Form 1040, US Individual Income Tax Return
Form 1040 is the annual federal income tax return for individuals. Fill in the official IRS PDF below and download it for printing and mailing, or use it to organize numbers before e-filing.
This is the genuine IRS PDF, unmodified. Source: IRS official page.
What is 1040?
Form 1040 reports a year of income, deductions, credits, and payments, and lands on a single number: your refund or the tax you still owe. Wages, interest, dividends, retirement income, and capital gains all flow into it, with details carried in from schedules such as Schedule C for self-employment or Schedule B for interest and dividends.
The filing deadline is usually April 15. Filing this paper form by mail is slowest; many people fill it out to check numbers even when they e-file.
Who files 1040?
- US citizens and resident aliens whose income exceeds the filing threshold for their status
- Self-employed people with net earnings of $400 or more
- Anyone owed a refund of withheld tax, even below the threshold
- People claiming refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit
How to fill out 1040
- Enter your filing status, name, SSN, and dependents in the header.
- Report each income line from your W-2s, 1099s, and other records.
- Take the standard deduction or your itemized total from Schedule A.
- Work down to tax, credits, and payments to find your refund or balance due.
- Download the PDF, attach required schedules, sign, and mail it to the IRS address for your state, or keep it as your e-file worksheet.
Quick fill 1040 on this page
Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open 1040 in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.
Frequently asked questions
Should I file this paper 1040 or e-file?
E-filing is faster and confirms receipt; refunds usually arrive within about three weeks with direct deposit. A mailed paper return can take six weeks or more to process. The paper form still matters for amended situations, some non-resident cases, and people who simply prefer mail.
What if I cannot finish by April 15?
File Form 4868 for an automatic six-month extension to file. It does not extend the time to pay, so estimate and pay what you owe with the extension.
Which schedules do I need?
Common ones: Schedule 1 for extra income and adjustments, Schedule C for self-employment, Schedule SE for self-employment tax, Schedule B for interest and dividends over $1,500.