IRS Tax Form Finder

Look at the top-left corner of the document for the form number (e.g. W-2, 1099-NEC, 1099-INT, 1098). Search that number in the finder above. If the form has boxes with different amounts, focus on the boxes that have a dollar figure filled in — most boxes on any given form are blank for most recipients.

Payers issue a separate form for each type of payment. A brokerage may send both a 1099-DIV (dividends) and a 1099-B (sales proceeds); a retirement plan administrator may send a 1099-R for a distribution and a 5498 (informational, no action needed) for contributions. Each form flows to a different line or schedule on Form 1040.

Contact the payer first — they issued the form and can void or correct it if it's genuinely wrong. Don't just leave it off your return: the IRS receives a matching copy of every 1099/W-2/1098 filed, so an unreported form usually triggers a notice. If a correction won't arrive before you file, you can still file and amend later with Form 1040-X once the corrected form arrives.

Generally no if you e-file — the payer already sent a copy to the IRS, and tax software transmits the reported amounts electronically. If you mail a paper return, attach any form that shows federal income tax withheld (Box on a W-2 or 1099) per the Form 1040 instructions; forms with no withholding usually don't need to be attached.

A W-2 reports employee wages and has federal, Social Security, and Medicare tax already withheld by the employer. A 1099 (in its many variants — NEC, MISC, INT, DIV, R, K, etc.) reports payments where usually no tax was withheld, meaning the recipient is responsible for paying income tax — and, for self-employment income, self-employment tax — on their own return.