Before you submit your file to FTB, be sure to check it using the 1099 TestWare tool. TestWare allows you to check your file format and data fields before sending it to FTB. Please read the instructions below before submitting your file(s). To submit a file, follow the Log In instructions below or click on the following: e-InformationReturns.
The Website will be available 6 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday.
File Naming Convention:
File names are limited to 32 characters with no spaces between the characters.
The transfer of the file will fail if there are spaces between the characters.
Files must be text files ending with a file extension of .txt, or ending
with .zip if the file is compressed. We cannot accept self-extracting
zipped files, which would end with a .exe file extension.
File Size:
If you are sending files larger than 10,000 records electronically, data
compression is encouraged. The time required to transmit electronic information
returns electronically will vary depending upon the type of connections
to the Internet and if compression is used.
1. Log In
On the 1099 Internet Filing page under How To File, click on e-Information
Returns to move to our secure site.
The Security Alert dialog box may appear first. If it does, click Yes.
The e-Information Returns log in page will be displayed. Enter your User ID and Password and click the Log In button or hit Enter.
2. Problems with Log In
User ID: If you have forgotten your User ID, please call us at (916)
845-3778 or send an email to DEShelp@ftb.ca.gov.
Password: If you have any difficulties or forget your password, please call us at (916) 845-3722.
3. Change Your Password
Use the password we sent you.
Password configuration
Your password must contain:
- Exactly 8 characters
- At least 5 alpha characters
- At least 1 numeric character
- No more than 2 repeated characters in a row
- No spaces
Important: Your password is case sensitive. Be careful to remember whether you use lower or upper case letters when you change your password.
Enter your old password in the "Input old password" field and your new password in the "Input new password" and "Confirm new password" field. Click Change Password or hit Enter.
You may change your password at any other time by clicking Change Password on the e-Information Returns home page. The Change Password page will display your User ID. Enter your old password once and your new password twice. Click Change Password or hit Enter. The password change will take place momentarily.
4. Second Log In
When you successfully change your password, you need to log in again using the new (changed) password.
5. Access Home Page
After successfully logging in to the system, the e-Information Returns homepage will be displayed. Click on Send File to transmit your Information Returns.
6. Select Contact
The first time you log in and click Send File on the e-Information
Returns homepage, a blank transmittal information box will appear.
Complete all the information in the transmittal box; please be sure to mark whether your file is an Original, Correction, or a Replacement file. This will ensure your file is processed correctly.
- Original - A file being submitted for the first time.
- Correction - A file being submitted to correct information previously submitted. Do not send your entire file again. Only send your corrected file.
- Replacement - FTB has contacted you and asked you to correct your file and to resubmit your file. You must use the control number assigned to your original file when sending a replacement file. For assistance, contact Data Exchange Services at (916) 845-3778.
- Tax Year - The current tax year, 2006 is displayed in this field.
- Contact First Name, Contact Last Name, Contact Title, Contact Phone Number and Contact email Address - Enter the corresponding information.
- Information Return Type - Scroll through the Choices box, and click on the type of information return your submitting; and the return type will appear in the Selected box. If a return type is chosen in error, delete it by clicking on the incorrect return type displayed in the Selected box.
- Total Payer A Records - Total number of payers included on the file.
- Total Payee B Records - The total number of payers on the file.
- Browse button - To locate the file you want to send, click Browse to open your dialog box for a listing of your files.
7. Select File to Transmit
The 'Choose File' dialog box will appear.
Locate the file you want to send by clicking on the drop down box in
the "Look in" field. To select your file for transmission, either
highlight the file with a single click on the file name and then click Open,
or simply double-click on the file name.
8. Send File
The name of the file you are transmitting now appears in the "Which file do you want to upload?" field. Click Send file to transmit your file, and the related transmittal information to FTB.
9. Receive Acknowledgement
You will receive an acknowledgement when your file is received. Click
back to immediately send another file. Click Home to
return to the homepage for your browser. Click Close browser to
end the session.
10. Send Another File
To immediately send another file, click back on the acknowledgement page.
After the first file has been sent, the acknowledgement page will appear before the transmittal information box is displayed. This page displays the name of the contact person previously entered when transmitting a file.
Each time a new contact is designated, the new contact name will be added to this page.
- This page allows you to send more than one file without having to re-enter your contact information.
- Click on your name and the transmittal information box will appear with your name and contact information already entered.
- This page also allows more than one person to send a file for your organization.
- If the sender's name is not listed on this page, click New Contact and a blank transmittal information box will appear.
- Enter the new contact information for the file being sent.
- After the file is sent by the new contact, the newly entered contact name will also be listed on this page for future transmissions.
11. Complete Remaining Transmittal Information
Transmittal information is required for each file sent. To ensure that
the correct information is entered when sending more than one file
for the tax year, only the contact information and tax year is automatically
entered for you in the transmittal information box. Fill in the remaining
information before sending your file.
12. View Edit Results
After submitting your file, allow up to 2 weeks for our edit process
to be completed. Access the e-Information Returns homepage and click
View Edit Results.
The files we have received from you will display. Look at the last column on the right to check the status of your files. The status will be "Pending" until the edit process has been completed. Click on the control number, in column 1, to view the detailed edit results for files that passed or failed the edit process. There are no details for pending files.
13. View Detailed Edit Results
Passed Edit Process:
When you click on the control number for a file that passed the edit
process, the acknowledgement page will be displayed.
Review all of our comments about your file. Some files that pass the
edit process may contain errors that should not be repeated the following
filing season. Please be sure to make the suggested changes or corrections
to your data or your program to prevent similar errors from recurring
next year. Contact Data Exchange Services at (916) 845-3778, if you
have any questions about your file.
Failed Edit Process:
When you click on the control number for a file that failed the
edit process, the problem page will be displayed.
Review the Problem and Comment section on this page before creating a replacement file.
Important: The control number assigned to the original file is a required entry for the transmittal information sent with the replacement file.
14. Replacement File
If your file fails the edit process, make any necessary corrections and
repeat the steps for sending a file to us.
Use 1099 TestWare to verify the format of your replacement file before you send it to us. Go to /businesses/1099/testware.shtml to use the TestWare application.
When entering the transmittal information for your replacement file, select "Replacement" as the type of file, and enter the control number assigned to the original file into the transmittal form when sending a replacement file (the number will start with an E). The E is automatically changed to R on the confirmation page.
15. Contact Us
For questions about the transmission or processing of your file:
Phone (916) 845-3778
Email DESHELP@ftb.ca.gov
For questions about Information Return reporting:
Phone (916) 845-6304
Email IRPhelp@ftb.ca.gov