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The IRS spent over three years on the design and development of a new e-file system which is often referred to as Modernized e-File (MeF). A stakeholder group comprised of tax professionals and software vendors worked closely with IRS during all phases of design, development and implementation of MeF to ensure the needs of corporations were understood.
MeF is a web-based system that allows electronic filing of corporate income tax returns through the Internet. MeF uses the widely accepted Extensible Markup Language (XML) format, which is a industry standard way of identifying, storing and transmitting data instead of the proprietary data transmission formats used by older e-file programs.
The 1120/1120S e-file program was launched in February 2004.
Benefits:
More Explicit Error Conditions - New error code explanations pinpoint the location of the error in the return and provide complete information in the Acknowledgement File.
Faster acknowledgements - Transmissions are processed upon receipt and acknowledgments are returned in near real-time. No more waiting for once or twice daily system processing cycles.
Integrated Payment Option - Owe Taxes? - You can e-file a balance due return and, at the same time, authorize an electronic funds withdrawal from your bank account. Payments are subject to limitations of the Federal Tax Deposit rules.
Volumes
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1120/1120S e-file Volume History by Processing Year
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Through
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Accepted Form 1120 Returns
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Accepted Form 1120S Returns
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Accepted Forms 7004
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12/31/04
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14,923
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36,946
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NA
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12/31/05
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56,690
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154,186
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48,435
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12/31/06
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152,737
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402,807
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397,984
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12/27/07
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244,588 |
649,556 |
841,818
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2008
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Accepted Form 1120 Returns
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Accepted Form 1120S Returns
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Accepted Forms 7004
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Large and Mid-Size Business
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11,805
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14,573 |
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| Returns w/Assets $10-49 Million |
6,308 |
11,293
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*Subset of LMSB returns with assets of $50 million or more that may be required to e-file
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5,497 |
3,280
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Small Business and Self-Employed
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185,321 |
713,230 |
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Total Through 6/1/08
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197,126 |
727,803 |
1,106,726 |
Overview of Corporate e-file Systems(pdf) The pdf graphic file visually represents the corporate return e-file process that is outlined below. (Note: To view this linked pdf document, download the most recent free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Prepare and Originate Return
After the preparation of a tax return is complete and signed by the appropriate Corporate Officer, tax preparation software, which has been approved by IRS for electronic filing, will provide the necessary instructions to “originate” the electronic submission of the return and authorize the filing of the return via IRS e-file. During this process the electronic return data is converted into the format defined by IRS for electronic filing.
Transmission to IRS
IRS Authorized e-file Providers or Large Taxpayers may choose to transmit direct to IRS or use a third party transmitter. Transmitters may use the internet to transmit electronic return data to the IRS Modernized e-File (MeF) system. IRS included two new internet options in the design of MeF. Internet Filing Application (IFA) and Application to Application (A2A) were designed to meet the needs of registered transmitters who send large complex returns. The design of the IFA and A2A features Web Services-Interoperability (WS-I) security standards as discussed in more detail below.
MeF Processing
A critical part of the MeF design was the IRS decision to use an XML format for transmitting electronic return data. The XML format ensures the electronic return data transmitted to IRS meets all required specifications and allows MeF systems to process and view the electronic return data. The following is a brief explanation of how electronic data received by IRS is converted to a tax return.
- Each line or data element on every IRS form is given an XML name tag.
- Every instance of supporting data is defined and given an XML name tag.
- IRS and/or contractors use the name tags to create XML schemas.
- IRS develops a set of Business Rules for other processing issues.
- IRS provides the XML schemas and Business Rules to software vendors.
- Software vendors use the XML schemas and Business Rules to create the electronic portion of their tax preparation software.
- Software vendors are required to test their tax preparation software with IRS and MeF systems to ensure it can correctly format and transmit electronic data to IRS. (See How Tax Preparation Software is Approved for Electronic Filing for a detailed explanation of software testing.)
- After return preparation is complete, the return is originated as discussed above and the return data is output into the specified XML format for electronic filing.
- IRS validates the transmitted files against the XML schemas and Business Rules in the MeF production systems.
- Returns that successfully pass validation are considered “Accepted” and forwarded to the IRS systems used to process paper returns for additional processing.
- 100% of the electronic return data is also stored in an official IRS repository and may be viewed by authorized IRS employees using XML stylesheets.
- IRS provides copies of the XML stylesheets on irs.gov where they may be incorporated into software vendor or corporation programs for viewing the return.
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