The IRS has hundreds of forms. Each one reports specific types of income, expenses, and other financial data. The exact form(s) you will need depends on your job and your situation. Below are some of the most commonly used forms, including the tax schedules you attach, the forms you may receive in the mail, and the forms you need to fill out.
Common tax forms you’ll use for your return
When you file your federal income tax return, there are a few key tax forms to be aware of. Form 1040 is the main one for reporting your income and claiming deductions. If you need to make changes after filing, you’ll use Form 1040-X to amend your return. And if you need more time to file, Form 4868 gives you a six-month extension.
Form 1040
This is the form that gets submitted to the IRS when you file your personal federal income tax return. It is used to calculate how much you owe for taxes. If you have had too much withheld for taxes during the year, then the 1040 is used to calculate how much you are owed in your refund.
If you are over 65 years old, you may use Form 1040-SR. Non-resident aliens must use Form 1040-NR. The schedules you file with your 1040 will depend on the types of income, deductions, and credits you claim.
Form 1040-X
If you realize you made a mistake with your income, deductions, credits, or even your filing status, this form lets you make those changes. Form 1040-X is used by taxpayers to correct or amend a previously filed Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR. You can submit it within three years of when your original return was due, so you don’t miss out on any refunds or adjustments that might be coming your way.
Form 4868
If you can’t complete and submit your income tax return by the due date, you can use this form to file an extension. You will still need to file your Form 4868 extension request and pay any taxes you owe on Tax Day, but your return won’t be due for another six months. Filing an extension is easy to do with TaxSlayer.
Common tax schedules you’ll attach to your return
It’s common to have to include different tax schedules along with your Form 1040. Essentially, schedules give the IRS a clearer picture of your finances beyond what’s on the main 1040 tax form. Each schedule focuses on specific types of income, expenses, credits, or deductions, making sure your tax info is as complete and accurate as possible.
Schedule A
The form for itemizing deductions is used when you choose not to take the standard deduction on your Form 1040. On Schedule A, you report itemized deductions like medical expenses, state taxes, mortgage interest, and charitable contributions.
Schedule B
Schedule B is used to report taxable interest and ordinary dividends when they total more than $1,500. This form helps you list the specific sources of interest and dividend payments you received during the year. If your total interest or dividend income exceeds $1,500, you need to complete Schedule B along with your Form 1040.
Schedule C
This tax form is used by self-employed individuals to report their business income and expenses. It details earnings and deductions related to the business, helping to calculate the net profit or loss.
Schedule SE
Schedule SE is a form that self-employed individuals use to calculate their self-employment tax. Since they don’t have an employer to withhold Social Security taxes, filling out this form is important for meeting their tax responsibilities and contributing to their future Social Security benefits.
Schedule K-1
This form helps people who are in a business partnership, shareholders in an S corporation, or beneficiaries of a trust or estate report their income, deductions, and credits correctly on their personal tax returns. The format and details of the K-1 can change depending on whether it’s a partnership, S corporation, or trust, since each type has its own tax rules.
Common tax forms you’ll receive in the mail
Tax forms like W-2s, 1098s, and 1099s get mailed to you to help you report your income and claim any deductions or credits when you file your taxes each year.
Form W-2
The W-2 is a form you’ll receive from your employer if you are traditionally employed (not a contractor). The W-2 shows your total wages, salaries, and tips for the year that has just ended. It also shows how much money was withheld from your paycheck throughout the year to pay your tax liability. You should receive your W-2 in January or early February at the latest.
A W-2 G is a variation of the W-2 form issued by casinos or gambling establishments and used to report winnings above a certain dollar amount.
Form 1099
The 1099 is used to report types of income other than wages, salaries, and tips. There are several types of Form 1099.
- 1099-A: Acquisition of secured property
- 1099-B: Proceeds from broker exchange transactions
- 1099-C: Cancellation of debt
- 1099-DA: Digital assets proceeds from broker transactions
- 1099-DIV: Dividends
- 1099-G: Government payments
- 1099-H: Health insurance payments
- 1099-INT: Interest
- 1099-K: Merchant card and third-party network payments (Uber & Lyft drivers, for example). This includes the gross amount of all payable transactions over $600.
- 1099-Q: Qualified education programs
- 1099-R: IRAs, retirement plans, and pensions
- 1099-S: Real estate income
- 1099-MISC: Used to report royalties, rental income, prizes, and other miscellaneous income not earned from work.
- 1099-NEC: Reports non-employee compensation. Independent contractors and freelancers frequently use this form to report their earnings.
Form 1098
You’ll receive a Form 1098 your financial institution if you paid student loan interest, college tuition, made mortgage payments, or donated a vehicle to charity in the past year.
Common tax forms that you fill out
Form W-4 and Form W-9 are the most common tax forms that you fill out for managing taxes and withholding. The W-4 is used by employees to determine how much federal income tax should be withheld. The W-9 is typically filled out by independent contractors to provide their tax ID to businesses for reporting earnings.
Form W-4
The W-4 is a form you fill out when you start a new job as an employee. It tells your employer how much to withhold for taxes. You won’t need this form to file your taxes. It won’t arrive in the mail.
You can make changes to the information on the W-4 as needed. This could happen if you have a change in certain life circumstances, like having a baby, getting a second job, or getting married.
Form W-9
The W-9 is a form you fill out and provide to your employer or anyone who needs to file an information return on your behalf. The W-9 tells them your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), so they can report things to the IRS – things like income they paid to you, real estate transactions, mortgage interest you paid, or IRA contributions you made.
If you’re self-employed, the information you provide on your W-9 is used by your client(s) to complete any and all Form 1099s you’ll receive.
Where can you find IRS tax forms?
You may need a copy of an IRS tax form for various reasons, like preparing your tax return or verifying income, especially if you’re self-employed or have multiple income sources. You can find current forms on the official IRS website or by calling 1-800-829-3676. Older forms from previous years are also available in IRS website archives.
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