Happy New Year from Bradstreet & Company!!

Taxes | Tax season | Tax preparation | December 31, 2025

This Week's Quote:

"Wishing you much happiness and prosperity in the year ahead." 
           - Unknown

Happy New Year from Bradstreet & Company!

And just like that, it’s time to get ready for tax season. While we’re sure you’re enjoying the start of a new year, it’s also the perfect time to think about getting your tax records in order.

Hopefully, you took the time to organize your records as suggested in Publication 552, which offers helpful guidelines on keeping things neat and accessible. If you did, kudos! Your tax return filing will be that much smoother this year, and you’ll have more time to focus on tax and financial planning for 2026 instead of scrambling to gather paperwork from 2025.

In this week’s post, we’re diving into the common forms you should expect to receive over the next few weeks. These forms will be crucial when it’s time to file, so stay on top of them to make your filing process easier.

Tax Forms to Watch For in 2026

Here’s a rundown of some of the most common forms you might receive—pay attention to the dates and keep an eye on your mailbox!

W-2:

Deadline: Employers must send these by January 31, 2026.
Make sure your employer has your updated address if you moved during the year. Some employers may also provide W-2s online, so be sure to check your account on their website.

W-2G:

Deadline: Casinos, Lottery Commissions, and other gambling entities must send by January 31, 2026.
If you had gambling winnings that exceeded a certain threshold, you’ll receive this form. Keep in mind, some casinos may issue a W-2G when you win a jackpot, so be sure to save those documents throughout the year.

1098-C:
If you donated a vehicle, boat, or airplane to a qualified charity, you’ll receive this form. The organization will also file a Form 1098-C with the IRS if the vehicle’s claimed value exceeds $500.

1099-NEC:

New for 2021: This form reports the total payments made to an independent contractor or service provider during the year. Certain Medicaid waiver payments may be excluded as "difficulty of care" payments.

1099-MISC:
This form is used to report miscellaneous income such as rent, payments to attorneys, legal settlements, or prize winnings.

1099-INT:
If you earned interest income from banks or other financial institutions, you’ll receive this form. It includes tax-exempt interest, original issue discounts, and any foreign tax paid on the interest.

1099-DIV:
For those who received dividends from stocks or mutual funds, this form will report dividend income, including capital gains distributions and foreign tax paid.

1099-B:
Issued by brokers or barter exchanges, this form summarizes your sale transactions. Pay attention to box 1f and box 1g if you had any wash sales or disallowed losses.

1099-C:
If you had debt canceled during the year, such as from a credit card company or bank, this form will be issued to you. The IRS views canceled debt as income, so be sure to include this in your return.

1099-K:
Merchants accepting payment card transactions will send this form. It's worth noting that Box 1b now requires reporting for "Card Not Present" transactions.

K-1:
If you’re a partner, member, or shareholder in a partnership or S-corp, expect a K-1 to report your share of profits, losses, and other business items. These forms may be issued as late as March 15, 2026, and sometimes not until later in the year. If you expect to receive a late K-1, consider filing for an extension on your personal tax return to avoid needing an amendment later.

1095-A
If you purchased health insurance through the Marketplace, you will need this form to reconcile any advanced premium tax credits you may have received with amounts you were allowed to receive.

1098:
Sent by banks and lenders, this form reports the amount of mortgage interest paid during the year and may also include real estate taxes and other loan-related information.

1098-T:
This form is sent by educational institutions to report tuition payments, scholarships, and other educational expenses. You’ll need this to calculate any education-related tax credits.

Organize, Track, and File with Ease

So, what’s the best way to handle all these forms? Keep everything organized in a dedicated folder or file for your tax documents. When each form arrives, make sure to add it to your collection—your future self will thank you when it’s time to file your taxes.

Thank you for all your questions, comments, and suggestions throughout the year! As always, we appreciate hearing from you. If you ever need help, we’re here for you—whether you’re in Dayton or Xenia, give us a call at 937-436-3133 (Dayton) or 937-372-3504 (Xenia). Or, visit our website for more information.

We’ll be back next week with more tips and updates as we head into tax season. Until then, stay organized and start preparing!

– The Team at Bradstreet & Company