How To File Your Income Tax Return

Tips & Instructions for Preparing & Filing Your 1040 Return

Filing your taxes every year isn’t fun, but it is necessary. This article explains what you need to do in order to prepare and file your individual income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The IRS recently took steps to overhaul the Form 1040 tax return, and has eliminated Form 1040A and Form 1040EZ in the process. The old 1040 Form (a.k.a. “the long form”) has been replaced by a condensed, postcard-sized version designed for all taxpayers to use – there are no longer any “short forms” for individuals with simple tax situations.

There are now 2 versions of the 1040 tax return: Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR (for senior citizens). There are also several schedules/forms that must be attached to your 1040 return if you are subject to certain taxes or want to claim particular tax breaks.

IRS Tax Form 1040 (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return)

Form 1040 is the standard federal income tax form that individuals use to report their annual income to the IRS.

How to Obtain Form 1040

There are many different ways to obtain Tax Form 1040. The fastest and most convenient option is to download the tax form on your computer (see links below). Most Post Offices and local public libraries carry paper forms around tax time, and forms can also be picked up from a tax center or an IRS office. In addition, you can contact the IRS and request a tax form to be sent to you by U.S. Mail.

Links to PDFs:

• IRS Form 1040 (Tax Year 2021)
• IRS Form 1040-SR (Tax Year 2021)
• IRS Form 1040 and 1040-SR (Instructions)

Deadline for Form 1040

IRS Tax Form 1040, with payment, is due by April 15th (unless that date falls on a legal holiday or weekend, which moves the filing deadline to the next business day).

A six-month tax extension may be granted (with IRS Tax Form 4868) for late filing, but payments must still be made by the original due date (typically April 15th).

RELATED: Key Tax Numbers & Dates for 2022

Filling Out Your Income Tax Return, IRS Form 1040

Before you begin filing your 1040 tax form, you should have the following information ready:

• Proof of identification
• Filing status and residency status
• Social Security Numbers for you, your spouse, and any dependents
• Dates of birth for you, your spouse, and any dependents
• A copy of your past year tax return
• Statements of wages earned (e.g., W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, etc.)
• Statements of interest/dividends from banks, brokerages, etc.
• Proof of any tax credits, tax deductions, or tax exclusions
• Your bank account number and routing number (for Direct Deposit of your tax refund)

Here’s what the form looks like so you understand what information you’ll need to provide:

FORM 1040 (FRONT):

FORM 1040 (BACK):

Some important parts of Form 1040 include:

Filing Status

There are five federal filing statuses, based on marital status and other conditions. They are: Single, Married Filing Separately, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, and Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child. You may qualify for more than one filing status, in which case you will have to make a choice. In that situation, you can choose the filing status that will result in the lowest tax.

Name, Address, & SSN

You need to provide your name, address, and Social Security Number (SSN). Note that a missing or incorrect SSN can result in slower processing of your tax return, an increase of tax, a delayed tax refund, or a reduced tax refund. If you are a resident or nonresident alien, provide your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) wherever your SSN is requested.

Standard Deduction

There are two main types of tax deductions: the standard deduction and itemized deductions. You are allowed to claim one type of deduction on your tax return, but not both. For instance, if you claim the standard deduction, you cannot itemize deductions – and vice versa (if you itemized deductions, you cannot claim the standard deduction). You are allowed to use whichever type of deduction results in the lowest tax.

The standard deduction is subtracted from your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), which means that it reduces your taxable income. For tax year 2021, the standard deduction amounts are as follows:

• $12,550 for single filers and married couples filing separately
• $25,100 for married couples filing jointly
• $18,800 for head of household filers

Dependents

The 1040 Form allows you to enter up to four dependents. If you have more than four qualified dependents, you will need to add another page to your tax return. Note that all of the personal exemption amounts have been eliminated for tax year 2018 through tax year 2025. Therefore, this section has been removed from the 1040 return altogether. If your dependent qualifies for the Child Tax Credit, you should check the corresponding box. If you have a dependent person who doesn’t qualify for the Child Tax Credit, he/she may still qualify you for the new Credit for Other Dependents.

Taxable Income

The IRS defines “income” as any money that you receive during the given tax year. Most people can simply review their W-2s (Wage and Tax Statements) to determine their annual income. Taxable income, generally speaking, is the gross income of an individual or corporation, minus any allowable tax deductions. It’s important to realize that taxable income can encompass more than just your annual salary.

Taxable income can include profits from stocks or real estate sales, as well as winnings from the lottery, betting on horse races, or any casino (domestic or abroad). Even the cash value of bartered items is considered taxable income. Income that may be part of your gross income but is not identified as “taxable income” may include: child support, proceeds from life insurance policies, inheritances, Workers Compensation payments, Welfare benefits, compensation awarded as a result of physical injury, education scholarships or grants, and income paid to your retirement account (either a 401k or IRA, up to a certain amount).

Overall, taxable income is that portion of your gross income that’s subject to taxation by the government, minus any allowable itemized or standardized deductions. Your taxable income is basically the amount of your income that is subject to income tax. For more information, see IRS Publication 525 (Taxable and Nontaxable Income).

In general, you are required to report all of your income to the IRS – except income that is exempt from tax by law. On Line 1 of Form 1040, you should enter the total of your wages, salaries, tips, etc. If you are married filing a joint tax return, you must include your spouse’s income as well.

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Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

Your adjusted gross income is your gross income from all taxable sources, minus certain allowable tax deductions. These “allowable deductions” (also known as “above-the-line deductions”) may include unreimbursed business expenses, medical expenses, alimony, moving expenses, or deductible retirement plan contributions.

Your AGI is important when determining your overall tax liability because it can affect your income tax bracket, how much you can contribute to qualified retirement accounts, and which tax credits you qualify for. On the other hand, “gross income” refers to all income that you received in the form of money, goods, property, and services that is not exempt from tax. This can include any income from sources outside of the United States, as well as income from the sale of your home.

Tax Deductions & Tax Credits

If you qualify for any tax credits or tax deductions, you will want to take advantage of them. Tax deductions reduce your taxable income and tax credits reduce the actual amount of tax that you owe. Both will increase your chance of receiving a tax refund. Make sure you understand how to properly claim any income tax benefits, as mistakes will delay the processing of your return.

Tax deductions lower your taxable income and they are equal to the percentage of your marginal tax bracket. For instance, if you are in the 25% tax bracket, a $1,000 deduction saves you $250 in tax (0.25 x $1,000 = $250).

Tax credits, on the other hand, provide a dollar-for dollar reduction of your income tax liability. For instance, a $1,000 tax credit actually saves you $1,000 in taxes. A tax credit is always worth more than a dollar-equivalent tax deduction, because deductions are calculated using percentages. Referring to the numbers above, you can see that a $1,000 credit offers $750 more in savings than a $1,000 deduction

Federal Income Tax Withheld

Withholding tax (also known as “payroll withholding”) is essentially income tax that is withheld from your wages and sent directly to the IRS by your employer. In other words, it’s like a credit against the income taxes that you must pay for the year. By subtracting this money from each paycheck that you receive, the IRS is basically withholding your anticipated tax payment as you earn it – sometimes called “pay-as-you-earn” taxation. While you cannot avoid withholding tax altogether, you can control the amount that is withheld from each paycheck when you fill out your W-4 tax form.

Estimated Tax

Estimated tax is the method that individuals and businesses use to pay tax on their income that is not subject to withholding. This may include income from self-employment, interest, dividends, alimony, rent, gains from the sale of assets, prizes, and awards. You also may have to pay estimated tax if the amount of income tax being withheld from your paycheck (salary, pension, or other income) is not enough. Estimated tax payments are typically made in quarterly installments using IRS Form 1040-ES, which can be filed electronically or by paper mail.

Earned Income Credit (EITC)

Also called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), this was created to help low-income workers, self-employed individuals, and their families. The Earned Income Tax Credit is being utilized by more taxpayers than ever as a means to offset their loss of (or reduction in) income. The Earned Income Tax Credit can result in either a tax credit to offset income tax due or a tax refund.

Tax Refund

A tax refund is issued when the amount of income tax that you paid is more than what you actually owed for that year. The IRS has an electronic system in place, called “Where’s My Refund? – It’s Quick, Easy, and Secure.” This is an online tool that can help you determine the status of your tax refund using the Internet. If you filed electronically, you will receive information about your refund within 72 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of your e-filed tax return. If you file by paper mail, it will take the IRS longer to process your tax return and you will not able to use the “Where’s My Refund?” system for at least 3 weeks.

Amount You Owe

Individuals have many different options for paying their federal income taxes. You can pay electronically (online) with a credit card, debit card, or e-check (electronic check). Or you can pay your taxes by phone or by paper mail with a check, money order, or cashier’s check. Additionally, if you wish to pay in cash, there is an option for that as well. Whether you are filing late and/or paying late, the IRS urges taxpayers to pay their bill in full. It is always recommended that you pay as much of what you owe as you can, and as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more late fees and interest charges that can accrue.

If you cannot pay the full amount due with your income tax return, you can ask the IRS if they will allow you to make monthly installment payments for the full amount or a partial amount. However, keep in mind that you will be charged interest and also possibly a late payment penalty on the tax not paid by the date your return is due, even if your request to pay in installments is granted.

Estimated Tax Penalty

You may have to pay this penalty if you didn’t pay enough estimated tax by any of the IRS due dates.

Third Party Designee

By checking this box, you are authorizing another person (tax preparer, family member, friend) to discuss your tax return with the IRS. Note that you are not authorizing the designee to receive your tax refund, bind you to anything, or represent you before the IRS.

Sign Your Return

The 1040 tax form is not valid unless you sign it. If you are filing a joint tax return, your spouse must also sign the form.

Assemble Your Return

Make sure you gather all the appropriate documents (your 1040 form, plus any attachments or schedules) needed to file your return.

Filing Your Income Tax Return with the IRS

You may file Form 1040 by paper mail, by using IRS e-file, or through an approved tax preparer. Filing taxes online is generally faster, easier, and more secure – and you will get your tax refund much sooner if you choose the Direct Deposit option.

Decide Which Filing Method Is Best for You

You typically have three main tax filing options: paper filing, tax preparation software, or hiring a professional.

Tax Preparation Software

Tax preparation software is becoming more and more popular for many reasons. Most tax preparation programs will be able to answer any questions you may have. Additionally, much of the software is built to help you take advantage of as many tax deductions and tax credits as possible.

Tax Professionals

When you hire a professional to prepare your federal income tax return, you are generally cutting out all of the “guesswork.” You can be confident that your return is accurate and that you are saving as much money as possible. The downside to this is that you will pass the control to the tax professional, and of course, you have to pay for this tax preparation service.

Traditional Paper Filing

Even in today’s day and age of digital technology, many people still feel more secure preparing taxes with good old pen and paper. With paper filing, you are in charge of every detail from start to finish – but there is no immediate tax help available.

 

Traditional Mail vs. Online Filing

Those who are filing a paper tax return will need to mail it to the IRS upon completion. On the other hand, if you are using tax preparation software or filing through a tax professional, electronic filing may be a better option. Tax returns that are submitted electronically are often processed faster, which means a faster tax refund for the taxpayer.

RELATED: Common Tax Questions & Answers

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