CLS 6.0 includes the 2009 W-2 and 1099/1098 formats: laser-printed plain-paper and pre-printed forms, and dot-matrix pre-printed forms, are supported.  The formats of the standard (2-up), pre-printed W-2, W-3, 1099, 1098 and 1096 forms (except for the 1099-C) are basically unchanged for 2009.

With CLS, all W-2 and W-3 forms, including Copy A, may be printed on plain paper. Submittable 940, 941, 943 and 944 forms may also be printed on plain paper.  For 1099, 1098 and 1096 forms, all copies except Copy A may be printed on plain-paper - Copy A must be filed using "official" scannable forms.  Note that this is an IRS requirement, not a CLS limitation; per the IRS website, a penalty of $50 per return may be imposed for using forms that cannot be scanned.

The format of the 1099-C is new; a box has been added to indicate that a borrower is personally liable for the loan.  Also, a new Distribution Code "U" (dividend distribution from ESOP under Section 404(K)) has been added to the 1099-R, but the form itself is not affected.  Two check-boxes have been added to the 1096 form, but this change does not affect CLS.

CLS 6.0 also includes any required changes to the federal 940, 941, 943 and 944 forms for the 2009 year-end.  The 944 format is new for 2009; the new 941 format for 2010 will be part of the March CLS 6.0 update.

State unemployment wage reports (continuation sheets) are being updated as needed.  A new format for Florida, which provides for reporting of out-of-state wages, will be released for the first quarter of 2010, and will be included in the March CLS update.  State continuation sheets printed by CLS, with exception of Alabama, West Virginia and Wyoming, can be submitted on plain paper.

View the 2009 CLS Focus Newsletter

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