Publication 17: Your Federal Income Tax; How Do I Prepare My Return?

This section explains how to get ready to fill in your tax return and when to report your income and expenses. It also explains how to complete certain sections of the form. You may find Table 1-6 helpful when you prepare your return.

In most cases, the IRS will mail you Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040EZ with related instructions, or a TeleFile package, based on what you filed last year. Before you fill in the form, look it over to see if you need additional forms or schedules. You may also want to read Does My Return Have To Be On Paper, earlier.

If you do not receive a tax return package in the mail, or if you need other forms, you can order them. See How To Get Tax Help in the back of this publication. Table 1-6: 6 STEPS

Substitute tax forms. You cannot use your own version of a tax form unless it meets the requirements explained in Publication 1167, Substitute Printed, Computer-Prepared, and Computer-Generated Tax Forms and Schedules.

Form W-2. If you are an employee, you should receive Form W-2 from your employer. You will need the information from this form before you prepare your return.

If you do not receive Form W-2 by January 31, 2001, contact your employer. If you still do not get the form by February 15, the IRS can help you by requesting the form from your employer. For more information, see Form W-2 under Credit for Withholding and Estimated Tax in chapter 5.

Form 1099. If you received certain types of income, you may receive a Form 1099. For example, if you received taxable interest of $10 or more, the payer generally must give you a Form 1099-INT. If you have not received it by January 31, 2001, contact the payer. If you still do not get the form by February 15, call the IRS for help.

You must figure your taxable income on the basis of a tax year. A "tax year" is an annual accounting period used for keeping records and reporting income and expenses. You must account for your income and expenses in a way that clearly shows your taxable income. The way you do this is called an accounting method. This section explains which accounting periods and methods you can use.

Most individual tax returns cover a calendar year--the 12 months from January 1 through December 31. If you do not use a calendar year, your accounting period is a fiscal year. A regular fiscal year is a 12-month period that ends on the last day of any month except December. A 52-53 week fiscal year varies from 52 to 53 weeks and always ends on the same day of the week.

You must choose your accounting period when you file your first income tax return. It cannot be longer than 12 months.

More information. For more information on accounting periods, including how to change your accounting period, see Publication 538, Accounting Periods and Methods.

Your accounting method is the way you account for your income and expenses. Most taxpayers use either the cash method or an accrual method. You choose a method when you file your first income tax return. If you want to change your accounting method after that, you generally must get IRS approval.

Cash method. If you use this method, report all items of income in the year in which you actually or constructively receive them. Deduct all expenses in the year you actually pay them. This is the method most individual taxpayers use.

Constructive receipt. You constructively receive income when it is credited to your account or set apart in any way that makes it available to you. You do not need to have physical possession of it. For example, interest credited to your bank account on December 31, 2000, is taxable income to you in 2000 if you could have withdrawn it in 2000 (even if the amount is not entered in your passbook or withdrawn until 2001).

Garnisheed wages. If your employer uses your wages to pay your debts, or if your wages are attached or garnisheed, the full amount is constructively received by you. You must include these wages in income for the year you would have received them.

Brokerage and other accounts. Profits from a brokerage account, or similar account, are fully taxable in the year you earn them. This is true even if:

Debts paid for you. If another person cancels or pays your debts (but not as a gift or loan), you have constructively received the amount and generally must include it in your gross income for the year. See Canceled Debts in chapter 13 for more information.

Payment to third party. If a third party is paid income from property you own, you have constructively received the income. It is the same as if you had actually received the income and paid it to the third party.

Payment to an agent. Income an agent receives for you is income you constructively received in the year the agent receives it. If you indicate in a contract that your income is to be paid to another person, you must include the amount in your gross income when the other person receives it.

Check received or available. A valid check you received or that was made available to you before the end of the tax year is constructively received by you in that year, even if you do not cash the check or deposit it in your account until the next year.

No constructive receipt. There may be facts to show that you did not constructively receive income.

Accrual method. If you use an accrual method, you generally report income when you earn it, rather than when you receive it. You generally deduct your expenses when you incur them, rather than when you pay them.

Income paid in advance. Prepaid income is generally included in gross income in the year you receive it. Your method of accounting does not matter as long as the income is available to you. Prepaid income includes rents or interest you receive in advance and pay for services you will perform later.

Additional information. For more information on accounting methods, including how to change your accounting method, get Publication 538.

You must enter your social security number (SSN) in the space provided on your return. Be sure the SSN on your return is the same as the SSN on your social security card. If you are married, enter the SSNs for both you and your spouse, whether you file jointly or separately.

If you are filing a joint return, write the SSNs in the same order as the names. Please use this same order in submitting other forms and documents to the IRS.

Name change. If you changed your name because of marriage, divorce, etc., immediately notify your Social Security Administration (SSA) office so the name on your tax return is the same as the one the SSA has on its records. This may prevent delays in issuing your refund and safeguard your future social security benefits.

Dependent’s social security number. You must provide the SSN of each dependent you claim, regardless of the dependent’s age. This requirement applies to all dependents (not just your children) claimed on your tax return.

Exception. If your child was born and died in 2000 and you do not have an SSN for the child, you may attach a copy of the child’s birth certificate instead. If you do, enter "DIED" in column 2 of line 6c.

No social security number. File Form SS-5 with your local SSA office to get an SSN for yourself or your dependent. It usually takes about 2 weeks to get an SSN. If you or your dependent is not eligible for an SSN, see Individual taxpayer identification number, later.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you must show proof of age, identity, and citizenship with your Form SS-5. If you are 18 or older, you must appear in person with this proof at an SSA office.

Form SS-5 is available at any SSA office. If you have any questions about which documents you can use as proof of age, identity, or citizenship, contact your SSA office.

If your dependent does not have an SSN by the time your return is due, you may want to ask for an extension of time to file, as explained earlier under When Do I Have To File.

If you do not provide a required SSN or if you provide an incorrect SSN, your tax may be increased and any refund may be reduced.

Adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN). If you are in the process of adopting a child who is a U.S. citizen or resident and cannot get an SSN for the child until the adoption is final, you can apply for an ATIN to use instead of an SSN.

File Form W-7A with the IRS to get an ATIN if all of the following are true.

After the adoption is final, you must apply for a social security number for the child. You cannot continue using the ATIN.

Nonresident alien spouse. If your spouse is a nonresident alien and you file a joint or separate return, your spouse must have either an SSN or an ITIN. If your spouse is not eligible for an SSN, see the next discussion.

Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The IRS will issue you an ITIN if you are a nonresident or resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN. To apply for an ITIN, file Form W-7 with the IRS. It usually takes about 30 days to get an ITIN. Enter this number on your tax return wherever your SSN is requested. An incorrect or missing taxpayer identification number may increase your tax or reduce your refund.

Alien dependent. If your dependent is a nonresident or resident alien who does not have and is not eligible to get a social security number (SSN), file Form W-7 with the IRS to apply for an ITIN. Enter this number on your return wherever the dependent’s SSN is requested.

Penalty for not providing social security number. If you do not include your SSN or the SSN of your spouse or dependent as required, you may have to pay a penalty. See the discussion on Penalties, later, for more information.

SSN on correspondence. If you write to the IRS about your tax account, be sure to include your SSN in your correspondence. Because your SSN is used to identify your account, this helps the IRS respond to your correspondence promptly.

This fund was set up to help pay for presidential election campaigns. You may have $3 of your tax liability go to this fund by checking the Yes box on Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040EZ. If you are filing a joint return, your spouse may also have $3 go to the fund. If you check Yes, it will not change the tax you pay or the refund you will receive.

The following information on entering numbers on your tax return may be useful in making the return easier to complete.

Rounding off dollars. You may round off cents to whole dollars on your return and schedules. If you do round to whole dollars, you must round all amounts. To round, drop amounts under 50 cents and increase amounts from 50 to 99 cents to the next dollar. For example, $1.39 becomes $1 and $2.50 becomes $3.

If you have to add two or more amounts to figure the amount to enter on a line, include cents when adding the amounts and round off only the total.

Equal amounts. If you are asked to enter the smaller or larger of two equal amounts, enter that amount.

Negative amounts. If you need to enter a negative amount, put the amount in parentheses rather than using a minus sign. To combine positive and negative amounts, add all the positive amounts together and then subtract the negative amounts.

Depending on the form you file and the items reported on your return, you may have to complete additional schedules and forms and attach them to your return.

Form W-2. Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, is a statement from your employer of wages and other compensation paid to you and taxes withheld from your pay. You should have a Form W-2 from each employer. Be sure to attach a copy of Form W-2 in the place indicated on the front page of your return. Attach it only to the front page of your return, not to any attachments. For more information, see Form W-2 in chapter 5.

If you received a Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc., showing federal income tax withheld, attach a copy of that form in the place indicated on the front page of your return.

Form 1040A. Attach the additional schedules and forms that you had to complete behind the Form 1040A in order by number. If you are filing Schedule EIC, put it last. Do not attach items unless required to do so.

Form 1040. Attach any forms and schedules behind Form 1040 in order of the "Attachment Sequence Number" shown in the upper right corner of the form or schedule. Put forms without an attachment sequence number next. Then arrange all other statements or attachments in the same order as the forms and schedules they relate to and attach them last. Do not attach items unless required to do so.

You must sign and date your return. If you file a joint return, both you and your spouse must sign the return, even if only one of you had income.

If you are due a refund, it cannot be issued unless you have signed your return.

Enter your occupation in the space provided in the signature section. If you file a joint return, enter both your occupation and your spouse’s occupation. Entering your daytime telephone number is optional.

If you prepare your own return, leave the space under your signature blank. If another person prepares your return and does not charge you, that person should not sign your return.

Paid preparer. Generally, anyone you pay to prepare, assist in preparing, or review your tax return must sign it and fill in the other blanks in the paid preparer’s area of your return. Signature stamps and labels are not acceptable. Paid preparers of Form 1040EZ must also put an "X" in box 10 in the lower right corner of page 1 of the return.

If the preparer is self-employed (that is, not employed by any person or business to prepare the return), he or she should check the self-employed box in the Paid Preparer’s Use Only space on the return.

The preparer must give you a copy of your return in addition to the copy filed with the IRS.

If you have questions about whether a preparer must sign your return, please contact any IRS office.

Paid preparer authorization. In the signature area of your 2000 tax return, you are asked whether the IRS can discuss the return with the paid preparer who signed the return. If you check the "Yes" box, you are authorizing:

The authorization cannot be revoked. However, it will automatically end no later than the due date (without any extensions) for filing your 2001 tax return. This is April 15, 2002, for most people.

When someone can sign for you. You can appoint an agent to sign your return if you are:

Power of attorney. A return signed by an agent in any of these cases must have a power of attorney (POA) attached that authorizes the agent to sign for you. You can use a POA that states that the agent is granted authority to sign the return, or you can use Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative. Part I of Form 2848 must state that the agent is granted authority to sign the return.

Unable to sign. If the taxpayer is mentally incompetent and cannot sign the return, it must be signed by a court-appointed representative who can act for the taxpayer.

If the taxpayer is mentally competent but physically unable to sign the return or POA, a valid "signature" is defined under state law. It can be anything that clearly indicates the taxpayer’s intent to sign. For example, the taxpayer’s "X" with the signatures of two witnesses might be considered a valid signature under a state’s law.

Spouse unable to sign. If your spouse is unable to sign for any reason, see Signing a joint return, in chapter 2.

Child’s return. If a child has to file a tax return but cannot sign the return, the child’s parent, guardian, or another legally responsible person must sign the child’s name, followed by the words "By (signature), parent (or guardian) for minor child."

When you complete your return, you will determine if you paid more income tax than you owed. If so, you can get a refund of the amount you overpaid or, if you file Form 1040 or Form 1040A, you can choose to apply all or part of the overpayment to your next year’s (2001) estimated tax.

You cannot have your overpayment applied to your 2001 estimated tax if you file Form 1040EZ.

Follow the instructions in your tax forms package to complete the entries to claim your refund and/or to apply your overpayment to your 2001 estimated tax.

Direct deposit. Instead of getting a paper check, you may be able to have your refund deposited directly into your account at a bank or other financial institution. To request direct deposit, follow the instructions for the refund line on your return.

Overpayment less than one dollar. If your overpayment is less than one dollar, you will not get a refund unless you ask for it in writing.

Cashing your refund check. Cash your tax refund check soon after you receive it. Checks not cashed within 12 months of the date they are issued will be canceled and the proceeds returned to the IRS.

Refund more or less than expected. If you receive a check for a refund you are not entitled to, or for an overpayment that should have been credited to estimated tax, do not cash the check. Call the IRS.

If you receive a check for more than the refund you claimed, do not cash the check until you receive a notice explaining the difference.

If your refund check is for less than you claimed, it should be accompanied by a notice explaining the difference. Cashing the check does not stop you from claiming an additional amount of refund.

If you did not receive a notice and you have any questions about the amount of your refund, you should wait two weeks. If you still have not received a notice, call the IRS.

Offset against debts. If you are due a refund but have not paid certain amounts you owe, all or part of your refund may be used to pay all or part of the past-due amount. This includes past-due federal income tax, other federal debts (such as student loans), state income tax, and child and spousal support payments. You will be notified if the refund you claimed has been offset against your debts.

Joint return and injured spouse. When a joint return is filed and only one spouse owes a past-due amount, the other spouse can be considered an injured spouse. An injured spouse can get a refund for his or her share of the overpayment that would otherwise be used to pay the past-due amount.

If you are an injured spouse, you can obtain your portion of the joint refund by completing Form 8379, Injured Spouse Claim and Allocation. Follow the instructions on the form.

When you complete your return, you will determine if you have paid the full amount of tax that you owe. If you owe additional tax, you should pay it with your return.

If the IRS figures your tax for you, you will receive a bill for any tax that is due. You should pay this bill within 30 days (or by the due date of your return, if later). See Tax Figured by IRS in chapter 31.

If you have an amount due on your tax return, you can pay by check, money order, or credit card. If you filed electronically, you also may be able to make your payment by direct debit (automatic withdrawal).

Payment by check or money order. If you pay by check or money order, make it out to the "United States Treasury." Please show your correct name, address, social security number, daytime telephone number, and the tax year and form number on the front of your check or money order.

For example, if you file Form 1040 for 2000 and you owe additional tax, show your name, address, social security number, daytime telephone number, and "2000 Form 1040" on the front of your check or money order. If you file an amended return (Form 1040X) for 1999 and you owe tax, show your name, address, social security number, daytime telephone number, and "1999 Form 1040X" on the front of your check or money order.

Enclose your payment with your return, but do not attach it to the form. If you filed Form 1040, please complete Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher, and enclose it with your payment and return. Form 1040-V will help us process your payment more accurately and efficiently. Follow the instructions that come with the form.

Do not mail cash with your return. If you pay cash at an IRS office, keep the receipt as part of your records.

Payment not honored. If your check or money order is not honored by your bank (or other financial institution) and the IRS does not receive the funds, you still owe the tax. In addition, you may be subject to a dishonored check penalty.

Payment by credit card. You can use your American Express®, Discover®, or MasterCard® credit card.

To pay by credit card, call a service provider and follow the recorded instructions. You can also pay by credit card over the Internet using a service provider’s web site.

The service providers charge a convenience fee based on the amount you are paying. Fees may vary between the providers. You will be told what the fee is during the transaction and will have the option to continue or end the transaction. You may also obtain the convenience fee by calling the service provider’s automated customer service telephone number or visiting their respective web site.

If you pay by credit card, write the confirmation number you were given at the end of the transaction and the payment amount in the upper left corner of your tax return.

Official Payments Corporation
To make a payment, call	1-800-2PAY-TAX
or	1-800-272-9829
For Customer Service	1-877-754-4413
Web Address	www.officialpayments.com
PhoneCharge Inc.
To make a payment, call	1-888-ALL-TAXX
or	1-888-255-8299
For Customer Service	1-877-851-9964
Web Address	www.About1888ALLTAXX.com

Electronic payment by electronic filer. If you file your tax return electronically, you can make your payment electronically.

You can file and pay in a single step by authorizing a direct debit (automatic withdrawal) from your checking or savings account. This option is available through tax software packages, tax professionals, and TeleFile. If you select the direct debit payment option, you will need to have your account number, your financial institution’s routing transit number, and account type (checking or savings). You can schedule the payment for any future date up to and including the return due date (April 16, 2001).

To pay by direct debit from your checking or savings account when you file by TeleFile, fill in lines E, F, G, and H on the TeleFile Tax Record.

You can also file and pay in a single step by authorizing a credit card payment. This option is available through some tax software packages and tax professionals.

Estimated tax payments. Do not include any 2001 estimated tax payment in the payment for your 2000 income tax return. See chapter 5 for information on how to pay estimated tax.

Interest is charged on tax you do not pay by the due date of your return. Interest is charged even if you get an extension of time for filing.

Interest on penalties. Interest is charged on the failure-to-file penalty, the accuracy-related penalty, and the fraud penalty from the due date of the return (including extensions) to the date of payment. Interest on other penalties starts on the date of notice and demand, but is not charged on penalties paid within 21 calendar days from the date of the notice (or within 10 business days if the notice is for $100,000 or more).

Interest due to IRS error or delay. All or part of any interest you were charged can be forgiven if the interest is due to an unreasonable error or delay by an officer or employee of the IRS in performing a ministerial or managerial act.

A ministerial act is a procedural or mechanical act that occurs during the processing of a taxpayer’s case. A managerial act includes personnel transfers and extended personnel training. A decision concerning the proper application of federal tax law is not a ministerial or managerial act.

The interest can be forgiven only if you are not responsible in any important way for the error or delay and the IRS has notified you in writing of the deficiency or payment. For more information, get Publication 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, and Claims for Refund.

Interest and certain penalties may also be suspended for a limited period if you filed your return by the due date (including extensions) and the IRS does not provide you with a notice specifically stating your liability and the basis for it before the close of the 18-month period beginning on the later of:

If you cannot pay the full amount due with your return, you can ask to make monthly installment payments. However, you will be charged interest and may be charged a late payment penalty on the tax not paid by April 16, 2001, even if your request to pay in installments is granted. If your request is granted, you must also pay a fee. To limit the interest and penalty charges, pay as much of the tax as possible with your return. But before requesting an installment agreement, you should consider other less costly alternatives, such as a bank loan.

To ask for an installment agreement, use Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request. You should receive a response to your request within 30 days. But if you file your return after March 31, it may take longer for a reply.

Guaranteed availability of installment agreement. The IRS must agree to accept the payment of your tax liability in installments if, as of the date you offer to enter into the agreement:

You can deduct this gift as a charitable contribution on next year’s tax return if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040).

After you have completed your return, peel off the label with your name and address from the inside of your tax return package and place it in the appropriate area of the Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040EZ you send to the IRS. If you have someone prepare your return, give that person your label to use on your tax return.

If you file electronically (and Form 8453 is required), use your label on Form 8453. (More information on electronic filing is found earlier in this chapter.)

The label helps the IRS to correctly identify your account. It also saves processing costs and speeds up processing so that refunds can be issued sooner.

Correcting the label. Make necessary name and address changes on the label. If you have an apartment number that is not shown on the label, please write it in. If you changed your name, see the discussion under Social Security Number, earlier.

No label. If you did not receive a tax return package with a label, print or type your name and address in the spaces provided at the top of Form 1040 or Form 1040A. If you are married filing a separate return, do not enter your spouse’s name in the space at the top. Instead, enter his or her name in the space provided on line 3.

If you file Form 1040EZ and you do not have a label, print (do not type) this information in the spaces provided.

P.O. box. If your post office does not deliver mail to your street address and you have a P.O. box, print your P.O. box number on the line for your present home address instead of your street address.

Foreign address. If your address is outside the United States or its possessions or territories, enter the information on the line for "City, town or post office, state, and ZIP code" in the following order: