Official-form reference center

Tax Forms and Resources

A plain-language guide to common individual, contractor, and business tax forms. Each card links to official IRS information for current instructions.

Anchorwheel's summaries are educational and do not replace professional advice, official IRS instructions, or the form instructions that apply to your situation. Do not send tax forms through social media.

Reference guide

Individual and employee forms

Form W-2

Wage and Tax Statement

What it is used for: Reports wages, federal and state withholding, and certain benefits from an employer.
Who normally receives or completes it: Employees normally receive it from each employer.
When it may be relevant: It is commonly needed when preparing an individual income tax return.
What to review: Confirm your name, Social Security number, wages, and withholding amounts.

Form W-4

Employee's Withholding Certificate

What it is used for: Tells an employer how much federal income tax to withhold from pay.
Who normally receives or completes it: Employees complete it for their employers.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant after a family, job, or income change.
What to review: Review your filing status, dependents, and any additional withholding choices.

Form 1040

U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

What it is used for: The main federal income tax return used by many individual taxpayers.
Who normally receives or completes it: Individuals and families generally file it or a related version.
When it may be relevant: It is relevant for annual individual filing and related schedules.
What to review: Review income, dependents, deductions, credits, payments, and direct-deposit details.

Form 1040-X

Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

What it is used for: Is used to correct certain information on a previously filed individual federal income tax return.
Who normally receives or completes it: Individuals may prepare it when a qualifying correction to a previously filed federal return is needed.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant when income, filing status, dependents, deductions, credits, or other original-return information needs a qualifying correction.
What to review: Review the original return, the changed information, supporting records, and current official instructions before deciding whether an amendment is appropriate.

Form 1095-A

Health Insurance Marketplace Statement

What it is used for: Reports Marketplace health coverage and advance premium tax credit information.
Who normally receives or completes it: Marketplace policy holders normally receive it.
When it may be relevant: It may be needed when Marketplace coverage applied during the year.
What to review: Review covered people, coverage months, and premium amounts.

Form 1098

Mortgage Interest Statement

What it is used for: Reports qualifying mortgage interest and certain related information.
Who normally receives or completes it: Borrowers may receive it from mortgage lenders.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant when reviewing itemized deduction documentation.
What to review: Review lender, borrower, property, and interest information.

Form 1098-T

Tuition Statement

What it is used for: Reports qualifying tuition and related education information from eligible institutions.
Who normally receives or completes it: Students may receive it from their schools.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant when reviewing eligible education credits or deductions.
What to review: Review student information, institution details, and reported payments or scholarships.

Form 9465

Installment Agreement Request

What it is used for: Requests an installment agreement for qualifying federal tax obligations under IRS rules.
Who normally receives or completes it: Eligible taxpayers may complete it when an installment agreement is appropriate for their circumstances.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant after a tax balance is reviewed and the taxpayer is considering an available payment arrangement.
What to review: Review current balance information, filing compliance, payment ability, and official IRS eligibility requirements.

Reference guide

Contractor and self-employed forms

Form W-9

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification

What it is used for: Collects a payee's taxpayer identification and certification information.
Who normally receives or completes it: Businesses may request it from independent contractors and other payees.
When it may be relevant: It is commonly collected before contractor payments are reported.
What to review: Review the legal name, tax classification, address, and taxpayer identification information.

Form 1099-NEC

Nonemployee Compensation

What it is used for: Reports certain nonemployee compensation paid to independent contractors.
Who normally receives or completes it: Eligible businesses issue it; qualifying contractors may receive it.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant for contractor-payments reporting or self-employed income review.
What to review: Review payer and recipient details, taxpayer identification numbers, and payment totals.

Form 1099-MISC

Miscellaneous Information

What it is used for: Reports certain miscellaneous payments that may not belong on Form 1099-NEC.
Who normally receives or completes it: Eligible businesses issue it; recipients may receive it.
When it may be relevant: It can apply to specific payment categories under IRS instructions.
What to review: Review the payment category, recipient details, and reporting period.

Form 1099-K

Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions

What it is used for: Reports certain payment-card and third-party network transactions.
Who normally receives or completes it: Eligible payees may receive it from payment settlement entities.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant when reconciling business or gig-work income.
What to review: Compare gross payment amounts with your own sales records and refunds.

Schedule C (Form 1040)

Profit or Loss From Business

What it is used for: Reports income and expenses for many sole proprietors.
Who normally receives or completes it: Self-employed individuals may complete it with their individual return.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant for freelance, contractor, and sole-proprietor activity.
What to review: Review gross receipts, expense categories, vehicle details, and business-use records.

Schedule SE (Form 1040)

Self-Employment Tax

What it is used for: Calculates self-employment tax for qualifying self-employed income.
Who normally receives or completes it: Many self-employed individuals use it with Form 1040.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant when net self-employment income meets IRS requirements.
What to review: Review net business income and any applicable adjustments.

Reference guide

Business forms

Form 1065

U.S. Return of Partnership Income

What it is used for: Reports partnership income, deductions, gains, losses, and other information.
Who normally receives or completes it: Partnerships generally prepare it under applicable federal rules.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant for qualifying partnership or multi-member business structures.
What to review: Review entity details, partner information, income reports, deductions, and K-1 information.

Form 1120

U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return

What it is used for: Reports income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, and tax liability for qualifying corporations.
Who normally receives or completes it: C corporations generally prepare it under applicable federal rules.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant for businesses operating as C corporations.
What to review: Review entity details, financial statements, deductions, payments, and officer information.

Form 1120-S

U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation

What it is used for: Reports income, deductions, gains, losses, and other information for qualifying S corporations.
Who normally receives or completes it: S corporations generally prepare it under applicable federal rules.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant for an eligible business with an S corporation election.
What to review: Review shareholder information, financial reports, deductions, and K-1 information.

Form 941

Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return

What it is used for: Reports certain payroll taxes for eligible employers.
Who normally receives or completes it: Employers may complete it for qualifying payroll periods.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant when a business has federal payroll-tax filing responsibilities.
What to review: Review payroll totals, withholding, Social Security and Medicare tax, and deposits.

Form 940

Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Return

What it is used for: Reports federal unemployment tax for eligible employers.
Who normally receives or completes it: Employers may complete it when FUTA requirements apply.
When it may be relevant: It may be relevant during year-end payroll and unemployment-tax review.
What to review: Review wages subject to FUTA, state unemployment payments, and deposits.

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