Vanguard tax form schedule

What it’s used for

For nonresident aliens to report amounts that are subject to income tax withholding.

Why you might receive one

You'll only get a 1042-S if you're a  nonresident alien  and:

• From a  nonretirement account, you received any dividend, short-term capital gains, or long-term capital gains distributions. 
• From a  retirement account  (including IRAs), you took any withdrawals. 
• You had any federal income tax withheld from those withdrawals (referred to as nonresident alien withholding). 

If you haven't provided Vanguard with a completed Form W-8BEN to certify your foreign status, you may instead receive a 1099-B or 1099-DIV to report these activities. 

What it’s used for

To determine any taxes due on your sales of mutual fund shares and securities.

Why you might receive one

You'll get a 1099-B if, in a nonretirement account, you:

• Sold or exchanged mutual fund shares (excluding money market funds).
• Sold any individual securities.
• Owned an individual stock that was part of a merger.
• Owned an individual bond that matured.
• Experienced a profit or loss on a regulated futures contract.†

What it's used for

To determine any taxes due on your investment income.

Why you might receive one

You'll get a 1099-DIV if:

• From a nonretirement account, you received ordinary or qualified dividend distributions, capital gains distributions, or foreign taxes paid.
• From a tax-exempt bond fund or money market fund, you received interest dividends, including specified private activity bond interest.

But even if you meet these criteria, you might not receive a 1099-DIV—especially if your income totaled less than $10 for a particular investment.

Find out why you might not receive Form 1099-DIV

For additional tax information for Vanguard funds as you prepare your federal and state income tax return, please visit the Tax information for Vanguard funds page on Vanguard.com.

What it's used for

To determine any taxes due on your investment income from fixed income investments.

Why you might receive one

You'll get a 1099-INT if, in a brokerage account, you owned an individual bond (or other interest-bearing investment) that paid taxable and/or tax-exempt interest.

(For mutual funds, this income is reported on your 1099-DIV.)

What it's used for

To determine any taxes due on substitute payments for stocks.

Why you might receive one

You'll get a 1099-MISC if, in a nonretirement margin account, you received substitute payments in lieu of dividends for individual stocks.

What it's used for

To determine any taxes due on individual bonds you bought at a discount.

Why you might receive one

You'll get a 1099-OID if, in a brokerage account, you owned an individual bond (or other interest-bearing investment) that was originally purchased at a discount—meaning that you paid less than face value. You're required to report a portion of that OID (original issue discount) each year you own the bond.

Form 1099-OID is issued even if you didn't receive a cash payment from the investment during the year.

Special note to owners of TIPS

What it's used for

To determine any taxes due on withdrawals from accounts used for education savings.

Why you might receive one

You'll only get a 1099-Q if you owned either an ESA or a Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan account and you:

• Took a withdrawal.
• Transferred assets from your Vanguard account to another financial institution.

What it's used for

To determine if any of your retirement account transactions resulted in taxable income and/or may be subject to penalties.

Why you might receive one

You'll get a 1099-R if you owned a retirement account, like an IRA or employer-sponsored plan account, and:

• Took a distribution.
• Removed an excess contribution.
• Converted to a Roth IRA.
• Recharacterized a contribution.
• Completed a rollover into an IRA.

What it's used for

To report your total annual IRA contributions.

Why you might receive one

You'll get a 5498 if you owned a retirement account (like an IRA or employer-sponsored plan account) and:

• Made a contribution (including catch-up contributions) to an IRA between January 1, 2023, and April 15, 2024.
• Converted to a Roth IRA.
• Completed a rollover into an IRA.
• Recharacterized a contribution.

While Vanguard sends a copy of this form to the IRS, it generally isn't necessary when you're preparing your tax returns.

However, it may be used the following year to help determine whether or not you need to take a required minimum distribution (RMD).

What it's used for

To report your total annual education savings account (ESA) contributions.

Why you might receive one

You'll get a 5498-ESA if you owned an ESA and:

• Made a contribution.
• Transferred assets from another institution to your Vanguard account.
• This form is primarily for your records. It generally isn't necessary when you're preparing your tax returns.