IRS Tax Forms: Plain-English Guides
40 of the most important IRS tax forms. Filing requirements, key deadlines, and the most common mistakes, plus the TS CPA service that handles each form.
Individual Tax
13 forms- Form 1040
US Individual Income Tax Return
The annual federal income tax return filed by US citizens and resident aliens to report income, deductions, credits, and tax liability.
- Form 1040-ES
Estimated Tax for Individuals
Quarterly federal estimated tax payments for self-employed individuals, investors, retirees, and others whose income is not subject to sufficient withholding.
- Form 1040-X
Amended US Individual Income Tax Return
The federal form used to correct a previously filed individual income tax return, claiming additional refunds or reporting additional tax owed.
- Form 1099
Information Returns Series
A series of IRS forms used to report various types of non-employee income, including 1099-NEC for contractor payments, 1099-K for third-party payment processors, and 1099-DA for digital assets.
- Form 4868
Application for Automatic Extension to File
A six-month automatic extension to file a US individual income tax return, granted when filed by the original April 15 deadline.
- Form 8606
Nondeductible IRAs and Roth Conversions
The federal form tracking after-tax (nondeductible) contributions to traditional IRAs and Roth conversions, essential for backdoor Roth IRA strategies and pro-rata calculations.
- Form 8960
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)
The federal form computing the 3.8 percent Net Investment Income Tax owed by individuals, estates, and trusts with modified AGI above statutory thresholds.
- Schedule A
Itemized Deductions
The federal schedule attached to Form 1040 used to claim itemized deductions in lieu of the standard deduction, including state and local taxes, mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and qualifying medical expenses.
- Schedule B
Interest and Ordinary Dividends
The federal schedule used to report taxable interest and ordinary dividends when total amounts exceed $1,500, plus disclosure of foreign accounts and foreign trust transactions.
- Schedule C
Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship)
The federal schedule attached to Form 1040 to report income and expenses from a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC treated as a disregarded entity, the most common federal form for self-employed taxpayers.
- Schedule E
Supplemental Income and Loss
The federal schedule used to report rental real estate income, royalties, and pass-through income from partnerships, S corporations, estates, and trusts.
- Schedule F
Profit or Loss from Farming
The federal schedule used by farmers, ranchers, and fishermen to report farm income and expenses, with specialized rules for crop and livestock operations, soil and water conservation, and farm income averaging.
- Form W-2
Wage and Tax Statement
The annual statement employers provide to employees and the Social Security Administration reporting wages paid and federal, state, and local taxes withheld.
Business Tax
9 forms- Form 1065
US Return of Partnership Income
The annual federal information return filed by partnerships and multi-member LLCs treated as partnerships, with income passed through to partners on Schedule K-1.
- Form 1120
US Corporation Income Tax Return
The annual federal income tax return filed by C corporations to report income, deductions, and tax liability at the entity level.
- Form 1120-S
US Income Tax Return for an S Corporation
The annual federal income tax return filed by S corporations, which pass income, deductions, and credits through to shareholders via Schedule K-1.
- Form 2553
Election by a Small Business Corporation (S-Corp Election)
The IRS form used to elect S corporation tax status for an eligible domestic corporation or LLC, generally due within 75 days of the start of the tax year.
- Form 4562
Depreciation and Amortization
The federal form reporting business depreciation, amortization, Section 179 expensing, and Section 168(k) bonus depreciation on business and rental property.
- Form 7004
Application for Automatic Extension to File Business Income Tax Returns
A federal extension request granting additional time (typically six months, five and a half for some entities) to file most business income tax returns including Form 1120, 1120-S, and 1065.
- Form 7203
S Corporation Shareholder Stock and Debt Basis Limitations
The federal form S corporation shareholders use to track stock and debt basis, which limits the deductibility of pass-through losses and tax-free distributions.
- Form 8829
Expenses for Business Use of Your Home
The federal form used to compute the home office deduction by allocating actual home expenses to the business-use percentage of the home.
- Form W-9
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number
A form used by businesses to collect a contractor or vendor's name, address, and Taxpayer Identification Number for 1099 reporting purposes.
Payroll & Employment
3 forms- Form 940
Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return
The annual federal unemployment tax return filed by employers reporting FUTA tax on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages.
- Form 941
Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return
The quarterly federal payroll tax return filed by employers to report wages paid, federal income tax withheld, and Social Security and Medicare taxes.
- Form W-4
Employee's Withholding Certificate
The federal form completed by employees to direct their employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck.
Capital Gains
2 forms- Form 8949
Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets
The IRS form used to report each individual sale or disposition of a capital asset, with totals flowing to Schedule D.
- Schedule D
Capital Gains and Losses
The federal schedule that summarizes net capital gain or loss for the year, aggregating short-term and long-term totals from Form 8949 and computing the tax under preferential capital gain rates.
IRS Resolution
2 forms- Form 656
Offer in Compromise (OIC)
The IRS form used to apply for an Offer in Compromise: an agreement to settle tax debt for less than the full amount owed when full payment would create a financial hardship.
- Form 9465
Installment Agreement Request
The IRS form used to formally request a monthly installment payment plan for federal tax debt that cannot be paid in full.
International Tax
9 forms- Form 1116
Foreign Tax Credit (Individual)
A dollar-for-dollar credit on the US tax return for income taxes paid to a foreign country, designed to prevent double taxation.
- Form 2555
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE)
The IRS form used by US citizens and resident aliens living abroad to exclude up to a statutory limit of foreign-earned wages and self-employment income from US taxation.
- Form 5471
Information Return of US Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations
An informational return required of US persons who own or control foreign corporations, with significant penalties for failure to file.
- Form 8621
Information Return for PFIC Shareholders
The required IRS form for US persons who hold shares in a Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC), including most foreign mutual funds and ETFs.
- Form 8858
Information Return of US Persons With Respect to Foreign Disregarded Entities and Foreign Branches
An information return required of US persons who own a foreign disregarded entity (FDE) or operate a foreign branch (FB) of a US enterprise.
- Form 8865
Return of US Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships
The required IRS form for US persons who own at least 10% of a foreign partnership or who acquire, dispose of, or change interests in a foreign partnership.
- Form 8938
Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets
A FATCA-related form filed with Form 1040 to report foreign financial assets that exceed specified thresholds.
- Form 114 (FBAR)
Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
A FinCEN Form 114 filing required of US persons who hold foreign financial accounts with an aggregate value exceeding $10,000 at any point during the year.
- Form W-7
Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
The IRS form for non-US persons who need a Taxpayer Identification Number to file a US tax return or claim a tax treaty benefit but are not eligible for a Social Security Number.