The PennZone

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - PennZone -- RAS AP Consulting, a leading AP governance and data integrity firm, today announced the launch of its 2026 Q4 AP Readiness Program, a targeted year‑end initiative designed to help organizations prepare for the IRS's permanent retirement of the FIRE system and mandatory transition to IRIS for Tax Year 2026 filings.

The firm is issuing a national compliance alert following the IRS's formal announcement that:

"November 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET: Last day to file information returns through the FIRE system." "IRIS will be the only information returns electronic filing system… after January 1, 2027." "Current FIRE users must transition to IRIS to file tax year 2026 information returns during the 2027 filing season."

With FIRE permanently shutting down, organizations face compressed timelines, new schema requirements, stricter validation rules, and mandatory IRIS TCC registration — creating immediate operational impacts for AP, procurement, and tax reporting teams.

Compliance Risks for Organizations Not Yet Preparing for IRIS

The IRS transition introduces several high‑risk conditions:

• Permanent elimination of legacy FIRE workflows
• Higher rejection rates for incomplete or inconsistent vendor master data
• New XML schema and validation rules
• Mandatory IRIS TCC registration
• Increased dependency on clean vendor records for successful submissions
• Potential penalties, late filings, and year‑end close delays

"The FIRE shutdown is not optional — it is a hard stop. Organizations that wait until December will not have enough runway to complete IRIS readiness, reconcile 1099 data, or remediate vendor master issues before filing season," said Rosemarie A. Smith, Founder & Principal Consultant of RAS AP Consulting.

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Q4 2026 Breakthrough Service Offering

1. 1099 Reporting Essentials — Powered by Morado (IRS‑Approved AI Technology)

Morado is the first‑of‑its‑kind AI 1099 reconciliation platform engineered to eliminate manual reconciliation and strengthen compliance. The platform:

• Identifies reportable vendors
• Validates TINs
• Reconciles payment data
• Generates IRS‑compliant XML for IRIS e‑filing

Morado has been fully tested and approved by the IRS, confirming its filing engine, validation logic, and schema generation meet IRS technical specifications.

Rosemarie A. Smith served as Morado's 1099 Reporting SME, contributing intellectual‑property input, functional testing, and compliance alignment. Smith also serves as IFOL's annual 1099 Reporting SME and trainer, informing the rigor embedded in Morado's engine.

Engagements must begin by November 21, 2026, to ensure timely filing.

2. Vendor Master File Assessment & Cleanup — Powered by Onix

RAS AP Consulting, in partnership with Onix, delivers a structured vendor master audit and remediation process including:

• Duplicate identification
• Inactive vendor deactivation
• Standardized data normalization
• Banking/remittance verification
• Executive summary roadmap

Assessments must begin no later than November 21, 2026.

Limited‑Time Q4 Incentive for New Clients

New clients who sign by November 7, 2026, receive up to 25% off standard engagement fees — applicable to either service individually or as a bundled engagement. Bundled clients receive the maximum discount and priority scheduling.

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Key Delivery Milestones

• Sign By: November 7, 2026
• Services Commence: No later than November 21, 2026
• Vendor Master Remediation Delivery: December 19, 2026
• 1099 Filing Readiness Target: January 15, 2027

To discuss your organization's FIRE → IRIS transition strategy, book a consultation with RAS AP Consulting at: www.rasapconsulting.com

About RAS AP Consulting

RAS AP Consulting is a full‑cycle Accounts Payable governance firm specializing in AP transformation, vendor master data integrity, compliance readiness, and AI‑enabled automation. The firm serves mid‑market and enterprise organizations across industries, supported by a growing ecosystem of technology partners including Esker, Corpay, Ramp, Morado, and Onix.

Contact RAS AP Consulting
Email: roseasmith@rasapconsulting.com
Website: www.rasapconsulting.com