Streamline Workflows With Optical Character Recognition

Convert W-2s and 1099s into machine readable text to improve automation and save your team’s time and energy

Allowing users to upload documents ensures everyone is able to provide inputs for income and employment verification through Argyle Link. However, reading each uploaded form can slow down the approval or review process.

Until we usher in the end of paper forms and paystubs, we are doing everything possible to limit the time spent reviewing them. That’s why we are pleased to announce the launch of OCR for W-2 and 1099 forms. 

Optical character recognition (OCR) converts uploaded or scanned W-2 and 1099 into machine-readable text, making them easier to review and unlocking auto-fill capabilities for related forms and applications. OCR removes one more manual task for your team by enabling automated pre-screening. This can accelerate your time to decide by bundling everything you need to move forward with Argyle, vs. needing to work with multiple vendors. Even better, with webhooks we can notify you when a new W-2 or 1099 is added to a user’s profile — empowering you to make better underwriting, lending, and sales-related decisions.

Let’s explore what this means for the two use cases — uploaded and scanned documents.

OCR for uploaded documents

Our Document Upload feature ensures all your users have a quick, easy way to connect their data and verify their income and employment without ever leaving your app. Argyle Link offers those users who are unable to connect their employment account the option to upload a W-2 or 1099 directly from their device. For users, no part of the Document Upload process will change — but you will be able to unlock serious time savings.

In Console you will be able to view any uploaded W-2 and 1099, but with OCR you will also have the option to view the extracted text results in a JSON format for the respective documents. And with webhooks you will not only be notified when a user uploads a W-2 or 1099, but the information on the new forms will already be accessible via their Argyle profile. 

OCR for scanned documents

For the vast majority of users who successfully connect their employer or payroll account, some will have a stored W-2 or 1099 that was uploaded by the employer and is available now in Console to download and review. Current clients can manually review these forms, but the information couldn’t be added to an existing automated process.  

With OCR, you will see the option to view these forms as JSON as well. This unlocks the option to add annual earnings information alongside payout information to an automated approval or review process. As with uploaded documents, whenever a new W-2 or 1099 is added you will not only be notified, but see the new income information reflected in the user’s profile. 

How to opt into OCR

Want to see how much time and money OCR can save your team? Connect with your Argyle Account Executive or Customer Success Manager to learn more.