- What is an Attachment?
Attachments are files that accompany your Wisconsin e-file submission to provide required documents, forms, and additional information that the Department of Revenue needs to process your income tax return.
- Do I need an Attachment?
When filing a Form 1, Form 1NPR, or Form 2 the Department of Revenue requires you to attach a complete copy of your federal income tax return. You will receive this message when you attempt to submit a Wisconsin Form 1, Form 1NPR, or Form 2 without this attachment:
In addition to your federal return, you may attach other forms, schedules, and explanations to support your Wisconsin return. If claiming the homestead credit, we require you to attach your property tax bill or proof of rent paid, along with proof of your income.
- How do I make a file suitable for attachment?
You will need an electronic copy of your complete federal income tax return and any other attachments.
If you used software to file your federal income tax return, you should have had the option to save it in an electronic format. You will need to have this file saved to a location on your computer or to a removable storage device that is connected to your computer to attach it. The following formats are acceptable for attachment in the Wisconsin e-file application: PDF, TIF, JPG, and BMP.
If you do not have an electronic version of your federal income tax return, you can find fill-in federal forms and schedules at irs.gov. Using these fill-in forms, you can save a complete copy of your federal return as a PDF on your computer or to a removable storage device. You may then attach those PDF documents to your Wisconsin e-file submission.
If you do not have an electronic version of your federal income tax return, but you do have a paper version, you can create an electronic one by scanning your federal return into your computer then saving the return in one of the acceptable formats: PDF, TIF, JPG, or BMP.
- How do I attach my file once I have it ready?
In Adobe Reader (32-bit):
- Click the Paperclip icon
- Click "Add":
- Find your attachment in the "Add Files" window that appears
- Attach the file by:
- Double-clicking on the appropriate file; or
- Clicking the Open button in the lower right
This process may be repeated if you have more than one file to attach.
A successfully attached file will appear in the attachments pane (shown below). You may now submit your return.
- I do not see the option to add an attachment. How do I add my attachment?
If you have the 64-bit version of Adobe Reader, you will not see the option above to add an attachment. Instead, you will need to open the location of where your file is saved, then drag it from that location and drop it into the "Attachments" section of your form (shown below).
On a Mac, to make the attachments side card appear in Adobe Reader, go to the View menu and select Show/Hide. From there you need to select Side Panels and select Attachments. The attachments side card will open and the paperclip symbol will also appear at the right side of the page which will allow you to attach documents.
- Is there a size limitation for an attachment?
Yes. Attachments 16MB or larger in size are not supported, including a single attachment sized 16MB or larger. A PDF attachment is preferable since it is smaller in size. If you have an attachment that is larger than 16MB, submit it via W-RA File Transfer to attach and electronically submit your required documents.
Note: A very large attachment (generally 10MB or larger) or multiple large attachments can take a long time to transmit and there is an increased risk of errors occurring during transmission. If you do not receive a confirmation number, please resubmit your return.