W-3 and 1096 forms

Download and keep Form W-3 with your records.

1. Sign in to your admin profile.
2. Go to the Taxes & Compliance section and click Tax documents.
3. Click the W-2 tab.
4. Once forms are final, click Download prior year W-2s.
   • While forms are still drafts, you'll need to click Download 202X draft W-2s.
5. Select the year and then click Download.
6. Open the zip file that's downloaded and find the form titled US_W_3_ Company_name.

Note: Some states and local agencies might require an Annual Reconciliation along with Form W-2 filings—Gusto will file this if needed.

Download and keep Form 1096 with your records.

1. Sign in to your admin profile.
2. Go to the Taxes & Compliance section and click Tax documents.
3. Click the 1099 tab.
4. Once forms are final, click Download prior year 1099s, select the year, then click Download.
   • While forms are still drafts, you'll need to click Download 202X draft 1099s.
5. Open the downloaded zip file folder—the 1096 will be listed in this folder as 01_1096.pdf.
   • If you downloaded the draft 1099 forms to a zip file, the form will be listed in the folder as US_1099_ Company_name. 

For states that require a paper copy of Form 1096 be filed with state copies of Forms 1099, Gusto will file it if required.

We will not update Form W-3 or Form 1096 for any reason. 

Cover sheets Form W-3 and Form 1096 are only needed when filing paper copies of W-2s or 1099s. Since Gusto files your forms electronically, we do not file or correct these cover sheets.

This means that if there are changes or corrections to W-2s or 1099s after they've been finalized, you will not see those updates on the W-3 form you download from Gusto.