If your business pays independent contractors, attorneys or landlords, the way you file information returns with the IRS is about to change. The IRS has confirmed that its long-running FIRE system (Filing Information Returns Electronically) is being retired, and that starting in January 2027 the Information Returns Intake System, known as IRIS, will be the only IRS electronic filing system for information returns.
Here is what South Florida business owners should know before the 2027 filing season.
Key dates announced by the IRS
November 9, 2026: Last day to make changes to FIRE applications for Transmitter Control Codes (TCCs).
November 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET: Last day to file information returns through FIRE.
January 2027: IRIS becomes the only IRS e-file system for information returns, including current-year returns, prior-year returns and corrections.
If you or your payroll or bookkeeping provider used FIRE in the past, now is the time to confirm how your Forms 1099 will be filed next year.
The free IRIS Taxpayer Portal
For businesses that file their own forms, the IRS offers a free, web-based IRIS Taxpayer Portal. According to the IRS, it lets you e-file up to 100 returns at a time, enter data manually or upload a .csv file, and download payee copies to distribute.
To use the portal, you need an IRIS Transmitter Control Code, which is separate from any FIRE code. The IRS advises allowing up to 45 calendar days for the application to be processed, so applying in November or early December is a practical step.
Keep in mind that e-filing is not optional for most businesses. If you file 10 or more information returns in total (Forms W-2 count toward that number), you must file them electronically.
The Form 1099-NEC threshold is now $2,000
There is also good news on volume. For payments made in 2026, the reporting threshold for Form 1099-NEC (nonemployee compensation) rises from $600 to $2,000. The IRS notes that the threshold will be adjusted for inflation for payments made after 2026. One exception to watch: if you applied backup withholding to a payment, you must still file Form 1099-NEC regardless of the amount.
The IRS has also added new boxes to Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC to report cash tips and overtime compensation, so businesses in hospitality and service industries should review the updated instructions.
The deadline does not move
Form 1099-NEC is generally due to the IRS by January 31. Because January 31, 2027 falls on a Sunday, the IRS rule for weekend due dates moves it to the next business day, Monday, February 1, 2027.
A simple year-end checklist
Confirm who will file your 2026 Forms 1099 and through which system.
If you file yourself, apply for an IRIS TCC now.
Collect a current Form W-9 from every contractor you paid in 2026.
Review 2026 payments against the new $2,000 threshold.
Keep your records organized so January is not a scramble.
Questions about how these changes apply to your business? The team at Caraballo CPA in Doral is available to help you prepare for the 2027 filing season. Call (305) 897-2220 or visit our office at 8325 NW 53rd St.
Sources
IRS e-News for Tax Professionals, Issue 2026-43 (Oct. 29, 2026), "Upcoming FIRE system deadlines"
IRS QuickAlert (Oct. 20, 2026), "30 Days Until FIRE System Retirement"
IRS Publication 5717, IRIS Taxpayer Portal User Guide (TCC processing time)
IRS, Am I required to file a Form 1099 or other information return?
IRS Instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC (Rev. December 2026)
