At the end of every year, the tax filing season is a significant event to be taken seriously by taxpayers. Taxpayers attempt to file their taxes accurately, so their tax bills can be minimized. Tax filing can be done online for the year 2022. The individual income taxes are to be filed by every taxpayer in the United States before the prescribed deadline. At the end of every year, taxpayers collect all the documents that provide insight regarding their incomes and expenditures. This information is conveyed to the IRS through Form 1040. It is crucial to file Form 1040 by the due date decided by the IRS, which has been set as April 18, 2023, for the tax year of 2022, failing which might cause penalties. Let us understand the importance of Form 1040 and find out how to utilize it.

Different types of 1040 form

Although taxpayers use the generic version of Form 1040 to file their tax returns, they must be aware of several other form variants. These forms include Form 1040-ES, Form 1040-NR, 1040-SR, and many others, which are applicable in different situations. Let us discuss the different variations of the 1040 Form below:

• Form 1040-ES

Freelancers and self-employed people can use this form, as it allows them to calculate their quarterly taxes according to their income. Moreover, this form can also calculate taxes on gains through dividends and interest received from investments not subject to tax withholding.

• Form 1040-NR

This form is to be filled by Non-Resident Aliens involved in business within the US. Representatives of a trust or an estate liable to fill out this form should opt to do so within the prescribed date to report US Income Tax, evading which can land them in a lot of trouble.

• Form 1040-SR

Form 1040-SR is an upgraded version of the standard Form 1040 and is meant to be filled by people 65 years or older. These forms have a cosmetic difference, and the SR version of Form 1040 features a different color scheme and bigger fonts to enhance visibility. This form also features an embedded standard deduction table, which can help older people get higher tax deductions.

• Form 1040-V

Taxpayers who owe tax money to the Internal Revenue Service after filing tax returns can pay their taxes through the mail. However, doing that would require them to utilize a payment voucher, which has been made available by the IRS as Form 1040-V. This extra step of filling up and attaching Form 1040-V in addition to the standard Form 1040 is undesirable, which is why it is better to file taxes online.

• Form 1040-X

Form 1040-X is used by taxpayers who have made mistakes while filing taxes through the standard Form 1040. The IRS has stated that taxpayers should use this form if they need to mention additional income or expenses that they should have reported on the generic version of Form 1040. IRS usually rectifies clerical errors, and taxpayers are not required to fill out Form 1040-X to correct spelling or math errors.

Information required to fill up Form 1040:

A taxpayer must have all the transaction and income statements ready before filing taxes with the help of Form 1040. It is suggested that the taxpayer collect the following information to ensure a smooth tax filing process.

• SSN for yourself, your spouse, and dependents, if any
• Date of birth for every person being accounted for, on the form
• Income statements (Say W-2s and 1099s)
• Interest statements and 1099-DIV forms from a brokerage or a bank
• Tax credit and deduction proof
• Previous tax return copies
• Account number for the bank you intend to communicate to the IRS, or routing number, in case you expect a direct deposit of tax refunds.

How to fill up Form 1040

Once taxpayers have gathered all the information necessary to file taxes online, they must start filling out Form 1040. Here are the steps that you need to follow to submit your tax returns:

• Fill up your basic information in the first half of Form 1040. This information includes your tax filing status, identification, dependent information, and your contact information. Use the exact identification details for yourself and your dependents, as shown in their respective SS cards, to avoid delayed tax returns.
• You should provide information regarding all your income sources in the next step. These income sources include income from your wages, Retirement income, interests, and dividends obtained from investments.
• The next step of the process is to claim your tax deductions. You should weigh your options and decide whether you want the standard deduction or itemize your deductions. Choose the one that will allow you to save more on your tax bills!
• The second page of your taxes includes tables that can help you calculate your taxes. You can refer to Schedule 2, which provides more information on several taxes and how to report them. If you have children or other dependents, you can claim a child or dependent tax credit by attaching Form 2441 or Schedule 8812. Subtract the credits you are entitled to from the calculated tax amount to determine whether you are entitled to a tax refund or owe money to the IRS.
• Once done with all the calculations, taxpayers are suggested to head to the payments section of the official IRS website, where they can find several payment options. The tax bill can be paid directly from one’s bank account or debit/credit card. The IRS has also considered people who cannot pay the tax amount at once, as they allow taxpayers to pay their bills with a payment plan.

Schedules in form 1040:

Although every taxpayer must utilize the regular Form 1040, three schedules that come with the form may or may not need to be accounted for. Whether you need to consider these schedules depends on your tax situation and whether you would like to claim several credits and deductions. These schedules include:

• Schedule 1 if you have an alimony income or payment, business income, farm or rental income, student loan interest, retirement contributions, or unemployment income that needs to be considered while filing taxes. In short, it is used to report any kind of income not actively received in return for the provision of services or goods.
• Schedule 2 for additional taxes if you owe an alternative minimum tax, self-employment tax, Household employment tax, additional Medicare, or net investment income tax. Schedule 2 can also be used if you have several tax-favored accounts. If a taxpayer has checked box 11(b) in Form 1040, Schedule 2 will be used to report additional taxes that the taxpayer owes to the IRS.
• Schedule 3 for additional credits and payments if you intend to claim credits such as, but not limited to, foreign tax credit, education credit, child or dependent care credit, and residential energy credit. Therefore, Schedule 3 will be used to report if the taxpayer intends to claim tax credits or if excess payments have been made in favor of the IRS. It contains two main sections: the non-refundable credits and the refundable credits. 

How to file tax extension

 Tax filing extension with the IRS can be done using Form 4868. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Obtain Form 4868: You can download Form 4868 from the IRS website or request a copy by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
2. Fill out the form: The form requires basic information about you and your tax liability. You will need to estimate your tax liability and any payments you have made. Be sure to sign and date the form.
3. Submit the form: You can submit the form electronically using the IRS e-file, or you can mail the form to the appropriate IRS address. The address for your state can be found in the instructions for Form 4868.
4. Pay any estimated taxes: Filing an extension does not give you more time to pay any taxes you owe. If you owe taxes, you must pay the estimated amount by the April deadline to avoid penalties and interest.
5. Keep a copy of the form: Be sure to keep a copy of the filed extension form for your records.

It's important to note that a tax filing extension only gives you more time to file your tax return, not more time to pay any taxes owed. If you are unable to pay your taxes by the deadline, you may be able to set up a payment plan with the IRS.

Why you should hire a tax professional

To ensure fast and accurate calculation of taxes, taxpayers often reach out to tax professionals for help. Failing to consider all the tax credits and deductibles a taxpayer is eligible for can lead to higher annual tax bills. The taxpayer might also have to pay hefty penalties if they fail to report all their income sources. It is, therefore, essential for them to account for every income source and expenditure. A business owner has several responsibilities that need to be taken care of, and having to calculate and file taxes can cost them a lot of time which could have otherwise been used to build the business. This is why they should hire a tax professional or contact a tax service provider that employs tax professionals to help clients with federal and state tax affairs. Doing this can save a lot of time and effort that can be used to look for new business opportunities, which helps enhance the revenue of your business directly. It is therefore suggested that seeking help from trained tax professionals in business would be a good choice. NSKT Global can help you handle tax filing online so that you can focus on building your business. To learn the benefits of availing of tax services from a trained and dedicated team of tax professionals at NSKT Global!

FAQs

How do I calculate and file taxes if I cannot find a Tax CPA near me?

• You can file your taxes online or seek the help of tax professionals from tax and accounting service providers such as NSKT Global. Save yourself the hassle and expenses of having an in-house accountant or regular visits to a Tax CPA by letting trained tax professionals handle your accounts and your tax affairs!

Do I have to contact a tax accountant near me to determine how I can maximize my tax returns?

• You do not need to hunt for skilled and well-trained tax preparers in your vicinity. You can now file taxes online using the services of NSKT Global.

Do I have to inform the tax preparer handling my accounts about every tax credit?

• If you choose to avail of the tax services provided by NSKT Global, your past returns will be reviewed. It's also important to remember that while a tax preparer can help you maximize your tax credits, ultimately, it is your responsibility to provide accurate information and to make sure you are eligible for the credits you are claiming.

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