IRS Form 1040: U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

IRS Form 1040 is the standard tax form used by individuals in the United States to file their annual federal income tax return. The form reports the taxpayer’s income, deductions, and tax credits to calculate the amount of tax owed or the refund due.

Taxpayers use Form 1040 to report:

• Wages, salaries, tips, and other forms of earned income.
• Interest, dividends, and other investment income.
• Tax credits and deductions (such as the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, or deductions for medical expenses).

There are several variations of Form 1040, including Form 1040-SR (for seniors) and Form 1040-NR (for nonresident aliens), to accommodate different taxpayer situations.

Form 1040 must be filed by April 15 each year (or the next business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday), and taxpayers may request an extension to file by October 15 by submitting Form 4868.