Important IRS Forms to Know

Tax Return Forms and Schedules

There are hundreds of IRS tax forms and schedules out there that a tax filer can come across. Here are some of the more common ones that you should know about.  

• Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return: used by U.S. taxpayers to file an annual income tax return (Related Info:What Happens If You Don’t File Your Taxes?,AGI vs. MAGI)
• Form 1040-NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return: used by U.S. nonresident taxpayers to file an annual income tax return (Related Info: Tax Tips for Resident and Non-Resident Aliens: Part 1, Tax Tips for Resident and Non-Resident Aliens: Part 2)
• Form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors: an optional alternative to using Form 1040 for taxpayers who are age 65 or older (Related Info: Tax Tips for Seniors and Retirees)
• Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return: used to amend or fix a submitted tax return (Related Info: I Amended My Tax Return – Now What?)
• Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals: used to figure and pay your estimated tax (Related Info: IRS Form 1040-ES & Estimated) Tax for Individuals
• Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts: used to report income, deductions, gains, losses, liabilities, etc. of an estate or trust. (Related Info: An Overview of Estate & Inheritance Taxes)
• Schedule A, Itemized Deductions: used to figure your itemized deductions (Related Info: Expenses You Didn’t Know Were Tax Deductible)
• Schedule B, Interest and Ordinary Dividends: used in some scenarios when you’ve earned taxable interest or dividends (Related Info: Tax Guide for New Investors)
• Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship): used to report income or losses from a business you operated or a profession you practiced as a sole proprietor (Related Info: Tax Forms for Self-Employed Individuals)
• Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses: used to report capital gains and losses for the year (Related Info: Real Estate Investments & Tax Implications)
• Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss: used to report income or loss from rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, estates, trusts, and residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) (Related Info: What is Supplemental Income?)
• Schedule EIC, Earned Income Credit: used to give the IRS information about your qualifying child(ren) (Related Info: Dependents & Your Taxes)
• Schedule F, Profit or Loss From Farming: used to report farm income and expenses.
• Schedule H, Household Employment Taxes: used to report household employment taxes if you paid cash wages to a household employee and the wages were subject to social security, Medicare, or FUTA taxes, or if you withheld federal income tax. (Related Info: What to Know About Schedule H: Household Employment Taxes)
• Schedule J, Income Averaging for Farmers and Fishermen used to figure your income tax by averaging, over the previous 3 years, all or some of your taxable income from your farming or fishing business.
• Schedule R, Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled: used to figure the credit for the elderly or the disabled. (Related Info: What is Schedule R, Tax Credit for Elderly or Disabled?,Can I Get Disability If I Owe Back Taxes?)
• Schedule SE, Self-Employment Tax: used to figure the tax due on net earnings from self-employment. (Related Info: Tax Planning for the Self-Employed, Tax Forms for Self-Employed Individuals)
• Schedule 8812, Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents: used to figure your child tax credits. (Related Info: Dependents & Your Taxes)

Application Forms

• Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number: used to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), a nine-digit number assigned to sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts and other entities for tax filing and reporting purposes (Related Info: Tax Planning for the Self-Employed)
• Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return: used to request an automatic extension of time to file a U.S. individual income tax return. (Related Info: Should I File a Tax Extension?)
• Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns: used to request an automatic 6-month extension of time to file certain business income tax, information, and other returns. (Related Info: Should I File a Tax Extension?)
• Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number: used to apply for an IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) (Related Info: End of Year Tax Planning)

Income and Payment Reporting Forms

• Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement: used to report wages paid to employees and the taxes withheld from them. (Related Info: I Lost My W-2. Now What?)
• Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings: to report gambling winnings and any federal income tax withheld on those winnings. (Related Info: Gambling Income and Losses, How Are Gambling Winnings Taxed?)
• Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate: used so that your employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay. (Related Info: How to Fill Out a W-4, Understanding Tax Withholding)
• Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification: employers or other entities to verify the name, address, and tax identification number of an individual, usually a citizen or a resident alien, receiving income. (Related Info: What is a W-9 Form?)
• Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement: used to report mortgage interest of $600 or more received by you during the year (Related Info: Tax Implications of Buying a House)
• Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement: used to report tuition payments received and payments due from the paying student (Related Info: NIL Income and Taxes, Filing Guide for First-Time Taxpayers)
• Form 1098-E, Student Loan Interest Statement: used to report the amount of interest you paid on student loans in a calendar year
• Form 1099-B, Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions: used to report any gains and losses from stock and bond transactions made throughout the tax year (Related Info: Tax Guide for New Investors, 1099s Explained: The Basics, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs)
• Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions: used to report dividends and other distributions to taxpayers and to the IRS (Related Info: Tax Guide for New Investors, 1099s Explained: The Basics, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs)
• Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments: used to report payments received from federal, state, or local governments, such as unemployment benefits, tax refunds, grants, etc. (Related Info: How Unemployment Affects Your Taxes, 1099s Explained: The Basics, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs)
• Form 1099-INT, Interest Income: used to report interest income you received, any taxes withheld, and if any of the interest is tax-exempt (Related Info: 1099s Explained: The Basics, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs)
• Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions: used to report payments and transactions from online platforms, apps or payment card processors (Related Info: The 1099-K Reporting Threshold Is Delayed – Now What?, 1099s Explained: The Basics, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs, Zelle and Taxes: Will I Receive a 1099-K?)
• Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income: used to report miscellaneous compensation such as rents, prizes, medical payments, and others (Related Info: What is Supplemental Income?, 1099s Explained: The Basics, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs)
• Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation: used to report self-employment or contract work, such as freelance work or rideshare driving (Related Info: NIL Income and Taxes, 1099s Explained: The Basics,, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs)
• Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc.: used to report distributions from annuities, profit-sharing plans, retirement plans, IRAs, insurance contracts, or pensions (Related Info: How to Choose a Retirement Account, 1099s Explained: The Basics, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs)
• Form 1099-S, Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions: used to report the sale or exchange of real estate (Related Info: Tax Implications of Selling a House, 1099s Explained: The Basics, 1099s Explained: Types, 1099s Explained: FAQs)

Business Forms

• Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return: used to report income, gains, losses, deductions, credits of domestic corporations.
• Form 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation: used to report the income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, etc., of a domestic corporation or other entity for any tax year covered by an election to be an S corporation
• Form 2106, Employee Business Expenses: used to deduct ordinary and necessary expenses for your job (Related Info: Vehicles for Business Use)
• Form 4562, Depreciation and Amortization (Including Information on Listed Property): used to record the depreciation and amortization of property you’ve purchased for your business (Related Info: Vehicles for Business Use, Tax Forms for Self-Employed Individuals)
• Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home: used to figure the allowable expenses for business use of your home on Schedule C   (Related Info: Tax Forms for Self-Employed Individuals)
• Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return: used to report income taxes, Social Security tax, or Medicare tax withheld from employee’s paychecks.

Tax Resolution Forms

• Form 1127, Application for Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Due to Undue Hardship: used to request an extension of time under Internal Revenue Code section 6161 for payment of tax due.
• Form 11277, Application for Withdrawal of Filed Form 668(Y), Notice of Federal Tax Lien: used to request a tax lien removal. (Related Info: What Assets Can the IRS Seize?)
• Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing: used to request a Collection Due Process (CDP) or Equivalent Hearing (EH) with the IRS Independent Office of Appeals (Related Info: Common IRS Notices & What They Mean)
• Form 433-A, Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals: used to obtain current financial information necessary for determining how a wage earner or self-employed individual can satisfy an outstanding tax liability (Related Info: How to Get Rid of Back Taxes, What is Currently Not Collectible Status?, Ask Phil: Levies & Garnishments)
• Form 433-B, Collection Information Statement for Businesses: used to obtain current financial information necessary for determining how a business can satisfy an outstanding tax liability (Related Info: How to Get Rid of Back Taxes, What is Currently Not Collectible Status?, Ask Phil: Levies & Garnishments)
• Form 656, Offer in Compromise: used to apply for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) (Related Info: How Tax Relief Works)
• Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement: used to claim a refund or request an abatement of certain taxes, interest, penalties, fees, and additions to tax (Related Info: Do You Qualify for IRS Penalty Relief?)
• Form 8857, Request for Innocent Spouse Relief: used to request relief from tax liability, plus related penalties and interest, when you believe only your spouse or former spouse should be held responsible for all or part of the tax (Related Info: Am I Responsible for My Spouse’s Back Taxes?)
• Form 911, Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance: used to request taxpayer assistance if you have been unable to resolve your tax issues through normal channels (Related Info: Understanding the Taxpayer Bill of Rights)
• Form 9423, Collection Appeal Request: used to request an appeal of a notice of federal tax lien, levy, seizure, or termination of an installment agreement. (Related Info: Understanding the Taxpayer Bill of Rights)
• Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request: used to request a monthly installment plan if you cannot pay the full amount you owe shown on your tax return (Related Info: How IRS Installment Agreements Work)