What is Form 1040 | When Should you File Your 1040 to IRS

Updated for tax year 2025.

Knowing your way around IRS Form 1040 can make the tax filing process much easier. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Form 1040: what it is, how to complete Form 1040 accurately, and which related tax forms and schedules you might need. Let’s dive right in.

What is Form 1040?

Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, is the main Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form used to file your federal income tax return. It collects all the details about your income, tax deductions, and tax credits to determine how much you owe or whether you’ll get a tax refund. If you’re a U.S. taxpayer and earned income during the tax year, you likely need to file Form 1040.

Form 1040 also helps determine your filing status (like single, married filing jointly, etc.) and lets you claim dependents, which can reduce your taxable income.

Form 1040 example

Below is an image of Form 1040 so you can see exactly what this IRS tax form looks like. It consists of two pages:

While the form may look complex, it’s essentially asking for a few key details:

Your personal information: The top section gathers details like your name, Social Security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), and filing status. If you’re married or have qualifying dependents, their information goes here too. You can check boxes for each dependent indicating their eligibility for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents.

Income: Here, you’ll report all types of income, including wages, distributions, ordinary dividends, and capital gains, to calculate your total income. You’ll also include tax deductions you want to claim. This is all used to determine your adjusted gross income (AGI) and, by extension, your taxable income (what is subject to income tax).

Tax and Credits: This part accounts for all the tax credits you qualify to claim, such as the Child Tax Credit. It then calculates your total tax liability for the year (line 24).

Payments and Refundable Credits: This section accounts for tax payments you already made, such as withholding from your regular paychecks or estimated tax payments you made. IT also accounts for refundable credits like the Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit Line 33 shows your total tax payments for the year.

Refund or Amount You Owe: The final sections will tell you if you’re getting a tax refund or need to make an additional tax payment. If line 33 is greater than line 24, you’ll be refunded the difference. If line 24 is greater than line 33, you owe the IRS the difference.

Overview of key schedules for Form 1040

Sometimes, Form 1040 is just the start. Depending on your situation, you may need to file additional schedules along with it to fully report your income or credits.

Schedule 1-A: Additional Deductions

Schedule 1-A (Form 1040) is a new schedule starting with the 2025 tax year. It’s used to report certain additional deductions that reduce your taxable income, even if you take the standard deduction. These deductions have their own new schedule because while they reduce your taxable income, they don’t reduce your AGI like a typical above-the-line deduction.

Here’s a look at the first page of Schedule 1-A:

Some reasons for filing Schedule 1-A include qualifying for any of the following deductions during the tax year:

Once completed, the total from Schedule 1-A flows to your Form 1040 and lowers the amount of income subject to federal income tax. You don’t need to worry about the specifics, though — TaxAct® will handle all of this for you if you e-file with us.

Schedule 1: Additional Income and Adjustments to Income

Page 1 of Schedule 1 reports additional income and looks like this:

Some reasons for filing Schedule 1 include having any of the following income types during the tax year:

Page 2 of Schedule 1 covers adjustments to income and looks like this:

Here, you can report income adjustments like the following:

Student loan interest deduction

Deductible educator expenses

Deductions for retirement contributions

Health savings account (HSA) deductions

Self-employment health insurance deduction

Schedule 2: Additional Taxes

Schedule 2 reports additional taxes and looks like this:

Some reasons for filing Schedule 2 include having any of the following during the tax year:

Alternative minimum tax (AMT)

Excess advance premium tax credit repayment

Self-employment tax

Additional Social Security and Medicare tax

Additional taxes on IRAs and other tax-favored accounts

Household employment taxes (you may also need Schedule H, Household Employment Taxes)

Repayment of first-time home buyer credit

Recapture of low-income housing credit

Schedule 3: Additional Credits and Payments

Schedule 3 reports additional tax credits and payments. Here’s what it looks like:

Use Schedule 3 to claim nonrefundable credits like:

Form 1040 instructions

Filling out Form 1040 and its schedules isn’t as complicated as it may seem, especially if you use tax software like TaxAct. We walk you through the filing process, including filling out Form 1040 and any accompanying schedules, based on the information you provide.

Here’s how to get started:

Gather documents: Before filing, collect all necessary tax documents like your W-2s, 1099s, and any statements for IRAs, pensions, or other retirement plans. You’ll also need any information about tax deductions and additional forms related to your tax situation. Use our Form 1040 tax preparation checklist to help you with this!

Fill out your personal information: Start with your name, address, and SSN. Don’t forget your filing status and dependent information.

Report your income: Report all types of income. This could include wages, self-employment tax, unemployment compensation, or Social Security benefits. If you have additional income or adjustments, you’ll also use Schedule 1 (more on schedules in the next section).

Claim tax deductions and credits: Claim any tax deductions and credits that apply to you. When you file with us at TaxAct, we ask you questions to determine which deductions and credits may apply to your situation and might help you save on your tax bill. Our software can also help you choose between the standard deduction and itemized deductions (using Schedule A).

Pay your bill or get a refund: TaxAct will calculate your total tax liability based on all the information you provided. We’ll help you fill out your direct deposit information if you qualify for a tax refund. If you owe a tax bill, we can help you pay it or even set up a payment plan if necessary.

Other types of 1040 tax forms

There are multiple versions of the 1040 form, each designed to address specific taxpayer situations. Here’s a deeper look at some of these and how they differ from the standard Form 1040:

1040-SR

This form is designed for older taxpayers, specifically those aged 65 and above. It features a larger print and a simpler layout to make it more accessible for seniors. Form 1040-SR includes the same sections as the regular Form 1040, but the formatting is adjusted to be more user-friendly, particularly for those who may have difficulty reading smaller text. It also includes a table showing the larger standard deduction amounts available to taxpayers over 65.

1040-ES

This form is used to make estimated tax payments throughout the year, typically by individuals with income not subject to withholding, such as self-employment income, rental income, or investment income. Unlike the regular Form 1040, which is filed annually, Form 1040-ES involves making quarterly payments to ensure you stay current with your tax liability and avoid underpayment penalties. This form helps you calculate and pay your estimated taxes on time.

Tax Tip: If you e-file your tax return with us, TaxAct can help you set up automatic estimated tax payments via Electronic Funds Withdrawal.

1040-V

The 1040-V form is a payment voucher used when you owe taxes and submit a check or money order to the IRS by mail. It differs from Form 1040 in that it is not a tax return but a way to accompany your payment when filing a paper return. Using Form 1040-V helps ensure that your payment is correctly applied to your tax account.

1040-X

This form is called an amended tax return. If you realize you’ve made a mistake on your Form 1040 or need to make changes, such as correcting your income, deductions, or credits, Form 1040-X allows you to do that. Unlike the regular Form 1040, which is filed for the current tax year, Form 1040-X is used to adjust information from a prior year, typically within a three-year window from the original due date.

1040-NR

Form 1040-NR is used specifically by nonresident aliens who are not U.S. residents but have U.S.-sourced income, such as wages or investment returns. You may also need to use this form if you are a representative of certain trusts or estates or of a deceased person who would have needed to file Form 1040-NR.

FAQs about Form 1040

How to file Form 1040 with TaxAct

TaxAct makes tax filing easy. Here’s how to get started:

Sign up or log in: Head to TaxAct.com and create an account.

Enter information: Follow the guided prompts to input your personal and income information. If you filed with us last year, we’ll pull information from last year’s return to save you even more time.

Review and file: TaxAct will double-check your return for errors and guide you through the e-file process. We’ll submit everything to the IRS for you when you’re done.

The bottom line

Form 1040 is often seen as the most important tax form but completing it doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right documents plus some guidance and assistance from TaxAct, you can complete Form 1040 with confidence and be well on your way to spending your tax refund in no time.

This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.

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