What to cover on a tax form
A W-2 or 1099 prints your SSN, income and withholding on the same page. Keep what proves income and cover the rest.
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What to cover
Anything the recipient did not ask for is safer covered.
| Item | Why cover it | How to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| SSN and EIN | Identifies you or your business outright | Leave the last 4 digits, cover the rest |
| Income and withholding | Detailed financial information | Cover what was not requested |
| Refund account number | A direct deposit target for a stolen refund | Leave the last 4 digits at most |
| Home address | Exposes where you live | Cover it when it is not needed |
Tax forms (W-2 · 1099)
Choose a photo to redact
Files are processed only in your browser
Screenshots can be pasted with Ctrl+Vright away.
How to do it
- Load the documentUse a photo, a scan or a screenshot — Ctrl+V pastes one straight in.
- Mark what to coverDrag a rectangle over each item in the table above. You can mark several in a row.
- Save and zoom inSave as PNG or JPG, then zoom to 200% to be sure no digits show through.
Redact another document
Frequently asked questions
Can I cover the SSN on a form I am filing?
Follow the recipient’s instructions. US federal court filings follow FRCP 5.2: SSN last four digits, birth year, minor’s initials and account last four.
Can I process several pages in one go?
Do them one page at a time, then merge them into a single PDF.
Does redaction make the file bigger?
A few boxes barely change the size. If it grows too much, run it through the compressor.