10 Key IRS Tax Forms, Schedules and Publications for 2025
Here are some major IRS tax forms, schedules and publications everyone should know.
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Head of Content, New Verticals IRS tax forms are documents used to report certain financial transactions, calculate taxes owed and prepare tax returns. There are hundreds of IRS forms, and the agency reissues many of them annually to incorporate changes in tax rules.
If you're filing using tax software, the program will likely file any paperwork you need on your behalf. Still, it can be good to familiarize yourself with common IRS tax forms, what they mean and where to get them .
Best Overall Tax Software
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- Federal: $79 to $139. Free version available for Simple Form 1040 returns only.
- State: $0 to $69 per state.
- Expert help or full service filing is available with an upgrade to Live packages for a fee.
Disclosures: TurboTax Free Edition is for Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Student Loan Interest). Roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify.
10 Common IRS tax forms and schedules
Here are ten common IRS forms and schedules you should know about before you file your taxes. The W-2, 1098 and 1099 are documents that may be sent to you from a third party with information you’ll need to file your taxes. The others are IRS forms that you might need to fill out as part of preparing your tax return.
1. Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR
IRS Form 1040 is the standard federal income tax form people use to report their income, claim tax deductions and credits, and calculate their tax refund or tax bill for the year. There are three schedules that you may or may not have to tack onto it, depending on your tax situation and whether you want to claim certain deductions and credits.
There is also a 1040-SR for seniors, which has a different color scheme, a larger font and an embedded standard deduction table.
2. Schedule A: For itemizing
Schedule A is for itemizing your deductions — property taxes, charitable contributions, mortgage interest, state taxes, medical expenses or a myriad of other tax breaks. Its tax-bill-reducing powers make it one of the single most valuable IRS forms in the stack.
» Learn more about whether to itemize or take the standard deduction
3. Schedule B: Reporting interest and dividends
This form tallies all the taxable interest and dividends over $1,500 that you received during the year. Note the word "taxable." The lower the total, the lower your tax bill, which is one reason tax-advantaged accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s can be so valuable — they can help cut your taxable income.
4. Schedule C: For freelancers or small business owners
Schedule C is where you report the profits and losses from freelancing, side gigs or contractor work. It’s also where you can deduct expenses related to the growth and development of your business, such as advertising, home office expenses or office supplies.
Best Overall Tax Software
AD
- Federal: $79 to $139. Free version available for Simple Form 1040 returns only.
- State: $0 to $69 per state.
- Expert help or full service filing is available with an upgrade to Live packages for a fee.
Disclosures: TurboTax Free Edition is for Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Student Loan Interest). Roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify.
5. Schedule D: Capital gains
If you trade stocks, bonds or other instruments, Schedule D is for you. It’s where you tally your capital gains and losses for the year. If you’re like most investors, some of your investments probably did well, and some probably didn’t. Report both types: Up to $3,000 of your net losses could be deductible ($1,500 for those married filing separately), and Schedule D is where that mathematical magic happens. You’ll likely need information from other IRS forms called 1099s (see below) to get it done.
6. Form W-2: Income from an employer
A W-2 is an IRS form your employer sends you in January or early February. It shows how much your employer paid you during the year, what you contributed to your employer-sponsored retirement plan and the amount of taxes withheld on your behalf. A copy goes to the IRS, so be sure you report this information accurately.
Side note: The W-2 has a cousin called the W-4, which you fill out for your employer when you get a new job. If you got a huge refund last year, tweak your W-4 to reduce how much tax your employer is taking out of your paycheck — otherwise, you may be needlessly living on less throughout the year.
» Learn more: How the W-2 works and when to expect it
7. Form 1098: Mortgage or student loan interest you paid
If you have a mortgage, you’ll get a 1098 form in the mail or your inbox. It shows the interest ($600 or more) you paid on your home loan during the year, and that mortgage interest is generally deductible. Students might get a 1098-T, which reports tuition payments they’ve made, or a 1098-E, which reports the interest they’ve paid on their student loans. Student loan interest and tuition payments may also be deductible.
» Dive deeper: How to get the student loan interest deduction
8. Form 1099: Various forms of income you received
The 1099 tax form comes in several flavors, but the big five are the 1099-DIV, 1099-INT, 1099-B, 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC. These IRS forms are all records of income you’ve received from a source other than your employer, and whoever sends you one also sends the IRS a copy, so don’t forget to report it on your return.
In a nutshell, the 1099-DIV reports dividends and distributions from investments; the 1099-INT reports interest you earned on investments; the 1099-B comes from a broker and lists your reportable investment activity; and the 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC are for most everything else not derived from investments, such as money a client paid you for freelance work.
» MORE: Form 1099 and how it works
9. Form 1040-X: To amend or fix a tax return
If you filed your return and then realized you made an error, the 1040-X can help. You may need to include copies of your other tax forms when you file it. If you find out you owe more due to your mistake, you can still pay the IRS online.
» Learn more: How and when to file Form 1040-X
10. Form 4868: Getting an extension
File Form 4868 with the IRS by the April deadline — you can even do it online — and you’ll buy yourself a tax extension until October. But be aware that you have to make a good estimate of what you owe the IRS and send in some or all of that amount along with your extension request.
If the estimated tax payment you send in April is less than what you actually owe, you’ll need to pay interest on the difference. And don’t miss your extended deadline: You could face a late-filing penalty of 5% of the amount due for every month or partial month your return is late.
Where can I get IRS tax forms?
Here are a few ways to get the IRS forms you need to do your taxes.
- Online. The IRS website has current and prior-year tax forms, schedules and instructions you can download as PDFs or print out. The agency also offers Braille-ready formats that work with screen enlargers, screen-reading software or embossed printing
. - By phone. Call the IRS and ask to have forms mailed to you. (See our list of IRS phone numbers for customer service.)
- Tax software. Some tax software packages may offer blank IRS forms to look at as you prepare your tax return.
- IRS Free File. The IRS Free File program offers blank fillable IRS forms to everyone, regardless of income.
- Library. Check the library or the post office. Many offer free tax forms during filing season.
- Local IRS office. You can also try visiting your local IRS office (called a Taxpayer Assistance Center).
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- 1. Internal Revenue Service. IRS Tax Forms (in Braille and Text Formats). Accessed Dec 16, 2024.
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