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Bryan_M
QuickBooks Team

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Hi there, @chefsusie.

 

Let me clear things out. Most of the time the error you've encountered occurs when the versions of the add-in are incompatible with the newer excel.

 

I recommend contacting Microsoft Tech support because they have the complete resources to figure out the root cause of the error.

 

Additionally, I'll provide articles below for future reference: 

 

 

If you need further assistance with exporting the W-2 e-file or any related concerns, don't hesitate to reply to this post. Take care!

chefsusie
Level 2

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

so you are saying that the excel is the problem when I didn't have a problem until quickbooks

had an update?  That does not make sense.  i'm paying quickbooks to be accurate and reliable.

I cannot afford this type of issue, especially during tax season.

 

Can you recommend an alternative software to use for my payroll clients then?

Kevin_C
QuickBooks Team

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Thanks for the prompt response, chefsusie.

 

I understand that you have encountered this Compile Error in Hidden module error message after the QuickBooks update. However, as my peer mentioned above, this error usually appears when add-ins versions of office are incompatible with the Excel version.

 

That said, I encourage you to reach out to an IT specialist or technical support from Microsoft Team for further assistance with this issue if you haven't already.

 

However, if you've already reached out to them and the issue persists, I recommend contacting our Payroll Support Team. They're equipped with the necessary tools to perform a screen-sharing session to conduct further investigation into this behavior.

 

Regarding your other concern, we're unable to suggest an alternative specific software you can use for your payroll clients. Thus, I suggest looking for it outside the QuickBooks program if you need to.

 

Keep me posted if you have any other questions about filing W-2s in QuickBooks. I'll be around to assist you. Take care always.

forresty84
Level 2

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

I am having the same issue.  Have you had any luck figuring out how to fix it?  I have about 30 clients I need to file state W-2s for and like you, suddenly after the QB update I can't create the file.  Blaming Microsoft is BS!

 

CharleneMaeF
QuickBooks Team

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

I know this hasn't been an easy process for you, forresty84.

 

Let me make it up to you by making sure this gets sorted out.

 

The error message usually appears when add-ins versions of the office are incompatible with the newer Excel version. To fix this, I'd recommend downgrading Excel to the previous version. Here's how:

 

  1. Download and run the following file: https://files.xlstat.com/contents/officedeploymenttool_12130-20272.exe
  2. Then, copy/paste the following file to the location where you extracted the files in the previous step: https://files.xlstat.com/contents/Config.xml.
  3. Open a command prompt as an administrator. In order to do this, type cmd in the "start" menu, right-click cmd.exe, and click Run as administrator.
    4. Next, go to the folder where you placed the Setup.exe and Config.xml files. To do this, you need to write the following command at the command prompt:
    cd PATH TO FOLDER
    Then, you can execute the following command: setup.exe /configure Config.xml
  4. Finally, please open Microsoft Excel and go to your account to perform an update. You will then be back to the previous version.

 

Beforehand, make sur your browser is updated. If you need additional assistance with the process, you can contact an IT specialist or technical support from Microsoft Team.

 

 

Additionally, I've added added these articles that'll help you file and print your W2 forms in QuickBooks Online:

 

 

I'd appreciate your patience in getting this issue resolve. Please know that we're always here to help you out.  

LongH
Level 1

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Is problem solved?

 

forresty84
Level 2

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Yeah.... none of this actually works

 

forresty84
Level 2

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Yeah.... none of this actually works.

 

CharleneMaeF
QuickBooks Team

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

I'd appreciate you for performing the steps to get this resolved, LongH.

 

Since the issue persists, I'd recommend contacting our QuickBooks Support Team. They're equipped with tools to check the cause. It'll also allow them to submit a ticket to our engineering team to alert them about the issue if necessary.

 

Here's how:

 

  1. Go to the Help menu.
  2. Go to the Help (?) icon at the top.
  3. On the Assistant tab, click Talk to a human.
  4. Enter your concern in the Type something field, then click the send icon.
  5. Click on I still need a human.
  6. Select Get help from a human.
  7. You can either select Chat with us or Have us call you.

 

Additionally, you can check out these articles that'll help you file and print your W2 forms in QuickBooks Online:

 

 

I'd appreciate your patience in getting this issue resolved. Please know that we're always here to help you out. 

Vs Bk
Level 2

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

I'm in Nebraska and I have tried all the steps to create the State W2's, but getting error moving the data

to the spreadsheet - thus will not upload the W2's to proper txt file so I then can upload to my State

for e-file with them -  Nebraska is one state QB does not send efile to state.  I have updated my QB in all versions I use and also have most current version of payroll update, but still having problem.  I tried calling customer support, got disconnected, I will try that route again - But talking to a foreigner is so difficult and

if I can get resolved I'll share info

arlinghaus
Level 3

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

@JessT Amazing how no one from qb actually answers the questions around here but just gives sales pitches!

arlinghaus
Level 3

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

State E-Files don't include local income tax for some reason.... so it won't work. Shouldn't QuickBooks know this?

Daniela_A
QuickBooks Team

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Thanks for getting in touch with us, @arlinghaus.

 

I suggest contacting your state agency for guidance since local tax is not listed on your State E-filing for W-2. If not, get in touch with our payroll support team directly. They might also offer additional information on how to handle this. Here's how:

 

  1. Open QuickBooks.
  2. Proceed to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
  3. Click  Contact Us.
  4. Give a brief description of your issue, then select Continue.
  5. Sign in to your Intuit account and select Continue and then Continue with my account.
  6. We'll email you a single-use code. Enter your code and select Continue.
  7. If you have more than one account, select the account you want to use and then Continue.
  8. Choose to Chat with us or Have us call you.

 

You'll want to browse this articles that can help you in filing W-2 forms in QBO:

 

 

Do let me know if you have any more questions about the process. I'm here to assist you anytime. Have a good one!

HeidiK2
Level 2

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

I am having the same error message when trying to create State W2 file. Had no issues last week so it definitely started to come up after the last update to Quickbooks. I hope it gets fixed before the deadline. There is no way I can manually enter 250+ w2s. 

JessT
Moderator

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Hi HeidiK2,

 

I understand that you have many employees, and manually filing their W-2s is a hassle. I also acknowledge that you haven't changed anything in QuickBooks and only encountered the issue after the update.

 

If you haven't already, you can update QuickBooks again but check Reset Update to start fresh. However, if this doesn't resolve the issue, you will want to contact our QBDT Payroll Support to investigate this further using more tools.

 

Update QuickBooks:

 

  1. Go to Help and select Update QuickBooks Desktop.
  2. Go to Update Now. Select the Reset Update checkbox to clear all previous update downloads.
  3. Click Get Updates to start the download.
  4. When the download finishes, restart QuickBooks.
  5. When prompted, accept the option to install the new release.

 

Contact QBDT Payroll Support:

 

  1. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
  2. Select Contact Us.
  3. Give a brief description of your issue, then select Continue.
  4. Sign in to your Intuit account and select Continue and then Continue with my account.
  5. We'll email you a single-use code. Enter your code and select Continue.
    • If you have more than one account, select the account you want to use and then Continue.
  6. Select to chat with us or Have us call you.

 

You can always go back to this thread if you have additional questions about your W-2. Take care and have a good weekend.

rdorton
Level 1

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

hello,

I did the list , then it is asking to put in a line 512 characters, how do i do that? This is for the City of Kansas City, MO.

Ronda

JessT
Moderator

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Thank you for joining the conversation, Ronda.

 

The steps are slightly different for Missouri, so you wouldn't want to follow the instructions that involve a list. Please refer to this article instead: File your state W-2s with Quickbooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced. Step 1 is to generate the file and Step 2 is to find your agency's website.

 

If you have any additional questions about creating state W-2s, please comment below.

Makon2
Level 1

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

The problem is I want to create all employees W2 for prior year 2021 in EFW2 for submission to SSA.

 

IBP23
Level 1

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Did you get your W2 EFW2 done? I am just trying to figure that out. Can you help?

 

BrandonK1
Level 1

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

I am doing something similar but with Kansas City, MO. I get the Excel sheet open and see federal and state info, but it doesn't show any City tax information. If I submit this to Kansas City, they won't know how much city tax was withheld. Can I just manually add the city info to the excel sheet before I click "Start Interview"? 

Rea_M
Moderator

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

You don't have to manually add the city information to the Excel sheet before clicking the Start Interview option while creating your W-2s in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) Payroll, BrandonK1. I'll provide more details about this so you can prepare and file your payroll forms accordingly.

 

W-2s are generated based on your payroll setup. From your description, you may have overlooked setting up a particular city tax item for Kansas. As a result, the form doesn't display any data for it. To do so, here's how:

 

  1. Go to Lists, then Payroll Item List.
  2. Select the Payroll Item dropdown, then New.
  3. Click Custom Setup.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. 

 

After that, make the required adjustments to correct your payroll tax return. Then, file your state W-2s with QBDT Payroll.

 

Once everything is all set, you may want to check out this article to further guide you in preparing your tax forms in QBDT Payroll: Year-end checklist for QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.

 

Please let us know in the comments if you have other payroll and Form W-2 concerns or questions about federal and state taxes in QBDT Payroll. We'll get back to you right away to assist you further. 

Saphire605
Level 3

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Were you able to get this resolved?

Saphire605
Level 3

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Were you able to get this resolved? Running into the same issue

ShyMae
QuickBooks Team

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

Hi there, Saphire605. I understand the importance of accurate information when filing W-2 forms.

 

Before anything else, is your state the same as BrandonK1? If you haven't created a specific city tax item for Kansas, the form won't display any data, as mentioned by my colleague. 

 

To create a city tax item for Kansas:

 

  1. Hover to Lists, then Payroll Item List.
  2. Select the Payroll Item dropdown, then New.
  3. Click Custom Setup.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. 

 

Once done, make the required adjustments to correct your payroll tax return. Additionally, you can run a payroll summary to check if there's a deduction with the item.

 

 

On the other hand, if you are in a different state, you will still need to set up a tax item. However, the requirements for filing W2s will depend on the specific state. 

 

For more information, check out this article: File your state W-2s with QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced.

 

Meanwhile, if you discover an error in your W-2s after filing, refer to this article for guidance on how to correct it: Fix an incorrect W-2 and W-3

 

Moreover, you can read the year-end checklist to wrap up this year's payroll. It includes essential tasks such as processing employee bonuses, preparing W-2 and 1099 forms, and verifying year-to-date totals for each employee.

 

Tap the reply button below for inquiries or concerns about W2 forms. I will do my utmost to provide you with guidance and support. 

Native Earth
Level 1

How can I get my W-2s into EFW2 format?

We are in the state of Colorado.  I had the same question as above.  Also QB desktop and Enhanced payroll.  This process lauches Microsoft excel with macros.  The prompts go along just as described until it gets to the "Start interview" part.  It just closes out and doesn't come back up.  What am I doing wrong?  

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