A 2008 1040A form
A taxpayer can use the 2008 1040A for that tax year if his income was under $100,000 and he meets the requirements for tax credits. If you received income from self-employment or if you are claiming a disaster loss, adoption credit or the first-time home buyer credit, you cannot use the 1040A tax form. The deadline for filing the 2008 tax return was April 15, 2009, but you can still file the form late until April 15, 2012, and pay any interest and penalties if you owe the government any tax.
Instructions
1. Enter your personal information and that of a spouse if you are married filing jointly. Select the status and enter all dependents (exemptions) with Social Security numbers and the relationship to you. Check if any dependent qualifies you for the child tax credit. Total the number of exemptions you have and enter the amount on line 6d.
2. Enter your earned income from W-2 forms, 1099-MISC and any earnings you have and did not receive a W-2 or 1099 for on line 7. Enter any taxable income, ordinary dividends, qualified dividends, capitals gains, individual retirement account distributions, pensions, unemployment and Social Security benefits on lines 8a to 14b. On line 15, add lines 7 through 14b. This is the total of your income.
3. Enter any educator expenses, tuitions, student loans or IRA deductions on lines 16 through 19. Add up lines 16 through 19 and enter the total on line 20. Subtract line 20 from line 15 to find your adjusted gross income and enter this amount on line 21 and line 22. This is your adjusted gross income for 2008.
4. Check any boxes that apply to you and a spouse on line 23a or on 23b or 23c if either one applies. On line 24, enter the amount of your standard deduction from the left-hand column. Subtract line 24 from line 22. If the amount is "0" or a negative, enter "0" on line 25; otherwise enter the positive amount. On line 26, you will multiply your total number of exemptions on line 6d by $3,500, write that total on line 26 and then subtract line 25 from line 25 to find your total taxable income.
5. Find your tax liability on pages 59 to 70 of the 2008 1040A Instructions and Tax Tables mentioned in the Reference section. Find your taxable income amount on line 27 in the table and find your filing status on the tax table to find your tax liability and enter this amount on line 28.
6. Follow through with the taxes and credit section, taking any credits due to you and entering all federal tax withheld according to your W-2 and/or 1099 forms. For the earned income credit use the form on page 44 of the instruction booklet and for the child tax credit use the worksheet on page 38. If you need any schedules such as the Schedule 2 or 3, or any other forms for 2008 credits, you can find them at Forms, Instructions and Publications for 2008 in the Reference section.
7. Add lines 42, 41, 40a, 39 and 38 together and enter this amount on line 43. This will be the total payments. Subtract line 43 from line 37 if line 43 if more than line 37 and enter the amount on line 44. This will be the amount that you want refunded. If line 43 is less than line 37, enter that amount on line 47 as the amount that you owe.
8. Enter a bank routing number and account number to receive a refund through direct deposit into your bank or leave it blank and have a check mailed to you. If you owe money, send the money along or the Internal Revenue Service will send you a bill, including penalties and interest.
