Always download forms from irs.gov directly — third-party copies go stale, and stale forms bounce. These are the doors we use daily.
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📄All IRS Forms & InstructionsSearch every current form
📚All IRS PublicationsPlain-language official guides
The forms most clients need
| Form | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Form 1040 | The individual income tax return |
| Form W-4 | Employee withholding — tune this to stop over/under-paying all year |
| Form W-9 | What you collect from every contractor before you pay them |
| Form 1099-NEC | Reporting contractor payments of $600+ |
| Form 1040-ES | Quarterly estimated tax payments |
| Form 4868 | Automatic individual filing extension (payment still due April 15) |
| Form 941 | Quarterly employer payroll tax return |
| Form SS-4 | Applying for an EIN — every new entity's first form |
Publications worth actually reading
| Publication | Topic |
|---|---|
| Pub 17 | Your Federal Income Tax — the master guide for individuals |
| Pub 334 | Tax Guide for Small Business |
| Pub 463 | Travel, gift and car expenses — the deduction rules everyone argues about |
| Pub 523 | Selling your home — the exclusion that can shelter $500k of gain |
| Pub 590-A/B | IRAs — contributions and distributions |
Reading a form and knowing which boxes save you money are different skills. The second one is what you hire. See Tax Preparation.