Filing An Income Tax Return
When the month of April rolls around most of America is
preparing their income tax returns. Each year all individuals
who made an income are required to report that income to federal
and state governments by filing an income tax return.
Taxpayers must file two separate income tax returns. One income
tax return goes to the federal government and the other goes to
the state government that a particular taxpayer resides in. The
majority of taxpaying Americans are able to fill out a Form
1040A: U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Individuals that do
not have any children or other qualifying dependents are able to
file a federal 1040EZ form. This form is also referred to as the
Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No
Dependents. The 1040EZ is basically a shorter version of the
1040A form; however, taxpayers must meet certain requirements
before filing a 1040EZ form.
The majority of taxpayers will have the federal income tax forms
they need mailed to their home. The option to have federal
income tax forms mailed to a taxpayer is given on the previous
year's tax forms. Taxpayers who do not wish to receive federal
income tax forms but do need them can get the forms from a
number of sources. Many paper forms are available for pickup at
many local post offices, banks, and libraries. Taxpayers can
also visit the website of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
which is found at http://www.irs.gov. The Internal
Revenue Service has a collection of federal income tax forms
that can be downloaded and printed. http://www
.taxhelpdirectory.com/federalincometax/
When a taxpayer reports their income earned to their state
government they will also have to fill out a state tax return
form. Each state has their own income tax return forms. The form
numbers will all be different because they vary from state to
state; however, some forms will have the same heading. It is not
uncommon for a state income tax form to be known as the Resident
Income Tax Return. As with federal income tax returns, the
majority of states have a long income tax return form and a
short one. Taxpayers who are able to fill out and file a short
state income tax return are encouraged to do so because it saves
many taxpayers a large amount of tax preparation time. As with
most federal income tax forms, state tax return individuals are
likely to have a packet of state income tax forms mailed
directly to their home. It is also possible for taxpayers to
find their state tax forms at their local post office, financial
institution, or library.
In addition to the traditional taxpaying individual, there are
others who have to report and possibly pay an income tax. All
businesses and estate properties of an individual who has passed
on are subject to an income tax. A small business owner or the
executor of an estate property will have to file different
federal and state income tax forms than the traditional
taxpayer. These forms can be obtained at the same places where
standard federal and state forms are available.