Adams® Tax Forms Helper® makes it easy to print a single tax form. First, from your dashboard, go to “Forms.”
Check the box for the single form you want to print. We’re selecting a Federal 1098.
Click “Print.”
Next, tell Adams Tax Forms Helper whether you’d like to print your data onto IRS-approved tax forms, or if you’d like to make plain paper copies. Here, we’ll print onto a blank sheet of paper for records or recipient copies with a watermark.
You'll need a Print Access Code if you want to print tax forms without a watermark, or you'll need to purchase Self-Print in the Helper.
A Print Access Code is only necessary for 2025 forms to print. Previous years' forms will print without it and without a watermark. And, once you purchase self-print access, you'll be able to print all of your forms for all your payers and recipients without a watermark! For specific forms like 1099 for the year 2025 and later, either a Print Access Code from your retail Tax Forms Kit or a purchased Self-Print access will be required. Forms like 1096 or W-3 are exceptions and must be printed on IRS-approved preprinted forms using OCR red dropout ink.
Note that for 2025 forms, Self-Print access or the Print Access Code will remove watermarks entirely, whereas forms from prior years print watermark-free by default.
Note: you cannot print a Copy A form when printing onto a blank sheet. Instead, always use IRS-approved pre-printed forms for printing Copy A to comply with official requirements. This requirement is particularly critical for forms like 1096 and W-3, which must be printed on special preprinted forms with OCR red dropout ink to meet IRS scanning standards.
Next, click Print Forms
Click the print icon in the upper right of your screen.
Click “Print” and your form will go to your printer.
Tip: Official IRS copies must be scannable, meaning they’re printed with a special red ink that can be read by Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This is especially relevant for summary forms like 1096 and W-3, which must use OCR-compatible red ink for legal compliance and accurate scanning by IRS systems.
Tip: It’s a good idea to load plain paper in your printer for a test print. That way, you won’t waste your pre-printed forms! Just hold your plain paper print in front of a form to check the alignment.
Alignment and Printer Tips Before Printing
It’s also an excellent idea to check your printer settings before you begin.
Tip: The number one cause of avoidable form alignment issues are hidden printer settings for scaling and fit to page. Be sure to check that your Scale is set to Custom and 100%.
Make sure to disable any "Fit to Page," "Shrink," or "Enlarge" options which may alter the alignment of your print output.
You can typically find scaling options in your printer’s system dialog under Printer Properties, Preferences or Advanced settings.
Choose the highest print quality setting for sharper alignment results and disable duplex printing if available for single-sided printing.
Correcting alignment issues
If your print settings were fine and your test print still revealed some alignment issues, Adams Tax Forms Helper Online can help you make some adjustments.
Ensure the paper size and orientation in your printer’s preferences match the specific layout of your form.
Use the adjustment indicators in the Print Menu to shift text boxes horizontally or vertically for precise alignment.
So, let’s go back to the print menu.
From the Print Menu screen, you can move your data right, left, up or down using the adjustment indicators. You can alter your margins in the adjustment fields.
Good on you! You’ve successfully printed a single form!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print forms from previous years without a watermark?
Yes, forms from previous years (e.g., prior to 2025) can be printed watermark-free without a code or purchase.
Does purchasing Self-Print remove the watermark for all forms?
Self-Print removes the watermark for forms like 1099 for 2025 and later but does not allow printing 1096 or W-3 legally on plain paper without a watermark. These forms require IRS-compliant red-ink preprinted forms.
Why can’t I print 1096 or W-3 forms on blank paper without a watermark?
IRS regulations mandate that summary forms like 1096 and W-3 must be printed on preprinted forms using OCR red dropout ink. Systems automatically add a watermark to these forms printed on blank paper to comply with these requirements.