“Other” IRS Tax Forms: What They Are and How to Handle Them

When you see “Tax Form – Other” on an application, intake form, or checklist, it usually means the office needs an additional IRS or state tax form that isn’t the standard 1040—often to verify income, self-employment, or special credits. These “other” forms commonly include things like Schedule C, 1099s, W‑2s, or state-specific forms that support your main tax return.

Many assistance programs, financial aid offices, and lenders use this label when they don’t want to list every specific tax form, but still need more detailed proof of your tax situation. You typically get, file, or reprint these forms through the IRS (federal) or your state department of revenue/taxation.

Quick summary: What “Tax Form – Other” usually means

Tax Form – Other usually refers to extra tax documents beyond your main tax return, such as:

  • Schedules attached to your 1040 (like Schedule C, E, SE, or Schedule 1).
  • Information forms like 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-R, SSA-1099, or state equivalents.
  • State tax forms, especially if you live in a state with income tax.
  • IRS account transcripts when a program needs official confirmation from the IRS.

If a checklist or application says “Upload Tax Form – Other”, the next step is usually to contact the requesting office and ask exactly which additional tax form they mean, then retrieve it from your tax records, your tax preparer, your online tax software account, the IRS “Get Transcript” system, or your state tax portal.

Key terms to know

Key terms to know:

  • Form 1040 — The main federal individual income tax return most people file every year.
  • Schedule — An extra form attached to your 1040 to report specific types of income or deductions (for example, Schedule C for self-employment income).
  • Information return (1099/W‑2) — Forms businesses send you and the IRS to report how much they paid you (wages, contract work, retirement, unemployment, etc.).
  • Tax transcript — An official IRS summary of what was filed or reported for a specific year, often accepted when you don’t have a clean copy of your return.

Where to go for “other” tax forms (official sources only)

Two main systems typically handle “Tax Form – Other” documents:

  • IRS (Internal Revenue Service) — Handles federal tax returns, schedules, 1099 matching, and tax transcripts.
  • Your state department of revenue / taxation — Handles state income tax forms and state-level transcripts or account histories.

To safely get the right forms:

  • Search for “IRS Get Transcript” on a trusted search engine, then make sure the website ends in .gov. Through that portal, you can usually get tax return transcripts, wage and income transcripts, and account transcripts.
  • Search for your state’s official “department of revenue” or “taxation” portal, again making sure the site ends in .gov, to reprint or request state returns or state wage and income information.
  • If you used a paid tax preparer, call their office and ask if they can securely provide the specific “other” form being requested.
  • If you used online tax software, sign in and look for a “Download/Print all forms and worksheets” link for the specific tax year.

Rules and available options can vary by state and by the program asking for the documents, so you may see slightly different instructions or accepted forms in different places.

Documents you’ll typically need

When a form, lender, or agency asks you to upload or show “Tax Form – Other,” they are commonly looking for one or more of these:

Documents you’ll typically need:

  • Supporting schedules, such as Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business), Schedule E (Supplemental Income and Loss), or Schedule 1 (Additional Income and Adjustments) that show self-employment, rental income, or other non-wage income.
  • Information returns, like Form 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC (for contract or gig work), 1099-R (retirement distributions), or SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits statement) for the same year as your main return.
  • IRS tax transcript (usually a “Tax Return Transcript” or “Wage and Income Transcript”) if you don’t have a complete copy of the original forms but the program will accept transcripts instead.

Some programs may also accept or request state tax returns or transcripts, especially if they are verifying income for a state benefit, state college aid, or a state-level housing program.

Step-by-step: How to handle a “Tax Form – Other” request

1. Clarify exactly which “other” form they want

Your next concrete action today: Call or message the office that requested “Tax Form – Other” and ask for the exact form name and tax year.

You can say: “Your form says I need to provide ‘Tax Form – Other.’ Can you tell me exactly which IRS or state tax form and year you need?”
Some offices will say something like “Schedule C from your most recent federal return,” “your SSA-1099 for last year,” or “an IRS tax transcript for 2023.”

2. Gather your existing tax records

Once you know the specific form and year:

  1. Check your own files — Look in any folder (paper or digital) where you keep past returns. If you used software, log in and open the Print/Download section for that tax year.
  2. Look specifically for the named form — For example, Schedule C, 1099-NEC, or SSA-1099. These are often attached behind your main 1040 when you printed or saved your return.
  3. If you used a preparer, call their office and ask: “Can you send me a copy of my [exact form] for tax year [year]?”

What to expect next: In many cases, you’ll be able to locate and print or download the needed form the same day, especially if it’s already in your personal or software records.

3. If you don’t have it, request it from IRS or your state

If your own records are incomplete:

  1. Go to the IRS official portal (look for a site ending in .gov) and find the “Get Transcript” service.
  2. Create or log in to your IRS online account and request the correct type of transcript:
    • A Tax Return Transcript usually shows line items from your original 1040 and attached forms.
    • A Wage and Income Transcript lists W‑2s, 1099s, and some other information returns filed in your name.
  3. For state forms, sign into your state’s revenue/taxation portal and look for “view past returns” or “print return” for the specific year.

What to expect next:

  • Online transcripts from the IRS are often available immediately as a PDF if your identity verification passes.
  • If you request paper copies by mail, it usually takes several days to a few weeks, and no exact timing is guaranteed.
  • State portals vary; some allow instant downloads, while others require a mailed copy.

4. Format and submit the form the way they want

Once you have the right form:

  1. Make sure the name and SSN/ITIN on the form match the application or case as closely as possible.
  2. If submitting online, scan or photograph the form so that all corners and all numbers are clearly visible, then save as PDF if possible.
  3. Log in to the official portal or email system the requesting organization uses and upload or attach the document following their instructions (for example, choose “Tax Form – Other” from a dropdown).
  4. If mailing or dropping off, include any cover sheet or case number they gave you so it gets matched correctly.

What to expect next: You typically receive a confirmation message, email, or status update from the organization saying the document was received, or a follow-up request if they still need more detail. Decisions, approvals, or case updates can take days or weeks, depending on the type of program.

Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for

A common snag is that the term “Tax Form – Other” is vague, and people upload the wrong document—such as sending only the first two pages of Form 1040 when the office actually wanted Schedule C or an IRS transcript. This can quietly stall your case until someone reviews your file and sends a clarification request, so always get the exact form name and year before you spend time hunting or ordering documents.

How to avoid scams and get legitimate help

Because “Tax Form – Other” often connects to money, benefits, loans, or housing, it attracts scammers pretending to be from the IRS or government:

  • Only enter your SSN, income, or tax login details on sites ending in .gov, or on known tax software platforms you already use.
  • If someone calls or emails you out of the blue and asks you to send tax forms, hang up and independently look up the agency’s official number on a .gov website, then call back through that number to confirm the request.
  • Be wary of companies that promise guaranteed approvals or rapid refunds in exchange for your tax documents; legitimate programs and agencies do not guarantee outcomes.

For free, legitimate help with tax forms:

  • Contact an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (search for “IRS office near me” on a trusted search engine and verify the .gov address); many locations require an appointment.
  • Look for a local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) or TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) program through community centers or libraries; they can often help you understand which forms you need and how to get them.
  • For state-specific questions, call your state department of revenue/taxation customer service number listed on the state’s official .gov site and ask which state documents would satisfy the “Tax Form – Other” requirement.

Once you’ve clarified the exact form, obtained it from your records, the IRS, or your state, and submitted it through the official channel requested, your part is usually done; the next step is simply to monitor the program’s portal, mail, or email for confirmation or additional document requests.