Is it possible to order 1096 forms and other tax forms from the IRS website for free?
So I've been preparing for tax season and I need to submit several 1096 forms for my small business. I've been running back and forth to Office Depot for the past few years to buy these forms and honestly it's getting expensive and annoying. A stack of them cost me nearly $35 last year! I've tried searching the IRS website to see if I can just order them directly and have them shipped to me for free, but the information is really unclear. Some pages seem to suggest you can download and print certain forms, but others make it seem like you need to purchase them from retail stores. Has anyone successfully ordered 1096 forms (or other similar forms) directly from the IRS for free? Or am I stuck making these retail store runs forever? Really trying to simplify my process for the 2025 filing season.
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Sofia Torres
Yes, you absolutely can order 1096 forms and many other tax forms directly from the IRS for free! I do this every year for my accounting clients. The IRS has an online ordering system where you can request paper forms at no cost. Go to the IRS website (irs.gov) and search for "order forms" or navigate directly to their Order Forms & Publications page. You can specify exactly which forms you need and the quantity. They typically ship within 10 business days. There are some quantity limits, but they're usually generous enough for small to medium-sized businesses. Keep in mind that while 1096 forms (and many others like W-2s, 1099s, etc.) can be ordered for free, some specialized forms might not be available through their ordering system. Also, during peak tax season, delivery times might be longer, so plan accordingly!
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Dmitry Sokolov
•This is great info! Do you know if theres a limit to how many you can order at once? And is there a way to track the delivery or get a confirmation email?
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Sofia Torres
•There is typically a limit of 25 forms per order for most business forms including the 1096. This is usually sufficient for small businesses, but if you need more, you can place multiple orders or consider electronic filing which has no paper form limitations. The IRS doesn't provide tracking numbers for their free form shipments, unfortunately. You'll receive a confirmation page when you complete your order online, but there's no email confirmation or tracking. I usually recommend ordering well in advance of when you'll need them to account for potential delays, especially during busy filing seasons.
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Ava Martinez
I struggled with getting the right forms for my rental property business last year and discovered https://taxr.ai which completely changed how I handle tax documents. Instead of hunting down physical forms, I uploaded my previous filings and it identified exactly which forms I needed and provided downloadable versions. It also explained which forms I could submit electronically vs which ones still needed physical copies. The best part was that it flagged that I actually didn't need the 1096 form for some of my submissions since I was e-filing those specific information returns. Saved me a ton of hassle with unnecessary paperwork.
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Miguel Ramos
•Wait this sounds interesting - does it work for all business types? I have an LLC taxed as an S-Corp and the forms get confusing.
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QuantumQuasar
•Are you sure its secure to upload your tax docs to some random website? Sounds sketchy to me. How do you know they're not stealing your info?
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Ava Martinez
•It works for all business types including S-Corps. The system analyzes your specific business structure and filing requirements, then provides a customized list of forms and instructions. It was especially helpful for understanding the differences between what I needed to file for my LLC versus my S-Corp clients. I completely understand the security concern - I was hesitant at first too. They use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. They also have a privacy guarantee that your information will never be shared. I researched them thoroughly before using the service and found they're actually partnered with several respected tax professionals.
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Miguel Ramos
Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I decided to try it after asking about it here and wow, what a timesaver! I uploaded my business docs, and it immediately identified I needed forms 1120S, 1096, and several 1099s. The platform showed me which ones I could order for free from the IRS versus what I needed to buy. It even generated prefilled versions of some forms with my business info already inserted. I feel way more organized for this tax season than I have in years. Definitely recommend for anyone confused about which forms they need or how to get them!
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Zainab Omar
If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS to ask about form ordering (took me FOREVER last year), I used https://claimyr.com to actually get a human on the phone. There's a demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. Basically, they navigate the IRS phone tree for you and call you back when they get a real person. I was skeptical but I got connected to an IRS agent in about 40 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I spent previously. The agent confirmed I could get 1096 forms for free and even helped me place a bulk order for my business.
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Connor Gallagher
•How exactly does this work? Do they just sit on hold for you or what? I don't get how a third party service can get through the IRS phone lines faster.
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Yara Sayegh
•This sounds like BS honestly. The IRS phone system is a nightmare because they're understaffed, not because the system is hard to navigate. No way some service can magically get you through faster.
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Zainab Omar
•They use technology that continuously calls and navigates the IRS phone system, essentially waiting on hold for you. Their system can detect when a human answers and only then does it connect you. It's not about "cutting the line" - they're just handling the tedious part of waiting on hold. The magic isn't in getting through faster than others, it's that you don't have to be actively waiting on the phone. You can go about your day, and they call you only when there's an actual IRS agent ready to talk. It saved me from being stuck on hold for hours, which was a game-changer during busy season when I need to be working on other things.
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Yara Sayegh
I'm here to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself when I needed to talk to someone about a missing refund AND order forms for next year. I was completely prepared to come back and trash the service, but... it actually worked. Got a call back in about 50 minutes, and was connected to an IRS agent who confirmed that yes, I could order 1096 forms for free. She also helped resolve my refund issue. I probably saved 2-3 hours of my life not sitting on hold. Never been happier to be wrong about something!
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Keisha Johnson
Another option is to check with your local library! Many libraries keep tax forms on hand during tax season, including some of the less common ones like 1096. My library even has a dedicated "tax corner" from January through April. It's free and you don't have to wait for shipping.
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Paolo Longo
•Do they usually have the instruction booklets too? Those are almost more valuable than the forms themselves lol
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Keisha Johnson
•Yes, most libraries that offer tax forms also carry the instruction booklets! You're absolutely right that these can be incredibly valuable. In fact, many libraries specifically order extra copies of the instruction publications because they know patrons find them helpful. Some larger libraries even host free tax preparation assistance sessions where volunteers can walk you through filling out the forms correctly. These services typically start around late January and run through the filing deadline in April.
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CosmicCowboy
I think everyone's missing something important here - most businesses should be e-filing 1096 and 1099 forms anyway. If you're filing more than 10 information returns, you're required to e-file. The IRS has been pushing hard to get everyone to e-file these forms.
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Amina Diallo
•The 10+ requirement for e-filing is only for certain forms though. Some businesses still need paper forms even if they're larger. Plus many small businesses prefer paper for certain filings.
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Oliver Fischer
Just want to add that if you do decide to order forms directly from the IRS, make sure to double-check which version year you're ordering! I made the mistake last year of accidentally ordering 2023 forms when I needed 2024 forms for my filing. The IRS website defaults to the current tax year, but it's easy to miss if you're not paying attention. Also, for anyone considering the electronic filing route - it's definitely worth looking into even for smaller businesses. The IRS FIRE system (Filing Information Returns Electronically) is free to use and can save you from dealing with paper forms altogether. You still need to provide copies to recipients, but you can print those yourself on regular paper.
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Sara Hellquiem
•Thanks for the heads up about the version year - that's definitely something easy to overlook! Quick question about the FIRE system: do you know if there are any limitations on the types of businesses that can use it, or can any business register regardless of size? I'm a sole proprietor with just a few 1099s to file each year, so I'm wondering if it's worth setting up an account for such a small volume.
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