Increase in Information Return Penalties

Effective with returns due after January 1, 2016, penalties for not filing correct information returns and/or not furnishing correct payee statements have increased and are now subject to inflationary adjustments.

Examples of affected forms include: Forms 1098, 1099, W-2G and W-2.

The amount of the penalty is based on when you file the correct information return  (IRC 6721) or furnish the correct payee statement (IRC 6722). The penalty for not filing a correct information return is separate from the penalty for not providing the correct payee statement. For example, if you don’t file a correct Form 1099-MISC with the IRS and don’t provide a correct Form 1099-MISC statement to the payee, you may be subject to two separate penalties.

To Avoid Penalties

Beginning with the 2016 tax year:

Employers must send Copy A of Forms W-2 and W-3 to the Social Security Administration by January 31 of the following year for both paper and electronic forms.

Employers must furnish Copy B and any other applicable copies of information returns to the employee by January 31 of the following year.

Businesses, including tax exempt and government entities, must send Copy A of Form 1099-MISC to the IRS by:

  • January 31 of the following year when you’re reporting non-employee compensation payments in Box 7 (paper and electronic);
  • The last day of February of the following year if filing by paper when you’re NOT reporting non-employee compensation in Box 7; or
  • March 31 if filing electronically when you’re NOT reporting non-employee compensation in Box 7.

In years prior to the 2016 tax year:

Businesses, including tax exempt and government entities, must send Copy A of Forms 1098, 1099, W-2G and other information returns to the Internal Revenue Service with transmittal Form 1096 by:

  • The last day of February of the following year if filing by paper; or
  • March 31 if filing electronically.

Employers were also required to send Copy A of Form W-2 to the Social Security Administration with transmittal Form W-3 by:

  • The last day of February of the following year if filing by paper; or
  • March 31 if filing electronically.

In addition, employers filing 250 or more information returns must file electronically unless granted a waiver by the IRS.

Penalty Rates

The penalty rates and maximums for not filing correct information returns and/or not furnishing correct payee statements, including inflationary adjustments if applicable, are reflected in the following table (*-as adjusted for inflation):

Large Businesses with Gross Receipts of More Than $5 Million 
(*Average annual gross receipts for the most recent 3 taxable years) and Government Entities (Other than Federal entities) IRC 6721 & IRC 6722
Time returns filed/furnished Not more than 30 days late 31 days late – August 1 After August 1 or Not at All Intentional Disregard
Due 01-01-2020
thru 12-31-2020
$50 per return or statement –
$556,500* maximum
$110* per return or statement –
$1,669,500* maximum
$270* per return or statement –
$3,339,000* maximum
$550 per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2019
thru 12-31-2019
$50 per return or statement – $545,500* maximum $100 per return or statement – $1,637,500* maximum $270* per return or statement –
$3,275,500* maximum
$540* per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2018
thru 12-31-2018
$50 per return or statement – $536,000* maximum $100 per return or statement –
$1,609,000* maximum
$260* per return or statement –
$3,218,500* maximum
$530* per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2017
thru 12-31-2017
$50 per return or statement – $532,000*
maximum
$100 per return or statement –
$1,596,500* maximum
$260* per return or statement –
$3,193,000* maximum
$530* per return or statement
No limitation
Due 01-01-2016
thru 12-31-2016
$50 per return or statement –
$529,500* maximum
$100 per return or statement –
$1,589,000* maximum
$260* per return or statement –
$3,178,500* maximum
$520* per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2011
thru 12-31-2015
$30 per return or statement –
$250,000 maximum
$60 per return or statement –
$500,000 maximum
$100 per return or statement –
$1,500,000 maximum
$250 per return or statement –
No limitation

Note: Increased penalty amounts may apply for certain failures in the case of intentional disregard. See IRC 6721(e)(2) and IRC 6722(e)(2).

Small Businesses with Gross Receipts $5 Million or Less
(*Average annual gross receipts for the most recent 3 taxable years) IRC 6721 & IRC 6722
Time returns filed/furnished Not more than 30 days late 31 days late – August 1 After August 1 or Not at All Intentional Disregard
Due 01-01-2020
thru 12-31-2020
$50 per return or statement –
$194,500* maximum
$110 *per return or statement –
$556,500* maximum
$270* per return or statement –
$1,113,000* maximum
$550* per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2019
thru 12-31-2019
$50 per return or statement –
$191,000* maximum
$100 per return or statement –
$545,500* maximum
$270* per return or statement –
$1,091,500* maximum
$540* per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2018
thru 12-31-2018
$50 per return or statement –
$187,500* maximum
$100 per return or statement –
$536,000* maximum
$260* per return or statement –
$1,072,500* maximum
$530* per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2017
thru 12-31-2017
$50 per return or statement –
$186,000* maximum
$100 per return or statement –
$532,000* maximum
$260* per return or statement –
$1,064,000* maximum
$530* per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2016
thru 12-31-2016
$50 per return or statement –
$185,000* maximum
$100 per return or statement –
$529,500* maximum
$260* per return or statement –
$1,059,500* maximum
$520* per return or statement –
No limitation
Due 01-01-2011
thru 12-31-2015
$30 per return or statement –
$75,000 maximum
$60 per return or statement –
$200,000 maximum
$100 per return or statement –
$500,000 maximum
$250 per return or statement –
No limitation

Penalties for not filing correct information returns (Code Section 6721) may apply if you:

  • Don’t file a correct information return by the due date and a reasonable cause is not shown;
  • File on paper when you were required to file electronically;
  • Don’t report a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
  • Report an incorrect TIN; or
  • Don’t file paper forms that are machine readable.

Penalties for not providing correct payee statements (Code Section 6722) may apply if:

  • You don’t provide a correct payee statement by the applicable date and a reasonable cause isn’t shown;
  • All required information isn’t shown on the statement; or
  • Incorrect information is included on the statement.

For more information on penalties, information returns and payee statements, see General Instructions for Certain Information Returns (PDF) and General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 (PDF).

The due date for Form 1042-S, Foreign Person’s U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding, whether filed with the IRS on paper or electronically, remains March 15. Also, the requirement to furnish Form 1042-S to the recipient of the income remains due March 15.  For more information on the penalties applicable for not filing a correct Form 1042-S, and /or for not providing the correct payee statement, refer to Penalties Related to Form 1042-S.

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