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Form 1040 is a required document for most U.S. citizens. However, it has several variations that should be used depending on your individual situation. In this article, we will talk about IRS tax Form 1040 SR, its uniqueness, and its filling features.
What Is Form 1040-SR: U.S. Tax Return for Seniors?
You might have come across Form 1040 as it is the standard income statement. Form 1040-SR is the same document, only adapted for senior taxpayers. This blank uses a larger font. The list of tax benefits is also slightly different to make it easier for such citizens to fill out the papers. The form puts a little more emphasis on senior benefits than the standard one. This unique document became available only recently; it was released in 2018. Before this, senior citizens had to use a common file.
Who Can File Form 1040-SR?
The Internal Revenue Service provides clear requirements for individuals who are eligible to complete this paper. What is Form 1040-SR used for? The purpose of this variant is the same as the standard document, that is, to provide information about your income. Accordingly, if you have salaries, tips, wages, taxable interests, and other income options, you should report them. If additional help is needed, the Taxcaster tool is a great resource when it comes time to report income. The only difference is that you must be 65 or older when the tax year ends. Only taxpayers of that age are eligible to use this option.
Keep in mind that you do not need to be retired to be able to complete this version of the document. But citizens who retired earlier than the specified age are not eligible to fill out the form. Also, please note that this variation is optional. If you are over 65 years old, have no visual impairment, and do not qualify for senior tax credits, you can use the standard form.
Form 1040-SR Instructions
The latest revision of the document consists of four pages. Most of the fields and blocks repeat Form 1040; however, there are some differences due to which you should be careful. Follow the next steps:
- The first half of the first page is devoted to information about you. Here you should enter your filing status, full name, spouse details, residential address, and SNN. If you have dependents, please list them in the appropriate box.
- Now, you can move on to listing the available forms of earnings: salaries, dividends, wages, social security benefits, tips, etc. All completed lines should be added to get the total income. If you have adjustments, subtract them from the total.
- Next, you should calculate the income that is taxed. Specify standard or itemized deductions, charitable contributions, and so on to get taxable income and, based on it, get total tax and total payments. Please note that you may need other completed forms for these calculations, such as W-2 or 1099. On lines that do not apply to you, enter “0” to not leave them blank.
- Calculate your refund and subtract it from total tax to get the amount you owe. Recheck your calculations for typos and sign the file if everything is correct.
The fourth page of the document is a standard deduction chart that will help you complete the file if you claim this type of deduction.
How to File Form 1040-SR?
According to current IRS instructions, a completed printable 1040-SR Form should be submitted on April 18th this year. In them, you report on your income for the previous period. The IRS encourages taxpayers to submit all documents electronically because they are processed faster. Therefore, e-filing is the best variant. However, of course, you also can send documents by mail if that is more convenient for you. On the official website of the tax office, you can find a complete list of addresses by state. Choose them depending on whether you attach payments to your forms or not.
Form 1040-SR was specifically designed to make it easier for working senior citizens to file their tax returns. Keep in mind that people under 65 are not eligible to use this option. Otherwise, it is not much different from the standard blank. We hope that with our instructions, the process of filling out paperwork will become even easier for you.