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left arrowPrevious Page: Instructions for Form 1040 - Filing Requirements
right arrowNext Page: Instructions for Form 1040 - Line Instructions for Form 1040
Use  left arrowright arrow to find additional occurrences of topic items. Index for these Instructions

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When and Where Should You File?(p6)


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File Form 1040 by April 15, 2008. If you file after this date, you may have to pay interest and penalties. See page 78.

If you were serving in, or in support of, the U.S. Armed Forces in a designated combat zone, qualified hazardous duty area, or a contingency operation, see  
Pub. 3.

See the back cover for filing instructions and addresses. For details on using a private delivery service, see page 9.


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What if You Cannot File on Time?(p6)


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You can get an automatic 6-month extension if, no later than the date your return is due, you file Form 4868. For details, see Form 4868.

An automatic 6-month extension to file does not extend the time to pay your tax. See Form 4868.

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, you may qualify for an automatic extension of time to file without filing Form 4868. You qualify if, on the due date of your return, you meet one of the following conditions.

This extension gives you an extra 2 months to file and pay the tax, but interest will be charged from the original due date of the return on any unpaid tax. You must attach a statement to your return showing that you meet the requirements. If you are still unable to file your return by the end of the 2-month period, you can get an additional 4 months if, no later than June 16, 2008, you file Form 4868. This 4-month extension of time to file does not extend the time to pay your tax. See Form 4868.

Chart B—For Children and Other Dependents (See the instructions for line 6c that begin on page 15 to find out if someone can claim you as a dependent.)

If your parent (or someone else) can claim you as a dependent, use this chart to see if you must file a return.
mIn this chart, unearned income includes taxable interest, ordinary dividends, and capital gain distributions. Earned income includes wages, tips, and taxable scholarship and fellowship grants. Gross income is the total of your unearned and earned income.
Single dependents. Were you either age 65 or older or blind?
  Box nNo. You must file a return if any of the following apply.
   
  • Your unearned income was over $850.
  • Your earned income was over $5,350.
  • Your gross income was more than the larger of—
     
  • $850, or
  • Your earned income (up to $5,050) plus $300.
  Box nYes. You must file a return if any of the following apply.
   
  • Your unearned income was over $2,150 ($3,450 if 65 or older and blind).
  • Your earned income was over $6,650 ($7,950 if 65 or older and blind).
  • Your gross income was more than—
        The larger of: Plus This amount:  
     
  • $850, or
  • Your earned income (up to $5,050) plus $300
Right brace $1,300 ($2,600 if 65 or older and blind)  
Married dependents. Were you either age 65 or older or blind?
  Box nNo. You must file a return if any of the following apply.
   
  • Your unearned income was over $850.
  • Your earned income was over $5,350.
  • Your gross income was at least $5 and your spouse files a separate return and itemizes deductions.
  • Your gross income was more than the larger of—
     
  • $850, or
  • Your earned income (up to $5,050) plus $300.
  Box nYes. You must file a return if any of the following apply.
   
  • Your unearned income was over $1,900 ($2,950 if 65 or older and blind).
  • Your earned income was over $6,400 ($7,450 if 65 or older and blind).
  • Your gross income was at least $5 and your spouse files a separate return and itemizes deductions.
  • Your gross income was more than—
        The larger of: Plus This amount:  
     
  • $850, or
  • Your earned income (up to $5,050) plus $300
Right brace $1,050 ($2,100 if 65 or older and blind)  

Chart C—Other Situations When You Must File

You must file a return if any of the four conditions below apply for 2007.
1.   You owe any special taxes, including any of the following.
  a. Alternative minimum tax.
  b. Additional tax on a qualified plan, including an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), or other tax-favored account. But if you are filing a return only because you owe this tax, you can file Form 5329 by itself.
  c. Household employment taxes. But if you are filing a return only because you owe this tax, you can file Schedule H by itself.
  d. Social security and Medicare tax on tips you did not report to your employer or on wages you received from an employer who did not withhold these taxes.
  e. Write-in taxes, including uncollected social security and Medicare or RRTA tax on tips you reported to your employer or on group-term life insurance and additional tax on health savings account distributions. See the instructions for line 63 on page 42.
  f. Recapture taxes. See the instructions for line 44, that begin on page 33, and line 63, on page 42.
  g. Additional tax on a health savings account from Form 8889, Part III.
2.   You received any advance earned income credit (EIC) payments from your employer. These payments are shown in
Form W-2, box 9.
3.   You had net earnings from self-employment of at least $400.
4.   You had wages of $108.28 or more from a church or qualified church-controlled organization that is exempt from employer social security and Medicare taxes.

Where To Report Certain Items From 2007 Forms W-2, 1098, and 1099
n

File electronicallyIRS e-file takes the guesswork out of preparing your return. You may also be eligible to use Free File to file your federal income tax return. Visit www.irs.gov/efile for details.

n
If any federal income tax withheld is shown on these forms, include the tax withheld on Form 1040, line 64. If you itemize your deductions and any state or local income tax withheld is shown on these forms, include the tax withheld on Schedule A, line 5, if you do not elect to deduct state and local general sales taxes.

  Form Item and Box in Which It Should Appear   Where To Report if Filing Form 1040
  W-2 Wages, tips, other compensation (box 1)   Form 1040, line 7
    Allocated tips (box 8)   See Wages, Salaries, Tips, etc. on page 18
    Advance EIC payment (box 9)   Form 1040, line 61
    Dependent care benefits (box 10)   Form 2441, Part III
    Adoption benefits (box 12, code T)   Form 8839, line 22
    Employer contributions to an Archer
MSA (box 12, code R)
  Form 8853, line 3
    Employer contributions to a health savings account (box 12, code W)   Form 8889, line 9
  W-2G Gambling winnings (box 1)   Form 1040, line 21 (Schedule C or C-EZ for professional gamblers)
  1098 Mortgage interest (box 1)
Points (box 2)
Right brace   Schedule A, line 10*
    Refund of overpaid interest (box 3)   Form 1040, line 21, but first see the instructions on Form 1098*
    Mortgage insurance premiums (box 4)   See the instructions for Schedule A, line 13*
  1098-C Contributions of motor vehicles, boats, and airplanes   Schedule A, line 17
  1098-E Student loan interest (box 1)   See the instructions for Form 1040, line 33, on page 30*
  1098-T Qualified tuition and related expenses
(box 1)
  See the instructions for Form 1040, line 34, on page 31, or Form 1040, line 49, on page 37, but first see the instructions on Form 1098-T*
  1099-A Acquisition or abandonment of secured property   See Pub. 544
  1099-B Stocks, bonds, etc. (box 2)   See the instructions on Form 1099-B
    Bartering (box 3)   See Pub. 525
    Aggregate profit or (loss) (box 11)   Form 6781, line 1
  1099-C Canceled debt (box 2)   Form 1040, line 21, but first see the instructions on Form 1099-C*
  1099-DIV Total ordinary dividends (box 1a)   Form 1040, line 9a
    Qualified dividends (box 1b)   See the instructions for Form 1040, line 9b, on page 19
    Total capital gain distributions (box 2a)   Form 1040, line 13, or, if required, Schedule D, line 13
    Unrecaptured section 1250 gain (box 2b)   See the instructions for Schedule D, line 19, that begin on page D-8
    Section 1202 gain (box 2c)   See Exclusion of Gain on Qualified Small Business (QSB) Stock in the instructions for Schedule D on page D-4
    Collectibles (28%) gain (box 2d)   See the instructions for Schedule D, line 18, on page D-8
    Nondividend distributions (box 3)   See the instructions for Form 1040, line 9a, on page 19
    Investment expenses (box 5)   Schedule A, line 23
    Foreign tax paid (box 6)   Form 1040, line 51, or Schedule A, line 8. But first see the instructions for line 51 that begin on page 37.
  1099-G Unemployment compensation (box 1)   Form 1040, line 19. But if you repaid any unemployment compensation in 2007, see the instructions for line 19 on
page 24.
    State or local income tax refunds, credits, or offsets (box 2)   See the instructions for Form 1040, line 10, that begin on page 20. If box 8 on Form 1099-G is checked, see the box 8 instructions.
    ATAA payments (box 5)   Form 1040, line 21
    Taxable grants (box 6)   Form 1040, line 21*
    Agriculture payments (box 7)   See the Instructions for Schedule F or Pub. 225*
* If the item relates to an activity for which you are required to file Schedule C, C-EZ, E, or F or Form 4835, report the taxable or deductible amount allocable to the activity on that schedule or form instead.
  1099-INT Interest income (box 1)   See the instructions for Form 1040, line 8a, on page 19
    Early withdrawal penalty (box 2)   Form 1040, line 30
    Interest on U.S. savings bonds and Treasury obligations (box 3)   See the instructions for Form 1040, line 8a, on page 19
    Investment expenses (box 5)   Schedule A, line 23
    Foreign tax paid (box 6)   Form 1040, line 51, or Schedule A, line 8. But first see the instructions for line 51 that begin on page 37.
    Tax-exempt interest (box 8)   Form 1040, line 8b
    Specified private activity bond interest (box 9)   Form 6251, line 11
  1099-LTC Long-term care and accelerated death benefits   See Pub. 525 and the Instructions for Form 8853
  1099-MISC Rents (box 1)   See the Instructions for Schedule E*
    Royalties (box 2)   Schedule E, line 4 (for timber, coal, and iron ore royalties, see
Pub. 544)*
    Other income (box 3)   Form 1040, line 21*
    Nonemployee compensation (box 7)   Schedule C, C-EZ, or F. But if you were not self-employed, see the instructions on Form 1099-MISC.
    Excess golden parachute payments (box 13)   See the instructions for Form 1040, line 63, on page 42
    Other (boxes 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 15b)   See the instructions on Form 1099-MISC
  1099-OID Original issue discount (box 1)
Other periodic interest (box 2)
Right brace   See the instructions on Form 1099-OID
    Early withdrawal penalty (box 3)   Form 1040, line 30
    Original issue discount on U.S. Treasury obligations (box 6)   See the instructions on Form 1099-OID
    Investment expenses (box 7)   Schedule A, line 23
  1099-PATR Patronage dividends and other distributions from a cooperative (boxes 1, 2, 3, and 5)   Schedule C, C-EZ, or F or Form 4835, but first see the instructions on Form 1099-PATR
    Domestic production activities deduction (box 6)   Form 8903, line 21
    Credits (boxes 7, 8, and 10)   Form 3468, 3800, 5884, 6478, 8835, 8844, 8845, 8861, 8864, 8896, or 8909
    Patron's AMT adjustment (box 9)   Form 6251, line 26
    Deduction for small refiner capital costs or qualified refinery property (box 10)   Schedule C, C-EZ, or F
  1099-Q Qualified education program payments   See the instructions for Form 1040, line 21, on page 24
  1099-R Distributions from IRAs**   See the instructions for Form 1040, lines 15a and 15b, that begin on page 21
    Distributions from pensions, annuities, etc.   See the instructions for Form 1040, lines 16a and 16b, that begin on page 22
    Capital gain (box 3)   See the instructions on Form 1099-R
  1099-S Gross proceeds from real estate transactions (box 2)   Form 4797, Form 6252, or Schedule D. But if the property was your home, see the Instructions for Schedule D to find out if you must report the sale or exchange. Report an exchange of like-kind property on Form 8824 even if no gross proceeds are reported on Form 1099-S.
    Buyer's part of real estate tax (box 5)   See the instructions for Schedule A, line 6, on page A-5*
  1099-SA Distributions from health savings accounts (HSAs)   Form 8889, line 14a
    Distributions from MSAs***   Form 8853
* If the item relates to an activity for which you are required to file Schedule C, C-EZ, E, or F or Form 4835, report the taxable or deductible amount allocable to the activity on that schedule or form instead.
** This includes distributions from Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs.
*** This includes distributions from Archer and Medicare Advantage MSAs.


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Private Delivery Services(p9)


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You can use certain private delivery services designated by the IRS to meet the "timely mailing as timely filing/paying" rule for tax returns and payments. These private delivery services include only the following.

The private delivery service can tell you how to get written proof of the mailing date.

Private delivery services cannot deliver items to P.O. boxes. You must use the U.S. Postal Service to mail any item to an IRS P.O. box address.

taxmap/instr/i1040gi-003.htm#TXMP28418fec
Page 1 of illustrated Form 1040 Text Description Page 1 of illustrated Form 1040   
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Page 2 of illustrated Form 1040 Text Description Page 2 of illustrated Form 1040   
left arrowPrevious Page:  Instructions for Form 1040 - Filing Requirements
right arrowNext Page:  Instructions for Form 1040 - Line Instructions for Form 1040
Use  left arrowright arrow to find additional occurrences of topic items. Index for these Instructions