IP 2001(21)

Annual Wage Information on Magnetic Media

This publication has been superseded by IP 2002(19)

This booklet contains specifications and instructions for reporting W-2 information to the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) on magnetic media. DRS only accepts W-2 filings on 1/2" magnetic tape, 3480 cartridges, and 3 1/2" diskettes.

There is one format for tape, cartridge, and diskette reporting. This format must be used by employers filing annual W-2 information for Connecticut residents and employees working in Connecticut.

Magnetic Media Reporting Requirements

An employer who is required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to file copies of federal W-2 forms on magnetic media must file these forms on magnetic media with DRS. However, an employer who files 24 or fewer W-2 forms with DRS is excused from filing that particular type of informational return on magnetic media. An employer may choose to file 24 or fewer
W-2 forms on magnetic media.

For W-2 reporting, the IRS and DRS regard each Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) as a separate employer.

DRS prefers, but does not require, one filing for each FEIN. However, if your company has multiple locations or payroll systems that use the same FEIN, you may submit more than one filing with the same FEIN. Do not submit duplicates.

DRS has no application or authorization procedure and does not assign submitter control codes for W-2 magnetic media filing.

DRS W-2 magnetic media formats have fields for reporting annual wage and tax data. (See State Record in Section II.)

Filing Deadlines

W-2 files are due the last day of February even if the deadline for federal purposes is the last day of March because the information is being transmitted electronically. If the last day of February falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the next business day is the due date.

Extension of Filing Deadline and Waiver of Filing on Magnetic Media

Taxpayers can use certain private delivery services (PDS), in addition to the U.S. Postal Service, for delivering returns, claims, statements or other documents, or payments, and meet the timely filed and timely payment rules. Not all services provided by these designated PDS qualify. The following are the designated PDS and qualifying types of service at the time of publication:

Airborne Express (Airborne)

• Overnight Air Express Service
• Next Afternoon Service
• Second Day Service

DHL Worldwide Express (DHL)

• DHL "Same Day" Service
• DHL USA Overnight

Federal Express (FedEX)

• FedEx Priority Overnight
• FedEx Standard Overnight
• FedEx 2Day

United Parcel Service (UPS)

• UPS Next Day Air
• UPS Next Day Air Saver
• UPS 2nd Day Air
• UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.
• UPS Worldwide Express Plus
• UPS Worldwide Express

This list is subject to change. To verify the names of designated PDSs and qualifying types of service, check the DRS Web site or call DRS. For more information, see Special Notice 99(14), Designated Private Delivery Services, and Announcement 2001(9), Designated Private Delivery Services and Designated Types of Services.

Extension of Filing Deadline and Waiver of Filing on Magnetic Media

An employer may request an extension of time to file W-2 information on magnetic media. To request an extension, the employer must complete and submit Form CT-8809, Request for Extension of Time to File Informational Returns, to DRS on or before the due date of the W-2 magnetic media filing. This form is included in this booklet.

DRS may waive the magnetic media reporting requirement for an employer if hardship is shown by the employer. To request a waiver, the employer must complete and submit Form CT-8508, Request for Waiver From Filing Informational Returns on Magnetic Media, to DRS. This form is included in this booklet.

Penalties for Late Filing

The penalty for filing Form CT-W3, 2001 Connecticut Annual Reconciliation of Withholding, late is $50. Additionally, a penalty of $5 per statement (up to a total of $2,000 per calendar year) is imposed on employers who fail to provide copies of federal W-2 forms to DRS. Any employer required to file federal W-2 forms on magnetic media with DRS will be subject to penalties if the employer files using paper forms without obtaining a waiver.

Processing Information and Employer Retention Responsibilities

If DRS is unable to process a file, the file will be returned to the submitter along with an explanation of the problems that were encountered.

DRS does not provide notification when files are processed or return processed magnetic media.

DRS requires employers to retain a copy of their W-2 data, or to be able to reconstruct the data, for at least four (4) years after the due date.

Test Files

DRS does not accept or process test files.

Corrections

DRS does not accept magnetic filing of federal Form W-2c. If there is an error in your magnetic media or W-2 information, correct the file and replace the entire file. Complete Form CT-6559, Submitter Report for Fom W-2 Magnetic Media Filing, and check the box indicating that it is a replacement file. This form is included in this booklet.

Submittal Forms

Form CT-6559 and Form CT-6559A, Continuation Sheet for Form CT-6559, (if applicable) for each submitter, and Form CT-W3 for each employer must accompany a magnetic media file. Use the forms provided in this booklet or Form CT-W3 included in the State of Connecticut Employer Withholding Remittance Coupon Book. These forms may be photocopied or computer-generated, provided the declaration is included on Form CT-6559. Complete the forms and submit them with a magnetic media file according to the instructions on Form CT-6559. Boxes 4 and 5 on Form CT-6559 must agree with the information in the Code RA record.

Use Form CT-6559 to identify the submitter of a magnetic media file and to identify the employer(s) included on the magnetic media files. Be sure to provide the submitter’s FEIN and the name and telephone number of a contact person. This form must accompany every magnetic media file that is sent to DRS.

Use of Agent

Employers who use a service to submit magnetic media filing are responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of their own W-2 informational returns. If a submitter fails to meet the magnetic media filing requirements, the employer is liable for any penalties imposed by DRS.

Multiple Employer/Multiple Filings

DRS urges submitters of W-2 information to minimize the number of diskettes and the number of files they submit when reporting data for multiple employers or for multiple work sites of a single employer.

See Section VI for examples of how information from multiple employers or multiple work sites can be placed on a single diskette or in one file.

Use of Paper Forms

Employers whose wage and tax data is submitted on magnetic media must not send the same data to DRS on paper W-2 "Copy 1" forms.

A penalty may apply if you file paper federal W-2 forms when your wage and tax data should be filed on magnetic media.

TIB-4 Filers

DRS is accepting the TIB-4 format for tax year 2001. This will be the last year DRS accepts the TIB-4 format. See last year's publication, IP 2000(16), 2000 Connecticut Magnetic Media Filing Requirements for Federal Form W-2, for filing requirements and instructions.

Be sure to:

• Change the year on your file to 2001 and only include income earned in 2001; and
• Indicate on the external magnetic media label that the format is TIB-4.

II.  DATA RECORD DESCRIPTIONS

The following is a description of the data records that are used to create a magnetic media W-2 file. Use the information provided below as well as the list of technical requirements and specifications in the other sections of this publication to prepare W-2 filings on magnetic media. See Section VI for examples of proper record sequence. See Appendix D for a chart which compares the data on the magnetic media records to the data on the paper W-2.

Only UPPERCASE LETTERS are acceptable on a magnetic media file.

Submitter Record

Code RA (TAPE/CARTRIDGE/DISKETTE)

The code RA record identifies the organization submitting the file.

The code RA record must be the first data record on each file.

Employer Record

Code RE (TAPE/CARTRIDGE/DISKETTE)

The code RE record identifies an employer whose employee wage and tax information is being reported. Generate a new code RE record each time it is necessary to change the information in any field on this record.

Do not create a code RE record for an employer that does not have at least one employee (code RS record) with Connecticut monies to report.

If a submission containing multiple employer filings (more than one code RE record on a submission) is returned for correction, make the necessary correction(s) and return the entire submission to DRS.

State Record

The fields within this record must contain Connecticut sourced income only.

Code RS (TAPE/CARTRIDGE/DISKETTE)

The code RS record must be used to report Connecticut W-2 information.

Money Amounts

• All money fields are strictly numeric. They must include both dollars and cents with the decimal point assumed. Do not round to the nearest dollar (Example: $5,500.99 = 0550099). Do not use any punctuation in money fields.

• Do not sign money fields.

• Negative money amounts are not allowed.

Do not indicate deceased employees.

Punctuation may be used when appropriate. Do not include titles in the name. Enter titles in the "Title Field." A hyphen is entered as a character.

Do not use the tilde (~) over the n in Spanish names. Please substitute ñ’s with plain n. DRS computers consider the tilde to be a special character and convert it to an ampersand, which prevents the posting of Social Security wages to the worker’s record.

Total Record

Code RT (TAPE/CARTRIDGE/DISKETTE)

The code RT record contains the totals for all code RS records reported since the last code RE record.

A code RT record must be generated for each code RE record.

Right justify and zero fill all money fields. Enter zeros in a money field that is not applicable.

Final Record

Code RF (TAPE/CARTRIDGE/DISKETTE)

The code RF record indicates the end of the file and must be the last record on each file. The code RF record must appear only once on each file. DRS does not process any data recorded after the code RF record.

Right justify and zero fill all money fields. Enter zeros in a money field that is not applicable.

III.  MAGNETIC TAPE/CARTRIDGE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR W-2

Basic Requirements

Data must be written on 1/2" magnetic tape, in the unpacked mode. Only tape reels and 3480, 18 track cartridges are accepted (no 36 track cartridges). DRS does not accept 3490 cartridges at this time.

Previously used tapes must be degaussed, erased, and reformatted before used to submit W-2 information.

DRS does not accept multiple tape or multiple cartridge files. Each tape or cartridge must be a separate file; for example, it must start with a code RA record and end with a code RF record. (See Section VI.)

Tape Density

The acceptable recording densities for a tape reel are: 800, 1600, or 6250 bytes per inch (BPI). DRS prefers tape reels recorded at 6250 BPI. The default density for 3480 cartridges is 38000 characters per inch (CPI).

DRS does not accept backup files, compressed, zip, or Excel files.

DRS requires each file to contain data for one calendar year only. A tape or cartridge containing data for multiple calendar years will be rejected.

Internal Labels

DRS accepts a labeled magnetic tape/cartridge file in accordance with the following guidelines. Labels must not contain security encoded bytes. If your system cannot produce the following labels; send a no-label tape/cartridge file, for example, a tape/cartridge file with data records only.

1. DRS accepts tapes/cartridges with IBM OS/VS STANDARD header and trailer labels OR tapes/cartridges with no internal labels.

2. Submitters that cannot produce IBM OS/VS STANDARD internal labels or no-label tapes/cartridges may use other labels, as described below.

A tapemark is a one-character physical record. As used on magnetic tape/cartridge, it separates data from internal labels and one data file from another data file. It also indicates end-of-reel.

The hexadecimal value for a tapemark is 13. The decimal value for a tapemark is 19. The octal value for a tapemark is 23.

Never begin a magnetic tape or cartridge with a tapemark; doing so signals end-of-reel to DRS’ system and causes processing to terminate.

Separate data from internal labels with ONE (1) tapemark.

Indicate end-of-reel with TWO (2) tapemarks, as follows:

Character Sets

DRS will accept American Standard Code Information Interchange (ASCII) and Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC). DRS prefers magnetic tape/cartridge recorded in EBCDIC.

Only UPPERCASE LETTERS are acceptable on a magnetic tape/cartridge file.

Record Length

Each record must be a uniform length of 512 characters.

Block Size

The block size must be a multiple of the record length (for example, block size of 23040 contains 45 records of 512 characters per block, or 512 x 45 = 23040).

External Labels

Affix an external label to each tape/cartridge. See label instructions in Appendix A.

IV.  DISKETTE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR W-2

General Requirements

DRS accepts W-2 information recorded only on 3 1/2" MS-DOS compatible diskettes. Data must be recorded in ASCII or EBCDIC character set for MS-DOS 3 1/2" diskettes. See Section VI for examples of proper record order.

All diskettes should be virus scanned before submission to DRS. If DRS detects a virus, the diskette(s) will be returned unprocessed.

DRS does not accept backup, compressed, zip, or Excel files.

If a diskette was used previously for other data, reformat it before using it for a W-2 submittal. Do not make it a bootable disk.

Each file must contain W-2 information for a single calendar year only. Include only one file name per diskette. DRS prefers the name to be CTTAX01. A file containing data for multiple calendar years will be rejected.

Multiple Volume Diskette Files

A multiple volume diskette file is a file for which the number of data records exceeds the capacity of a single diskette, so the data must be continued onto one or more subsequent diskettes (for example, volumes).

Only Volume 1 of a multiple volume diskette file should begin with a code RA record. Each volume after Volume 1 should begin with the record which properly follows the last record on the preceding volume. For example, if Volume 1 ends with a code RS record, Volume 2 begins with the related code RS record. Only the last volume should end with the code RF record. No other volume should contain a code RF record.

External Labels

The external diskette labels for a multiple volume file must indicate the proper sequence for processing. For example, Volume 1 of a 2 volume file would be labeled "VOL 1 of 2;" Volume 2 would be labeled "VOL 2 of 2." DRS will reject and return multiple volume files not indicating the proper volume sequence on the external labels.

Affix an external label to each diskette. See Appendix A.

Requirements for MS-DOS 3 1/2" Diskettes

Operating System: DRS requires all 3 1/2" diskettes to be created using an MS-DOS "double density" or "high density" operating system format.

DRS will reject and return any diskettes that are not MS-DOS compatible. If you do not have an MS-DOS operating system, you may still be able to create a MS-DOS compatible diskette file.

Some operating systems, for example, UNIX, XENIX, and APPLE, may have a DOS shell that can be used to create this file. For UNIX/XENIX based systems use DOSCP command to create an MS/DOS compatible file. Check your operating system manual.

A diskette must not contain more than one file. If more than one file of W-2 information is being submitted, each file must be placed on a separate diskette.

Submitters of W-2 information for multiple employers can avoid creating a separate file and a separate diskette for each employer. Review Section VI, Example 2, to see how multiple employers can be combined into one file.

DRS does not recommend using record delimiters. If record delimiters must be used, they must follow the last character of each record except the code RF record. (See 6, below.)

Files sent on MS-DOS 3 1/2" double-sided diskettes must be formatted to the following densities:

3 1/2" high density 1.44 megabytes; or 3 1/2" double density 720 kilobytes.

Do not compress data.

DRS will reject and return files formatted at a density other than specified above.

Using Record Delimiters: DRS prefers files without record delimiters. If record delimiters must be used, the following additional requirements apply for W-2 information reported using a sequential file.

• Each record in the file must be followed by a record delimiter except the code RF record. (See 6c, below.)
• The record delimiter must consist of two characters and those two characters must be carriage return and line feed (CR/LF).
• There must be no CR/LF after the code RF record. Also, for multi-volume diskette files, there must be no CR/LF after the last record on each diskette.
• Do not place a record delimiter before the first record of the file.
• Do not place more than one record delimiter, for example, more than one carriage-return/line feed combination, following a record.
• Do not place record delimiters after a field within a record.

V. PROGRAMMER’S CHECKLIST

General Information:

You must follow the Connecticut specifications for record layouts.

DRS does not accept magnetic filing of federal Form W-2c. If there is an error in your magnetic media or W-2 information, correct the file and replace the entire file.

Do not compress data. DRS will not accept backup files, zip files, or compressed data.

Tape/Cartridge Media:

The file must not be password protected or contain any security bytes in header labels.

Create a tape/cartridge file using block size, internal label, and character set requirements specified in Section III.

Diskette Media:

• All diskettes should be virus-scanned before submission to DRS.
• ASCII or EBCDIC character set on 3 1/2" diskette.
• Do not compress data. DRS will not accept backup files, compressed, zip, or Excel files.
• If more than one diskette is needed for one file, number the diskettes in the order in which they must be run ("Vol 1 of __, " "Vol 2 of __, " and so on) on the external labels. Make sure that the first record on each succeeding diskette logically follows the last record of the prior diskette.
• Include only one file name per diskette (for example, CTTAX01)

Payment (Calendar) Year:

• Remember to change the calendar year in the Code A, B, and E records each year the program is run.
         (The calendar year = the year on the employees’ W-2 copies.)
• Include only one calendar year per tape, cartridge, or diskette file.

Proper Order of Records for Files with More Than One Employer:

• If a file contains information for more than one employer, there must be no Code A, B, or F record(s) or tape marks between employers.
• Make sure that there are employee Code S records following each Code E record. Delete any Code E record (and do not write a Code T record) for an employer that has no employees to report for the calendar year.

Money Amounts:

• Negative money amounts must not be included in money fields under any circumstances.
• Money fields which are not applicable to your company should be zero filled.
• Report money amounts in dollars and cents without a decimal or dollar sign.
• Money amounts must be in the exact field positions prescribed in the instructions, right justified and zero filled.
• Do not sign money fields.

Code RA - Submitter Record:

• The code RA record appears only once and must be the first data record of a magnetic media file. There must be no Code RA record elsewhere on a file. See examples in Section VI.
• The Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) field contains nine (9) numeric characters (no hyphens or alphabetic characters). This should be the FEIN of the entity that submits (completes Form CT-6559 submittal documents and mails) the file to DRS. The submitter may be, but need not be, one of the employers in the file.
• Address data must be current and in the exact locations specified.
• Submitter information on submittal documents accompanying the file must agree with information in the code RA "Submitter" Record. The preparer of the tape, cartridge, or diskette should print out a report which shows the information in the code RA record. Whoever mails the report should use the printout when completing submittal documents.

Code RE - Employer Record:

• Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN): The FEIN field contains nine (9) numeric characters (no hyphens or alphabetic characters) identifying the employer. (Code E record FEIN(s) may be the same as, or may be different than, the transmitter’s FEIN in the Code A and B records because the transmitter and the employer(s) may be different companies.)

Code RS - State Record:

• Social Security Number (SSN): The SSN field contains nine (9) numeric characters, no hyphens. The first digit of an SSN must not be an "8" or a "9". If an SSN is all zeros you must enter an "I" in the first position and fill the rest of the field with blanks.
• Name Format: Use the fields as defined in the layout.

Code RT - Total Record:

• Every code RE record must have a corresponding code RT record after all employees have been listed for the employer identified in the code RE record.
• The code RT record must be the sum of the data reported in the code RS records occurring since the last code RE record. The code RT record must not contain amounts reported in previous code RT records.

Code RF - Final Record

• The code RF record must be the last data record of a magnetic media file. A code RF record must not appear between employers in files containing more than one code RE record.

VI.  EXAMPLES OF PROPER RECORD SEQUENCE FOR MAGNETIC MEDIA W-2 INFORMATIONAL RETURNS

VII.  MAGNETIC TAPE, CARTRIDGE, AND DISKETTE SPECIFICATIONS FOR W-2

Magnetic Tape/Cartridge/Diskette Data Records - General Requirements

All data records must be a fixed length of 512 bytes. Deviations from the prescribed record formats will prevent proper processing of your file by DRS. A properly composed W-2 file is comprised of the following records:

CODE RA Transmitter Record
CODE RE Employer Record
CODE RS State Record
CODE RT Total Record
CODE RF Final Record

The first two positions of each record must be one of the alphabetic codes above.

See Section VI for examples of proper record order. Any data preceding the RA identifier or which follows position 512 in the code RF record may prevent DRS from processing your media.

Address Fields

Address data (in fields named "Street Address," "City," "State," "ZIP Code," and "ZIP Code Extension") must comply with U.S. Postal Service addressing rules.

State Abbreviations

Use only a state’s two letter abbreviation. Do not use numerics or other abbreviations.

ForeignAddresses

Outside the United States, its territories and possessions, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or military post offices, use the fields:

- Foreign state or province,
- Foreign postal code, and
- Country code.

Money Fields

Money amounts must be:

- The annual figure for the payment year shown in the code RE record,
- All numerics (no dollar sign),
- Dollars and cents (but without a decimal point),
- A positive, unsigned figure (a negative amount is an impossible result in any field),
- Right justified, and
- Zero filled (for example, lead zeros, or all zeros if the amount equals zero).

Appendix A:  Instructions for Preparing an External Magnetic Media Label

Prepare a label similar to the one shown below to identify each magnetic tape, cartridge or diskette that is being submitted to DRS. Include the following information on the external label.

1. TYPE OF FILING -

Indicate the type of filing as original or replacement.

CALENDAR YEAR

- Include the calendar year for which the file is prepared. Only one year may be reported per file.

TRANSMITTER NAME -
Enter the name of the organization transmitting this file. The entry should be the same organization recorded on the Transmitter record ("A" record) of the file.

FEIN

- Enter the nine-digit Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) of the organization transmitting the file. The FEIN on the label should be the same as the FEIN recorded on the Transmitter record ("A" record) of the file.

NO. OF EMPLOYERS -
Enter the number of employers ("E" records) that are on the file.

NO. OF EMPLOYEES -

Enter the number of employees ("S" records) that are on the file.

RECORD LENGTH -
Check off the record length that was used to create the records on the file. If the tape/cartridge format was used, check off the 275 box; if the diskette format only was used, check off the 128 box.

VOL _OF_ -

For a multiple volume file, enter the sequence of each and the total number of diskettes for the file. For example, volume 1 of a 2 volume file would be labeled "VOL 1 of 2;" volume 2 would be labeled "VOL 2 of 2."

APPENDIX B:  Forms for Magnetic Media Annual Wage Reports

Submittal Forms

Create copies of the forms shown on the following pages for submitting magnetic media files of W-2 information to DRS. The submittal forms should be used as described below and on the face of Form CT-6559, Submitter Report for Form W-2 Magnetic Media Filing. DRS encourages the use of computer generated substitutes for Forms CT-6559 and CT-6559A. Include all information required on these submitter forms including the declaration, the submitter, and the employer information.

Form CT-6559

Use Form CT-6559 to identify the submitter of a magnetic media file and to identify the employer(s) included on the magnetic media files. The information on Form CT- 6559 must agree with information on your tape, cartridge, or diskette. This form must accompany every magnetic media file sent to DRS. The submitter of the file must sign the declaration.

Packaging Magnetic Tapes, Cartridges, and Diskettes for Mailing

Send the magnetic tape, cartridge, or diskette file with an external label on each volume (multiple volumes allowed for diskettes only), Form CT-6559, Form CT-6559A (if applicable), and Form CT-W3 for each employer on the file, in a single box with proper packing to prevent damage. It is not necessary to use an oversized box for a tape, cartridge, or diskette. Specially-sized boxes for magnetic tapes, cartridges, and special mailers for diskettes are available commercially. Be sure to insert each diskette into its own protective sleeve before packaging. Do not use paper clips, rubber bands, or staples on diskettes. Use disposable tape, cartridge, or diskette containers. DRS is unable to return special containers.

The following forms are attached to this publication for your convenience:

Form 6559 - Transmitter Report for W-2 Magnetic Media Filing

Form 6559A - Continuation Sheet for Form CT-6559

Form CT-8508 - Request for Waiver from Filing Informational Returns on Magnetic Media

Form CT-8809 Request for Extension of Time to File Informational Returns

Form CT-W3Connecticut Annual Reconciliation of Withholding

APPENDIX C:  Checklist for Mailing W-2 Magnetic Media

• Label the magnetic media. Make sure the external label shows "W-2" plus the tax year and the submitter's name and FEIN. (The "INV#" is optional.)
• Make a backup of the magnetic media for your files in case the package sent to DRS is lost or damaged.
• Copy the blank newly revised Form CT-6559 in Appendix E and fill in a copy for each magnetic media file or use a computer generated form with the same information. Form CT-6559 and Form CT-6559A include transmitter and employer information. Instructions are on the form. Be sure to sign and date the declaration. Keep copies of Form CT-6559 for your records.
• Use packaging that will protect the media.   
• • Tape/cartridge: Use boxes or padded bags.
  • Diskette: Use stiff mailers to prevent bending or cracking. Use one mailer per diskette.

• Ship each file separately if you submit multiple files.

• Place the following three items inside each package:
  • The labeled magnetic tape, cartridge or diskette(s);
  • A completed Form CT-6559 and Form CT-6559A (if applicable) or a computer generated facsimile; and
  • A completed Form CT-W3 for each employer reported on the magnetic media file.

APPENDIX D:  Chart to Relate Paper W-2 Entries to Magnetic Media Data Fields

W-2 WAGE AND TAX STATEMENT - COPY 1

MAGNETIC W-2

BOX 16 State wages, tips, etc.

Use code RS record, location 276-286

BOX 17 State income tax

Use code RS record, location 287-297

APPENDIX E:  Glossary

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) - One of the acceptable character sets used for electronic processing of data.

BACKUP - Store computer data in a file or files that may result in compression and usually in a proprietary format other than EBCDIC or ASCII.

BLOCK - A number of logical records grouped and written together as a single unit on a magnetic tape or cartridge.

BPI - BYTES PER INCH. The number of bytes recorded per inch on magnetic tape.

BYTE - A computer unit of measure; one byte contains eight bits and can store one character.

CHARACTER - A letter, number or punctuation symbol.

CHARACTER SET - A group of unique electronic definitions for all letters, numbers, and punctuation symbols; example: EBCDIC, ASCII.

COMPRESS - Reformat computer data in a storage or size-saving technique that results in a file having character sets other than EBCDIC or ASCII.

CPI - CHARACTERS PER INCH. The number of characters recorded per inch on cartridge.

DRS - State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services.

EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code) - One of the acceptable character sets used for electronic processing of data.

FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) - A nine digit number assigned by the IRS to an organization for federal tax reporting purposes.

FILE (Multiple tape/cartridge/Multiple Volume) - DRS cannot accept multiple tape or cartridge files. If the amount of information to be filed exceeds the capacity of a single tape or cartridge, a separate file must be submitted. However, DRS can accept a multiple volume diskette file. Each diskette in a multiple volume file must have an external label. Carefully number the diskettes in the order in which they were created (for example, "Volume__of __" on the diskette).

INTERNAL LABELS - Sets of records that precede (for example, header labels) and follow (for example, trailer labels) data records on a magnetic tape or cartridge file. See Section III.

LOGICAL RECORD - For the purpose of this booklet, any of the required or optional records defined in Sections VI and VIII (magnetic tape/cartridge/diskette and diskette specifications).

TAPEMARK - A single-character control record used for separating internal labels and files on magnetic tape or cartridge. See Section III.

TRAILER LABELS - Sets of records that follow data records on a magnetic tape/cartridge file. See Section III.

SUBMITTER - Any person or organization submitting a magnetic media file to DRS.

EFFECT ON OTHER DOCUMENTS: This Informational Publication supersedes IP 2000(16), 2000 Connecticut Magnetic Media Filing Requirements for Federal Form W-2.

EFFECT OF THIS DOCUMENT: An Informational Publication is a document that addresses frequently asked questions about a current DRS position, policy, or practice, usually in a less technical question and answer format.