We've compiled a list of the most popular IRS publications. IRS publications frequently contain a wealth of information. We've broken the list down into three categories -- Personal, Health Care and Business. There are actually many more IRS publications than those listed here; by deleting the more arcane ones we've made the list more usable. You can also use the find feature in your browser to search the list. There is often some overlap. For example, the publication on depreciation can be useful for both businesses and individuals. We list the publication only once, so check the entire page. After you've located the publication you want, click on the title for a direct link to the publication on the IRS page. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read the file. For the complete list of publications available, go to the IRS site, IRS Forms and Publications. Three more points. First, be sure to check publication dates carefully. Many are revised annually; some only infrequently. Many revisions occur after a major tax law change or near the end of the year or early in the new year. The link below should take you to the current, published document. For example, many publications have a 2019 date and are intended for 2019 returns. When the update is published the link below will take you to the latest publication. Most publications also contain a publication date. That's usually on the bottom of the cover page. For example, Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses (For use in preparing 2019 Returns) was released January 30, 2020. Second, many of the most popular publications are also available in Spanish and some are available in other languages. Third, draft copies of publications can be found at IRS Draft Forms.
Publications for Individuals
Pub. No. |
Publication Name |
  |
  |
1 |
Your Rights As A Taxpayer |
3 |
Armed Forces' Tax Guide |
5 |
Appeal Rights and Preparation of Protests for Unagreed Cases |
17 |
Your Federal Income Tax |
54 |
Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad |
225 |
Farmer's Tax Guide |
501 |
Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information |
502 |
Medical and Dental Expenses |
503 |
Child and Dependent Care Expenses |
504 |
Divorced or Separated Individuals |
505 |
Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax |
514 |
Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals |
516 |
U.S. Government Civilian Employees Stationed Abroad |
517 |
Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy |
519 |
U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens |
521 |
Moving Expenses |
523 |
Selling Your Home |
524 |
Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled |
525 |
Taxable and Nontaxable Income |
526 |
Charitable Contributions |
527 |
Residential Rental Property |
529 |
Miscellaneous Deductions |
530 |
Tax Information for First-Time Homeowners |
531 |
Reporting Tip Income |
536 |
Net Operating Losses (NOLs) for Individuals |
537 |
Installment Sales |
547 |
Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts (Business and Nonbusiness) |
550 |
Investment Income and Expenses |
551 |
Basis of Assets |
552 |
Recordkeeping for Individuals |
554 |
Tax Guide for Seniors |
555 |
Community Property |
556 |
Examination of Returns, Appeals Rights, and Claims for Refund |
559 |
Survivors, Executors, and Administrators |
561 |
Determining the Value of Donated Property |
570 |
Tax Guide for Individuals with Income from U.S. Possessions |
571 |
Tax-Sheltered Annuity Programs for Employees . . . Public Schools and Exempt Organizations |
575 |
Pension and Annuity Income |
584 |
Casualty, Disaster and Theft Loss Workbook (Personal-Use Property) |
584B |
Business Casualty, Disaster and Theft Loss Workbook |
587 |
Business Use of Your Home (Including Use by Day-Care Providers) |
590-A |
Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) |
590-B |
Distributions From Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) |
594 |
The IRS Collection Process |
596 |
Earned Income Credit |
721 |
Tax Guide to U.S. Civil Service Retirement Benefits |
746 |
Information About Your Notice, Penalty and Interest |
907 |
Tax Highlights for Persons With Disabilities |
908 |
Bankruptcy Tax Guide |
915 |
Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits |
925 |
Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules |
926 |
Household Employer's Tax Guide |
929 |
Tax Rules for Children and Dependents |
936 |
Home Mortgage Interest Deduction |
938 |
Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (REMICs) |
939 |
General Rule for Pensions and Annuities |
957 |
Reporting Back Pay and Special Wage Payments |
969 |
Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans |
970 |
Tax Benefits for Higher Education |
971 |
Innocent Spouse Relief (and Separation of Liability and Equitable Relief) |
972 |
Child Tax Credit |
976 |
Disaster Relief |
1024 |
How to Prepare an Application for a Certificate of Nonattachment of Federal
Tax Lien |
1035 |
Extending the Tax Assessment Period |
1244 |
Employee's Daily Record of Tips and Report to Employer |
1321 |
Special Instructions for Bona Fide Residents of Puerto Rico Who Must File From 1040 |
1546 |
The Taxpayer Advocate Service: How to Get Help With Unresolved Tax
Problems |
1577 |
Applying for Financial Aid? |
1660 |
Collection Appeal Rights |
1771 |
Charitable Contributions - Substantiation and Disclosure Requirements |
1854 |
How to Prepare a Collection Information Statement (Form 433-A) |
1915 |
Understanding Your IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) |
2194 |
Disaster Losses Kit for Individuals |
3498 |
The Examination Process |
3833 |
Disaster Relief |
3864 |
Tax Facts for Seniors with a Change in Marital Status |
3865 |
Tax Information for Survivors of Domestic Abuse |
3966 |
Living and Working With Disabilities |
3995 |
Recognizing Illegal Tax Avoidance Schemes |
4128 |
Tax Impact of Job Loss |
4303 |
A Donor's Guide to Car Donations |
4345 |
Settlements Taxability |
4386 |
Compliance Checks: Examination, Audit or Compliance Check |
4530 |
Designated Roth Accounts Under 401(k) or 403(b) Plan |
4681 |
Canceled Debts, Foreclosures, Repossessions, and Abandonments |
4808 |
Disability and EITC |
4849 |
Can't Pay the Tax You Owe Fact Sheet |
4821 |
Tax Problems and Nowhere to Turn? Contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service |
5181 |
Tax Return Reviews by Mail (CP2000, CP2501) |
5537 |
IRS Toolkit Advance Payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credit |