Form 1040

Answer 1

The Form 1040 is a U.S. Individual Income Tax Return that people use to file their taxes with the IRS. When filing out the form, people report their earnings and other personal information and calculate how much money they will owe or get in return for work they've done throughout the past fiscal year. All tax returns are due by April 15, unless that day is not a business day. If it isn't a business day, the return can be turned in at a later time announced by the IRS. Some people choose to file their taxes by themselves while others take their information to a tax preparer or use tax preparation software to help. There are penalties for failing to file taxes, not filing on time, or providing wrong or misleading information (some of these which are punishable by jail time!), so when you file your tax return, you should double check to insure that everything is correct. Some individuals are eligible to file their taxes online for more convenience.

Basic information about the individual taxpayer is filled out on the first page of Form 1040. They must report any income and any dependents they may have. On the second page, the taxpayer can calculate adjustments like deductions, credits, and how much taxes they will be responsible for paying. They can also elect to send $3 of their taxes to the Presidential Election Campaign. There are 11 Schedules that the taxpayer must fill out in order to calculate how much they will get back, or how much they will owe. Deductions vary greatly depending on whether or not the taxpayer is married, has children, is blind, or suffers from another disability. Married couples can choose to file taxes jointly or separately. There are specific 1040 forms for nonresident aliens, the self-employed, and other people who fall under specific circumstances. Depending on the individual and their circumstances, there may be additional information that needs to be provided after filling out Form 1040 and the Schedules, such as the W-2 form.