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    6 min read 6 stepsMay 8, 2026Verified May 2026

    How to Download a 1099-DIV From Your Brokerage

    Get the tax form that lists your dividend income, in plain steps, for Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and other brokerages.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Money & Banking
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    6 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    taxes
    1099
    dividends
    brokerage
    seniors

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Wait Until Mid-February to Download
    2. 2.Log Into the Brokerage Website
    3. 3.Find the Tax Forms Section
    4. 4.Click the 1099-DIV Link
    5. 5.Save and Print the PDF
    6. 6.Call the Brokerage if You Cannot Find the Form
    1

    Wait Until Mid-February to Download

    ~34s
    Mark your calendar for February 15. Brokerages have until January 31 to send 1099-DIV forms, but many are not ready until the second week of February, especially if you own mutual funds or foreign stocks. If you download too early, the form may be a draft that gets replaced later, which can mean filing your taxes twice. Look at the brokerage website for a notice that says "Tax forms are now available" before you download. The notice usually appears on the home page after login.

    Quick Tip

    Sign up for email alerts from your brokerage so you get a message the moment your tax forms are ready.

    2

    Log Into the Brokerage Website

    ~32s
    Open a web browser on a desktop or laptop computer. Type the brokerage web address: fidelity.com, schwab.com, investor.vanguard.com, etrade.com, or merrilledge.com. Click Log In in the top right and type your username and password. The site may send a code to your phone that you must type in. This second step is meant to keep strangers out of your account, even if they somehow knew your password.

    Warning

    Do not download tax forms while connected to public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or library. Use the Wi-Fi at your own home, which is safer for documents that contain your Social Security number.

    3

    Find the Tax Forms Section

    ~33s
    After login, look across the top of the page for a tab called Statements, Documents, or Tax Forms. On Fidelity, click Accounts & Trade, then Statements, then Tax Forms. On Schwab, click Accounts, then Statements, then Tax Forms (1099). On Vanguard, click My Accounts, then Statements & Regulatory, then Tax Forms. The screen lists every tax form for every account you own at that brokerage, with the most recent year at the top.

    Quick Tip

    If you have several accounts at the same brokerage, like a regular account and an IRA, each one may have its own 1099-DIV. Check the list for all your accounts.

    4

    Click the 1099-DIV Link

    ~35s
    Look down the list for a row that starts with "1099-DIV" or "Consolidated 1099" followed by the year, like "2025 1099-DIV." Click the link. A new window opens with the PDF file. The form has your name, address, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and boxes filled in with dollar amounts. The two most important boxes are Box 1a, Total Ordinary Dividends, and Box 1b, Qualified Dividends. These are the numbers your tax preparer needs.

    Warning

    Do not share the full file by email without a password. The form contains sensitive information. If you must email it to a tax preparer, ask them how they want it sent securely.

    5

    Save and Print the PDF

    ~35s
    When the PDF is open, look for a small floppy disk icon or a download arrow in the top right of the window. Click it to save the file to your computer. Pick a folder you can find again, like Documents, and a file name with the year in it, like "1099-DIV-2025-Fidelity.pdf." To print, click the printer icon and pick your home printer. Print at least two copies. Keep one for your records and give one to your tax preparer.

    Quick Tip

    Save tax PDFs in one folder labeled with the year, like "Taxes 2025." Keep that folder for at least seven years in case the IRS asks questions later.

    6

    Call the Brokerage if You Cannot Find the Form

    ~40s
    If you cannot find the 1099-DIV after the middle of February, or if you cannot open the file, call the brokerage. Fidelity is 800-343-3548, Schwab is 800-435-4000, Vanguard is 877-662-7447, E-Trade is 800-387-2331, and Merrill Edge is 877-653-4732. Tell the agent your full name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and that you need a copy of your 1099-DIV mailed or emailed. There is no charge. The agent can also tell you whether the form has been issued yet or whether it is delayed.

    Warning

    Never click a link in an email that says "Your tax form is ready, click here." Scammers send fake emails like this in February. Always go to the brokerage website by typing the address yourself.

    You Did It!

    You've finished reading: How to Download a 1099-DIV From Your Brokerage

    How well did this guide stick with you?

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    Form 1099-DIV is a one-page tax document that your brokerage sends you every January or February. It lists the total dollars in dividends and capital gains the brokerage paid into your account during the past year. You need this form to fill out your federal tax return and most state returns. Without it, you cannot finish your taxes correctly. The IRS also receives a copy from your brokerage, so the numbers on your return must match the form.

    In the past, brokerages mailed paper copies of the 1099-DIV to your home address. Many still do, but some have switched to electronic delivery only unless you ask for paper. Even if you receive a paper copy, the digital version on the brokerage website is often available a week or two earlier and is the easier copy to share with a tax preparer. You can save the file to your computer, email it to your accountant, or print extra copies if you misplace the paper one.

    The deadline for brokerages to send 1099-DIV forms is January 31, but in practice many forms are not ready until mid-February. Brokerages that hold mutual funds or foreign stocks may send a corrected version in March if the original numbers needed to be updated. The corrected form will have the word "Corrected" printed at the top. If you have already filed your taxes when a corrected form arrives, you may need to file an amended return. Your tax preparer can guide you.

    Downloading the 1099-DIV is not hard once you know which menu to click. Every major brokerage puts tax forms in a section labeled "Tax Forms," "Tax Documents," or "Statements & Tax Forms." The form opens as a PDF file, which is a kind of digital paper that looks the same on every computer and printer. PDFs need a free program called Adobe Reader, which most computers already have. If you cannot find or open the file, the brokerage phone line can email or mail you a copy at no charge. Fidelity is 800-343-3548, Schwab is 800-435-4000, Vanguard is 877-662-7447, and E-Trade is 800-387-2331. Tell the agent you need a copy of your 1099-DIV. They will help you on the spot.

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    taxes
    1099
    dividends
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    seniors

    Official Resources

    Consumer Financial Protection BureauFTC — Identity TheftAnnualCreditReport.com

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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