Track1099 and Avalara: What Changed and Your Options for Next Filing Season
Avalara acquired substantially all assets of Track1099 in October 2021 and now presents the product as Avalara 1099 & W-9. In January 2026, a change to the QuickBooks Online sync disrupted 1099 workflows during filing season until Avalara reverted the update on January 13, 2026, as documented in The Woodard Report. This page lays out the verified timeline, what to check before next season, and the three realistic paths for firms deciding what to do about it.
Who this page is for
This page is for firms that used Track1099 for 1099 filing or W-9 collection and want a calm, sourced review before committing to next season. Use it to confirm what actually changed, verify your own access and workflow, and choose a path with time to test it, instead of finding out in January.
What changed: the timeline
Every item below links to the source used. Product details change, so verify current functionality against Avalara's own pages before making decisions.
-
October 1, 2021.
Avalara reported in an SEC filing that it acquired substantially all assets of Track1099 LLC. Source
-
Rebrand to Avalara 1099 & W-9.
The product is now presented under the Avalara name, with product, support, and documentation now presented through Avalara and Track1099 surfaces. Source
-
Sign-in security change.
Two-step verification requires an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator. Avalara's FAQ states that email and SMS verification are not offered. Firms with shared logins or staff turnover should confirm who controls the authenticator device before January. Source
-
QuickBooks Desktop direct import discontinued.
Avalara's FAQ states direct import from QuickBooks Desktop is no longer supported and describes a CSV export workaround. QuickBooks Online import is supported, one form and one box per import. Source
-
January 2, 2026.
A detailed practitioner account in The Woodard Report describes discovering that programming changes intended to remove Track1099's double-sync process had disrupted QuickBooks Online account mapping at the start of filing season, with mapped 1099 accounts failing to carry over and support tickets receiving templated FAQ responses. Source
-
January 13, 2026.
The same account reports that Avalara reverted to the prior version of the tool, restoring the dual sync option, after which filings completed normally. Source
What this means for your firm
For the workflow described in the Woodard Report, the reversion resolved the issue. The January 2026 episode still exposed a real operational risk: a workflow your firm relies on for roughly one month a year changed during that month, and the fix depended on the vendor's timeline rather than yours. The lesson is about timing, whichever product you use. Verify your January workflow in October or November with sample data, while there is still time to adjust, rather than discovering a change on January 2.
Option 1: Stay on Avalara 1099 & W-9 and verify early
Staying is a reasonable path, especially for firms with deep filing history in the system. De-risk it: confirm every user can sign in under the authenticator-app requirement, run a QuickBooks Online sync test with sample data in the fall, confirm your export access works, and identify your support path before the rush. Review current pricing and terms against your contract.
Option 2: Move to a different filing suite
If the episode ended your firm's confidence, compare replacements on the jobs that matter rather than feature lists. Our comparison guide covers the evaluation checklist. Apply the same fall verification discipline to any new platform, since switching in December trades one risk for another.
Track1099 alternativesOption 3: Decouple W-9 collection from filing
The W-9 chase and the January filing are separate jobs, and they do not have to live in the same system. Firms can run W-9 collection and vendor readiness in a focused tool during the fall, then hand a clean, reviewed vendor file to whichever filing process they choose in January. This is the job W9Finder is built for: CSV vendor import, missing W-9 detection, secure request links, upload review, and clean exports. W9Finder does not do e-filing or IRS TIN Matching, so it pairs with a filing choice rather than replacing one.
| Step | What to verify | W9Finder path |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory | Every client, vendor, active request, and export your firm relies on. | Run the scanner on a vendor CSV to see the readiness gaps first. |
| Data access | CSV exports and document access from your current system work today. | Import vendor CSVs into W9Finder for readiness review. |
| Request continuity | Which vendors have active, canceled, or submitted W-9 requests. | Send fresh request links when your firm restarts outreach. |
| Security review | Private document handling, staff permissions, and login access under current 2FA rules. | Owner controls, private storage, and reviewed exports in W9Finder. |
| Timing | Whether to test a new workflow now or after the rush. | Test with fake or approved sample data first, then move client work. |
Questions for the internal owner
- Can your firm export the vendor fields and request history it needs, today, without a support ticket?
- Who controls the authenticator device for each login your team uses?
- Which client workflows depend on filing features that a W-9 collection tool does not provide?
- Who owns billing, staff access, and final approval for any full-TIN export?
Next step
Scan your vendor list. Run the free Vendor Readiness Scanner to see which vendors are missing W-9s before you decide anything else.
Free QA tool
Scan your vendor list for W-9 gaps
Use the Vendor Readiness Scanner to spot missing W-9s, incomplete vendor details, and records that need review before your firm starts cleanup work.
Scanner output
FAQ
What changed with Track1099 and Avalara?
Avalara acquired Track1099's assets in October 2021 and rebranded the product as Avalara 1099 & W-9. In January 2026, a sync change disrupted QuickBooks Online 1099 workflows during filing season, and Avalara reverted to the prior version on January 13, 2026, per a firsthand account in The Woodard Report.
Does Avalara 1099 & W-9 still work with QuickBooks?
Per Avalara's FAQ, QuickBooks Online import is supported, one form and one box per import. Direct import from QuickBooks Desktop is no longer supported, and Avalara describes a CSV export workaround. Verify current behavior against Avalara's documentation before filing season.
What should be exported first?
Vendor records, W-9 status, request history, and any reports your firm depends on. Keep copies in storage your firm controls before making any platform decision.
Can W9Finder import every Track1099 field?
This page does not promise field parity. The W9Finder path is CSV import for vendor readiness and W-9 cleanup, with the filing side of the job staying in whatever platform your firm chooses.
Should firms change W-9 workflows during filing season?
Avoid rushed process changes when deadlines are close. Verify or switch in the fall, test with fake or low-risk data first, and move real client workflows only after your team has reviewed the results.