- [Instructor] We've talked about a lot of different types
of taxes and filings you have to do,
but it's important to be aware
that taxes each year are not a one and done thing,
nor can you easily get forms
that you need for taxes online for download.
Instead, if you need particular forms
and they're not available from your payroll tax provider,
then you will either need to go out and buy them
or more likely order them from the IRS.
This can be done through the IRS's website.
Let's take a look.
So I'm here at the irs.gov
forms and publications order page.
Now, what we want to do is order forms
and publications by U.S. mail.
In general, the only way the IRS delivers
these specially coded forms, in my experience,
is through the mail,
or at least that's the most efficient way to get them.
Now, there's a variety
of different products you might need from the IRS,
but in general you'll want to go down and order
whatever forms you need.
So to do that, I'm going to scroll to the bottom of the page
and click on the Online Ordering section.
And that'll allow me to then scroll down
and pick the forms that I need.
So we can put in whatever quantity of forms we need
for the 2018 or 2019 tax year.
In general, if you have more than a few dozen forms
that you're going to be sending out,
it's often advisable to start looking for automated options.
But if you're a small business and you need to send forms,
W-2, W-3, 1099, et cetera.,
this is a great way to get those products, all right.
So you can order whatever you need
for the particular products.
We'll just say you need 10 W-2s, a few W-3s,
maybe you need some 1099s.
Remember, the 1099s differ
depending on the type of non-employment income.
The most common one you'd probably run into
is the 1099 Miscellaneous.
So maybe we need five of those and a few others.
You go through, you pick whatever products
you think you need, and then you should be all set
to place your order.
So you'll add this to cart
just like you would ordering online anywhere.
Change your quantities if you're not happy with them.
And then proceed to checkout.
Now, despite the fact that we have a checkout here,
the reality is that you don't have to pay anything.
These are shipped for free by the IRS.
Or at least let me amend that.
You don't have to pay for the forms. (chuckles)
You probably will have to pay the IRS something, right?
They don't do this out of the goodness of their heart.
So we go through and fill out
wherever we want this shipped.
I'll say it's 123 Main Street, Anytown,
and we'll just assume that this is in Connecticut.
And we'll continue.
Once we're ready,
we can go through and confirm our order,
and these will get shipped off by the IRS.
You can order these forms well in advance.
You can already order the 2019 forms, for example,
even in 2018.
But in general, if on, say, January 1st, 2019 you were
to try to go and order 2020 forms,
you might be able to place that order,
but the forms won't arrive to you until later
in the year 2019 when they're available for printing.
Now, the other thing to be aware of is
whenever you're filing any of these forms,
be it W-2s, 1099s, your 940s, your 941s,
whatever forms you're filing,
make sure that you keep paper and electronic copies
of any of your IRS or state tax submissions.
You want to keep these for at least five years
just in case of an audit.
Remember, in an audit, the burden of proof is on you
to show that you've paid everything you owe.
The IRS doesn't have to prove
that you didn't pay some amount of money that you owe.
You have to prove that you did pay it
if they say you owe it.
If you can't do that,
chances are you'll end up paying those taxes again.
Keep your records.