We would like to suggest the forms, perforated paper, and envelopes that you may need to purchase for processing W-2s and 1099s. Forms, perforated paper, and envelopes can be purchased from Computer Forms, Inc. at redwing.computerforms.biz, by calling 800-458-0158, or by clicking the Order Checks and Forms button on the Red Wing Software web site.

Perforated paper and envelopes can be purchased separately or as a package (Tax Pack). Ordering a Tax Pack will save you money and your savings increase based on the quantity you order in a Tax Pack.

If you order on the Computer Forms, Inc. web site, select Tax Forms, select the product you use, for example AgCHEK, CenterPoint, Red Wing Payroll, Perception, TurningPoint, or Controller, and then select Laser 1099s or Laser W-2s to display the 1099 or W-2 forms, perforated paper, and envelopes. If a Product Number is not displayed on the web site for your product, the form has been discontinued and is not necessary.

The W-2 and 1099 forms (excluding the Federal Red Copy) can be printed on the same plain perforated paper (if you choose to order the blank perforated paper with no backer instructions) and use the same envelope. Note: You can print the W-2 and 1099 forms on plain paper, but the IRS recommends the forms be printed on perforated paper. The W-3 can be printed on blank plain paper.

If you will be printing your W-2 forms this year rather than using the Complete W-2 eFiling Service through Aatrix, we suggest the following options:

W–2 Forms and Envelopes

• Option A: Order blank perforated forms and envelopes with nothing printed on the back of the forms
  • 4-Up Blank W-2/Blank 1099 with no backer instructions – Product Number - L4BLNB
  • Envelopes - Double Window Standard Seal, Product Number - DWEW2-4UP or Double Window Self Seal, Product Number - DWEW2-4UPS
• Option B: Order blank perforated forms and envelopes with instructions printed on the back of the forms
  • 4-Up Blank W-2 with backer instructions – Product Number - L4BL
  • Envelopes - Double Window Standard Seal, Product Number - DWEW2-4UP or Double Window Self Seal, Product Number - DWEW2-4UPS
• Option C: Order perforated forms and envelopes as a package (Tax Pack)
  • 4-Up Blank W-2 with backer instructions and Double Window Standard Seal Envelopes – Product Number TPL4BL-EFILE
  • 4-Up Blank W-2 with backer instructions and Double Window Self Seal Envelopes – Product Number TPL4BL-EFILES
  • 4-Up Blank W-2 with no backer instructions and Double Window Standard Seal Envelopes – Product Number TPL4BLNB-EFILE
  • 4-Up Blank W-2 with no backer instructions and Double Window Self Seal Envelopes – Product Number TPL4BLNB-EFILES

  Although the Tax Pack contains a preprinted W-3 Transmittal form, it is not necessary to use the preprinted form. The W-3 form can be printed on blank plain paper.

• Option D: Use the Complete W-2 eFiling Service through Aatrix
  • No forms are needed because Aatrix does all the printing and filing for you.

If you will be printing your 1099 forms this year rather than using the Complete 1099 eFiling Service through Aatrix, order from the following preprinted Federal Copy and 1099 Transmittal forms and 1099 form and envelope options:

1099 Federal Copy and 1099 Transmittal

• 1099 preprinted forms (Red Copy) for use when printing the Federal Copy of the 1099s.
  • 1099 Miscellaneous Federal Copy A – Product Number LMA
  • 1099 Dividend Federal Copy A – Product Number LDA
  • 1099 Interest Federal Copy A – Product Number LIA
  • 1099 PATR Federal Copy A – Product Number LPA
  • 1099 R Federal Copy A – Product Number LRA
• 1096 preprinted form (Red Copy) for use when printing the Federal 1096 form.
  • 1096 Laser Transmittal – Product Number L1096

1099 Forms and Envelopes

• Option A: Order blank perforated forms and envelopes with nothing printed on the back of the forms
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions – Product Number L4BLNB
  • Envelopes - Double Window Standard Seal, Product Number - DWEW2-4UP or Double Window Self Seal, Product Number - DWEW2-4UPS
• Option B: Order perforated forms and envelopes as a package (Tax Pack)
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions and Double Window Standard Seal Envelopes – Product Number TPL4BLNB-EFILE
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions and Double Window Self Seal Envelopes – Product Number TPL4BLNB-EFILES
• Option C: Order perforated forms, 1099 preprinted form
  (Red Copy – 1099-MISC or 1099-INT), and envelopes as a package (Tax Pack)
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions, 1099 Miscellaneous Federal Copy A, and Double Window Standard Seal Envelopes – Product TPL4BLMISC-EFILE
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions, 1099 Miscellaneous Federal Copy A, and Double Window Self Seal Envelopes – Product TPL4BLMISC-EFILES
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions, 1099 Interest Federal Copy A, and Double Window Standard Seal Envelopes – Product TPL4BLINT-EFILE
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions, 1099 Interest Federal Copy A, and Double Window Self Seal Envelopes – Product TPL4BLINT-EFILES
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions, 1099 Dividend Federal Copy A, and Double Window Standard Seal Envelopes – Product TPL4BLDIV-EFILE
  • 4-Up Blank 1099/Blank W-2 with no backer instructions, 1099 Dividend Federal Copy A, and Double Window Self Seal Envelopes – Product TPL4BLDIV-EFILES
• Option D: Use the Complete 1099 eFiling Service through Aatrix
  • No forms are needed because Aatrix does all the printing and filing for you.

Red Wing Software is discontinuing support for CenterPoint products installed on computers using the Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Server 2003 operating systems on December 31, 2015. The last payroll tax table updates for the XP and Server 2003 compatible versions (8.32 and earlier) will be for the 2015 tax year. CenterPoint is fully supported on newer operating systems. To view the PC operating systems CenterPoint is compatible with, click here and for a list of compatible server operating systems click here.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Red Wing Software at 1-800-732-9464, or e-mail: support@redwingsoftware.com

As you are likely aware, this is an extremely busy time of year at Red Wing Software. In addition to the normal support calls we receive as our clients finish their year-end transactions and get ready for the New Year with payroll tax table and forms updates, our representatives in Washington, DC threw a couple new items onto our list.

Anticipated legislation was passed that restored the Section 179 expenses to their previous level for the remainder of 2014 (with a few caveats), and then revert back again on the first of 2015. This, of course, caused a last minute change to our CenterPoint Depreciation program that needed to be released before the end of 2014.

Also, 2015 brings in some new requirements for the Affordable Care Act for most of our clients. There is new data that needs to be tracked for 2015, and then reported at the beginning of 2016. Even though this information is not really payroll data, but rather Human Resource information, we decided to add functionality to our CenterPoint Payroll program to capture this information and provide it for the new 1095C and 1094C forms, as well as the employee W-2 form. This functionally will be released in the second quarter of 2015, and will cover the entire year so you can complete the new forms in 2016.

In addition, there are several customers using two of our legacy products (Perception and AgCHEK), and are now migrating to our newer CenterPoint Accounting program as we will stop support of those products on March 31, 2015. As our customers begin using these new-to-them products, we anticipate receiving a few more calls than usual at this time of year.

And finally, we just released a brand new product, Red Wing Tax Forms. This program allows employers and service bureaus that do not already use our accounting and/or payroll products to manually enter year-to-date payroll and other information for easily completing and eFiling many forms including W-2, 941, 943, and several 1099s. You can check our web site or contact a sales consultant for more information on this new offering.

All of us at Red Wing Software hope you had a pleasant holiday season and enjoy a safe and profitable New Year.

- Ken Hilton, President

Red Wing Software has just released a new video about its CenterPoint Payroll Software application. Know somebody who needs a better way to process payroll? Please share the video with them! End of year is the perfect time to switch to a new payroll system.

Red Wing Software handles a multitude of questions at the end of the year. We thought it might be useful to share the answers to the questions that are most frequently asked by our customers in one blog post. Here are the top four questions, along with their answers.

1. Q: Do I need to order W-2, 1099, 940, 941 or 943 forms or can I print them on plain paper?

   A: You are able to print all of your W-2, 941 and 943 copies on plain paper; you no longer need to print any on preprinted forms. Even the Social Security Copy A (often called the “Red Copy”) can be printed on plain paper. (For 1099s, the Red Copy must still be purchased.) Note: There is special perforated blank paper available that is recommended for use when printing employee copies of the W-2s. This paper comes with employee W-2 information printed on the back of the paper (for the Employee Copy) and blank for the State / Local copies. This paper is available from Computer Forms, Inc. at www.computerforms.biz or by calling 800-458-0158.

2. Q: Why am I getting a “forms update” or "mandatory update" message when I try to process my Federal forms (W-2, 1099, etc.) and what do I need to do?

   A. At least once a quarter, including at year end, updates are created for the Federal/State Tax Forms (Aatrix) software. When you receive either of those messages, it means that Aatrix has an update available that you should install prior to continuing. If you have internet access at this machine, you can simply select Automatic Update and follow the prompts to do the update through the program. Note: If you have signed up for the service that automatically sends an Aatrix CD at the end of each quarter (for a fee), please follow the instructions that will be included with the CD. Those CDs will begin shipping before January 1, 2015. If you don't have internet access at the computer that has CenterPoint Payroll installed, but you do have it available at another workstation, follow the instructions below. This process does require the use of a removable drive (CD, thumb, zip or flash drive, USB Drive, etc.).

   1. Login on our web site at www.redwingsoftware.com select, Support > Downloads > CenterPoint Payroll. Then select Federal/State Tax Forms. Click Download Now and follow the on-screen instructions.

   2. When the download is complete, exit the web site. Copy the RedWingForms.exe file from your desktop to the removable drive (CD, thumb drive, etc.) you’ll be using to move the downloaded file.

   3. Take the removable media source to the computer with CenterPoint Payroll and install by double-clicking on the RedWingForms.exe.

   If you don’t have an internet connection at any of the computers, you can call the Red Wing Software Sales department at 800-732-9464, and we’ll send the Federal/State tax forms (Aatrix) updates to you on a CD once a quarter for a minimal annual fee.

3. Q: How do I Register for Aatrix? (OR) I’m trying to process my Federal forms (W-2, 1099, etc.), but I keep getting the message “Would you like to register now, or evaluate?”

   A. You’ll need to register your Federal/State Tax Forms (Aatrix) software. If you have an internet connection, choose Help > Product Registration > Federal/State Tax Forms Registration. Your login will be recognized from the Red Wing Software web site, follow the prompts to create your registration code. If you don’t have an internet connection, call 800-732-9464 and request an Aatrix registration code. If a registration code is faxed to you, do not enter the hyphen included in the number. Enter just the letters and numbers.

4. Q: How do I print W-2s, 1099s, etc.? (OR) What are the steps for printing the tax forms (W-2, 940, 941, 943 and 1099s)?

   A. Step-by-step instructions (documents and videos) for printing various tax forms are available in the How2 Viewer on our web site for all of our payroll products. From within CenterPoint Payroll, select Help > How2 Viewer - Payroll (Online). Within the How2 Viewer, select the Tax Reporting folder to view all tax forms printing topics. There are three general steps to printing the tax forms:

   1. Transferring information from CenterPoint Payroll to Federal/State Tax Forms (Select Federal & State Payroll Forms and Reports > Federal Tax Forms).

   2. Review the transferred information using the Federal/State Tax Forms viewer and make any needed changes.

   3. Print or eFile the forms.