Sec. 2 Connecting — Publication 4810

You must obtain a TCC before you can establish a FIRE account to transmit files through the FIRE Systems (Production and Test). The system will prompt you to create your User ID, password, 10-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) and secret phrase. Each user should create their individual FIRE account and login credentials. Multiple FIRE accounts can be created under one TCC. Refer to the FIRE webpage for additional information on account creation. The FIRE Production System and the FIRE Test System are two different sites that don’t communicate with each other. If you plan on sending a production file and a test file, you’ll need an account on each system. You must enter your TCC, EIN and Business Name exactly as it currently appears on your IR Application for TCC. Once you log in, your information will fill in automatically when you submit files.

Note: If you have a FIRE System Account (Production and Test) with an established Secret Phrase and forgot your password, you may reset your password by using your established Secret Phrase.

Uploading Files to FIRE

Filers may upload a file to the FIRE System by taking the following actions:

After logging in, go to the Main Menu
Select “Send Information Returns”
“Submit”

Verify and update company information as appropriate and/or select “Accept”.

The system will display:

Company Name
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Telephone #
Contact
E-mail Address

Select one of the following:

Original file
Replacement file
Correction file
Test File (This option will only be available on the FIRE Test System.)

Enter the 10-digit PIN
“Submit”
“Browse” to locate the file and open it
“Upload”

When the upload is complete, the screen will display the total bytes received and display the name of the file just uploaded. We recommend that you print the page for your records. If this page is not displayed on your screen, we probably did not receive the file. To verify, go to “Check File Status” option on the main menu. We received the file if the file name is displayed and the count is equal to ‘0’ and the results indicate, “Not Yet Processed.”

Checking the Status of Your File

It is the filer’s responsibility to check the status of the submitted files. If you don’t receive an email within two business days or if you receive an email indicating the file is bad:

Log back into the FIRE System
Select “Main Menu”

Select “Check File Status” – Be aware that the default selection to the File Status drop down is, “All Files.” When “All Files” is selected, a valid date range is required. The date range can’t exceed three months. During peak filing periods, the time frame for returning file results may be more than two days. Issuers/Transmitters are strongly recommended to keep a copy of FIRE System file status emails and the associated files of the information returns or be able to reconstruct the data for at least three years from the reporting due date.

File Status Results:

Good - Your Form 8955-SSA file has been accepted. IRS/TSO checks the required fields to ensure the validity of the information provided.
Good, Released with Errors - A bad file has been released. This result will be assigned when a bad file with minor errors has not been replaced within the 60-day criteria.
Bad - Click on the filename to view the error message(s). Correct the errors and timely re-file the file as the same type of file originally submitted (Original or Amended). Replacement files are not applicable to Form 8955-SSA submissions.
Not Yet Processed - The file has been received, but results aren’t available. Check back in a few days.
Superseded - This status is assigned to a bad file when it is replaced by a new submission

of the same type. The superseded status is also assigned to a good file when an amended file is filed to correct errors in the good file.