Understanding your common tax documents

Documents you may receive for wages and payments

The 1099 series contains several different forms. Which one you receive depends on the type of payment being reported to you.

• Form W-2 — usually issued by your employer, reporting the wages paid to you and the amounts withheld.
• Forms in the 1099 series — usually issued by payers other than an employer, covering contract work, interest, dividends, retirement distributions and certain other payments.

Interest and dividend statements

Your bank, credit union or investment provider may send statements showing interest credited or dividends paid to you during the year. These amounts can be reported even if you reinvested them rather than withdrawing them.

Brokerage statements

If you hold investments, your broker will usually send a consolidated statement covering transactions, distributions and, where available, cost-basis information. Brokers sometimes revise these statements after the first issue, so check that you are using the latest version.

Mortgage-related statements

If you have a mortgage, your lender will normally send an annual statement covering mortgage interest and sometimes related amounts such as points or property tax paid through an escrow account. Whether any of it affects your return depends on your circumstances.

Health coverage and marketplace statements

You may receive statements about your health coverage, including coverage obtained through a health insurance marketplace. Not everyone receives one, and receiving one does not always mean it changes your return.

Education-related statements

If you or a family member studied during the year, a college or student loan servicer may send statements about tuition billed or received, or interest you paid on a student loan. Whether these matter depends on your situation.

Why your prior-year return belongs with these documents

A copy of the return you filed last year, along with its schedules, gives helpful context during preparation — particularly if any amounts carry forward from one year to the next.