IRS Revises Specifications For Electronic Filing Of Archer MSA Summaries.

Rev. Proc. 2007-29

Sec. 1. Purpose

.01 The purpose of this revenue procedure is to provide the specifications under which trustees may file Form 8851, Summary of Archer MSAs, electronically.

.02 Comments concerning this revenue procedure, or suggestions for making it more helpful and user friendly, can be addressed to:

Sec. 2. Nature of Changes

.01 This Revenue Procedure was completely revised since its last revision in 2001. Please review this Revenue Procedure in its entirety. This section only lists the major changes.

.02 The name of the Martinsburg Computing Center was changed to Enterprise Computing Center -- Martinsburg (ECC-MTB).

.03 ECC-MTB no longer accepts magnetic media for the filing of Forms 8851. The only acceptable method for those with over 250 forms is electronic filing via the FIRE System (see Part B). Filers of Form 8851 must call ECC-MTB toll-free at 1-866-455-7438, extension 3 for log-on instructions.

.04 The FIRE System is now on the Internet at http://fire.irs.gov. Substantial changes were made to the FIRE System so review this information carefully.

.05 The due date for filing Forms 8851 was changed to March 20, 2007. This date is effective for both filing periods, January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005, and January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006. A separate transmission is required for each filing period.

Sec. 3. Where To File and How To Contact the IRS Enterprise Computing Center -- Martinsburg

.01 Paper Forms 8851 are processed at IRS-Enterprise Computing Center -- Martinsburg (IRS/ECC-MTB). Send forms and correspondence to ECC at the following address:

.03 The Information Reporting Program Customer Service Section (IRP/CSS), located at IRS/ECC-MTB, answers electronic, paper filing and tax law questions from the payer community relating to the filing of business information returns (Forms 8851, 1096, 1098, 1099, 5498, 8027, and W-2G). Inquiries dealing with backup withholding and reasonable cause requirements due to missing and incorrect taxpayer identification numbers are also addressed by IRP/CSS. Assistance is available year-round to payers, transmitters, and employers nationwide, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, by calling toll-free 1-866-455-7438. The Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) toll number is 304-267-3367. Call as soon as questions arise to avoid the busy filing seasons. Recipients of information returns (payees) should continue to contact 1-800-829-1040 with any questions on how to report the information returns data on their tax returns.

.04 The telephone numbers for inquiries or electronic submissions are:

.01 If you are required to report 250 or more Archer MSAs, you must file electronically. Even though a trustee may not meet the required filing threshold of 250 documents, IRS encourages the filing of the Form 8851 electronically. Filers who transmit their information electronically are considered to have satisfied the magnetic media filing requirements.

.02 The filing requirement applies individually to each reporting entity as defined by its separate Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), (Social Security Number [SSN], or Employer Identification Number [EIN]). For example, if filing for a corporation with several branches or locations and each uses the same name and EIN, the filer must aggregate the total volume to be filed for that EIN and apply the filing requirement accordingly.

.03 For additional information on filing requirements, please refer to the instructions on Form 8851.

Sec. 5. Due Dates

.01 The due dates for filing paper returns with IRS also apply to electronic filing. File Form 8851, postmarked no later than March 20, 2007 for each reporting period. The two reporting periods are January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005 for 2005 and January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006 for 2006.

.02 When using a delivery service other than the U.S. Postal Service, if no date of shipment appears on the package or container, the date of receipt will be the date received at IRS/ECC-MTB. Notice 97-26, 1997-17 I.R.B. 6, provides rules for determining the date that is treated as the postmark date. For items delivered by a non-designated Private Delivery Service (PDS), the actual date of receipt by IRS/ECC-MTB will be used as the filing date. For items delivered by a designated PDS, but through a type of service not designated in Notice 2004-83, 2004-52 I.R.B. 1030, the actual date of receipt by IRS/ECC-MTB will be used as the filing date. The timely mailing rule also applies to furnishing statements to recipients and participants.

Note: Due to security regulations at ECC-MTB, the Internal Revenue police officers will only accept packages from PDSs or couriers from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sec. 6. Processing of Information Returns Electronically

.01 All data received at IRS/ECC-MTB for processing will be given the same protection as individual income tax returns (Form 1040). IRS/ECC-MTB will process the data and determine if the records are formatted and coded according to this revenue procedure.

.02 If you are filing information for more than one trustee or tax year, each trustee or tax year must be transmitted separately.

.03 Do not report duplicate information. If a filer submits returns electronically, identical paper documents must not be filed.

.04 If the data is formatted incorrectly, IRS/ECC-MTB will request a replacement file. When IRS/ECC-MTB requests a replacement file, it is because we encountered errors (not limited to format) and were unable to process the file. It is imperative that filers maintain backup copies and/or recreate capabilities for their information return files. Open all IRS/ECC-MTB correspondence immediately. Refer to Part B, Section 4, for detailed procedures for replacing files submitted electronically.

.05 IRS/ECC-MTB will work with the filers to identify and resolve processing problems. If contacted by IRS/ECC-MTB, please respond promptly. IRS/ECC-MTB may have information the filers need to correct their files.

Sec. 7. Effect on Paper Documents

.01 Electronic reporting eliminates the need to submit paper Forms 8851 to IRS.

.02 Even though the threshold for filing electronically is 250 or more MSAs, IRS encourages transmitters to submit all returns electronically.

.03 The address for filing paper Forms 8851 is:

Sec. 8. State Abbreviations

.01 The following state and U.S. territory abbreviations are to be used when developing the state code portion of address fields. This table provides state and territory abbreviations only, and does not represent those states participating in the Combined Federal/State Filing Program.

 State                         Code State                         Code

.03 When reporting APO/FPO addresses, use the following format:

EXAMPLE:

 Payee Name          PVT Willard J. Doe

 Element                     Description

Sec. 1. General

.01 Electronic filing of Forms 1098, 1099, 5498, 8851 and W-2G information returns, originals, corrections, and replacements is offered as an alternative to paper filing. Payers who are under the filing threshold requirement, are encouraged to file electronically.

.02 All electronic filing of information returns are received at IRS/ECC-MTB via the FIRE (Filing Information Returns Electronically) System. To connect to the FIRE System, point your browser to http://fire.irs.gov. The system is designed to support the electronic filing of information returns only.

.03 The electronic filing of information returns is not affiliated with any other IRS electronic filing programs. Filers must obtain separate approval to participate in each program. Only inquiries concerning electronic filing of information returns should be directed to IRS/ECC-MTB.

.04 Files submitted to IRS/ECC-MTB electronically must be in standard ASCII code. Do not send paper forms with the same information as electronically submitted files. This would create duplicate reporting resulting in penalty notices.

Sec. 2. Advantages of Filing Electronically

Some of the advantages of filing electronically are:

.01 Filers must fax a Form 8851, Summary of Archer MSAs, to IRS/ECC-MTB prior to filing the Form(s) 8851 electronically. Only trustee information, information above line `a', should be provided on the Form 8851 when filing electronically. Please annotate the Form 8851 with "Electronic Filing" to indicate the method of filing. The fax number is (304) 264-5602.

.02 Filers must call ECC-MTB toll-free at 1-866-455-7438, extension 3 prior to logging on to the FIRE System for procedures specific to filing Form 8851.

.03 Electronic filers assign their own logon name and password and do not need prior or special approval.

.04 For all passwords, it is the user's responsibility to remember the password and not allow the password to be compromised. Passwords are user assigned at first logon and must be 8 alpha/numerics containing at least 1 uppercase, 1 lowercase, and 1 numeric. However, filers who forget their password or PIN, can call toll-free 1-866-455-7438 for assistance. The FIRE System may require users to change their passwords on a yearly basis.

Sec. 4. Electronic Submissions

.01 Electronically filed information may be submitted to IRS/ECC-MTB 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Technical assistance is available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time by calling toll-free 1-866-455-7438, ext. 3.

.02 The FIRE System will be down from 2 p.m. EST December 21, 2007, through January 2, 2008. This allows IRS/ECC-MTB to update its system to reflect current year changes.

.03 If you are sending files larger than 10,000 records electronically, data compression is encouraged. When transmitting files larger than 5 million records, please contact IRS/ECC-MTB for additional information. WinZip and PKZip are the only acceptable compression packages. IRS/ECC-MTB cannot accept self-extracting zip files or compressed files containing multiple files. The time required to transmit information returns electronically will vary depending upon the type of connection to the internet and if data compression is used. The time required to transmit a file can be reduced up to 95 percent by using compression.

.04 Transmitters may create files using self assigned file name(s). Files submitted electronically will be assigned a new unique file name by the FIRE System. The filename assigned by the FIRE System will consist of submission type (ORIG [original] and REPL [replacement]), the filer's TCC and a four-digit number sequence. The sequence number will be incremented for every file sent. For example, if it is your first original file for the calendar year and your TCC is MSA01, the IRS assigned filename would be ORIG.MSA01.0001. Record the filename. This information will be needed by ECC-MTB to identify the file, if assistance is required.

.05 If a file was submitted timely and is bad, the filer will have up to 60 days from the day the file was transmitted to transmit an acceptable replacement file. If an acceptable file is not received within 60 days, the payer could be subject to late filing penalties. This only applies to files originally submitted electronically.

• A replacement is an information return file sent by the filer because the CHECK FILE STATUS option on the FIRE System indicated the original file was bad. After the necessary changes have been made, the file must be transmitted through the FIRE System. (See Note.)

Sec. 5. PIN Requirements

.01 User will be prompted to create a PIN consisting of 10 numerics when establishing their initial logon name and password.

.02 The PIN is required each time an ORIGINAL or REPLACEMENT file is sent electronically and is permission to release the file. An authorized agent may enter their PIN, however, the payer is responsible for the accuracy of the returns. The payer will be liable for penalties for failure to comply with filing requirements. If you forget your PIN, please call toll-free 1-866-455-7438, ext. 3 for assistance.

Sec. 6. Electronic Filing Specifications

.01 The FIRE System is designed exclusively for the filing of Forms 1042-S, 1098, 1099, 5498, 8027, 8851, and W-2G.

.02 The results of the electronic transmission will be available in the CHECK FILE STATUS area of the FIRE System within 5 business days. It is the filer's responsibility to verify the acceptability of files submitted by selecting the CHECK FILE STATUS option. Forms 1042-S and 8027 require a longer processing time.

Sec. 7. Connecting to the FIRE System

.01 Point your browser to http://fire.irs.gov to connect to the FIRE System.

.02 Filers should turn off their pop-up blocking software before transmitting their files.

.03 Before connecting, call ECC-MTB for specific log on procedures for Form 8851 (See Part A, Sec. 3.)

.04 Your browser must support SSL 128-bit encryption.

.05 Your browser must be set to receive "cookies". Cookies are used to preserve your User ID status.

First time connection to The FIRE System (If you have logged on previously, skip to Subsequent Connections to the FIRE System.)

When the upload is complete, the screen will display the total bytes received and tell you the name of the file you just uploaded.

Checking your FILE STATUS

Sec. 1. The Trustee "A" Record -- General Field Descriptions and Record Layout

.01 This record identifies the entity preparing and transmitting the file. The first record of a file MUST be a Trustee "A" Record. Otherwise, a replacement file will be requested. The "A" Record is a fixed length of 150 positions.

                    Record Name: Trustee "A" Record

.01 The "B" record contains the account holder information. The format of the "B" record will remain constant and is a fixed length of 150 positions.

                Record Name: Account Holder "B" Record

.01 Enter a "C" Record after the last "B" Record submitted for a particular Trustee "A" Record. The "C" Record serves as a summary of the preceding "B" Records' data, and enables IRS to cross check the correctness of information received.

.02 A "C" Record is the last record on the file.

.03 Each "C" Record has a fixed length of 150 positions.

.04 If the field is not applicable, allow for the field by entering blanks or zeros as instructed.

                              Record Name