With January’s 1099-NEC deadline behind us, accounting firms now face the March 31 electronic filing deadline for remaining 1099 forms. For firms processing thousands of 1099-MISC, INT, and DIV forms, this creates a critical window to evaluate and implement automation solutions.
🚨 Understanding Your 1099 Processing Load
Types of 1099 Forms Due March 31
- 1099-MISC: Rent, royalties, prizes ($600+)
- 1099-INT: Interest income
- 1099-DIV: Dividends and distributions
- 1099-K: Payment card transactions
Common Processing Challenges
Volume Management
- Multiple document formats (PDFs, scans, images)
- Varied information sources (client systems, spreadsheets, paper forms)
- Different validation requirements
- State-specific rules
IRS Compliance
- Accuracy requirements across all extracted data
- Electronic filing format requirements
- Correction procedures for errors or updates
- Audit trails for every processed document
🔄 Automation Solution and Essential Features for March Filing
Intelligent Document Processing
- Multi-format support (PDF, images, scanned documents) with Lens and Browser
- Any Docs LLM API for unstructured and automated document processing
- Line item extraction and categorization
Advanced Data Validation
- Business Rules Engine (BRE) for custom validation logic
- Automated field updates and transformations
- Policy enforcement through custom rules
- Real-time data enrichment
- Error detection and correction
Fraud Prevention & Security
- Intelligent Fraud Detection for identifying altered documents
- Duplicate document detection
- Document quality verification (blur/warp checks)
- Suspicious activity monitoring
- Digital tampering detection
- Handwriting analysis
Compliance & Audit
- SOC 2 Type 2 certification
- GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, ITAR compliance
- Complete audit trail tracking
- Secure document storage
- Automated suspicious activity flagging
Integration Capabilities
- Structured JSON data output
- API-first architecture
- Accounting software compatibility
- Tax preparation system integration
🔍 Post-1099 Season Analysis
Process Evaluation
Document Collection: Evaluates the efficiency and challenges in gathering 1099 information from clients, including submission methods and document quality.
- How were documents submitted?
- What formats caused delays?
- Which clients needed multiple follow-ups?
- Where were the information gaps?
Processing Efficiency: Measures the speed, accuracy, and resource utilization of your 1099 processing workflow.
- Average processing time per form
- Error rates and common mistakes
- Staff overtime hours
- Client response times
Client Communication: Assesses the effectiveness of client interactions, including response times and support requirements.
- Status update requests
- Revision frequencies
- Common questions
- Support ticket volume
Identifying Improvement Areas
Document Management: Analyzes pain points in document handling, from format inconsistencies to storage solutions.
- Inconsistent formats
- Missing information
- Late submissions
- Storage issues
Manual Data Entry: Examines the time and resources spent on manual input, validation, and error correction.
- Typing errors
- Validation time
- Double-checking requirements
- Correction cycles
Client Interactions: Reviews the effectiveness of client communication channels and information exchange processes.
- Status update requests
- Revision management
- Document collection
- Information verification
🎯 Planning for Next Season
As firms evaluate their 1099 processing for the next tax season, the focus should be on identifying current system bottlenecks and technology gaps. Start by analyzing key metrics from this season and understand how these numbers reveal inefficiencies so that automation could have the most significant impact. Document your current workflow, noting every touch point from client submission to IRS filing, and identify steps that could be eliminated or automated.
The next step is evaluating technology solutions that can address these pain points while meeting compliance requirements. Look for systems that can handle multi-format document processing, automate data extraction, and provide real-time validation. Key features should include automated data entry, built-in compliance checks, and integration capabilities with your existing tax software. Consider solutions that not only solve current challenges but can scale with your firm’s growth and adapt to changing tax requirements.
While Veryfi’s AnyDocs LLM API can adapt to process any tax document, including 1099s, we understand each firm has unique requirements. Speak with our document processing experts to:
- Discuss your specific 1099 processing needs
- Learn how our flexible API can accommodate your workflow
- Explore custom blueprints and validation rules for your firm