This bulletin describes the 2003 TEFRA Processing Activities for ATOM and outlines additional processing instructions. An ATOM TEFRA Processing Schedule detailing all-important deadlines is provided on page 3. The topics include the following:

On Thursday, December 4, 2003 your firm will be able to access the Firm ATOM Tax Confirmation Report (BFR00061F) and the Firm 1099 – Misc. Information Register (BFR00062) in INFOPAC. These reports provide the firms current tax information it has on file on ATOM. Please verify the tax information provided in these reports. The BFR00061F form will need to be signed and returned to the Clearing Corporation by Friday, December 12, 2003. (Please see Volume 23 – Bulletin #162 for further details). Your firm will be reported to the IRS using this tax information. If any corrections need to be made, contact Client Services and Support.

The processing of TEFRA Data for brokers paid through the ATOM system by your firm is free to all participating firms. However, the cost of printing and the cost of the special forms used for the 1099 Misc. statements will be $2.00 per set and minimum request of one set is required for each broker.

Tax adjustments can be made for any broker listed on the Firm 1099 – Misc. Information Register (BFR00062). The ATOM 1099 Information Register will show separate tax data for brokers who have changed their Tax Identification Number (TIN) anytime during 2003. If you need to make changes or corrections to Year to Date Earnings for a broker's old Tax Identification Number as well as a deleted or inactive broker on ATOM you must send a written request to Client Services and Support.

Corrections to dollar amounts for deleted brokers, inactive brokers or a broker who has changed his Tax Identification Number during 2003 must be requested in writing by Friday, January 9, 2004 to Client Services and Support, Attention: Marc MacQuarrie

Back-up withholding for a Broker is not supported through the ATOM system. If your firm wants to report back-up withholding amounts for any brokers, your firm must reduce (debit) year to date earnings on ATOM to zero. Your firm must then manually prepare 1099 Misc. Statements to the brokers and to the IRS.

1099 Misc. Statements will be available for pick up on Wednesday, January 21, 2004. Firms will be required to pick up and sign off on a statement from The Clearing Corporation's Client Services & Support Department, Suite 1460.

Brokers who are not on the ATOM system are considered to be test brokers and no 1099 Misc. statements will be printed. Tax adjustments to test brokers can be made through the ATOM system, however, tax adjustments will not cause the ATOM system to produce 1099 Misc. Statements for test brokers.

_{ATOM is a registered trademark of the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation.}

Should you have any questions, please call or e-mail one of the following Client Services & Support Analysts:

John Compall		john.compall@clearingcorp.com
Marc MacQuarrie	786-5732	marc.macquarrie@clearingcorp.com
Molly McMahon	786-5731	molly.mcmahon@clearingcorp.com
Jill Turner	786-5718	jill.turner@clearingcorp.com
Thomas Andrews	Director	thomas.andrews@clearingcorp.com
Client Services and Support E-Mail Address		css@clearingcorp.com
Clearing Corporation Web Site		http://www.clearingcorp.com

ATOM 2003 TEFRA PROCESSING SCHEDULE

Date	Processing
Thursday, December 4, 2003	BFR00061F (Firm Tax Data Confirmation) and BFR00062 (Firm 1099-Misc. Information Register) available on Infopac
Friday, December 12, 2003	ATOM Processing Request Forms indicating if 1099’s will be produced for amounts under $600 and reported to the IRS must be returned to The Clearing Corporation, Suite 1460 (please refer to Bulletin #163 for further details).
Friday, December 12, 2003	BFR00061F (Firm Tax Data Confirmation) forms confirming firms’ tax information must be signed and returned to the Clearing Coporation, Suite 1460 (please refer to bulletin #162 for further details).
Friday, January 9, 2003	Corrections to dollar amounts for deleted brokers, inactive brokers or a broker who has changed his Tax Identification Number during 2003 must be requested in writing to Client Services and Support, Attention: Marc MacQuarrie .
Thursday, January 15, 2004	7:00 p.m. Deadline for 1099 Adjustments.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004	The printing for all 1099 Misc. Statements will be completed. All adjustments entered by 7:00 p.m., January 15, 2004, will be reflected on the 1099 Misc. Statements.
Wednesday, January 21, 2004	Firms should arrange to pick up Form 1099 Misc. Statements from Client Services and Support, Suite 1460.
Monday, February 2, 2004	All 1099 Misc. Statements should be mailed to brokers.
Thursday, February 12, 2004	All TEFRA 1099 Adjustments must be completed by 7:00 p.m. Adjustments will be reflected on the tape sent to the IRS. Firms that made adjustments after January 15, 2004 must prepare their own corrected 1099 Misc. Statements for the individual brokers.
Friday, February 13, 2004	Firms will receive Final 2003 ATOM 1099 Registers in INFOPAC.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004	Receive 4804 forms and documentation for review and signature from a Client Services and Support Analyst.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004	2003 ATOM TEFRA Information will be sent to the IRS.