What Tax Forms Are Required?

QUICK TIP:   To keep it simple, upload your entire U.S. income tax return to IDOC.  We need the entire return as you submitted it to the IRS including your personal return, your corporate and/or partnership return (if you own a business), including all schedules and pages.  You may simply upload a single PDF of your tax return(s) to IDOC, and IDOC will separate and organize your submission for you - it's very easy!

This page explores some of the more common tax forms that are required when domestic students complete the CSS Profile and FAFSA. Most families have submitted these forms to the IRS already for last year's federal income tax return, so the forms should be available to you or your parent(s)/guardian(s). Our Financial Aid Office uses these forms to verify the information that you/your parents reported on your CSS Profile and/or FAFSA forms. You will submit electronic copies of the tax forms (exactly as they were submitted to the IRS) to Swarthmore using IDOC (pronounced "eye-dok"). 

This list of the more commonly-required forms does not apply to everyone, and is not an exhaustive list. You may not possess or have to submit every one of the forms/documents listed on this page. In addition, you may need to submit less common forms that are not listed here. 

W-2 Form

The W-2 is a pre-filled document provided by an employer to an employee.  It is mailed or provided to the employee usually in January.  It details the wage earnings earned by the employee in the most recent calendar tax year.  You will use it to complete both your U.S. federal income tax returns for the IRS and your FAFSA and CSS Profile financial aid applications for the colleges/universities where you wish to apply.  Swarthmore College's Financial Aid Office requests a copy of each W-2 in order to verify income that your family reports on your financial aid applications, the FAFSA and CSS Profile.  View a PDF of the W-2.

1099 Form(s)

The 1099 form is a series of documents the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refers to as "information returns." There are a number of different 1099 forms that report the various types of income you may receive throughout the year other than the salary your employer pays you. The person or entity that pays you is responsible for filling out the appropriate 1099 tax form and sending it to you by January 31. 

  • SSA -1099 if you or your parent(s) receive social security income or benefits
  • 1099-MISC if you are an independent contractor; received from each client that pays you above a certain amount each tax year
  • 1099-DIV if you own a portfolio of stock investments or mutual funds
  • 1099-INT if you have a savings account
  • 1099-G if you receive compensation from the U.S. federal government, commonly from unemployment income
  • 1099-R if you withdrew from a retirement account
  • 1099-C if you receive a cancellation of debt from a creditor

Form 1040

The 1040 form is the main part of the U.S. federal income tax return that you submit to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year.  Your 1040 is what you will use to complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile.  Swarthmore College's Financial Aid Office may request a copy of the 1040 (and Schedules 1 through 6, if any are applicable for your family's situation) in order to verify income that your family reports on your financial aid applications, the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.  View a PDF of the 1040.

Form 1041

The 1041 form is a form of the U.S. federal income tax return that you submit to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if you have income from an estate or trust.  Swarthmore College's Financial Aid Office may request a copy of the 1041 in order to verify income that your family reports on your financial aid application.  View a PDF of the 1041.

Schedule A

The Schedule A is the form that you will complete if your parents utilize the 1040 form and they itemize the deductions to their annual income that is assessed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  If you are reporting an itemized (non-standard) deduction on line 40 of the 1040, you will have to complete a Schedule A as part of your federal income tax return for the IRS.  Swarthmore College's Financial Aid Office may request a copy of the Schedule A in order to verify information that your family reports on your financial aid application.  View a PDF of the Schedule A.

Schedule C

The Schedule C is the form that you will complete as part of your annual federal income tax return if you have earnings from a sole proprietorship (solo business).  If you are reporting income or loss of income on line 12 of the 1040, you will more than likely have to complete a Schedule C as part of your federal income tax return for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Swarthmore College's Financial Aid Office may request a copy of the Schedule C in order to verify income that your family reports on your financial aid applications, the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.  View a PDF of the Schedule C.

Schedule E

The Schedule E is the form that you will complete as part of your annual federal income tax return if you have earnings from rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, estates, trusts, etc.  If you are reporting income or loss of income on line 17 of the 1040, you will more than likely have to complete a Schedule E as part of your federal income tax return for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Swarthmore College's Financial Aid Office may request a copy of the Schedule E in order to verify income that your family reports on your financial aid applications, the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.  View a PDF of the Schedule E.

Schedule F

The Schedule F is the form that you will complete as part of your annual federal income tax return if you have earnings from farm ownership.  If you are reporting income or loss of income on line 18 of the 1040, you will more than likely have to complete a Schedule F as part of your federal income tax return for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Swarthmore College's Financial Aid Office may request a copy of the Schedule F in order to verify income that your family reports on your financial aid applications, the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.  View a PDF of the Schedule F.

 

Business Ownership Forms  

If your parents own or are a partner in a business, and they file any of the forms below with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), we will need them to be submitted as well with your financial aid application.

1120

1120:  If your parents have ownership in a C-corporation, they will have filed this form with the IRS.  We need a copy of the form to verify income.  It would need to be uploaded via the IDOC process after submitting your CSS Profile.  View a PDF of Form 1120.

1120S

If your parents have ownership in a S-corporation, they will have filed this form with the IRS.  We need a copy of the form to verify income.  It would need to be uploaded via the IDOC process after submitting your CSS Profile.  View a PDF of Form 1120S.

1065

Sometimes referred to as a "partnership return," if your parents have ownership in a Business Partnership, they will have filed this form with the IRS.  We need a copy of the form to verify income.  It would need to be uploaded via the IDOC process after submitting the CSS Profile. View a PDF of Form 1065.

K-1

If your parents have ownership in an S-corporation (Form 1120S) or a Partnership (Form 1065), the K-1 is a form that they would receive also from the S-corporation or Partnership.  The K-1 is sent to each owner/partner and is used to report the incomes, losses, and dividends of the business owners/partners.  View PDFs of a K-1 for Form 1120S or a K-1 for Form 1065.