CLS 5.9 includes complete support for 2008 W-2 and 1099/1098 forms, including laser-printed plain-paper and pre-printed forms, and dot-matrix pre-printed forms.  The formats of the standard (2-up) W-2, W-3, 1099, 1098 and 1096 forms are basically unchanged for 2008 (although there is a new Distribution Code "H" for the 1099-R).  However, the CLS 5.9 update is required if you plan to print submittable payroll tax forms on plain paper.

CLS 5.9 also included any required changes to the federal 940, 941, 943 and 944 forms for 2008.  A new 941 form for 2009 will be included in the March CLS 5.9 update.

In February 2009, the IRS will release a new Form 941-X (Adjusted Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund) to replace the 941c form currently used to correct mistakes on 941 forms.  New Forms 943-X and 944-X will also be released at this time.  These forms should be used to correct any mistakes found after January 1, 2009.  While the 941c form will be acceptable for the first quarter, the new forms should be much easier to use.  A CLS 5.9 update will be provided to you as soon as the new forms become available.

State unemployment wage reports (continuation sheets) have been updated as needed.  Continuation sheets for Iowa, Montana, New York and Washington have been revised.  A new format for Florida will be released for the first quarter of 2009 and will be included in the March CLS 5.9 update.  Continuation sheet formats for other states have either been approved or are awaiting approval.

CLS 5.9 also provides additional flexibility for departmental and division-level profit & loss statements.  In Master File Maintenance (MF), a "D" option placed on the gross profit account caused all departmental P&Ls to end with that account, while the company-level P&L would be "complete".  This was very useful if departments were only being used to track product-line sales, cost of sales, and gross margin, but not if you wanted some departmental or division reports to be complete, while others should end with the gross margin account.  New options let you choose how each departmental report behaves.

View the 2008 CLS Focus Newsletter

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