be sufficient. If you a number of employees but do not want to enter the information individually, you can use any major spreadsheet program to create a Comma Separate Value (CSV) file containing all your withholding information then upload the file through the Department's W-2 interface. Information about the fields to be included along with their order can be found on our website, www.ksrevenue.org/eservw2.htm.

What options do I have for electronically submitting my W-2 and 1099 information?[Top]
There are three primary ways to file withholding information electronically:

Can I submit my reports on Magnetic Media?[Top]
No. Effective January 1, 2007, submitting W-2 and 1099 reports on magnetic media is no longer acceptable. Instead, payers reporting withholding information for 51 or more employees or payees will file W-2 and 1099 reports along with their KW-3E using the Department's online withholding application.

Does Kansas follow the Federal specifications for W-2s and 1099s?[Top]
In an effort to simplify the filing requirements, the Kansas Department of Revenue has adopted the file layout specification outlined by the Social Security Administration (W-2s) in the Specifications for Filing Forms W2 Electronically (EFW2) publication and the Internal Revenue Service (1099s) publication 1220. For Kansas specific requirements, see the specification documents available on the Departments website, www.ksrevenue.org/eservw2.htm.

Where can if find more information about filing requirements?[Top]
W-2 and 1099 filing information can be found on the Kansas Department of Revenue web site at www.ksrevenue.org/eservw2.htm. Filers are encouraged to check this web page periodically for updates.

Will you work with me to make sure my information is submitted correctly and on time?[Top]
Yes. Our primary goal is to get the information into our system as painlessly and efficiently as possible.  If you have difficulty filing your withholding information through the methods provided, contact the Department's Electronic Services unit for assistance.

How can I submit my withholding information if I have Quickbooks or Peachtree? [Top]
Currently, neither Intuit's QuickBooks Pro program nor Sage's Peachtree program allow users to easily extract and submit withholding data in a form usable by the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR). Information can be exported out of these programs in a comma separated value (CSV) spreadsheet format then modified and combined with other data to create an uploadable file, but this can be time consuming and error prone. While there are third party utilities available that will put the information into a suitable format, these programs must be purchased by the tax payer.

The KDOR has created a Microsoft Excel template that will allow users to create a state-defined CSV file with withholding data retrieved from QuickBooks or Peachtree.  The CSV file can then be uploaded directly into the Department's WebTax withholding application.

The KDOR Conversion Template and additional information about working with QuickBooks and Peachtree withholding data is available on the Extracting W-2 Data from QuickBooks and Peachtree page.

Can I test my electronic files to insure they are correctly formatted before I am required to submit them for processing?[Top]
Yes. Withholding filers are able to submit reports through an interface dedicated to testing file format. The test process will provide structure validity and trouble shooting information. This process will NOT verify the accuracy of the data contained in the test file. To test your file, visit www.kdor.org/testing/w2/default.aspx.

If I file my W-2s and 1099s online, can I still submit my KW-3 return on paper?[Top]
No. The regulation change specifically states filers reporting "withholding information for 51 or more employees or payees. shall be filed by electronic means."  The KW-3 qualifies as withholding information.

If I file my W-2s and 1099s on paper, can I submit my KW-3 return on-line?[Top]
No. If W-2s and 1099s are filed on paper, corresponding KW-3s must also be submitted on paper.

Can I submit a corrected W-2s or 1099s electronically?[Top]
No. A method to submit W-2c corrections electronically is not available at this time. Corrections shoudl be submitted using the appropriate paper form.

If I complete my filing electronically, do I still need to submit paper forms, just to make sure you receive my information?[Top]
No. Do NOT send paper forms. When you file electronically, you will receive a confirmation screen with a unique number indicating your forms have been successfully submitted for processing.

If I submit my 1099 information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) electronically, do I still need to submit an electronic copy to the Department of Revenue?[Top]
Yes. While the Department does participate in the Combined Federal / State Filing program, the State has limited options about how information received from the IRS can be used. To be able to track, audit and compare all withholding information, filers must file all withholding reports with the directly with the Department.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?[Top]
The Kansas Department of Revenue's Electronic Services bureau is available to answer questions Monday through Friday during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 p.M. CST at 1-800-525-3901. Questions can also be submitted by e-mail to eservices@kdor.state.ks.us.