Electronic Filing of MW-3s, 1099s, and W2s Instructions

Client Types

  • TAP Wage Withholding (WTH) Accounts:
    • Self Filing
    • Third-Party Client Accounts
  • Tap File Process (FLE) Accounts – Bulk filing for clients up to 51 MB per file
  • Web Service API – Bulk filing for clients with files greater than 51 MB per file

Bulk File Options – Required to use an Approved Software

See the department’s list of Approved Withholding Tax Software.

  1. Requires annual registration, development, and testing with Information Governance E-Services.
  2. Registers through the Letter of Intent.
  3. For more information, please contact dore-services@mt.gov.
TAP Wage Withholding (WTH) Accounts TAP File Process (FLE) Accounts – Bulk Filing Clients – Up to 51 MB per File Web Service API – Bulk Filing Clients – Greater than 51 MB per File
Self Third-Party Client Accounts
Who are you filing for? How do you know which client type you are?
Recommended TAP access to the target withholding account, if registered in GenTax
  • Recommended TAP Access to the target withholding account, if registered in GenTax
  • Recommended for up to 25 clients with 10-15 employees each.
  • Utilizes Accountant Center
  • Recommended for multiple clients.
  • Also recommend third party access to client accounts.
  • TAP FLE accounts can accept up to 51 MB of data per upload of MW-3s, 1099s, and W2s
  • Contact E-Services at DORE-Services@mt.gov for more information.
  • Recommended for larger corporations, submitting in the thousands of W2 or 1099 files.
  • If the reporter is submitting for multiple companies, where the size of the files would necessitate multiple uploads through TAP.
How do I use TAP to file my form? Please note: All options require you to have a GenTax withholding account with TAP Access. TAP FLE Accounts are recommended for bulk file only.
W2
  • Manual entry in TAP Withholding account
  • Single upload in TAP Withholding account
  • Manual entry in TAP Withholding account
  • Single upload in TAP Withholding account
 Bulk upload in TAP FLE Bulk upload in Web Service API
1099
  • Manual entry in TAP Withholding account
  • Single upload in TAP Withholding account
  • Manual entry in TAP Withholding account
  • Single upload in TAP Withholding account
 Bulk upload in TAP FLE Bulk upload in Web Service API
MW-3 Manual entry in TAP Withholding account Manual entry in TAP Withholding account Bulk upload in TAP FLE Bulk upload in Web Service API
MW-4 Manual entry in TAP – Login Only Manual entry in TAP – Login Only N/A N/A
Do I use single option upload or manual entry to file my form? Please Note: all options require you to have a GenTax withholding account with TAP Access.
Single Upload Options
W2 Single upload is not recommended unless you are using software that meets the below specifications:

 Check that the form you are using adheres to the specifications set forth in the SSA EFW2 or SSA EFW2C publications:
1099 Single upload is not recommended unless you are using software that meets the below specifications.

 Please ensure that the form you are using adheres to the specifications set forth in IRS Publication 1220:

 Please ensure that the form you are using adheres to the specifications set forth in IRS Publication 1220:
MW-3 No single upload options are available—manual entry only.
  1. Must be using an approved software or have software development capabilities. Please review the approved software vendor list on the DOR website. For more information, contact E-Services @ dore-services@mt.gov.
  2. Requires registration, development, and testing with DOR.
  3. MW-3 submissions will not be accepted if they were not formatted using an approved vendor software.
Manual Entry Options
W2 W2 & W2C Manual entry options are not available for FLE Accounts Manual entry options are not available for Web Service API clients
1099 W2G, DIV, INT, R’s, MISC, & NEC only
MW-3
  1. Select “View Returns and Payments”
  2. Select “File Return”
How do I make an electronic payment for withholding?
Using a TAP Account
  • Credit Card
  • E-check
 Payments made by ACH debit with MW-3 Return submissions only. Without 3rd-party access to client accounts, only non-login payments and the ACH debt with MW-3 return submissions are available in TAP. N/A
Using Web Services API N/A Payments can be made by ACH debit with MW-3 return submissions only.
Using Vendor Payment Service (VPS) N/A
  • Stand-alone payments for withholding through a brand-new Web Service Application Program Interface (API).
  • Requires annual registration, development, and testing with Information Governance E-Services.
  • Registers through the Letter of Intent.

For more information, please contact dore-services@mt.gov.