E-File Magic 2.0 Desktop FAQ

When I enter my registration details and click save, nothing happens?

If you do not receive an error message when you click the 'Save' button on the Registration screen, it's safe to assume your registration details were commited to the database. 

How do I manually add recipient records?

Manually adding recipient records is a simple process.

1) Create a new Company/Filer, by navigating to the Company/Filer screen. This company will be set as the 'Active Company'.

2) Navigate to the 'Manage Recipients' screen, by clicking on the 'Manage Recipients' item, on the left hand navigation menu.

3) Select the form you wish to create a recipient for, and click the 'New' button.

4) Enter the recipients detail in the form section below.

5) Save the recipient record, by clicking on the 'Save' button located below the 'New' button.

Your finished. You can navigate to the 'Validate Recipients' screen and check your entry for errors and/or navigate to the 'Print Recipients' screen to print your entered form. If you just want to 'Quick Print' your recipient form, you can click the 'Print Recipient Form' button, on the 'Manage Recipients' screen. The software will print 'Copy B' for the selected recipient.

 

How do I generate a 1096?

E-File Magic requires that your information is e-filed electronically with the IRS through our processing bureau. The E-File transmittal takes the place of the 1096. Thus, you are not required to submit a 1096 form to the IRS.

How does E-File Magic handle IRS Corrections?

The IRS defines corrections into two distinct categories. 1) Corrections that involve a mistake with a form amount field and/or description, etc and 2) Corrections that involve a mistake with the Recipients Name, Address, or TaxID.

Depending on the correction type that is outlined above, the IRS requires either an Identifying and Correcting transaction to be issued, or just a Correction transaction to be issued. When you click the ‘Mark Corrected' button on the ‘Manage Recipient' screen in  E-File Magic 2.0, for a record that has already been transmitted for processing, E-File Magic will review the adjustments you make and determine the appropriate transactions to issue for you. This simplifies the process of issuing corrections and helps mitigate any potential errors.

What type of envelope are the E-File Magic recipient forms designed for, and how do I fold the pages?

First, our forms have all been intentionally designed to be mailed in double windowed Number 9 (3 7/8 x 8 7x8) envelopes. If you like to purchase your office supplies from Staples, you can buy/order Item Number: 266759.

Second, we print fold lines on all recipient forms to simplify your job of folding. Simply fold using the 'Z Fold' layout and stuff in the envelopes. We also print a PostNet barcode on each recipient form to help ensure a clean and consitent mailing process with the post office.

Don't forget, for a very reasonable cost E-File Magic can print and mail your forms for you! Simply check the 'Print and Mail' check box when transmitting your order file, or select 'Y' when uploading your Excel/CSV file, and we'll take care of the rest!

Can multiple users use E-File Magic at once and if so does this cost extra?

E-File Magic is multi user aware. Select ‘Setup Multi User Environment' from the database menu and follow the on screen instructions. The E-File Magic software is free whether you use it in a multi user network environment or on a single workstation.

How can I safely generate a backup of the E-File Magic Database?

E-File Magic 2.0 includes a software feature designed to securely backup your data. You can access this feature from the ‘Database' menu, by clicking on the ‘Backup/Encrypt' database option.

In order to perform the backup, you MUST enter a password. This is required because E-File Magic will generate a backup database file that is encrypted using the NSA recommended AES algorithm. Because of this WE CANNOT HELP YOU RECOVER YOUR DATABASE IF YOU LOOSE YOUR PASSWORD! So please make sure you use a password that is easy to remember, because you will be unable to recover your data if you forget.

Once the database has been backed up, it will be located in the E-File Magic 2.0 installation directory, under the ‘Backups' folder. You can copy this file wherever you like. As long as nobody else knows your password, the information contained within the backup database should remain safe and secure.

If at some point you wish use your backup database, simple select the ‘Decrypt Backup Database' option from the ‘Database' menu and follow the onscreen directions.

How do I know you encrypt my data when I transmit it to your website?

The answer to this question is two fold:

1) As a security precaution, when you generate the order transmittal file from E-File Magic 2.0, we encrypt this data using both symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques utilizing two separate encryption algorithms. The first encryption technique utilizes key pairs. This ensures that even if our software was decompiled, it would be impossible to discover a *secret key* to unlock the transmittal data. Second, the actual bulk data is encrypted utilizing a randomly generated key, that is only known to somebody(us) that can decrypt the first message.

2) When you actually transmit the data to us, your web browser will encrypt the data transfer utilizing SSL.

We believe this multi-tiered approach helps ensure the utmost care is taken in securing your information.

You can verify that we are in fact encrypting your data by navigating to the E-File Magic installation directory, opening the ‘XMLTrans' folder, and reviewing one of the generated XML files(You must first have generated a file for transmission to us, via the Transmit screen.). You can also review a secure transmittal file example screenshot which details what an encrypted transmittal file looks like.

What is Misc. Data?

The E-File Magic software and our print/mail facilities will accept and process miscellaneous information to be printed on your recipient forms. You can customize up to 12 individual lines of data containing dates, content, and amount information. This is useful if you wish to print a history of payments, add a customized thank you note to your recipients, or input special instructions for them to follow once they’ve received your forms.

Where do I put my TCC number?

When you transmit your data to our servers, we automatically transmit that information to the IRS using OUR TCC Number. You DO NOT need a TCC Number in order to use our service.

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