FIRE to IRIS conversion

FIRE and IRIS take different files. FIRE takes one fixed-width text file built to Publication 1220: a T record for the transmitter, an A record per payer and form type, a B record per recipient, then C and F records. The IRIS Taxpayer Portal takes CSV files built from its own templates, one form type at a time, with names and addresses in separate columns.

Converting by hand

1. Read each B record at the Publication 1220 byte positions for its form type.
2. Map the payment amount fields (1, 2, 3 ... A, B ...) to the right IRIS template columns.
3. Split the name control and name lines into first, middle and last name or business name.
4. Split the batch into files that stay under the portal's per-file limit.
5. Check every TIN, state code and amount before upload.

That is a day's work for a few hundred forms, and a mistake shows up only as a rejected upload.

Converting with Refile

Open your FIRE file in the converter, review the flagged records, download the IRIS CSV files, and upload them to the portal. It all runs in your browser: your tax IDs never leave your computer.