Which tax form do employees typically receive from their employers to report earnings?

Employees typically receive Form W-2 from their employers to report their earnings. This form summarizes an employee's total wages, tips, and other compensation received during the year, along with the taxes withheld for income, Social Security, and Medicare. The W-2 is essential for employees when it comes time to file their personal income tax returns, as it provides the necessary details regarding their income and tax withholdings.

In contrast, other forms serve different purposes. For instance, Form 1040 is the standard individual income tax return that taxpayers complete to report their annual income to the IRS, but it's not something employees specifically receive from their employers. Schedule C is used by self-employed individuals to report income or loss from a business, which does not apply to standard employees. Form 1099 is generally issued to independent contractors or freelancers who are not considered employees. It reports various types of income paid to them throughout the year, thus differing fundamentally from the purpose of the W-2.