www.irs.gov/efile

e-filing

your

Form

1120

and

1120-S

U.S. Corporation 

IncomeTax Return and 

U.S. Income Tax Return 

for an S Corporation

Publication 4452 (4-2005)

Catalog Number 39735Y

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

www.irs.gov

Need More Information? ■ Publication 4163, Catalog 36165C, Modernized e-File

Information for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of 

Forms 1120/1120-S ■ Publication 3909I, Catalog Number 36361M,

Form 1120 Fact Sheet

Additional Resources and Links ■ www.irs.gov/efile Go to the Tax Professionals Page and 

click on e-Services. ■ www.aboutefile.com for additional information about 

IRS e-file

.

■ e-Help Desk 1-866-255-0654 ■ Information on electronic Corporate Returns,

visit: www.irs.gov/efile/businesses

Form 1120

(U.S. Corporation 

Income Tax Return) and

Form 1120-S

(U.S. Income Tax Return for an 

S Corporation)

Form 1120 is used to report the income, gains, losses,

deductions and credits, and income tax liability of a 

corporation. All domestic corporations (including 

corporations in bankruptcy) must file whether or not 

they have taxable income.

Form 1120-S is used to report income, deductions, gains,

losses, etc., of a domestic corporation that has elected 

to be an S Corporation by filing Form 2553, Election by a

Small Business Corporation, and whose election is in effect 

for the tax year and until terminated.

IRS e-file for Forms 1120 and 1120-S

The IRS has designed an electronic filing process for Forms

1120 and 1120-S under IRS e-file. Electronic filing for Forms

1120 and 1120-S launched in February 2004 includes file

and pay capabilities. This product has 100 relative forms and

schedules available. Form 7004, Application for Automatic

Extension of Time to File Corporation Income Tax Return and three

other forms were added for Tax Year 2004. For a complete

list of forms and schedules refer to Publication 4163,

Modernized e-File Information for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of

Forms 1120/1120-S. This program provides the ability to e-file

complex, consolidated returns, including attachments and

multiple subsidiaries and foreign entities. It uses Extensible

Markup Language (XML) technology, that allows e-filed

returns to be processed as they are received rather than in

batches. Filers will receive a prompt electronic acknowledgement. The system also includes an integrated payment

option. Corporations can e-file a balance due return and, at

the same time, authorize an electronic funds transfer.

IRS e-file for 

Corporations, 

Forms 1120and 1120-S
Forms 1120 and 1120-S

Benefits of Electronic Filing

IRS e-file takes the hassle out of 

■ preparing paper returns,

■ buying stamps,

■ eliminates returns being lost in the mail, and 

■ virtually eliminates late filing fees and penalties.

It’s Convenient

■ Fast electronic acknowledgement of return receipt 

■ Easy to understand error messages in plain language 

■ Tax preparation work is automated with return preparation

software that performs calculations, and highlights needed forms

and schedules 

■ Completely paperless—corporations will have the option to

use the Practitioner PIN method or the Form 8453-C or S can be

scanned and included as a PDF attachment

■ Eliminates the duplicate filing requirements of international

Forms 5471, 5472, 5713, and 8832 to the Philadelphia Submission

Processing Center.

■ Integrated Payment Option—Owe Taxes? You can e-file a balance due return and, at the same time, authorize an electronic funds

withdrawal from your bank account. Payments are subject to limitations of the Federal Tax Deposit Rules.

Fast

■ Information is quickly available to IRS Customer Service sites 

■ Quick processing time

Accurate

■ Fewer risks of transcription errors

■ High accuracy rates

Safe

■ Tax information is secure 

■ Only authorized users have access to the system

■ Corporate filers will have the option of filing their returns 

directly with the IRS via the Internet.

Who Can Participate 

Any business taxpayer who files Form 1120/1120-S may e-file 

their return through an Authorized IRS e-file Provider. A listing of

1120/1120-S e-file Approved Providers is available at www.irs.gov/efile.

Additional providers will be added as they become available.

How to Participate

Tax professionals who plan to file Forms 1120 and 1120-S electronically

must submit a new or revised electronic IRS e-file application. For this

one-time registration process, you must apply at least 45 days before

you plan to electronically file. Log on to www.irs.gov/efile, and click on

e-Services.

If you’re a corporate filer who’d like to participate in the 1120 and

1120-S e-file program, please ensure your software has this electronic

filing capability.

Clients are encouraged to use electronic signatures to sign their individual and business tax returns. Taxpayers may authorize an Electronic

Return Originator (ERO) to enter their Personal Identification Number,

PIN, by completing Form 8879-C or S, IRS e-file Signature Authorization

for Form 1120 (1120S). Additional information is available in Publication

4163, Modernized e-File (MeF) Information for Authorized IRS e-file

Providers of Forms 1120/1120S.

New for 2005 

(Tax Year 2004 Returns)

■ Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time 

to File for Corporate Returns

■ Schedule M-3 (Form 1120), Net Income (Loss) Reconciliation 

for Corporations with Total Assets of $10 Million or More 

■ Form 8858, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect 

To Foreign Disregarded Entities

■ Schedule M (Form 8858), Transactions Between Foreign Disregarded

Entity of a Foreign Tax Owner and the Filer or Other Related Entities 

e-Services

What is e-Services?

e-Services is a suite of Web-based products that will allow tax professionals and financial institutions choices for conducting business

with the IRS. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

from any computer with an Internet connection.

Who can use e-Services?

e-Services is geared toward Tax Practitioners, Payers, State Tax

Administrations and State Unemployment Insurance Administrations.

If you are already an Electronic Return Originator (ERO), you must

register for e-Services to update or revise your e-file application to

use the e-Services products.

What are the e-Services Products?

Available Products include:

■ Registration

■ Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) Application

■ Electronic IRS e-file Application

■ Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Matching 

The following premium products are available to tax practitioners

who are active participants in the IRS e-file program and meet the

eligibility requirements:

■ Disclosure Authorization (DA)

■ Electronic Account Resolution (EAR)

■ Transcript Delivery System (TDS)

How do I sign-up for e-Services?

To register for e-Services go to www.irs.gov, IRS Keyword: e-Services,

then go to the Registration Services page. Also, view the e-Services

page for additional requirements.

Easy Payment Options

Corporate business taxpayers can e-file and pay balance due returns

electronically in a single step using one of the following options:

■ Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)

Pay all of your taxes electronically using EFTPS. Once you are enrolled,

you can pay all types of taxes year round. EFTPS is a free electronic payment option available to pay all Federal taxes electronically. Log on to

www.EFTPS.gov or call 1-800-555-4477.

■ Electronic Funds Withdrawal (EFW) 

EFW is available with balance due returns through Extensible Markup

Language (XML) technology and IRS Corporate Payment schema. A

signed authorized agreement between IRS and their Financial Agent is

needed to initiate an EFW (direct debit payment). EFW payments will be

withdrawn in a single transaction. An electronic payment record must

be included in the transmission of the corporate income tax return. To

get started, complete Forms 8453-C/8453-S or 8879-C/8879-S or 8878-A

or refer to Publication 4163 for more information on EFW and Credit

Card payments.

New Requirements 

& Coming Attractions!

■ New IRS e-file Requirements for Large Corporations and Tax

Exempt Organizations Corporations with gross assets of $50 million

or more, and tax exempt organizations with total assets of $100 million

or more, and which also file at least 250 returns a year, are required to

electronically file their returns starting in 2006 (for 2005 returns) under

new Treasury Regulations. After the first effective year, the requirement

will affect corporations and tax exempt organizations with $10 million or

more in gross assets. For more information and FAQs on the new e-file

requirements for Large Corporations and Tax Exempt Organizations, go

to www.irs.gov/businesses/corporations/index.html.

■ Fed/State Corporate e-file is scheduled for implementation in 2006.

e-file