Maryland E-File State W-2 Not Working

Thank you for sharing details on your experience when state W-2, @sra716. I'll point you in the right direction to help you troubleshoot and e-file W-2 in a .txt file in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

First, it's essential to know that errors R200008 and R100005 are associated with the processing system used by your state agency. It indicates that a system issue or maintenance is occurring on their side, which is why you're encountering this prompt while trying to upload your W-2.

I suggest contacting the state agency for updates or solutions regarding the prompt messages. They should be able to help you navigate these errors and facilitate the e-filing of your W-2 using the .txt file format. Visit this article to help you locate your state agency's official web page: Access state agency websites for payroll.

Additionally, check out this reference to guide you in preparing your tax forms QBDT: Year-end checklist for QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.

If you have any challenges or difficulties with QuickBooks, please don't hesitate to comment below. I'm more than happy to assist you. Also, whether you're dealing with technical issues, need guidance on specific features, or require help with troubleshooting, you can always count on me to jump back in to assist. Keep safe. 

I had same error message.  I resolved by opening the W2_Txt.txt file and added the last line:

Positions 1-2      Alpha    - "RF"

Positions 3-7      Numeric - fill with blanks (space bar)

Positions 8-16    Numeric - total number of RW employee records. 

     example - [removed] for 16 employee records

Positions 17 - 512 leave blank

Save file...... I first sent it as a test and it did not come back with any errors, so I submitted as final.   

Hopefully all is good.

This info was in the MD instruction guide.  Hopefully QB will update the txt file being generated so we do not need to manually change.

What application did you open the txt file with?  When i open it with Word or Note pad it's just computer gibberish.

What application did you open the W2 file with?  I tried opening with Notepad and Word, but it's just computer gibberish.

What application did you open the W2 file with?  I tried opening with Notepad and Word, but it's just computer gibberish.

Just open it with notepad (on windows), any text editor. Add to the very last line:

RF<space><space><space><space><space><space>3<space><space><space><space><space><space><space><space>

Replace the 3 with how many employee W2 records are submitted. For me, it was 3.

Replace <space> with actual spaces.

I uploaded a test and it seemed to work.

It's 1/20/25 and QB still hasn't fixed the error for MD E-filing of W2s.  Here's the error message I keep receiving.  Seems like QB needs to add another line at the bottom of the download file. 

Hello there, Sue.

Let's work hand in hand to resolve the error you've encountered in filling your withholding form in QuickBooks.

Beforehand, may I know what specific error message pops up when electronically filling out the W-2 payroll forms? Additional details can help us get on the same page and provide an accurate resolution.

In the meantime, let's make sure you have the latest version of W2 Excel template. This will happen if you have an older version of the W-2 e-file template and newer 64-bit Excel. 

Let me show you how:

1. Go to Help and select Update QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Select Update Now, then Get Updates.
3. Close and reopen QuickBooks to install the update again.
    

Moreover, if the release number doesn’t advance, try Solution 2. 

Solution 2: End task on the following processes.

1. Close QuickBooks.
2. Right-click on the taskbar, then select Task Manager.
3. Under the details tab, look for the following background processes to select and End tasks for each.
   • QBW32.exe or QBW.exe
   • QBCFMonitorService.exe
   • qbupdate.exe
   • QBDBMgr.exe or QBDBMgrN.exe
   • QBMapi32.exe
4. Right-click on the QuickBooks shortcut and select Run as administrator.
5. Rerun the update.
    

Once done, you have to reopen QuickBooks and create the state W-2 again. From there, you can generate and electronically file your W-2 form with its updated template.

Furthermore, you may refer to this article to guide you on how to run, and generate a report with regard to the total payroll wages, taxes, deductions, and contributions: Create a payroll summary report in QuickBooks 

Lastly, you can also read this article to guide you on how to customize your payroll and employee reports in QuickBooks Desktop: Customize payroll and employee reports

Through these steps mentioned above, you'll be able to electronically file your W2 form. Also, please remember that you can always Reply to this thread if you have any further inquiries or clarification with your W-2 forms. Have a nice day.

I followed all of your advice and it still doesn't work.  Here are the error messages being generated.  Apparently the RF file is missing.  MD did change their formatting for 2024

Thank you for joining the discussion and sharing your error messages, @SueM23. Let's delve into the e-file W-2 issue and explain the error messages you've encountered.

To start, errors R200008 and R100005 are linked with the processing infrastructure of your state agency and these error codes signify that there may be technical issues or scheduled maintenance operations occurring on their end. This is why it disrupts the normal processing flow and results in the prompts you're experiencing while attempting to upload your W-2 forms.

To ensure a thorough resolution, I recommend contacting your state agency for the latest updates or solutions regarding these prompt messages. They can provide guidance on addressing these errors and help facilitate the e-filing of your W-2 using the .txt file format. You can find your state agency's official website through this resource: Access state agency websites for payroll.

In addition, you may want to explore this article for valuable insights on leveraging the year-end checklist. This resource provides detailed guidance on effectively preparing your tax forms, ensuring you meet all requirements and deadlines: Year-end checklist for QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.

The Community team is readily available to assist you with any issues related to your state W-2s in QuickBooks. If you have further questions or need additional support, please feel free to reply in the thread below. We're committed to helping you resolve these issues effectively.

This worked perfect!  Thank you for showing how it was supposed to be on the last line.  I also had to make sure the file name was W2REPORT.TXT .  Soon as I made these changes, MD accepted the upload.

Thank you for sharing.  Once I changed the file name to W2Report.TXT and did what you said by adding the last line, Maryland accepted my upload.  Thank you again.

On behalf of my colleague above, you're welcome, @sra716 and @Renee4101.

I'm glad to see that the steps worked for you. Please feel free to reach out any time you need a hand. Take care and have a wonderful day ahead! 

So it will be line 16

mine would be     RF, 3-7blank, 8-15 zeros and 16 -'6' because I have 6 records(W-2s) ? thanks

Thank you This is the fix!!!

Is QB going to fix their program or are the users supposed to add the extra line?  I pay a lot for QB and I'm getting disappointed that this has not been fixed yet.  I just did an update and there's no no release addressing the MD issue.  I'm a CPA not a programmer!

Can someone tell me how to fix the MD problem?  Where do I enter the missing information for RF?>  Does it go on the last line of the Excel worksheet that is generated through QB?  And then I need to go through the steps to save it as a txt file?  And what are the cell number references to?

I appreciate your prompt response, Sue! I see the challenges you’re facing while attempting to file your state W-2s. Please know that I'm here to help you navigate this process. Together, we'll gather all the necessary information to ensure you can complete this task smoothly and successfully.

To assist you in locating where to enter the missing RF details and the data for cell number references, I recommend reaching out directly to your state agency. They will have the most up-to-date information and the resources you need to successfully upload your W-2s using a .txt file in the new MD Tax Connect Portal. For additional guidance, check out their official page here: State agency websites for payroll.

Moreover, I encourage you to take a look at this article for valuable insights on effectively preparing your tax forms and ensuring you meet all requirements and deadlines for your year-end tasks: Checklist for QuickBooks Desktop Payroll. You’ll find it really helpful!

I value your willingness to discuss this with us, Sue! If there’s anything else you need or other concerns about submitting state W-2s, please feel free to reply below. I'm here to support you every step of the way!

For me, did the interview and created the excel file, added . TXT and saved 

opened file in notepad scrolled to the right to the end of the bottom line which is 15 hit return and started entering on line 16

So it will be line 16

mine would be     RF, 3-7blank, 8-15 zeros and 16 -'6' because I have 6 records(W-2s) ? thanks

Hi there, Ready.

I have another way to resolve your Maryland W-2 Form filing concern. Therefore, we can perform payroll updates to your QuickBooks Desktop as these updates include the most current and accurate rates and calculations for supported state and federal tax tables, payroll tax forms, and e-file and pay options.

Here's how:

1. Go to Employees, then select Get Payroll Updates.
2. Select Download Entire Update.
3. Select Update. An informational window appears when the download is complete.

Once done, you can complete your filing in the new MD Tax Connect Portal. However, if you're still experiencing the same issue, I recommend contacting our Payroll Support Team to verify the issue thoroughly.

Furthermore, you can preview your W-2s before they’re filed with the government and sent to your employees. Afterward, you can print W-2s if you send paper copies to your employees, for your records or a W-3 to send to your accountant. 

Additionally, you can refer to this article for guidance on how to run and generate a report regarding total payroll wages, taxes, deductions, and contributions: Create a payroll summary report in QuickBooks. 

We aim to provide you with a seamless payroll experience on our platform, Ready. If you have any additional questions, I'm available to assist you.

Will someone at QB actually look at the MD file format, they made a change in december which has obviously not been fixed in qb.

Read the document!

12/06/2024 Page 7, 35, 52 • Required RF – Final Record (Same record layout as
SSA Publication No. 42-007 EFW2 Tax Year 2024)

Maryland Employer Reporting of W2s Instructions and Specifications

One method is to edit your text file in notepad++, you'll need to download that, then add the RF record to the end of the qb W2Text file.  The cell numbers are the character positions in the file.  Notepad++ will show you what the character count/position is on the line so you know how many zero fills and space to put in.  Base that on the maryland file format, RF record from the pdf, page 35

RF [removed]   <Add 496 spaces after the 1 in 61, "61" is the number of W2's I had, update for yours>

Try to upload as the Test Upload first on Md's site