At a Glance
If you are trying to log in to fire.irs.gov, the page will not load. The IRS permanently shut down the FIRE system on December 31, 2026. All electronic information return filing now goes through IRIS (Information Returns Intake System) at irs.gov/iris. If you need to file 1099s immediately, BoomTax lets you submit today — no IRIS registration or new TCC required.
This article is part of our IRS IRIS Resource Center
— your complete guide to the FIRE→IRIS migration.
Why the IRS FIRE Login Page Is Gone
If you navigated to fire.irs.gov expecting the familiar login screen, you found an error page or a redirect instead. This is not a temporary outage. The IRS permanently retired the FIRE (Filing Information Returns Electronically) system on December 31, 2026 after more than 25 years of operation.
FIRE was the IRS's primary portal for electronically filing information returns — 1099s, W-2Gs, 1098s, 5498s, and more. Transmitters would log in with their credentials, upload Publication 1220-format flat files, and receive acceptance or rejection notices. That entire system, including the login portal, is now gone. For the full timeline of how this happened, see our FIRE system sunset guide.
The replacement is IRIS (Information Returns Intake System), which the IRS launched in 2022 and has been expanding ever since. IRIS is now the only IRS platform for electronically filing information returns.
What Replaced FIRE and Where to Go
The IRS replaced FIRE with IRIS. Here is how the two systems compare at a high level:
| Feature | FIRE (Retired) | IRIS (Active) |
|---|---|---|
| Login URL | irs.gov/iris | |
| File Format | Fixed-width text (Pub 1220) | XML |
| Submission Method | File upload only | Web portal, CSV upload, A2A API |
| TCC Required? | FIRE TCC (now invalid) | IRIS TCC (new application required) |
| Authentication | FIRE credentials | IRS e-Services + ID.me |
| Status | Permanently offline | Active — sole filing channel |
For a detailed side-by-side breakdown, see our IRIS vs FIRE comparison.
Your FIRE TCC No Longer Works
If you previously held a FIRE Transmitter Control Code (TCC), it became invalid when FIRE shut down. FIRE TCCs do not automatically transfer to IRIS. If you plan to file directly with the IRS through IRIS, you must apply for a brand-new IRIS TCC.
The IRIS TCC application process includes:
- Creating or accessing your IRS e-Services account
- Completing ID.me identity verification
- Submitting the IRIS TCC application (Form 4419)
- Waiting for the IRS suitability review — typically 45+ days
If your filing deadlines are approaching and you do not have an IRIS TCC, a direct-filing approach may not be viable in time. That is where an IRS-authorized e-file provider can help. For more on TCC differences, see our IRIS vs FIRE TCC guide.
How to Register for IRIS
If you want to file directly with the IRS going forward, you need to set up IRIS access. The process involves several steps and can take weeks to complete. Our step-by-step IRIS registration guide walks through every detail, but here is the summary:
- Set up an IRS e-Services account at irs.gov if you don't already have one
- Complete ID.me verification — this is the IRS's identity proofing requirement
- Apply for an IRIS TCC through the e-Services portal
- Wait for IRS approval (45+ days for the suitability review)
- Choose your filing method — Taxpayer Portal for manual entry, CSV upload for moderate volumes, or A2A API for automated/high-volume filing
If you are a software developer or IT team building a direct integration, you will use the A2A (Application-to-Application) channel, which requires XML formatted submissions.
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The Fastest Path: File Through BoomTax Today
If you have 1099s due and cannot wait weeks for IRIS registration and TCC approval, BoomTax provides the fastest path to filing:
- No IRIS TCC needed: BoomTax is an IRS-authorized e-file provider. We maintain all required TCCs and authorizations so you don't have to.
- No new software required: Create an account, enter or upload your data, and file. That's it.
- Keep your FIRE-format files: If your systems still produce Publication 1220 flat files, upload them as-is to BoomTax. We convert them to IRIS XML and submit on your behalf automatically.
- Same-day filing: You can create an account and submit forms to the IRS the same day. No weeks-long approval process.
- All 1099 form types supported: 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-R, 1099-K, 1099-C, 1099-S, 1099-B, and more.
BoomTax handles the entire IRIS submission pipeline behind the scenes. From your perspective, nothing changed — you prepare your data the same way you always have, and BoomTax takes care of the rest.
What About My Old FIRE Account Data?
Any filing history, acceptance records, or status information that was stored in the FIRE system is no longer accessible through the FIRE portal. If you need records of prior-year submissions:
- IRS transcripts: You can request information return transcripts through other IRS channels
- Your own records: If you saved confirmation receipts or acceptance notices from FIRE, those remain valid documentation
- Service provider records: If you filed through a service bureau or software provider, contact them for historical filing records
Going forward, IRIS will be your source for filing status, acceptance/rejection notices, and submission history for all new filings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Permanently. The IRS shut down the FIRE system on December 31, 2026. The login page at fire.irs.gov is gone for good. All electronic information return filing now goes through IRIS.
No. FIRE and IRIS are completely separate systems with different authentication. IRIS uses IRS e-Services accounts with ID.me identity verification. You need to create a new IRIS account from scratch.
No. FIRE TCCs are now obsolete. You need a new IRIS-specific TCC, which requires a separate application and a 45+ day IRS suitability review. Alternatively, use an IRS-authorized provider like BoomTax and skip the TCC requirement entirely.
The fastest option is an IRS-authorized e-file provider like BoomTax. You can create an account and file the same day — no IRIS TCC application or weeks-long approval wait. If you already have FIRE-format files ready, upload them as-is and BoomTax handles the conversion and submission.
Yes. The IRS does not waive information return penalties because a filer was unaware of the FIRE shutdown. Penalties can reach $310 per form (or more for intentional disregard). File as soon as possible through IRIS or an authorized provider to minimize penalty exposure.
The FIRE portal is no longer accessible, so you cannot retrieve status information through it. For prior-year filing records, check your own saved confirmation receipts, contact your software or service provider, or request information return transcripts from the IRS through other available channels.
Next Steps
Author
Ken Ham
Founder at BoomTax
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Passionate about making tax compliance simple so businesses can focus on what matters.
BoomTax and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors prior to engaging in any transaction.
