W2 Mate review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

W2 Mate is year-end Windows software for preparing and printing W-2, W-3, 1099 and 1096 forms. It is aimed at employers, businesses, tax professionals, nonprofits and government agencies that want to manage employee and recipient records on desktop software. It supports unlimited employers, employees, payers and recipients, and can store data locally or across network machines with a paid option. The base W2 Mate Software costs $99 as a one-time purchase; additional capabilities are sold separately.

The add-ons determine whether the product fits a filing workflow. Option #4 costs $149 one time and creates W-2 electronic filing submissions for the user to upload to the SSA; the vendor does not file on the user's behalf. Option #1, at $30, enables printing Copy A and W-3 on blank paper. Option #6 costs $45 and creates password-protected PDF copies for employees and recipients. For importing, Option #3 costs $55 and supports CSV plus QuickBooks Desktop, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage Peachtree and Sage DacEasy. Option #5 adds additional 1099 and 1098 forms for $35. These are separate one-time charges, so buyers should account for needed options rather than treating them as part of the base purchase.

W2 Mate also calculates W-3 and 1096 totals automatically, supports batch printing and record updates, and can back up, restore and carry data forward from prior tax years. Its network option costs $165 one time and shares data across network machines. That mix suits desktop-centered organizations that need annual form preparation, record handling and printing, with optional imports or file generation. It is a weaker fit for teams seeking included electronic delivery, a service that submits federal filings on their behalf, or corrections within this product; the vendor lists a separate W2Correction Mate product.

W2 Mate pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Prepares W-2, W-3, 1099 and 1096 forms for unlimited employers and recipients
  • Automatically calculates W-3 and 1096 transmittal totals
  • Offers optional imports from CSV and supported accounting products
• Where it doesn't
  • W-2 e-filing files, data imports and PDF delivery cost extra
  • Federal e-filing creates a file for the user to submit to the SSA
  • Windows desktop software; corrections are not a listed capability

W2 Mate fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update