Employers MUST submit Form 1096 with all of the following paper forms EXCEPT:

Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns, is used to transmit paper information returns to the IRS. It serves as a cover sheet that summarizes the totals from various forms, including the 1098 series, the 1099 series (such as 1099-MISC and 1099-R), and Form W-2G. However, Form 1042-T (Option A) is a separate transmittal form specifically used for Form 1042-S, which reports income paid to foreign persons. These forms are governed by different sections of the Internal Revenue Code (Chapters 3 and 4) and are processed through different IRS channels. Form 1096 is only required for paper filings; if an employer files information returns electronically, Form 1096 is not used. Payroll professionals must ensure that for every batch of paper 1099s or 1098s sent to the IRS, a correctly calculated Form 1096 is attached to ensure accurate processing.