Tax forms and information are probably piling up at your home right now, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s that time of year, and people need to get ready for what will be a busy next few months for all Americans and the Internal Revenue Service.
However, depending on your situation, you will probably be filing a different tax form than your neighbor, just as he or she will likely be filing a different form from his or her friend in a different state. There are so many tax forms and so much information during this time of year that the whole tax process can become even more complicating and overwhelming than it already inherently is.
Similarly, there is a whole bunch of information that has to be sent to you from employers and other entities. From W-2s to 1098s, all of these forms serve an important purpose for each individual taxpayer. So when are these forms due? When do they have to get to your home?
For most tax information (1098s, 1099s, W-2s), it must be delivered to you by February 2. However, a few of these forms (the 1099-B, the 1099-MISC, and the 1099-SA) must get to you by February 17.
Of course, there are exceptions. If things start to get out of hand and you think your information isn’t getting to you in a timely manner, you need to consult with an attorney to protect you should the IRS pursue action against you because you were late with forms — and the only reason you were late was because the information didn’t get to you in time.
Source: Forbes, “Where Are My Tax Forms? Due Dates For Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 & More,” Kelly Phillips Erb, Jan. 27, 2015
