You can get a Form 1040 free from the IRS website at irs.gov/forms-instructions, where the current and prior-year PDFs are available to download and print any time. If you want a paper copy handed to you, public libraries that participate in the IRS Tax Forms Outlet Program stock them during filing season, and IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers carry them by appointment. You can also order forms by phone at 1-800-829-3676 for delivery by mail.
Download the Form From irs.gov
The IRS Forms, Instructions and Publications page hosts every current and prior-year tax form. The Form 1040 PDF, its schedules, and the instruction booklet are all listed there and ready to download instantly. Print at home or fill them out on your computer using any PDF software before printing.
The same page links to Schedules 1, 1-A, 2, and 3, which cover additional income, adjustments, tax credits, and other payments that don’t fit on the main form. Download the instruction booklet alongside the form if you’re filing on paper. It walks through every line item.
Pick Up a Paper Copy in Person
If you don’t have a printer, a public library is the most reliable pickup spot. Many branches participate in the IRS Tax Forms Outlet Program, which stocks the basic 1040 and instruction booklet during peak filing months. Supplies thin out as April 15 approaches, so call your local branch before making the trip.
Post offices do not carry tax forms. The U.S. Postal Service confirms this on its FAQ page and directs taxpayers to the IRS website or the mail-order line.
IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are the other in-person option, and they can provide specific form variants that libraries may not carry. Most centers require an appointment. Use the office locator at irs.gov to find your nearest location and schedule a visit.
Order Forms by Mail
You can order paper forms, schedules, and instruction booklets by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-3676. The line operates 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday in your local time zone (Pacific time for Alaska and Hawaii). Orders generally arrive within 15 business days once the forms are available for the current filing season.
Place your order well before the April 15 deadline. A late return triggers a penalty of 5% of your unpaid tax for each month the return is overdue, up to a maximum of 25%. Waiting until early April and relying on mail delivery is how people end up scrambling for an extension.
Accessible Formats
If you need the form in Braille, large print, or another accessible format, request it by calling the same 1-800-829-3676 number used for standard form orders. The IRS also provides digital files in text, e-Braille, HTML, accessible PDF, and large print for download on its website.
To have all ongoing IRS correspondence sent in an alternative format, set the preference through your IRS Individual Online Account, file Form 9000 with your tax return, or call 1-800-829-1040.
Which Version of the 1040 Do You Need?
The standard Form 1040 is the right choice for most U.S. citizens and resident aliens. Two variants exist for specific filers, and grabbing the wrong one wastes the trip.
Form 1040-SR for Seniors
If you’re 65 or older, you can use Form 1040-SR instead of the standard 1040. The line items and instructions are identical, but the form is printed in a larger font and includes the standard deduction table on the form itself. Both versions live on the same IRS page at irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040.
Form 1040-NR for Nonresident Aliens
Nonresident aliens with U.S.-source income file Form 1040-NR rather than the standard 1040. You’re generally considered a nonresident alien if you’re not a U.S. citizen and haven’t passed either the green card test or the substantial presence test. This includes many international students on F-1 or J-1 visas, visiting researchers, and others earning U.S. wages or rental income without permanent resident status. Form 1040-NR reports only U.S.-sourced income, unlike the standard 1040, which covers worldwide income.
Getting a Copy of a 1040 You Already Filed
If what you actually need is a record of a return you already filed, not a blank form, the route depends on how much detail you need and how fast you need it.
Free Transcripts Through Your Online Account
The fastest option is your IRS Individual Online Account at irs.gov. Once you sign in, you can view, print, or download transcripts immediately at no charge. Several types are available:
- Tax return transcript: shows most line items from your original return as filed. Current year and three prior tax years.
- Tax account transcript: shows filing status, taxable income, payment types, and any post-filing changes. Current year and nine prior tax years through your online account.
- Record of account transcript: combines the return and account transcripts. Current year and three prior tax years.
- Wage and income transcript: shows data from W-2s, 1099s, and other information returns. Current year and nine prior tax years.
A tax return transcript is usually sufficient for mortgage applications and other situations where a third party wants proof of your income. If you can’t access your online account, request transcripts by mailing Form 4506-T.
Full Photocopies of a Filed Return
For an actual photocopy of the return you filed rather than a transcript, file Form 4506 with the IRS. The fee is $30 per return, and processing can take up to 75 calendar days. Include your Social Security number and the address from the original filing for identity verification. Before paying for a full copy, ask whoever requested the document whether a free transcript will satisfy their requirements.