More form guides are on the way.
Which IRS Form Is Which?
Most people meet a handful of IRS tax forms: some you fill out and give to someone else, some you receive, and one you file. Here is where the common ones fit. Each name links to the form's page on IRS.gov.
- Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification: you fill it out when a business or client asks for your taxpayer ID, and you give it to them, not to the IRS. Our W-9 guide.
- Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate: you fill it out for your employer so it can withhold federal income tax from your pay. Our W-4 guide.
- Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement: employers send it to employees and to the government after the year ends; you receive it rather than fill it out.
- Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation: a business reports certain payments to people who are not its employees, such as independent contractors.
- Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return: the return individuals file with the IRS.
Fill Out IRS Forms on Screen
Many IRS forms are fillable PDFs, so you can type into them instead of printing. To fill one out from your own details, upload the official PDF to Autofill, type your details or attach documents that have them, review every line, and download the completed PDF. You decide every answer and you send the form yourself. If you only have a paper copy, make it fillable for free first. For the basics, read how to fill out a PDF form online.
How These Guides Are Written
- From the official instructions. Each guide restates what the IRS form and its instructions say, and links to them.
- Dated. Each guide shows the revision of the form it covers and the date it was last checked against IRS.gov.
- Explanation, not advice. The guides explain what each line asks for. They do not tell you which answer is right for your situation.
Not tax advice. This guide restates the official IRS instructions in plain English for general information. It does not tell you which answer is right for your situation. Simplifier is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS. Always check the current form and instructions on IRS.gov, and ask a tax professional if you are unsure.