.01 The purpose of this revenue procedure is to state the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding the preparation and use of substitute forms for Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement, and Form W-3c, Transmittal of Corrected Wage and Tax Statements.

.02 The official IRS Form W-2c is a six-part form and the official IRS Form W-3c is a one-part form. Paper substitutes conforming to the specifications contained in this document may be privately-printed without the prior approval of the IRS or the SSA.

Note. Both paper substitute forms filed with the SSA, and those furnished to employees, that do not totally conform to these specifications are not acceptable. Forms W-2c (Copy A) and Forms W-3c that do not conform may be returned. In addition, penalties may be assessed.

.03 Substitute forms should not be submitted to either the IRS or the SSA for specific approval. If you are uncertain of any specification and want clarification, do the following.

.04 Any questions about the specifications, especially those for the red-ink Form W-2c (Copy A) and Form W-3c, should be emailed to *[email protected]. (The asterisk must be included in the address.) Please enter “Substitute Forms” on the subject line. Or send your questions to:

Any questions about the black-and-white laser-printed Form W-2c (Copy A) and Form W-3c should be emailed to [email protected] or sent to:

Note. You should receive a response from either the IRS or the SSA within 30 days.

.05 The IRS maintains a centralized Customer Service call site at its Enterprise Computing Center - Martinsburg (ECC) to answer questions related to information returns (Forms W-2, W-3, W-2c, W-3c, 1099 series, 1096, etc.). You can reach the call site at 304-263-8700 (not a toll-free number) or 1-866-455-7438 (toll-free). The Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) number is 304-267-3367 (not a toll-free number). The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. You may also send questions to the call site via the Internet at [email protected] . IRS/ECC does not process information returns that are filed on paper forms.

.06 The following form instructions and publications provide more detailed filing procedures for certain information returns.

.01 We are revising this revenue procedure, which will be reproduced as Publication 1223, General Rules and Specifications for Substitute Forms W-2c and W-3c, because Forms W-2c and W-3c were revised in January 2006. Publication 1223 will only be available online at www.irs.gov . Several changes have been made to Forms W-2c and W-3c since they were previously revised in December 2002. The major changes include the following.

.02 The following changes have been made to Publication 1223 since the last revision (May 2003).

.01 Employers must file electronically with the SSA if they file 250 or more Forms W-2c (Copy A) during a calendar year unless the IRS granted you a waiver. For details, get the Instructions for Forms W-2c and W-3c. SSA publication MMREF-2, Magnetic Media Reporting and Electronic Filing of W-2c Information, contains specifications and procedures for filing Forms W-2c. Employers are cautioned to obtain the most recent revision of MMREF-2 (and supplements) due to any subsequent changes in specifications and procedures.

.02 You may obtain a copy of the MMREF-2 by:

.03 Electronic filers do not file a paper Form W-3c. See the SSA publication MMREF-2 for guidance on transmitting Form W-2c (Copy A) information to the SSA electronically.

.04 Employers with fewer than 250 Forms W-2 to be corrected are encouraged to electronically file Forms W-2c (Copy A) with the SSA. Doing so will enhance the timeliness and accuracy of forms processing.

.05 Employers who do not comply with the electronic filing requirements for Form W-2c (Copy A) and who are not granted a waiver by the IRS may be subject to penalties. Employers who file Form W-2c information with the SSA electronically must not send the same data to the SSA on paper Forms W-2c (Copy A). Any duplicate reporting may subject filers to unnecessary contacts by the SSA or the IRS.

.01 Include the OMB Number on Forms W-2c (Copy A) and Forms W-3c in the same location as on the official form.

.02 The words “For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see separate instructions.” must be printed on all Forms W-2c (Copy A) and Forms W-3c.

.03 The Government Printing Office (GPO) symbol must not be printed on substitute Forms W-2c (Copy A) and Forms W-3c.

.04 The Catalog Number (Cat. No.) shown on the forms is used for IRS distribution purposes and should not be printed on any substitute forms.

.05 The appropriate SSA addresses must be printed on the front of Form W-3c below the body of the form (see Exhibit B).

.06 All printing of substitute Forms W-2c (Copy A) and W-3c must be in Flint red OCR dropout ink except as specified below. The following must be printed in nonreflective black ink.

.07 The sequence for assembling the copies of Form W-2c is as follows.

.08 Substitute form printers are required to include their Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) to the left of “Department of the Treasury” in the lower right in place of “Cat. No.” on Forms W-2c (Copy A) and W-3c.

.09 Employers may file privately-printed Forms W-2c (Copy A) and W-3c with the SSA. Any substitute form must be an exact replica of the IRS-printed form with respect to layout and content.

.10 The back of substitute Form W-2c (Copy A) and Form W-3c must be free of all printing.

.11 In addition:

.12 Type must be substantially identical in size and shape to the official form. All rules are either ¹/₂-point or ³/₄-point. Rules must be identical to those on the official IRS form.

Note. The identifying number (44444 or 55555) must be nonreflective carbon-based black ink in OCR-A font.

.13 One official Form W-2c or W-3c is contained on a single page that is 8.5 inches wide (exclusive of any snap stubs) by 11 inches deep. The width of a substitute form must be 7.5 inches. See Exhibits A and B.

.14 Forms W-2c (Copy A) of continuous, privately-printed substitute forms must be perforated at each 11-inch page depth.

.01 The SSA has developed laser-printed versions of Forms W-2c and W-3c. You may contact the SSA via email at [email protected] for more information. After the forms are developed, you will obtain a template in pdf or Excel format and the SSA will provide further approval instructions. You may use the format of Copy A of the red-ink forms as an initial template. You may also contact the SSA at the following address.

You will be asked to send your sample forms via private mail carrier or certified mail in order to verify their receipt.

.02 You will be required to send one set of blank and one set of dummy-data, laser-printed substitute Forms W-2c (Copy A) and W-3c for approval. Sample data entries should be filled in to the maximum length for each box entry, preferably using numeric data or alpha data, depending upon the type required to be entered. Include in your submission the name, telephone number, fax number, and email address of a contact person who can answer questions regarding your sample forms.

.03 Specifications for the laser-printed black-and-white Forms W-2c (Copy A) and W-3c should be similar to the red-ink forms (Section 4) except for certain items and actual form dimensions. Exhibits are samples only and must not be downloaded to meet tax obligations.

.04 You will be asked to submit samples of your laser-printed substitute forms to the SSA. Only laser-printed, black-and-white substitute Forms W-2c (Copy A) and Form W-3c will be accepted for approval by the SSA.

.05 Forms not containing a 4-digit vendor code preceded by four zeros and a slash (0000/) will be rejected and will not be submitted for testing or approval. If you do not have a vendor code, you may contact the National Association of Computerized Tax Processors via email at [email protected].

.06 If you use forms produced by a vendor and have questions concerning approval, do not send the forms to the SSA for approval. Instead, you may contact the software vendor to obtain a copy of the SSA’s dated approval notice supplied to that vendor.

.07 Questions regarding red-ink substitute Forms W-2, W-3, W-2c, and W-3c, and other red-ink substitute forms such as the 1099 series must be directed to the IRS. Also see IRS Publications 1141 and 1179.

.01 All employers (including those who file electronically) must furnish employees with at least two copies of Form W-2c (three or more for employees required to file a state, city, or local income tax return).

Note. Although substitute Copy 1 of Form W-2c can be printed in black instead of the red dropout ink, it should conform as closely as possible to Copy A of the official IRS form in content, format, and layout in order to satisfy state and local reporting requirements.

.02 The paper for all copies must be white and printed in black ink. The substitute Copy B (or its equal), which employees are instructed to attach to their federal income tax returns, must be at least 9-pound paper (basis 17 x 22-500). Other copies furnished to employees should also be at least 9-pound paper (basis 17 x 22-500).

.03 Interleaved carbon and chemical transfer paper for employee copies must be clearly legible, have the capability to be photocopied, and not fade to such a degree as to preclude legibility and the ability to photocopy.

.04 Type must be substantially identical in size and shape to that on the official form.

.05 Substitute forms for employees need to contain only the payment boxes and captions that are applicable. These boxes, box numbers, and box titles must, when applicable, match the IRS-printed form. In all cases, the employee name, address, and SSN, as well as the employer name, address, and EIN, must be present.

.06 The dimensions of the boxes on these copies (Copies B, C, and 2), but not Copy A, may be adjusted to allow space for conveying additional information. This may permit the employer to eliminate other statements or notices that would otherwise be furnished to employees.

.07 The maximum allowable dimensions for employee copies of Form W-2c are no more than 11 inches deep by 8.5 inches wide. The minimum allowable dimensions for employee copies of Form W-2c are 2.67 inches deep by 4.25 inches wide.

Note. These maximum and minimum size specifications are subject to future change.

.08 Either horizontal or vertical format is permitted for substitute employee copies of Forms W-2c. That is, the width of the form may be either greater or less than the depth of the form.

.09 All copies of Form W-2c must clearly and prominently display the form number and the form title together in one area of the form. It is recommended (but not required) that this be located on the bottom left of Form W-2c. The reference to the “Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service” must be on all copies of Form W-2c. It is recommended (but not required) that this be located on the bottom right of Form W-2c.

.10 If the substitute Forms W-2c are not labeled as to the disposition of the copies, then written notification must be provided to each employee as specified below.

If the substitute Forms W-2c are labeled, the forms must contain the applicable description as stated on the official form.

.11 Instructions similar to those on the back of Form W-2c (Copy C) of the official form must be provided to each employee.

.01 Privately-printed substitute Forms W-2c are not required to contain a copy to be retained by employers (Copy D). However, employers must be prepared to verify or duplicate this information if the IRS or the SSA requests it. Paper filers who do not keep Copy D of Form W-2c should be able to generate a facsimile of Form W-2c (Copy A) in case of loss.

.02 If Copy D is provided for the employer, instructions contained on the back of Copy D of the official form must appear on the back of the substitute form. If Copy D is not provided, these instructions must be furnished to the employer on a separate statement.

.03 Only originals or compliant substitute copies of Forms W-2c (Copy A) and Forms W-3c may be filed with the SSA. Carbon copies and photocopies are unacceptable.

.04 Employers should type or machine print entries on non-laser generated forms whenever possible and provide good quality data entries by using a high quality type face, inserting data in the middle of blocks that are well separated from other printing and guidelines, and taking any other measures that will guarantee clear, sharp images.

Note. 12-point Courier font is preferred by the SSA.

.05 Because employers must file a machine-scannable Form W-2c, they should meet the following requirements.

.06 The employer must also furnish payee copies of Forms W-2c (Copies B, C, and 2) that are legible and capable of being photocopied (by the employee).

.07 When Forms W-2c or W-3c are typed, black ink must be used with no script type, inverted font, italics, or dual-case alpha characters.

.08 The filer’s employer identification number (EIN) must be entered in box (d) of Form W-2c and box (e) of Form W-3c.

.09 The employer’s name, address, EIN, and state ID number may be preprinted.

.01 The Paperwork Reduction Act (the Act) of 1995 (Public Law 104-13) requires the following.

.02 This information must be provided to any users of official or substitute IRS forms or instructions.

.03 The OMB requirements for substitute IRS forms are the following.

.04 Any substitute Form W-3c and Form W-2c (Copy A) must state “For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see separate instructions.” If no instructions are provided to users of your forms, you must furnish them the exact text of the Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice.

.01 You can obtain official IRS forms and information copies of federal tax materials at local IRS offices or by calling the IRS Distribution Center at 1-800-829-3676. Other ways to get federal tax material include the following.

Only contact the IRS, not the SSA, for forms.

Note. Many IRS forms are provided on the IRS website and on the Federal Tax Forms CD-ROM. But copies of Form W-2c (Copy A) and Form W-3c cannot be used for filing with the IRS or SSA when obtained by these methods because the forms do not meet the specific printing specifications as described in this publication. Copies of Forms W-2c and W-3c obtained from these sources are for information purposes only.

.02 The IRS also offers an alternative to downloading electronic files and provides current and prior-year access to tax forms and instructions through its Federal Tax Forms CD-ROM. Order Publication 1796, IRS Federal Tax Products CD-ROM, by using the IRS website at www.irs.gov/cdorders or by calling 1-877-CDFORMS (1-877-233-6767).

.01 Revenue Procedure 2003-31, 2003-1 C.B. 839 (reprinted as Publication 1223, Rev. 5-2003), is superseded.