Individual forms Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, is one of three forms (1040 [the "Long Form"], 1040A [the "Short Form"] and 1040EZ - see below for explanations of each) used for personal (individual) federal income tax returns filed with the IRS. The first Form 1040 was published for use for the tax years 1913, 1914, and 1915. For 1916, Form 1040 was converted to an annual form (i.e., updated each tax year with the new year printed on the form). Initially, the IRS mailed tax booklets (Form 1040, instructions, and most common attachments) to all households. As alternative delivery methods (CPA/Attorneys, Internet forms) increased in popularity, the IRS sent fewer packets via mail. In 2009, this practice was discontinued.

Income tax returns for individual calendar year taxpayers are due by April 15 of the next year, except when April 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday. In those circumstances, the returns are due on the next business day.

Form 1040 consists of two full pages not counting attachments. The first page collects information about the taxpayer(s), dependents, income items, and adjustments to income. The second page calculates the allowable deductions and credits, tax due given the income figure, and applies funds already withheld from wages or estimated payments made towards the tax liability. At the top of the first page is the Presidential election campaign fund checkoff, which allows you to designate that the federal government give $3 of the tax it receives to the Presidential election campaign fund.
Form 1040 has 11 attachments, called "schedules", which may need to be filed depending on the taxpayer. For 2009 and 2010 there is an additional form, Schedule M, due to the "Making Work Pay" provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("the stimulus"):

• Schedule A itemizes allowable deductions against income; instead of filling out Schedule A, taxpayers may choose to take a standard deduction of between $5,700 and $15,800 (for tax year 2010), depending on age, filing status, and whether the taxpayer and/or spouse is blind.
• Schedule B enumerates interest and/or dividend income, and is required if either interest or dividends received during the tax year exceed $1,500 from all sources or if the filer had certain foreign accounts.
• Schedule C lists income and expenses related to self-employment, and is used by sole proprietors.
• Schedule D is used to compute capital gains and losses incurred during the tax year.
• Schedule E is used to report income and expenses arising from the rental of real property, royalties, or from pass-through entities (like trusts, estates, partnerships, or S corporations).
• Schedule EIC is used to document a taxpayer's eligibility for the Earned Income Credit.
• Schedule F is used to report income and expenses related to farming.
• Schedule H is used to report taxes owed due to the employment of household help.
• Schedule J is used when averaging farm income over a period of three years.
• Schedule L is used to figure an increased standard deduction in certain cases.
• Schedule M (2009 and 2010) is used to claim the Making Work Pay tax credit (6.2% earned income credit, up to $400).
• Schedule R is used to calculate the Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled.
• Schedule SE is used to calculate the self-employment tax owed on income from self-employment (such as on a Schedule C or Schedule F, or in a partnership).

In most situations, other Internal Revenue Service or Social Security Administration forms such as Form W-2 must be attached to the Form 1040, in addition to the Form 1040 schedules. There are over 100 other, specialized forms that may need to be completed along with Schedules and the Form 1040.

Short forms

Over the years, other "Short Forms" were used for short periods of time. One was an IBM Card on which a few lines could be written which would be transcribed into another card which looked the same but which had holes in it which a computer or "unit record" machine could read. As with the other forms there was always a place for a signature. This was back in the 1960s.

The Form 1040A ("short form"), U.S. individual income tax return, is a shorter version of the Form 1040. Use of Form 1040A is limited to taxpayers with taxable income below $100,000 who take the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions; it was originally one page until the 1982 edition, when it expanded to two pages.

The Form 1040EZ ("easy form"), Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No Dependents, is the simplest, six-section Federal income tax return, introduced in 1982. Its use is limited to taxpayers with taxable income below $100,000 (as of tax year 2011) who take the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions and have no dependents.


TAN STRUCTURE (Tax deduction Account Number)
What is Federal Republic?
List of federal republics (Historic)
List of federal republics (Contemporary)
Taxation in the United States
Gift tax in the United States
Tax information reporting
Transfer taxes, Form 706, Form 709
Employment (payroll) taxes