forms to submit when mailing a return

[arqchicago]

Hi, I am mailing my return due to my unique situation. The instruction say to attach W2s and forms that show withholding. Should I also include other forms that show income (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B)? Some of these such as 1099-B are a big stack of papers so sending it would be a challenge. 

[JamKo]

If you file electronically with Turbotax those 1099 forms should be part of the electronic return and should not  be necessary to mail them in. In addition, the institutions who gave you the 1099s probably submitted them to the IRS on the other end so the IRS probably already has them. If you created those 1099s yourself using another software then they should have been imported to TurboTax when you did the return.

[arqchicago]

The question uses the scenario when mailing a return. The 1099 (INT, DIV, B) are those sent by the institutions. Should they also be included with the mailed return?

[JamKo]

Well in that case you probably want to mail them in. Go to a shipping store. They will have all the stuff you need to package it and price it for mailing.

[laureyb]

Per filing instructions when I printed my return "Include all copies of income statements (w2, 1099, etc) to your return. " So yes I think you should.

[arqchicago]

This is confusing because Form 1040 instruction only reference W2 or anything other form that show tax withheld (W2G, 1099R). It does not specify sending "income statements". 

[JamKo]

You could try to submit without them and if it's needed the IRS will send you a letter, but they might hit you with a penalty plus interest, but maybe not. If these are for trades you made usually those are detailed in the return and that might be enough if it matches with what the institutions sent to the IRS. File electronically next time it's so much easier. TurboTax desktop version Deluxe supports what you're doing, is less than $80 and you don't have to go to the shipping store and pay all that postage, envelopes etc.  The online version is a little more but probably worth it. Plus both import directly from most of the institutions depending who you're using. 

[DianeW777 · Accepted solution]

No.  Do NOT send Forms 1099 unless there is federal or state withholding.  The IRS has these documents and do not want them mailed with the tax return.

The W-2 has more significance when filing your tax return.  The IRS not only reconciles this with your tax return but they also reconcile with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for your life long account.

Mail every Form, Schedule and, if applicable Statement.  Do not mail, worksheets or forms not required to be included.

The IRS does not want the excess and it becomes confusing for them.

[arqchicago]

thank you! this response matches what is mentioned in Form 1040 instructions.