Income Tax Forms and Income Tax Software Updates

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Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate is the IRS tax form used by your employer to withhold the correct amount of federal income tax from your paycheck. Employees generally complete Form W-4 before receiving their first paycheck. Form W-4 can be resubmitted to your employer to increase or reduce withholding allowances as necessary to better match your federal tax withholding with your year end tax return. If you receive a large income tax refund from the IRS, for example, you may wish to reduce the federal tax withholding amount so that less money is taken out of your paycheck each week.

Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate

Exemption From Withholding

Line 7 on Form W-4 is for those who meet the exemption conditions in which no federal tax should be withheld. In the past this was confusing, however, the IRS has made Line 7 much clearer now. Both of the following conditions must be met for you to claim exemption (no federal taxes withheld from your paycheck).

• Last year I had a right to a refund of all federal income tax withheld because I had no tax liability, and
• This year I expect a refund of all federal income tax withheld because I expect to have not tax liability.

To decide if you meet the conditions to be exempt from federal tax withholding, you can review last years income tax return and your W-2 statement from last years tax return. Those exempt from withholding need only complete lines 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 and sign the form. Exempt employees do not need to complete the Personal Allowances Worksheet.

Personal Allowances Worksheet

All those who are not exempt must complete the Personal Allowances Worksheet. The Personal Allowances Worksheet and the instructions are included with the printable Form W-4 below. Remember that a withholding allowance is not the same thing as the number of dependents you claim on your tax return. It is a separate calculation that is done only on Form W-4. The purpose of the Personal Allowances Worksheet is to better match your expected income with the amount of federal tax to be withheld.

Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet and the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet along with Table 1 and Table 2 are also part of the printable Form W-4 below.

Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate

• Form W-4
• Form W-4 Instructions (on the form)

More printable income tax forms can be found on our site.

Form W-5 Earned Income Credit Advance Payment Certificate is used by those who are eligible to get part of their Earned Income Credit (EIC) in advance along with their pay. How much of the Earned Income Credit you get in advance depends upon your wages and filing status. Use the links below the Form W-5 image to get a printable form or the instructions for Form W-5.

Form W-5 Earned Income Credit Advance Payment Certificate

Remember that the Earned Income Credit amounts change each tax year. At the time of writing this post  the maximum amount of EIC increased from 2009 to 2010. Here are the 2010 EIC amounts:

• $3,050 if you have one qualifying child
• $5,036 if you have two qualifying children
• $5,666 if you have three or more qualifying children
• $457 if you do not have a qualifying child

To qualify for the Earned Income Credit, you will have to calculate your income using the worksheets provided on Form W-5.  the maximum amount of income you can earn and still get the EIC increased from 2009 to 2010. You may be able to take the EIC if the following are true:

• You have three or more qualifying children and you earn less than $43,352 ($48,362 if married filing jointly)
• You have two qualifying children and you earn less than $40,363 ($45,373 if married filing jointly)
• You have one qualifying child and you earn less then $35,535 ($40,545 if married filing jointly)
• You do not have a qualifying child and you earn less then $13,460 ($18,470 if married filing jointly)

A few other points to keep in mind in regards to EIC. The maximum amount of investment income you can have is still $3,100 for 2010. And if you get advance EIC payments from your employer using Form W-5, your employer can only pay up to $1,830 in advance payments.

Form W-5 Earned Income Credit Advance Payment Certificate

• Form W-5
• Form W-5 Spanish Version
• Form W-5 Instructions (on the form)
• Pub 596 Earned Income Credit (EIC)

More printable income tax forms can be found on our site.

Form SS-4 Application for Employer Identification Number is used by employers, corporations, partnerships, sole proprietors, trusts, estates, churches, government agencies, Indian tribal entities, certain individuals and others to apply for their federal EIN tax ID number. That sounds like a whole lot of employers for just one form, but Form SS-4 line 9a asks you to check one box that best describes your entity type.

Form SS-4 Application for Employer Identification Number

Please note that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) now has an online EIN application The online EIN application replaces the need for Form SS-4. The online EIN application asks you the questions necessary to process your form and you will get your EIN immediately upon completion. See the EIN online application link below for more information.

Form SS-4 Application for Employer Identification Number

• Form SS-4
• Form SS-4 Instructions

Apply for Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online

• EIN Application Online

Form 4506 Request for Copy of Tax Return is the tax form to fill out if you need an exact copy of a tax return and all attachments mailed to the IRS. Complete Form 4506 and mail it to the address listed in the form instructions. Form 4506 requires a $57.00 fee for each year requested. You can use Form 4506 to request copies of tax returns filed within the past six years.

Form 4506 Request for Copy of Tax Return

There may be other free ways to get a copy of your income tax return. For example, if you filed your income tax forms online using TurboTax or H&R Block, log into your account and print your tax forms. The IRS also offers a computer print out of your return called a “transcript.” A transcript may be an acceptable substitute for your tax return and will show most of the line items on your IRS income tax forms.

Form 4506 Request for Copy of Tax Return

• Form 4506
• Form 4506 Instructions (on the form)

Form 4506-T Request for Transcript of Tax Return

• Form 4506T-EZ
• Form 4506-T
• Form 4506-T Instructions (on the form)
• Free transcript can also be obtained by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040, follow the prompts in the recorded message

More printable income tax forms can be found on our site.

Form 5405 First Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit is used by eligible taxpayers who buy a home and qualify for the first time homebuyer credit. The Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010 signed by the President in July effectively extended the closing deadline from June 30 to Sept 30 for any eligible purchase that was entered into before April 30.

The IRS says in their July notice that those who entered into a purchase contract on or before April 30 but closed after that date should attach a copy of a signed contract showing all the parties names, signatures, property address, purchase price, and the date of the contract, attach to their tax return.

• Form 5405
• Form 5405 Instructions

Please read the IRS Form 5405 Instructions for more information about the First Time Homebuyer Credit. More printable income tax forms can be found on our site.

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has created a special web page for those who are unemployed and struggling to pay their taxes. On this special web page titled “Tax Center to Assist Unemployed Taxpayers” is a list of resources that you can scan through to see if they related to your particular tax issue.

Why the special web page? Life changing events can impact your income tax return and any tax debt that you owe to the IRS. Loss of a job, forgiveness of debt by creditors, using your retirement funds to pay bills, are just a few examples. If your income decreases, you might also become eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The IRS recommends that if you have trouble paying your tax bill to contact them immediately.  They also recommend that you file your tax returns even if you are unable to pay to avoid additional penalties. For information related to Free Tax Help, and the What Ifs of an Economic Downturn visit this special IRS page for unemployed taxpayers.

TurboTax Online editions allow you to start for free and pay only when you file. Start for Free is one of many advantages TurboTax Online offers over the retail TurboTax software. Start for Free allows you to get familiar with the TurboTax way of preparing your income tax forms before deciding if you would like to buy the product. This is great for those who have never used TurboTax, or have not used TurboTax in a few years and would like to see what’s new.

Click any of the TurboTax Online Start for Free or Learn more buttons below to get started.

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TurboTax Online prices shown above are the late summer prices as we viewed them online. Visit our TurboTax web page in January and February for early season discounts during tax time.

Form 1040X Amended US Individual Income Tax Return is the tax form you use to amend your 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ and related forms. While some exceptions do exist, you generally must file Form 1040X within 3 years after the date you filed your original income tax return. Use Form 1040X to correct your filing status, number of dependents, total income, deductions, and credits.

Form 1040X Amended US Individual Income Tax Return

Form 1040X is used by taxpayers who rushed through their income tax forms at tax time and realize days, months, or even years later that they missed a credit that could put more money in their pockets. Form 1040X is also used when a tax adviser identifies a prior year mistakes or missed deductions and credits.

If you have concerns about the last 3 years of tax returns you filed or need help completing Form 1040X for a known issue, visit an H&R Block location near you for help. Many of the tax software products that we feature on our site also allow you to file Form 1040X, however, you will need to print and mail Form 1040X into the IRS because it can’t be filed electronically.

Click the Form 1040X image above to obtain a blank form direct from the IRS. The two links below can also be used to obtain printable Form 1040X and Form 1040X Instructions.

• Form 1040X
• Form 1040X Instructions

More printable income tax forms can be found on our site.