Publication 554
Introductory Material

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2003 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

Important Reminders

Tax return preparers. Choose your preparer carefully. If you pay someone to prepare your return, the preparer is required, under the law, to sign the return and fill in the other blanks in the Paid Preparer's area of your return. Remember, however, that you are still responsible for the accuracy of every item entered on your return. If there is any underpayment, you are responsible for paying it, plus any interest and penalty that may be due.

Third party designee. You can check the Yes box in the Third Party Designee area of your return to authorize the IRS to discuss your return with a friend, family member, or any other person you choose. This allows the IRS to call the person you identified as your designee to answer any questions that may arise during the processing of your return. It also allows your designee to perform certain actions. See your income tax package for details.

Employment tax withholding. Your wages are subject to withholding for income tax, social security tax, and Medicare tax even if you are receiving social security benefits.

Voluntary withholding. You may be able to have federal income tax withheld from your social security and equivalent railroad retirement benefits. See Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax under Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits.

Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 1–800–THE–LOST (1–800–843–5678) if you recognize a child.

Introduction

The purpose of this publication is to provide a general overview of selected topics that are of interest to older Americans. The publication will help you determine if you need to file a return and, if so, what items to report on your return. Each topic is discussed only briefly, so you will find references to other free IRS publications that provide more detail on these topics if you need it.

Table I has a list of questions you may have about filing your federal tax return. To the right of each question is the location of the answer in this publication. Also, at the back of this publication there is an index to help you search for the topic you need.

While most federal income tax laws apply equally to all taxpayers, regardless of age, there are some provisions that give special treatment to older Americans. The following are some examples.

Large print tax forms.

For easier reading and to practice preparing your return, you may order large print tax forms. Use them as worksheets to figure your tax, but do not file them. Call 1–800–829–3676 and order:

• Publication 1614 , which contains Form 1040, Schedules A, B, D, E, EIC, and R, and Forms 1040–V and 8812, and their instructions, or
• Publication 1615 , which contains Form 1040A, Schedules 1, 2, 3, and EIC, and Form 8812, and their instructions.

When you file your actual return, do not send the large print tax forms to IRS. Use the standard forms.

To order other free publications and forms, see chapter 7 in this publication.

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