1099 Express — 1099 Express Enterprise & W-2 Express

From the Oct. 2007 Review of W-2/1099
Systems

1099 Express provides two options for year-end information compliance: the
self-titled 1099 Express system, which generates forms 1099, 1098 and 5498;
and W-2 Express, which is geared toward year-end wage reporting. The systems
operate completely independently of each other but utilize nearly identical
interfaces, which offer simple integration with Microsoft Excel. Single-user
pricing for the systems remains at $199 for 1099 Express and $149 for W-2 Express.
Renewals cost $95 annually. Both programs can print to blank or pre-printed
paper, and electronic filing capabilities are included with the system. The
company also offers service bureau filing options for additional costs. A 1042-S
Express package for reporting the income of foreign persons is available for
$249.

Usability/Navigation – 4 Stars
As noted above, the two programs share nearly the same interface, opening to
a spreadsheet view that closely resembles an Excel screen, providing icons and
system menus across the top of the screen and the table grid in the bulk of
the work area that serves as the recipient selection list for the currently
open client/payer for each program. This selection list is sortable by any of
the column heads and includes additional search features. The 1099 Express system
also has navigation functions through tabs across the top that allow users to
jump to recipient lists for any specific version of form 1099, acting as a filter
function.

The system supports any number of payers and recipients. After setup of company/payer
data, which takes place on tabbed data collection sheets, 1099s and W-2s are
added with information entered directly on form replicas. Data is not shared
between the two programs, which means that information for clients and their
employees or 1099 recipients will have to be entered into both systems. The
user has the option of having the program automatically calculate FICA and Medicare
withholding. Once a form has been entered for a recipient, that payee appears
on the selection list. Data can also be easily copied and pasted from Excel
documents, with the system automatically arranging the columnar data to match
the 1099 Express grid. The system’s electronic filing utilities are easy
to learn and use, with all transactions occurring from within the system, without
having to visit the websites of either the IRS or the SSA. The system does not
offer password security but does maintain an audit trail record of data changes.

Reporting & Import/Export Capabilities – 4.5 Stars
Both programs provide basic reports for column totals and summary totals, as
well as the audit trail report. The programs allow previewing reports on-screen
prior to output to plain and pre-printed paper stock. Import is available directly
from Excel, including the ability to cut and paste data, as well as from programs
that can save data into *.CSV format, such as QuickBooks and Peachtree. Sample
Excel and Access files are included in the programs that help demonstrate the
import process. QuickBooks data can also be acquired through a “print
capture” method, and data in magnetic media files produced by other programs
can be imported. During data import, the systems alert users to potential errors.
Data can also be drawn from dBase, Lotus, Quattro and Works formats. 1099 Express
and W-2 Express can export to Excel, Access, Notepad and other formats using
the copy and paste method.

Support for Paperless Transmission – 4.5 Stars
Both 1099 Express and W-2 Express offer electronic and paper-based filing, with
built-in e-filing tools for submitting data to the IRS and SSA, automatically
remembering filer passwords for both systems. The company also offers a full-service
filing bureau for an additional fee.

Help/Training – 4 Stars
The programs include traditional built-in Help utilities along with right-click
menu functions, mouse-over icon descriptions and other features. The vendor
does not offer training options, but sample data files are included with the
programs to aid in learning common tasks, and telephone support is included
at no additional cost. Program updates can be downloaded from the vendor’s
website.

2007 Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars