Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Lea Uradu, J.D., is a Maryland state registered tax preparer, state-certified notary public, ...

Filing your federal tax return to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) starts with having the right forms in hand. Whether you choose to e-file or submit a paper return, being well-prepared is essential ...

Filing IRS Form 4868 gives you an automatic six-month extension to file your tax return. You can request an extension for free, but you still need to pay taxes owed by Tax Day. Many, or all, of the ...

Chances are that when you get your paycheck, you don’t look closely at anything beyond the net pay—the amount deposited into your account. But your Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement? That’s a different ...

Tax season opens January 26, 2026, which means that tax forms will be arriving in mailboxes and inboxes soon. Here’s when to expect Forms W-2, 1099 and others—and what to do if they don’t show up on ...

If you're ready to file your 2025 income taxes (and receive your potential tax refund) early, here is the information and documentation you need. Peter is a writer and editor for the CNET How-To team.