How to get tax forms online

Finding the tax forms you need can sometimes be a hassle, and each year both federal and state governments and printing and distributing fewer copies of paper forms. This year South Carolina is drastically reducing the number of forms it sends out, all of which means: you may need to find your forms online! If you've never done this before, there are just a few simple steps.

Federal Tax Forms

1. Visit http://www.irs.gov/ in your web browser.


2. Click the words "Forms and Publications" near the top-left corner of the page.


3. There are a few ways to find forms. Under the "Download forms and publications by" heading, click "Form and instruction number."


4. You can search by product number or title (see picture). If you know you need a 1040A, choose product number, enter "1040A," and click "find." If you don't know the form number, choose Title, enter what you know (i.e., "moving expenses), and click "find."


5. Click on the results to open and print or save your form.

South Carolina Tax Forms

1. SC forms work the same way: start by visiting http://www.sctax.org/.


2. On the left side of the screen, click "Individual Income." Then click "Forms."


3. Then, on the right side of the screen, click "Individual Income Tax" to see all related forms. (You can also choose other types of forms -- see picture.)


4. Click on a form number to open, print or save a form.

-Alan