How to Fill Out a US 1040A Tax Return

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Put your address label into the address section at the top

   Federal law provides that anyone qualified by the Constitution has the right to run for president, however, the election registration process has attempted to control this by demanding excessive registration fees.
   
   The $3 pays these fees for the candidate who can't afford them. , Unlike the EZ return, you can choose any of the 5 statuses.
   
   Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er).
   
   Single or Married Filing Jointly are the most common. , This can happen if you or your spouse has an income, but do not pay 50% of your own support.
   
   This can happen if you are still living at home for convenience, are married, and a full-time student.
   
   If you can be claimed on someone else's tax return, do not check 6a or b, and do not check dependent exemptions, you can not claim yourself.
   
   If your spouse can be claimed on someone else's return, you can not file as Married Filing Jointly.
   
   It does not matter that someone else does claim you, only that they can. ,,, Attach your W-2 Wage and Tax Statement to the return.
   
   If you are filing after February 15, and you still don't have your W-2 Wage and Tax Statement, call the IRS and give them your name, full address, SSN, dates of employment, and your employer's name, full address, and phone.
   
   If you don't receive the W-2 within a reasonable period of time, file a substitute W-2.
   
   You can print one off a blank W-2.
   
   Make sure you have figured the tax withheld, day for day, until Dec
   31. , Don't get the 2 confused. , Refer to page 22 in your instructions if you have any questions. ,,,,, Take this total from the worksheet found on page 83 of IRS Pub. 17 , This is your Total Income. , See page 25 of the instructions. , See page 27 of the instructions. , Add this on line
   18. , Enter this on line
   19. , These are your total adjustments.
   
   Enter this on line
   20. , Enter this on line
   21.
   
   This is your Adjusted Gross Income. , If you are filing Married Filing Jointly for the year during which your spouse died, or are filing Qualified Widow(er), write DECEASED after your spouse's name.,,,,, Insert the amount on line
   25.,, Insert the total on line
   27., Attach schedule
   2., Attach schedule
   3., Attach form
   8863., Attach form
   8901., Attach form
   8880., These are the total credits.
   
   Enter this on line
   34., Enter zero on line 35 if 34 is larger than
   28.,, This is your total tax on line
   37.,, Add this on line
   39.,, Attach form
   8812., These are your total payments.
   
   Enter the total on line
   42., If line 42 is larger than line 37, line 43 is your overpayment., If you are filing Married Filing Jointly, and you want the refund split, attach a form
   8888. and check the box at 44a.
   
   Fill in the routing number and account number for a single deposit in 44b, and c.,,, Enter this in line
   47., Include the date and your occupation.
   
   Also, include a phone number.
   
   If your spouse died during the year, the executor or administrator of the will should sign for that spouse.
2. 2

   Step 2: or simply fill it in by hand.

3. 3

   Step 3: Check the $3 dollar box for you

4. 4

   Step 4: and your spouse if you're filing married.

5. 5

   Step 5: Fill in your filing status.

6. 6

   Step 6: Check box 6a and b

7. 7

   Step 7: unless someone else can claim you on their taxes.

8. 8

   Step 8: Enter the name

9. 9

   Step 9: and relationship of each dependent.

10. 10

    Step 10: Enter the total number of exemptions on line 6d.

11. 11

    Step 11: Enter your gross wages

12. 12

    Step 12: salaries

13. 13

    Step 13: and tips from block 1 of your W-2 into line 7.

14. 14

    Step 14: Fill in your taxable interest

15. 15

    Step 15: if any

16. 16

    Step 16: in line 8a and your tax exempt interest in line 8b.

17. 17

    Step 17: Enter your ordinary dividends on line 9a

18. 18

    Step 18: and your qualified dividends on 9b.

19. 19

    Step 19: Fill in your Capital gain distributions from your worksheet on page 22.

20. 20

    Step 20: Enter your IRA distributions on line 11a

21. 21

    Step 21: and the taxable amount on 11b.

22. 22

    Step 22: Add Pension and annuities on line 12a

23. 23

    Step 23: and the taxable amount on 12b.

24. 24

    Step 24: Fill in your unemployment compensation

25. 25

    Step 25: if any

26. 26

    Step 26: in line 13.

27. 27

    Step 27: Enter your Social Security Benefits on line 14a

28. 28

    Step 28: and their taxable amount on line 14b.

29. 29

    Step 29: Add lines 7 - 14b (far right column).

30. 30

    Step 30: Fill in your Educator expenses (If available

31. 31

    Step 31: for teachers) on line 16.

32. 32

    Step 32: Enter your IRA deduction on line 17.

33. 33

    Step 33: Configure student loan interest from page 28 of the instructions.

34. 34

    Step 34: Figure your Tuition and Fees deduction from form 8917 using your secondary tuition and fees paid during that year.

35. 35

    Step 35: Add lines 16 through 19.

36. 36

    Step 36: Subtract line 20 from 15.

37. 37

    Step 37: At the top of the second page write your full name(s) and SSN(s).

38. 38

    Step 38: Enter the amount from line 21 on line 22.

39. 39

    Step 39: If you or your spouse is 65 or older

40. 40

    Step 40: or blind check the boxes on line 23a and fill the total into the box at the end of that line.

41. 41

    Step 41: If you are Married Filing Separately

42. 42

    Step 42: check 23b

43. 43

    Step 43: unless you itemize.

44. 44

    Step 44: Enter your standard deduction from the chart on line 24.

45. 45

    Step 45: Subtract line 24 from line 22.

46. 46

    Step 46: Enter your personal deduction on page 26.

47. 47

    Step 47: Subtract line 26 from line 25.

48. 48

    Step 48: Insert Dependent Child Care Expenses (Publ 2441) on line 29.

49. 49

    Step 49: Insert elderly or disabled credit on line 30.

50. 50

    Step 50: Insert education credits on line 31.

51. 51

    Step 51: Fill in Child Tax Credit (Publ 972) from page 32.

52. 52

    Step 52: Enter Retirement Savings contributions credit on line 33.

53. 53

    Step 53: Add lines 29 through 33.

54. 54

    Step 54: Subtract line 34 from line 28.

55. 55

    Step 55: Enter the advanced earned income credit payment

56. 56

    Step 56: on line 36

57. 57

    Step 57: from box 9 on your W-2 Wage and Tax Statement.

58. 58

    Step 58: Add lines 35 and 36.

59. 59

    Step 59: Enter your Federal Income Tax Withheld from Line 38 on your W-2 Wage and Tax Statement.

60. 60

    Step 60: Previous year estimated tax payment and amount applied from the next earlier year.

61. 61

    Step 61: Fill in line 40a with the Earned income credit

62. 62

    Step 62: Pub 596

63. 63

    Step 63: and 40b with the nontaxable combat pay election.

64. 64

    Step 64: Enter your additional child tax credit.

65. 65

    Step 65: Add lines 38

66. 66

    Step 66: and 41.

67. 67

    Step 67: Subtract line 42 from 37.

68. 68

    Step 68: On 44a enter the amount you want refunded.

69. 69

    Step 69: On line 45 you can designate an amount of your refund to next year's taxes.

70. 70

    Step 70: If line 37 is larger than 42

71. 71

    Step 71: enter the amount of tax you owe in line 46.

72. 72

    Step 72: Check page 53 to see if there is a tax penalty.

73. 73

    Step 73: Sign the signature lines.

Detailed Guide

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