Quick version
eFiling your 1099s or 1098s? You don’t need a 1096.
Mailing Copy A on paper? Select forms of one type on the Forms page and click Generate Summary Form to print the 1096.
Form 1096 is the summary transmittal that goes with your 1099 and 1098 Copy A forms when you mail them to the IRS. Helper builds it from the totals on the forms you select.
Do I need to create a 1096 when I eFile?
No. When you eFile your 1099s or 1098s, Helper includes the totals in your electronic filing, so the IRS doesn’t need a 1096. There’s nothing extra to do after checkout. See Do you eFile the 1096?.
If you generate a 1096 for forms you’ve already eFiled, it’s marked Record copy. Keep it for your files. Don’t mail it.
Why do I need more than one 1096?
You need a separate 1096 for:
Each form type. The IRS wants totals for each type, so you need one 1096 for your 1099-NECs, another for your 1099-MISCs, and so on.
Each issuer. Every payer or lender files its own 1096.
Helper handles the issuer split for you. See FAQ: Why do I have more than one 1096?.
Generate and print a 1096
Helper doesn’t mail paper forms for you. If you mail Copy A to the IRS, you’ll print the 1096 and send it yourself.
Go to Forms in the left menu.
Use the Form Types filter and choose one form type, such as 1099-NEC.
Check the box next to each form to include. Select only one form type, because Helper can’t print a summary for mixed form types.
Click Generate Summary Form in the bar at the bottom of the screen. For a single form, click Actions on its row and choose Generate Summary Form.
The Print 1096 Summary Form page opens.
Under Print Method, choose Pre-printed IRS forms (required for a 1096 you’ll mail) or Blank sheet (for your records).
Under Print Access, choose Print with Watermark (free) or Print without Watermark (paid). On a blank sheet, a 1096 always prints with a watermark.
Check that Copy Type is set to 1096 Summary — Only Summary Form. This prints the transmittal without recipient copies.
Under Output, choose Print to send it to your printer, or Download to save a PDF.
Review the summary line at the bottom of the page. It shows your choices, how many forms are included, and their total.
Click Print Forms.
One 1096 per issuer: If your selected forms come from more than one issuer, Helper creates a separate 1096 for each one under Summary packages.
Check for warnings before you print:
Missing issuer details. If the issuer is missing fields needed on the 1096, the form will print with those boxes empty. Click Open Issuer to fill them in. See the 1096 Information section in How to Add or Edit an Issuer Manually.
Incomplete forms. If some selected forms are still incomplete, finish them first so your totals are right.
Can I mail a 1096 printed on blank paper?
No. The IRS requires a mailed 1096 to be printed on pre-printed forms with red OCR dropout ink. Plain-ink copies can fail to scan, which can lead to penalties and delays.
That’s why Helper always watermarks a 1096 printed on a blank sheet. Use blank-sheet copies for your records only. See Why can’t I file plain paper printouts of IRS “red ink” forms?
Next, mail your 1096 with Copy A of your forms to the IRS. See Where to mail your 1099s and 1096.