1040A Form

The 1040A form is a shorter and more simple version of the IRS 1040 tax form. A taxpayer can use the 1040A form if his total income is less than $100,000. In addition, the 1040A form limits sources of income to wages, interest, dividends, and capital gains. A taxpayer also qualifies to use the 1040A form if he receives retirement distributions, unemployment compensation or Social Security benefits. 1040A form filers may claim only the standard deduction but may claim certain tax credits (i.e. Earned Income Credit, child tax credit, etc.). Income adjustments allowed by the 1040A form are limited to a traditional IRA, student loan interest and tuition and fee deductions. The IRS estimates that 4 million taxpayer who filed form 1040 last year could have filed the 1040A form instead.