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Your year-end 1099 & W-2 checklist

Pick the forms you file and get a dated to-do list from November to March, with every deadline adjusted for weekends and holidays. Tick things off, print it, or add it all to your calendar.

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Short answer

Year-end information returns run on a few fixed dates. Forms 1099-NEC and W-2 are due to recipients and the IRS or SSA by January 31, with no automatic extension. Most other 1099s go to recipients by January 31 and to the IRS by February 28 on paper or March 31 if e-filed, with 1099-B, 1099-S and 1099-MISC (boxes 8 and 10) recipient copies due February 15. Forms 1095-C go to employees by March 2. Dates on a weekend or federal holiday move to the next business day, and 10 or more returns in total must be e-filed.

  • Request missing W-9s in November
  • Check TINs before January
  • Automatic 30-day extension (Form 8809) for most forms except 1099-NEC and W-2
  • E-filing goes through IRIS from the 2027 filing season

Last reviewed against IRS Publication 1099 (2026) and the Instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C.

Forms you file

    Why year-end reporting goes wrong, and how to avoid it

    Most late or incorrect 1099s and W-2s don't come from January mistakes. They come from missing information that nobody asked for in the fall. The checklist front-loads the slow work:

    • Missing W-9s take weeks to chase. Ask in November, not January.
    • Bad TINs lead to IRS notices and backup withholding months later. Check them before you file with the TIN checker and IRS TIN Matching.
    • Who gets a form depends on how you paid. Card and payment-app payments are reported by the processor, not you (see the 1099-K guide).
    • January 31 comes fast. 1099-NECs and W-2s are due to both recipients and the government on the same day, with no automatic extension.

    If you do miss a date, file as soon as you can: penalties step up after 30 days and again after August 1 (try the penalty calculator). The full table of due dates for every form is on our filing deadlines page.

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    Questions

    Year-end questions

    When should I start preparing 1099s and W-2s?

    In the fall. Collecting missing W-9s and fixing TINs in October and November means January is just entering numbers and filing. Waiting until January means chasing vendors while the January 31 deadline gets closer.

    What happens if a deadline falls on a weekend?

    It moves to the next business day. This checklist already applies that rule, including federal holidays, to the dates it shows.

    Can I get an extension?

    For most information returns you can get an automatic 30-day extension to file with the IRS by submitting Form 8809 by the original due date. Extensions for W-2s and 1099-NECs aren't automatic and are granted only for limited reasons, and extensions for recipient copies are requested separately.

    Do I need to file 1096 or W-3 if I e-file?

    No. Form 1096 and Form W-3 are transmittals for paper filing only.

    Does this checklist save my progress?

    No. To keep everything private, nothing is stored or sent anywhere. Your ticks are cleared when you reload the page. Download the calendar file or print the list to keep it.

    Tick off "file" in one sitting

    Import your spreadsheet, fix anything flagged, and e-file 1099s, W-2s and 1095s with the IRS and SSA. About 30 minutes for most filers.

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    Your data stays with you. This tool runs entirely in your web browser. Nothing you type or paste is sent to EFileForMe or anyone else, and nothing is saved once you leave the page. The information here is general and educational, based on IRS publications as we understand them at the time of writing. It isn't tax, legal or accounting advice, rules change, and results are provided as-is without warranty. Check the current IRS instructions or a qualified tax professional before relying on it.