Tax forms
Tax forms for employers and contractors
Employers give each employee a Form W-2. Businesses that pay contractors collect a Form W-9, then report the payments on Form 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC. See which tax form fits your situation, then make it here: W-2 and 1099 recipient copies, or a W-9 with a free preview.
Tools and guides
Tax form tools and guides
Which tax form do I need?
Start with who was paid. The form follows from that.
Tax forms for employers
- Form W-2, the Wage and Tax Statement, is what an employer gives each employee for the year. It is a yearly form, not a pay stub: see W-2 vs pay stub.
- Form W-3 is the one-page summary that totals an employer’s W-2s.
Tax forms for independent contractors and the businesses that pay them
- Form W-9 is filled in by the contractor or other payee. It gives the payer their name and taxpayer ID. A payee can fill out a W-9 form online here.
- Form 1099-NEC is prepared by the payer and reports nonemployee compensation.
- Form 1099-MISC is prepared by the payer and reports payments such as rents, royalties, and prizes and awards. Not sure which one applies? See which 1099 form you need.
Your own tax return
- Form 1040 is an individual’s own income tax return. PayStubGo has no Form 1040 tool; Form 1040 explained shows how the other forms relate to it.
Tax form prices
Filling in and previewing Form W-9 is free. Downloading the completed W-9 PDF is $5.49. W-2 and 1099 recipient copies are priced by pack.
W-2 and 1099 recipient copies
1 form
New customer
$5.49
Bought a pay stub this year$4.49
3-form pack
New customer
$11.49
$3.83 per form · save $4.98
Bought a pay stub this year$9.49
5-form pack
New customer
$17.49
$3.50 per form · save $9.96
Bought a pay stub this year$14.49
10-form pack
New customer
$32.99
$3.30 per form · save $21.91
Bought a pay stub this year$27.99
Lower price applies if you bought a pay stub this year.
A pack covers one kind of form in one order, up to 25. In-between quantities use the lowest-cost mix of packs.
- New customer
- $11.49
- Bought a pay stub this year
- $9.49
3 forms, charged as packs: 1×3
PayStubGo creates recipient copies. It does not file these forms with the IRS or SSA.
Questions
Tax forms FAQ
Which tax form do I need?
It depends on who you paid. An employer gives each employee a Form W-2, the Wage and Tax Statement, for the year. A business that pays a contractor asks for a Form W-9 to get their name and taxpayer ID, then reports nonemployee compensation on Form 1099-NEC. Payments such as rents, royalties, and prizes and awards go on Form 1099-MISC.
What tax forms do I need for an independent contractor?
Two. First ask the contractor for a completed Form W-9, which gives you their name, address and taxpayer ID. Then report what you paid them for services on Form 1099-NEC. For tax year 2026, nonemployee compensation is reported on Form 1099-NEC when it reaches $2,000.
What tax form do employers give to employees?
Form W-2, the Wage and Tax Statement. It shows the employee’s wages and the taxes withheld for the whole year. For tax year 2026, an employer must generally furnish Copies B, C and 2 of Form W-2 to employees by February 1, 2027.
What is the difference between a W-2 and a 1099?
A Form W-2 reports an employee’s wages and withholding for the year. A Form 1099-NEC reports nonemployee compensation: payment for services to someone who is not your employee. Which one applies depends on whether the worker is an employee. The forms do not decide that, and PayStubGo cannot decide it for you.
Does PayStubGo file tax forms for me?
No. Filing with the IRS or the Social Security Administration stays with the employer or payer. If you must file 10 or more information returns in total for the year (W-2s and 1099s counted together), you must e-file.
What do the tax forms cost?
Filling in and previewing Form W-9 is free; downloading the completed PDF is $5.49. W-2 and 1099 recipient copies start at $5.49 for one form and come in packs of 1, 3, 5 and 10. The price is shown before you pay.
Who gets the lower price?
Anyone who bought a pay stub this calendar year. It is matched by your delivery email: type the email you bought the pay stub with at checkout and the lower price is applied automatically, with no sign-in. The free stub does not count. “This calendar year” is the year you place the order, not the tax year of the form. One pay stub you bought is enough, and nothing carries over from another email address. Form W-3 and the completed Form W-9 cost the same for everyone.