How to Order IRS Forms by Mail in 2026

The IRS will mail official paper tax forms for free. Here's how to order IRS Forms (1099 forms, W-2s) and other information returns by mail.

Sandeep Subedi9 min readApr 20, 2026Updated Jul 29, 2026

You can order IRS forms by mail via IRS.gov. Navigate to Forms and Instructions, select “Order Forms and Publications,” search for your form, add it to your cart, and the IRS ships it to your address free of charge.

There is a catch, though. Not every form is available by mail; the number of copies you can request is capped, and delivery can take up to 15 business days.

This guide covers all of that: the right portal, quantity limits, delivery timelines, and everything else you need to order IRS forms and get what you came for.

Sounds good. Let’s start.

What IRS Forms Can You Order by Mail?

The IRS makes most of its current and prior year forms available for paper delivery. That includes:

Individual income tax forms, including the Form 1040 (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) series and associated schedules
Employer and information returns, including Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement), Form W-3 (Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements), Form 1096 (Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns), and most 1099 series forms
Instructions and publications for both individual and employer forms

Not every form is available by mail. For the full searchable list of what can be ordered, visit the Forms and Instructions page at IRS.gov. A handful of information returns are download-only and are covered in a dedicated section below.

Two Portals to Order IRS Forms: Which One Do You Use?

There are two distinct portals through which you can order IRS forms. Each of these portals covers a different category of forms.

The first is Forms and Publications by U.S. Mail, found at IRS.gov/forms-pubs/forms-and-publications-by-us-mail. It includes individual income tax forms, schedules, instructions, and publications. If you need a Form 1040, Schedule A, or Publication 15, this is your portal.

The second is Order Paper Information Returns and Employer Returns, found at IRS.gov/businesses/order-paper-information-returns-and-employer-returns. It includes W-2s, 1099 series forms, W-3, 1096, and similar employer-issued information returns. This one is for employers and payroll professionals.

Both use the same cart-based checkout: search, add quantity, add to cart, enter your shipping address, and place your order. The only differences are the forms each portal carries and the quantity limits that apply.

How to Order IRS Forms by Mail: Step by Step

The ordering process is the same across both portals once you are in the right one.

Go to the correct portal for your form type (see above)
Enter the form number or a keyword in the search box, or browse the listed returns directly
Enter the quantity you need in the quantity column next to your form
Click “Add to Cart”
Click “View Cart” or “Shopping Cart” to review your order
Click “Enter Shipping Address” and complete all required fields. All fields marked with an asterisk are required
Review your order on the confirmation screen and click “Place Order”

You will receive an order confirmation on screen. The IRS advises against placing duplicate orders, even if your confirmation does not arrive immediately.

IRS Form Order Quantity Limits: How Many Copies Can You Request?

The IRS caps how many copies of each item you can order per request. The limits differ by form category and portal.

Form category	Maximum quantity per order
Individual tax forms (Forms and Publications portal)	20 per form
Information returns (Employer Returns portal)	10 per return
Employer returns (Employer Returns portal)	20 per return
Instructions and publications	5 per item

One copy of the corresponding instructions is automatically included when you order IRS form through the Forms and Publications portal. You do not need to add it separately.

The IRS monitors these orders. Duplicate orders and misuse of the paper ordering system are investigated.

How Long Does It Take to Receive IRS Forms Ordered by Mail?

Delivery time depends on whether the forms for your tax year are already in stock.

Tax year 2025 forms are currently available. If the product you order is in stock and updated for this filing season, your order should arrive within 15 business days of receipt.

Tax year 2026 forms are not yet fully available. The IRS may hold your entire order until all items are ready, or ship products separately as they become available.

If a form you need is not yet available when you order, the IRS will fulfil it once stock is ready. You do not need to reorder.

Important: When E-Filing Is Required Instead of Paper

If you file 10 or more information returns in aggregate, federal law requires you to file electronically. Ordering paper forms is not a compliant alternative.

Employers above that threshold can e-file information returns through IRIS (Information Returns Intake System, the IRS’s dedicated e-filing platform for information returns) and can e-file Forms W-2 directly with the SSA (Social Security Administration) through BSO (Business Services Online, the SSA’s secure web portal for W-2 submissions).

If you are unsure whether you meet the threshold, count all information return types together. A business filing six 1099-NEC forms and five 1099-MISC forms has filed eleven returns in aggregate and is required to e-file.

IRS Forms Not Available by Mail: What to Do Instead

The following forms cannot be ordered through either IRS portal and must be downloaded and printed directly from IRS.gov:

Form 1097-BTC, Bond Tax Credit
Form 1098-C, Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes
Form 1099-CAP, Changes in Corporate Control and Capital Structure
Form 1099-LTC, Long Term Care and Accelerated Death Benefits
Form 1099-Q, Payments from Qualified Education Programs (Under Sections 529 and 530)
Form 1099-QA, Distributions from ABLE Accounts
Form 1099-SA, Distributions From an HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA
Form 3921, Exercise of an Incentive Stock Option Under Section 422(b)
Form 3922, Transfer of Stock Acquired Through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan Under Section 423(c)
Form 5498-ESA, Coverdell ESA Contribution Information
Form 5498-QA, ABLE Account Contribution Information
Form 5498-SA, HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA Information

To download any of these, visit IRS.gov and use the Forms and Instructions search.

Other Ways to Get IRS Tax Forms

Ordering by mail is one option. The IRS offers three others.

Download directly from IRS.gov. Most current and prior year forms, schedules, instructions, and publications are available as free PDFs. It is the fastest option and has no quantity limits.

Order by phone. Call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) to place your order. Your forms will typically arrive within 10 days of receipt of the request.

Pick up in person. Printed copies of many forms, instructions, and publications are available free of charge at public libraries and IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers.

Helpful Resources

Box-by-Box Guide to Complete W-2 Form (2026): How to Complete Form W-2 (2026): Box-by-Box Employer Guide
Your 15 Minute Guide to Filling W-9 Form Correctly: How to Fill Out the IRS W-9 Form Correctly in 2026
Fill IRS W-4 Form Correctly in 20 Minutes: IRS W-4 Form: How to Fill It Out Correctly | FigsFlow
Everything You Need to Know About IRS Form 1040 Before Filing Season: Form 1040: Practitioner Guide to Latest Changes | FigsFlow

Conclusion

The IRS offers two portals to order IRS forms by mail. The first, Forms and Publications by U.S. Mail, covers individual tax forms, schedules, instructions, and publications. The second, Order Paper Information Returns and Employer Returns, covers W-2s, 1099 series forms, W-3, 1096, and other employer-issued returns.

The ordering process is as straightforward as any e-commerce site: search for your form, add it to your cart, enter your shipping address, and confirm your order.

There are limitations to keep in mind, though. Not every form is available by mail; quantity caps apply depending on the form type, and delivery can take up to 15 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I order prior-year IRS forms by mail?

Yes. Both IRS ordering portals carry prior-year forms in addition to current-year versions. Use the search box to find your specific form and year. Prior year returns are generally mailed within 15 business days. If a prior year form is not listed, it can be downloaded directly from IRS.gov.

Can I order IRS forms by mail if I live outside the United States?

The IRS ordering system requires a valid US shipping address. If you are based outside the US, you will not be able to complete the shipping address step. Your best option is to download the forms directly from IRS.gov, which is accessible from anywhere.

Why is my form listed as "Current" instead of a specific year?

A form listed as “Current” is simply the most recent version available. These forms and instructions are updated on an ongoing basis as needed, rather than reissued each year. Current forms are the correct ones to use unless you specifically need a prior year version.

What should I do if the form I need isn’t available by mail yet?

Place your order anyway. If the form is not yet in stock, the IRS will either hold your order until it is available or ship other items first and fulfil the remaining form separately. Do not place a duplicate order. The IRS advises against it, and it will not speed up delivery.

Are carbonless forms still available from the IRS?

No. The IRS no longer prints 1099s, W-2s, or other information returns on carbonless carbon paper. That includes the W-2 series, W-3, 1096, 1098-E, 1098-T, 1099-B, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, 1099-R, and 5498. Single-sheet versions are available to order. If you need multi-part forms, you will need to source them through a third-party forms supplier.