FYI on SSA Batch Filing on FIRE System

[austin3515]

"The Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) system will be down December 16, 2011 through January 2, 2012, for programming updates. It is not operational during this time for submissions."

just two weeks before the extended deadline... Bravo, IRS. Bravo. Can't wait one more month to do your updates? You can wait 2years to release a form DUE A YEAR AGO, but can';t wait one more month for this currently operational system to be updated. Classic...

From the IRS new article, with updated FAQ's on 8955-SSA's

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/epn_2011_6.pdf

[ESOP Guy]

on the up side it doesn say if you submit it via Fire the client won't have to sign the form. That will in the long run be a good thing.

[austin3515]

I think this is the section ESOP Guy is referrign to.

"If the plan administrator and the plan sponsor are the same person, only the signature as plan administrator needs to be included on the form.

Electronic signatures are not required for electronically filed Forms 8955-SSA. "

ESOP, I'm not sure it's saying the employer NEVER needs to sign the form. One might even read into this that employer should manually sign the form before electronically filing on their behalf (I choose not to read it that way, but they certainly haven't come out and said "employer's don't need to sign the SSA"). We're sending clients a copy and telling them to sign it, and file it in their records.

[chc93]

I think this is the section ESOP Guy is referrign to.

"If the plan administrator and the plan sponsor are the same person, only the signature as plan administrator needs to be included on the form.

Electronic signatures are not required for electronically filed Forms 8955-SSA. "

ESOP, I'm not sure it's saying the employer NEVER needs to sign the form. One might even read into this that employer should manually sign the form before electronically filing on their behalf (I choose not to read it that way, but they certainly haven't come out and said "employer's don't need to sign the SSA"). We're sending clients a copy and telling them to sign it, and file it in their records.

I think the instructions say that a manual signature is required, but for electronic filing, an electronic signature is not required... not that no signature (manual or electronic) is required if electronically filing.

Also, we've gone a bit further. We mail the 8955-SSA to the client, ask them to review and sign the form for their files, and then ask them to mail or fax a copy of the signed page 1 to us. After we receive the signed copy, we electronically file the form. Maybe a bit of a hassle, but at least we know they "saw" the form, and hopefully reviewed it too.