Updated on January 5, 2007.
WE PUT TOGETHER a list of forms you're most likely to use when you're filing your taxes. Their uses should be evident from their titles. But if you need more information about a particular form, type its number into the search engine on the IRS Web site. That will turn up a link to the publication that explains who needs to file the form.
You can download any of these forms from the Forms and Publications section of the IRS site. (They're easiest to download if you have Adobe Acrobat on your computer. If you don't have Acrobat, you can download it free.)
Once you've fought your way through this list, don't forget you'll have to complete your state returns as well. Conveniently, there are also state forms available through the IRS site.
See the list of forms below.
| The Forms | |||
| 1040 | U.S. Individual Income Tax Return | 1040, Schedule A | Itemized Deductions |
| 1040, Schedule B | Interest and Ordinary Dividends | 1040, Schedule C | Profit or Loss From Business |
| 1040, Schedule C-EZ | Net Profit From Business | 1040, Schedule D | Capital Gains and Losses |
| 1040, Schedule E | Supplemental Income and Loss | 1040, Schedule EIC | Earned Income Credit |
| 1040, Schedule F | Profit or Loss from Farming | 1040, Schedule H | Household Employment Taxes |
| 1040, Schedule J | Farm Income Averaging | 1040, Schedule R | Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled |
| 1040, Schedule SE | Self-Employment Tax | 1040-ES | Estimated Tax for Individuals |
| 1040-V | Payment Voucher | 1040X | Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return |
| 1116 | Foreign Tax Credit (Individual, Estate, Trust, or Nonresident Alien Individual) | 1310 | Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer |
| 2106 | Employee Business Expenses | ||
| 2120 | Multiple Support Declaration | 2210 | Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates, and Trusts |
| 2439 | Notice to Shareholder of Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains | 2441 | Child and Dependent Care Expenses |
| 2848 | Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative | 3115 | Application for Change in Accounting Method |
| 3903 | Moving Expenses | 4506 | Request for Copy or Transcript of Tax Form |
| 4562 | Depreciation and Amortization | 4684 | Casualties and Thefts |
| 4797 | Sales of Business Property | 4868 | Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return |
| 4952 | Investment Interest Expense Deduction | 4972 | Tax on Lump-Sum Distributions |
| 5329 | Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs) and Other Tax-Advantaged Accounts | 6251 | Alternative Minimum Tax — Individuals |
| 6252 | Installment Sale Income | 8283 | Noncash Charitable Contributions |
| 8332 | Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents | 8379 | Injured Spouse Claim and Allocation |
| 8453 | U.S. Individual Income Tax Declaration for Electronic Filing | 8582 | Passive Activity Loss Limitations |
| 8582-CR | Passive Activity Credit Limitations | 8586 | Low-Income Housing Credit |
| 8606 | Nondeductible IRAs | 8615 | Tax for Children Under Age 18 With Investment Income of More Than $1,700 |
| 8633 | Application to Participate in the Electronic Filing Program | 8801 | Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax — Individuals and Fiduciaries |
| 8812 | Additional Child Tax Credit | 8814 | Parent's Election to Report Child's Interest and Dividends |
| 8815 | Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989 | 8818 | Optional Form to Record Redemption of Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989 |
| 8821 | Tax Information Authorization | 8822 | Change of Address |
| 8824 | Like-Kind Exchanges | 8829 | Expenses for Business Use of Your Home |
| 8846 | Credit for Employer Social Security and Medicare Taxes Paid on Certain Employee Tips | 8853 | Archer Medical Savings Accounts and Long-term Care Contracts |
| 8857 | Request for Innocent Spouse Relief | 8863 | Education Credits (Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits) |
| 8889 | Health Savings Accounts | 9465 | Installment Agreement Request |