Individual income tax guide for use in preparing 2020 tax return.
Department of the Treasury Your Federal Income Tax For Individuals Publication 17 Catalog Number 10311G For use in preparing 2020 Returns Internal Revenue Service TAX GUIDE 2020 Get forms and other information faster and easier at: • IRS.gov (English) • IRS.gov/Spanish (Español) Jan 19, 2021 • IRS.gov/Chinese (中文) • IRS.gov/Korean (한국어) • IRS.gov/Russian (Pусский) • IRS.gov/Vietnamese (TiếngViệt) Your Federal Income Tax Department of the Treasury For Individuals Internal Revenue Service Contents What's New ....................... 1 Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Part One. The Income Tax Return . . . . 1 Filing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Filing Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Dependents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax . . . . . . . . . . Part Two. Income and Adjustments to Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings . 6 Interest Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Other Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 20 25 36 . . . 45 . . . 46 . . . 53 11 Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 12 Other Itemized Deductions . . . . . . . . . . 98 Part Four. Figuring Your Taxes, and Refundable and Nonrefundable Credits . . 104 13 How To Figure Your Tax . . . . . . . . . . . 104 14 Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 2020 Tax Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 2020 Tax Computation Worksheet . . . . . . . . 122 2020 Tax Rate Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Your Rights as a Taxpayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 How To Get Tax Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 . . . 61 . . . 66 Index . . . 75 Where To File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Part Three. Standard Deduction, Itemized Deductions, and Other Deductions . . . . . . 90 10 Standard Deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 All material in this publication may be reprinted freely. A citation to Your Federal Income Tax (2020) would be appropriate. The explanations and examples in this publication reflect the interpretation by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of: • Tax laws enacted by Congress, • Treasury regulations, and • Court decisions. However, the information given does not cover every situation and is not intended to replace the law or change its meaning. This publication covers some subjects on which a court may have made a decision more favorable to taxpayers than the interpretation by the IRS. Until these differing interpretations are resolved by higher court decisions or in some other way, this publication will continue to present the interpretations by the IRS. All taxpayers have important rights when working with the IRS. These rights are described in Your Rights as a Taxpayer in the back of this publication. What's New This section summarizes important tax changes that took effect in 2020. Most of these changes are discussed in more detail throughout this publication. Future developments. For the latest information about the tax law topics covered in this publication, such as legislation enacted after it was published, go to IRS.gov/ Pub17. Publication 17 changes. We have removed the following 2019 chapters from this publication: 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, and 36. You can find most of the information previously found in those chapters in the primary publication. Please see 2020 Publication 17 changes, later. Due date of return. File your tax return by April 15, 2021. See chapter 1. Economic impact payments—EIP 1 and EIP 2. Any economic impact payments you received are not taxable for federal income tax purposes, but they reduce your recovery rebate credit. Recovery rebate credit. This credit is figured like last year's economic impact payment, except eligibility and the amount of the credit are based on your tax year 2020 information. For more information, see the instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR, line 30, and the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet to figure your credit amount. Other taxpayer relief. Recent legislation provided certain tax-related benefits, including the following. spread of coronavirus. For more information, see the instructions for Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 10, and Educator Expenses in Pub. 529, Miscellaneous Deductions. • If you were impacted by cer- tain federally declared disasters, special rules may apply to distributions from your IRA, profit-sharing plan, or retirement plan. See Pubs. 590-B and 575 for details. Form 1040-NR revision. Form 1040-NR has been revised to more closely follow the format of Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. Beginning in 2020, Form 1040-NR will use Schedules 1, 2, and 3. Charitable contributions. If you don't itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040), you may qualify to take a deduction for charitable contributions of up to $300. For more information, see the instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR, line 10b. Temporary suspension of limits for cash contributions. For tax year 2020, certain cash contributions you made are not subject to the 60% limit for cash contributions. For more information, see Pub. 526. Standard deduction amount increased. For 2020, the standard deduction amount has been increased for all filers. The amounts are: • Single or Married filing separately—$12,400; • Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er)—$24,800; and • Head of household—$18,650. • Election to use your 2019 See chapter 10. • Election to use your 2019 Virtual currency. If, in 2020, you engaged in a transaction involving virtual currency, you will need to answer the question on page 1 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. See Virtual Currency in the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. In 2019, this question was on Schedule 1. earned income to figure your 2020 earned income credit. For more information, see the instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR, line 27, for more information on this election. earned income to figure your 2020 additional child tax credit. For more information, see the instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR, line 28, and the Instructions for Schedule 8812 for more information on this election. • Educator expenses include amounts paid or incurred after March 12, 2020, for personal protective equipment, disinfectant, and other supplies used for the prevention of the Publication 17 (2020) Deductible IRA contributions. You no longer need to be younger than age 701/2 to take a deduction for your contributions to an IRA. See the instructions for Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 19. Coronavirus tax relief for certain individuals. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act permits certain individuals who file Schedule SE (Form 1040) or Schedule H (Form 1040) to defer the payment of 50% of the social security tax imposed for the period beginning on March 27, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020. For more information, see the instructions for Schedule SE (Form 1040) or Schedule H (Form 1040). For information on reporting the deferral, see the instructions for Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 12e. Coronavirus distributions. Recent legislation contains new rules that provide for tax-favored withdrawals, income inclusion, and repayments for individuals who were diagnosed with or suffered economic losses as a result of the coronavirus. See Coronavirus Distributions in Pub. 590-B for more information. Qualified birth or adoption distribution. Beginning in tax years after December 31, 2019, you can take a distribution from your IRA without it being subject to the 10% additional tax for early distributions. For more information, see Pub. 590-B. Qualified disaster distributions. Special rules provide for tax-favored distributions from and repayments to certain retirement plans for taxpayers who suffered economic losses as a result of certain disasters in tax years 2018, 2019, and 2020. However, these disasters do not include major disasters declared only by reason of COVID-19. For your 2020 return, these qualified disaster distributions are those qualified disaster distributions reported on the 2020 Form 8915-C, Qualified 2018 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments, and described in its instructions; the 2020 Form 8915-D, Qualified 2019 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments, and described in its instructions; the 2020 Form 8915-E, Qualified 2020 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments (Use for Coronavirus-Related Distributions), and described in its instructions. For more information, see chapter 9. Credits for sick and family leave for certain self-employed individuals. The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) helps self-employed individuals affected by coronavirus by providing paid sick leave and paid family leave credits equivalent to those that employers are required to provide their employees for qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages paid during the period beginning April 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020. For more information, see the instructions for Form 7202 and Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 12b. Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Starting last summer, taxpayers were able to file their Form 1040-X electronically using available tax software products. The electronic Form 1040-X will be implemented in phases. During the first phase, only tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR returns can be amended electronically. Taxpayers will still have the option to submit a paper version of the Form 1040-X and should follow the instructions for preparing and submitting the paper form. Schedule LEP (Form 1040), Request for Change in Language Preference. Schedule LEP is a new form that allows taxpayers to state a preference to receive written communications from the IRS in a language other than English. For more information, including what languages are available and how to file, see Schedule LEP. Standard mileage rates. The 2020 rate for business use of your vehicle is 57.5 cents a mile. The 2020 rate for use of your vehicle to get medical care or to move is 17 cents a mile. See Moving Expenses in Pub. 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide. Alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amount increased. The AMT exemption amount is increased to $72,900 ($113,400 if married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er); $56,700 if married filing separately). The income levels at which the AMT exemption begins to phase out have increased to $518,400 ($1,036,800 if married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)). Qualified business income deduction. The simplified worksheet for figuring your qualified business income deduction is now Form 8995, Qualified Business Income Deduction Simplified Computation. If you don't meet the requirements to file Form 8995, use Form 8995-A, Qualified Business Income Deduction. For more information, see each form's instructions. Adoption credit. The adoption credit and the exclusion for employer-provided adoption benefits have both increased to $14,300 per eligible child in 2020. The amount begins to phase out if you have modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) in excess of Page 1 $214,520 and is completely phased out if your MAGI is $254,520 or more. Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers (IP PINs). New IP PINs are generated every year. This year, they will generally be sent out by mid-January 2021. Use this IP PIN on your 2020 return as well as any prior-year returns you file in 2021. Tuition and fees. The tuition and fees deduction is extended for qualified tuition and fees paid in calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020. Don’t claim the deduction for expenses paid after 2020 unless the credit is extended again. Extended due dates for estimated tax payments. The due date for filing estimated tax forms and paying estimated taxes has been postponed to July 15, 2020. Change in tax rates. Recent legislation modified the tax rates and brackets used to figure the tax on 2020 unearned income for certain children. See the Instructions for Form 8615 or Pub. 929 for more information. Disaster tax relief. Recent legislation extended to 2020 (and retroactively to 2019) an election to use prior year earned income when figuring the additional child tax credit if you were impacted by certain federally declared disasters. For more information on this election, see the Instructions for Schedule 8812. Contribution deadline extension. The 2019 traditional and Roth IRA contribution deadline was extended to July 15, 2020. Modified AGI limit for traditional IRA contributions. For 2020, if you are covered by a retirement plan at work, your deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA is reduced. For more information, see chapter 9. Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions. For 2020, your Roth IRA contribution limit is reduced. For more information, see chapter 9. Estimated tax payments now reported on line 26. In 2019, estimated tax payments and any amount applied from your previous year’s return were reported on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 8. In 2020, these payments will be reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 26. 2020 Publication 17 Changes Note. This publication does not cover the topics listed in the following table. Please see the primary publication. Chapter Removed Title of Chapter Primary Publication 6 Tip Income Pub. 531, Reporting Tip Income 8 Dividends and Other Distributions Pub. 550, Investment Income and Expenses 9 Rental Income and Expenses Pub. 527, Residential Rental Property (Including Rental of Vacation Homes) 10 Retirement Plans, Pensions, and Annuities Pub. 575, Pension and Annuity Income 13 Basis of Property Pub. 551, Basis of Assets 14 Sale of Property Pub. 550 15 Selling Your Home Pub. 523, Selling Your Home 16 Reporting Gains and Losses Pub. 550 18 Alimony Pub. 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals 19 Education-Related Adjustments Pub. 970, Tax Benefits for Education 20 Other Adjustments to Income Pub. 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses 22 Medical and Dental Expenses Pub. 502, Medical and Dental Expenses 24 Interest Expense Pub. 550 Pub. 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction 25 Charitable Contributions Pub. 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property Pub. 526, Charitable Contributions 26 Nonbusiness Casualty and Theft Losses Pub. 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts 29 Tax on Unearned Income of Certain Minor Pub. 929, Tax Rules for Children and Children Dependents 30 Child and Dependent Care Credit Pub. 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses 31 Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled Pub. 524, Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled 33 Education Credits Pub. 970, Tax Benefits for Education 34 Earned Income Credit (EIC) Pub. 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC) 35 Premium Tax Credit Pub. 974, Premium Tax Credit (PTC) 36 Other Credits Page 2 Publication 17 (2020) Reminders Listed below are important reminders and other items that may help you file your 2020 tax return. Many of these items are explained in more detail later in this publication. Special rules for eligible gains invested in Qualified Opportunity Funds. If you have an eligible gain, you can invest that gain into a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) and elect to defer part or all of the gain that is otherwise includible in income. The gain is deferred until the date you sell or exchange the investment or December 31, 2026, whichever is earlier. You may also be able to permanently exclude gain from the sale or exchange of an investment in a QOF if the investment is held for at least 10 years. For information about what types of gains entitle you to elect these special rules, see the Instructions for Schedule D (Form 1040). For information on how to elect to use these special rules, see the Instructions for Form 8949. Enter your social security number (SSN). Enter your SSN in the space provided on your tax form. If you filed a joint return for 2019 and are filing a joint return for 2020 with the same spouse, enter your names and SSNs in the same order as on your 2019 return. See chapter 1. Secure your tax records from identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund. For more information about identity theft and how to reduce your risk from it, see chapter 1. Taxpayer identification numbers. You must provide the taxpayer identification number for each person for whom you claim certain tax benefits. This applies even if the person was born in 2020. Generally, this number is the person's SSN. See chapter 1. Foreign-source income. If you are a U.S. citizen with income from sources outside the United States (foreign income), you must report all such income on your tax return unless it is exempt by law or a tax treaty. This is true whether you live inside or outside the United States and whether or not you receive a Form W-2 or Form 1099 from the foreign payer. This applies to earned income (such as wages and tips) as well as unearned income (such as interest, dividends, capital gains, pensions, rents, and royalties). If you live outside the United States, you may be able to exclude part or all of your foreign earned income. For details, see Pub. 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad. Foreign financial assets. If you had foreign financial assets in 2020, you may have to file Form 8938 with your return. See Form 8938 and its instructions or visit IRS.gov/Form8938 for details. Automatic 6-month extension to file tax return. You can get an automatic 6-month extension of time to file your tax return. See chapter 1. Payment of taxes. You can pay your taxes by making electronic payments online; from a mobile device using the IRS2Go app; or in cash, or by check or money order. Paying electronically is quick, easy, and faster than mailing in a check or money order. See chapter 1. Faster ways to file your return. The IRS offers fast, accurate ways to file your tax return information without filing a paper tax return. You can use IRS e-file (electronic filing). See chapter 1. Free electronic filing. You may be able to file your 2020 taxes online for free. See chapter 1. Change of address. If you change your address, notify the IRS. See chapter 1. Refund on a late-filed return. If you were due a refund but you did not file a return, you must generally file your return within 3 years from the date the return was due (including extensions) to get that refund. See chapter 1. Frivolous tax returns. The IRS has published a list of positions that are identified as frivolous. The penalty for filing a frivolous tax return is $5,000. See chapter 1. Filing erroneous claim for refund or credit. You may have to pay a penalty if you file an erroneous claim for refund or credit. See chapter 1. Access your online account. You must authenticate your identity. To securely log into your federal tax account, go to IRS.gov/ Account. View the amount you owe, review 24 months of payment history, access online payment options, and create or modify an online payment agreement. You can also access your tax records online. Health care coverage. If you need health care coverage, go to HealthCare.gov to learn about health insurance options for you and your family, how to buy health insurance, and how you might qualify to get financial assistance to buy health insurance. Disclosure, Privacy Act, and paperwork reduction information. The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, the Privacy Act of 1974, and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 require that when we ask you for information, we must first tell you what our legal right is to ask for the information, why we are asking for it, how it will be used, what could happen if we do not receive it, and whether your response is voluntary, required to obtain a benefit, or mandatory under the law. A complete statement on this subject can be found in your tax form instructions. Preparer e-file mandate. Most paid preparers must e-file returns they prepare and file. Your preparer may make you aware of this requirement and the options available to you. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. If you want to confidentially report misconduct, waste, fraud, or abuse by an IRS employee, you can call 800-366-4484 (call 800-877-8339 if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, and are using TTY/TDD equipment). You can remain anonymous. Photographs of missing children. The IRS is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC). Photographs of missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) if you recognize a child. Introduction This publication covers the general rules for filing a federal income tax return. It supplements the information contained in your tax form instructions. It explains the tax law to make sure you pay only the tax you owe and no more. How this publication is arranged. Pub. 17 closely follows Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and Form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors, and their three Schedules 1 through 3. Pub. 17 is divided into four parts. Each part is further divided into Publication 17 (2020) chapters, most of which generally discuss one line of the form or one line of one of the three schedules. The introduction at the beginning of each part lists the schedule(s) discussed in that part. The table of contents inside the front cover, the introduction to each part, and the index in the back of the publication are useful tools to help you find the information you need. What is in this publication. This publication begins with the rules for filing a tax return. It explains: 1. Who must file a return, 2. When the return is due, 3. How to e-file your return, and 4. Other general information. It will help you identify which filing status you qualify for, whether you can claim any dependents, and whether the income you receive is taxable. The publication goes on to explain the standard deduction, the kinds of expenses you may be able to deduct, and the various kinds of credits you may be able to take to reduce your tax. Throughout this publication are examples showing how the tax law applies in typical situations. Also throughout this publication are flowcharts and tables that present tax information in an easy-to-understand manner. Many of the subjects discussed in this publication are discussed in greater detail in other IRS publications. References to those other publications are provided for your information. Icons. Small graphic symbols, or icons, are used to draw your Page 3 • Pub. 535, Business Expen- attention to special information. See Table 1 for an explanation of each icon used in this publication. What is not covered in this publication. Some material that you may find helpful is not included in this publication but can be found in your tax form instructions booklet. This includes lists of: • Where to report certain items shown on information documents, and • Tax Topics you can read at IRS.gov/TaxTopics. If you operate your own business or have other self-employment income, such as from babysitting or selling crafts, see the following publications for more information. ses. • Pub. 587, Business Use of Your Home. Help from the IRS. There are many ways you can get help from the IRS. These are explained under How To Get Tax Help at the end of this publication. Comments and suggestions. We welcome your comments about this publication and suggestions for future editions. You can send us comments through IRS.gov/FormComments. Or, you can write to the Internal Revenue Service, Tax Forms and Publications, 1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526, Washington, DC 20224. • Pub. 334, Tax Guide for Small Although we can’t respond individually to each comment received, we do appreciate your feedback and will consider your comments and suggestions as we revise our tax forms, instructions, and publications. Do not send tax questions, tax returns, or payments to the above address. Getting answers to your tax questions. If you have a tax question not answered by this publication or the How To Get Tax Help section at the end of this publication, go to the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant page at IRS.gov/ Help/ITA where you can find topics by using the search feature or viewing the categories listed. Getting tax forms, instructions, and publications. Visit IRS.gov/Forms to download current and prior-year forms, instructions, and publications. Ordering tax forms, instructions, and publications. Go to IRS.gov/OrderForms to order current forms, instructions, and publications; call 800-829-3676 to order prior-year forms and instructions. The IRS will process your order for forms and publications as soon as possible. Do not resubmit requests you’ve already sent us. You can get forms and publications faster online. IRS mission. Provide America's taxpayers top-quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all. Business. Table 1. Legend of Icons Icon ! CAUTION Explanation Items that may cause you particular problems, or an alert about pending legislation that may be enacted after this publication goes to print. An Internet site or an email address. An address you may need. Items you should keep in your personal records. RECORDS Items you may need to figure or a worksheet you may need to complete and keep for your records. An important phone number. TIP Page 4 Helpful information you may need. Publication 17 (2020) Part One. The Income Tax Return The four chapters in this part provide basic information on the tax system. They take you through the first steps of filling out a tax return. They also provide information about dependents, and discuss recordkeeping requirements, IRS e-file (electronic filing), certain penalties, and the two methods used to pay tax during the year: withholding and estimated tax. The Form 1040 and 1040-SR schedules that are discussed in these chapters are: • Schedule 1, Additional Income and Adjustments to Income; and • Schedule 3 (Part II), Other Payments and Refundable Credits. 1. Filing Information What's New Form 1040-NR revision. Form 1040-NR has been revised to more closely follow the format of Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. Beginning in 2020, Form 1040-NR will use Schedules 1, 2, and 3. Who must file. Generally, the amount of income you can receive before you must file a return has been increased. See Table 1-1, Table 1-2, and Table 1-3 for the specific amounts. Reminders File online. Rather than filing a return on paper, you may be able to file electronically using IRS e-file. For more information, see Why Should I File Electronically, later. Access your online account (individual taxpayers only). Go to IRS.gov/Account to securely access information about your federal tax account. • View the amount you owe, pay online, or set up an online payment agreement. • Access your tax records online. • Review the past 24 months of your payment history. • Go to IRS.gov/SecureAccess to view the required identity authentication process. Change of address. If you change your address, you should notify the IRS. You can use Form 8822 to notify the IRS of the change. See Change of Address, later, under What Happens After I File. Enter your social security number. You must enter your social security number (SSN) in the spaces provided on your tax return. If you file a joint return, enter the SSNs in the same order as the names. Direct deposit of refund. Instead of getting a paper check, you may be able to have your refund deposited directly into your account at a bank or other financial institution. See Direct Deposit under Refunds, later. If you choose direct deposit of your refund, you may be able to split the refund among two or three accounts. Pay online or by phone. If you owe additional tax, you may be able to pay online or by phone. See How To Pay, later. or if your ITIN has the middle digits 90, 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 and was assigned before 2013, it expired at the end of 2020 and must be renewed if you need to file a U.S. federal tax return in 2021. You don't need to renew your ITIN if you don't need to file a federal tax return. You can find more information at IRS.gov/ITIN. ITINs with middle digits 70 through 87 TIP have expired and must also be re- newed if you need to file a tax return in 2021 and haven’t already renewed the ITIN. Installment agreement. If you can’t pay the full amount due with your return, you may ask to make monthly installment payments. See Installment Agreement, later, under Amount You Owe. You may be able to apply online for a payment agreement if you owe federal tax, interest, and penalties. Frivolous tax submissions. The IRS has published a list of positions that are identified as frivolous. The penalty for filing a frivolous tax return is $5,000. Also, the $5,000 penalty will apply to other specified frivolous submissions. For more information, see Civil Penalties, later. Automatic 6-month extension. You can get an automatic 6-month extension to file your tax return if, no later than the date your return is due, you file Form 4868. See Automatic Extension, later. Introduction Service in combat zone. You are allowed extra time to take care of your tax matters if you are a member of the Armed Forces who served in a combat zone, or if you served in a combat zone in support of the Armed Forces. See Individuals Serving in Combat Zone, later, under When Do I Have To File. Adoption taxpayer identification number. If a child has been placed in your home for purposes of legal adoption and you won't be able to get a social security number for the child in time to file your return, you may be able to get an adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN). For more information, see Social Security Number (SSN), later. Taxpayer identification number for aliens. If you or your dependent is a nonresident or resident alien who doesn't have and isn't eligible to get a social security number, file Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, with the IRS. For more information, see Social Security Number (SSN), later. Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) renewal. Some ITINs must be renewed. If you haven't used your ITIN on a U.S. tax return at least once in the last 3 years, or if your ITIN has the middle digits 88, (9NN-88-NNNN) This chapter discusses the following topics. • • • • • Whether you have to file a return. How to file electronically. How to file for free. When, how, and where to file your return. What happens if you pay too little or too much tax. • What records you should keep and how long you should keep them. • How you can change a return you have already filed. Do I Have To File a Return? You must file a federal income tax return if you are a citizen or resident of the United States or a resident of Puerto Rico and you meet the filing requirements for any of the following categories that apply to you. 1. Individuals in general. (There are special rules for surviving spouses, executors, administrators, legal representatives, U.S. citizens and residents living outside the United States, residents of Puerto Rico, and individuals with income from U.S. possessions.) Chapter 1 Filing Information Page 5 Table 1-1. 2020 Filing Requirements for Most Taxpayers 2. Dependents. 3. Certain children under age 19 or full-time students. 4. Self-employed persons. 5. Aliens. The filing requirements for each category are explained in this chapter. The filing requirements apply even if you don't owe tax. IF your filing status is... Single under 65 $12,400 65 or older $14,050 under 65 (both spouses) $24,800 65 or older (one spouse) $26,100 65 or older (both spouses) $27,400 Married filing jointly*** Even if you don't have to file a return, it TIP may be to your advantage to do so. See Who Should File, later. File only one federal income tax return for the year regardless of how many CAUTION jobs you had, how many Forms W-2 you received, or how many states you lived in during the year. Don't file more than one original return for the same year, even if you haven’t received your refund or haven’t heard from the IRS since you filed. ! Individuals—In General If you are a U.S. citizen or resident, whether you must file a return depends on three factors. 1. Your gross income. 2. Your filing status. 3. Your age. To find out whether you must file, see Table 1-1, Table 1-2, and Table 1-3. Even if no table shows that you must file, you may need to file to get money back. See Who Should File, later. Gross income. This includes all income you receive in the form of money, goods, property, and services that isn't exempt from tax. It also includes income from sources outside the United States or from the sale of your main home (even if you can exclude all or part of it). Include part of your social security benefits if: 1. You were married, filing a separate return, and you lived with your spouse at any time during 2020; or 2. Half of your social security benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest is more than $25,000 ($32,000 if married filing jointly). If either (1) or (2) applies, see the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR or Pub. 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, to figure the social security benefits you must include in gross income. Common types of income are discussed in Part Two of this publication. Community property states. Community property states include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you and your spouse lived in a community property state, you must usually follow state law to determine what is community property and what is separate income. For details, see Form 8958 and Pub. 555. Page 6 Chapter 1 Filing Information THEN file a return if your gross income was at least...** AND at the end of 2020 you were...* Married filing separately any age Head of household under 65 $18,650 65 or older $20,300 under 65 $24,800 65 or older $26,100 Qualifying widow(er) $5 * If you were born on January 1, 1956, you are considered to be age 65 at the end of 2020. (If your spouse died in 2020 or if you are preparing a return for someone who died in 2020, see Pub. 501.) ** Gross income means all income you received in the form of money, goods, property, and services that isn't exempt from tax, including any income from sources outside the United States or from the sale of your main home (even if you can exclude part or all of it). Don't include any social security benefits unless (a) you are married filing a separate return and you lived with your spouse at any time during 2020, or (b) one-half of your social security benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest is more than $25,000 ($32,000 if married filing jointly). If (a) or (b) applies, see the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR or Pub. 915 to figure the taxable part of social security benefits you must include in gross income. Gross income includes gains, but not losses, reported on Form 8949 or Schedule D. Gross income from a business means, for example, the amount on Schedule C, line 7, or Schedule F, line 9. But, in figuring gross income, don't reduce your income by any losses, including any loss on Schedule C, line 7, or Schedule F, line 9. *** If you didn't live with your spouse at the end of 2020 (or on the date your spouse died) and your gross income was at least $5, you must file a return regardless of your age. Nevada, Washington, and California domestic partners. A registered domestic partner in Nevada, Washington, or California must generally report half the combined community income of the individual and his or her domestic partner. See Pub. 555. Self-employed individuals. If you are self-employed, your gross income includes the amount on line 7 of Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business; and line 9 of Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming. See Self-Employed Persons, later, for more information about your filing requirements. ! CAUTION If you don't report all of your self-employment income, your social security benefits may be lower when you retire. Filing status. Your filing status depends on whether you are single or married and on your family situation. Your filing status is determined on the last day of your tax year, which is December 31 for most taxpayers. See chapter 2 for an explanation of each filing status. Age. If you are 65 or older at the end of the year, you can generally have a higher amount of gross income than other taxpayers before you must file. See Table 1-1. You are considered 65 on the day before your 65th birthday. For example, if your 65th birthday is on January 1, 2021, you are considered 65 for 2020. Surviving Spouses, Executors, Administrators, and Legal Representatives You must file a final return for a decedent (a person who died) if both of the following are true. • You are the surviving spouse, executor, administrator, or legal representative. • The decedent met the filing requirements at the date of death. For more information on rules for filing a decedent's final return, see Pub. 559. U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Living Abroad To determine whether you must file a return, include in your gross income any income you received abroad, including any income you can exclude under the foreign earned income exclusion. For information on special tax rules that may apply to you, see Pub. 54. It is available online and at most U.S. embassies and consulates. See How To Get Tax Help in the back of this publication. Residents of Puerto Rico If you are a U.S. citizen and also a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico, you must generally file a U.S. income tax return for any year in which you meet the income requirements. This is in addition to any legal requirement you may have to file an income tax return with Puerto Rico. If you are a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico for the entire year, your U.S. gross income doesn't include income from sources within Puerto Rico. It does, however, include any income you received for your services as an employee of the United States or a U.S. agency. If you receive income from Puerto Rican sources that isn't subject to U.S. tax, you must reduce your standard deduction. As a result, the amount of income you must have before you are required to file a U.S. income tax return is lower than the applicable amount in Table 1-1 or Table 1-2. For more information, see Pub. 570. Individuals With Income From U.S. Possessions If you had income from Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, special rules may apply when determining whether you must file a U.S. federal income tax return. In addition, you may have to file a return with the individual island government. See Pub. 570 for more information. Dependents If you are a dependent (one who meets the dependency tests in chapter 3), see Table 1-2 to find out whether you must file a return. You must also file if your situation is described in Table 1-3. Self-Employed Persons You are self-employed if you: • Carry on a trade or business as a sole proprietor, • Are an independent contractor, • Are a member of a partnership, or • Are in business for yourself in any other way. Self-employment can include work in addition to your regular full-time business activities, such as certain part-time work you do at home or in addition to your regular job. You must file a return if your gross income is at least as much as the filing requirement amount for your filing status and age (shown in Table 1-1). Also, you must file Form 1040 or 1040-SR and Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax, if: 1. Your net earnings from self-employment (excluding church employee income) were $400 or more, or 2. You had church employee income of $108.28 or more. (See Table 1-3.) Use Schedule SE (Form 1040) to figure your self-employment tax. Self-employment tax is comparable to the social security and Medicare tax withheld from an employee's wages. For more information about this tax, see Pub. 334, Tax Guide for Small Business. Responsibility of parent. Generally, a child is responsible for filing his or her own tax return and for paying any tax on the return. If a dependent child must file an income tax return but can’t file due to age or any other reason, then a parent, guardian, or other legally responsible person must file it for the child. If the child can’t sign the return, the parent or guardian must sign the child's name followed by the words “By (your signature), parent for minor child.” Employees of foreign governments or international organizations. If you are a U.S. citizen who works in the United States for an international organization, a foreign government, or a wholly owned instrumentality of a foreign government, and your employer isn't required to withhold social security and Medicare taxes from your wages, you must include your earnings from services performed in the United States when figuring your net earnings from self-employment. Child's earnings. Amounts a child earns by performing services are included in his or her gross income and not the gross income of the parent. This is true even if under local law the child's parent has the right to the earnings and may actually have received them. But if the child doesn't pay the tax due on this income, the parent is liable for the tax. Ministers. You must include income from services you performed as a minister when figuring your net earnings from self-employment, unless you have an exemption from self-employment tax. This also applies to Christian Science practitioners and members of a religious order who have not taken a vow of poverty. For more information, see Pub. 517. Certain Children Under Age 19 or Full-Time Students Aliens If a child's only income is interest and dividends (including capital gain distributions and Alaska Permanent Fund dividends), the child was under age 19 at the end of 2020 or was a full-time student under age 24 at the end of 2020, and certain other conditions are met, a parent can elect to include the child's income on the parent's return. If this election is made, the child doesn't have to file a return. See Parent's Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends in Pub. 929, Tax Rules for Children and Dependents. Your status as an alien (resident, nonresident, or dual-status) determines whether and how you must file an income tax return. The rules used to determine your alien status are discussed in Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. Resident alien. If you are a resident alien for the entire year, you must file a tax return following the same rules that apply to U.S. citizens. Use the forms discussed in this publication. Nonresident alien. If you are a nonresident alien, the rules and tax forms that apply to you are different from those that apply to U.S. citizens and resident aliens. See Pub. 519 to find out if U.S. income tax laws apply to you and which forms you should file. Dual-status taxpayer. If you are a resident alien for part of the tax year and a nonresident alien for the rest of the year, you are a dual-status taxpayer. Different rules apply for each part of the year. For information on dual-status taxpayers, see Pub. 519. Who Should File Even if you don't have to file, you should file a federal income tax return to get money back if any of the following conditions apply. 1. You had federal income tax withheld or made estimated tax payments. 2. You qualify for the earned income credit. See Pub. 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC), for more information. 3. You qualify for the additional child tax credit. See chapter 14 for more information. 4. You qualify for the premium tax credit. See Pub. 974, Premium Tax Credit (PTC), for more information. 5. You qualify for the health coverage tax credit. See Form 8885, Health Coverage Tax Credit, and its instructions, for more information. 6. You qualify for the American opportunity credit. See Pub. 970, Tax Benefits for Education, for more information. 7. You qualify for the credit for federal tax on fuels. See chapter 13 for more information. Form 1040 or 1040-SR Use Form 1040 or 1040-SR to file your return. (But also see Why Should I File Electronically, later.) You can use Form 1040 or 1040-SR to report all types of income, deductions, and credits. Why Should I File Electronically? Electronic Filing If your adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than a certain amount, you are eligible for Free File, a free tax software service offered by IRS partners, to prepare and e-file your return for free. If your income is over the amount, you are still eligible for Free File Fillable Forms, an electronic version of IRS paper forms. Table 1-4 lists the free ways to electronically file your return. IRS e-file uses automation to replace most of the manual steps needed to process paper returns. As a result, the processing of e-file returns is faster and more accurate than the processing of paper returns. However, as with a paper return, you are responsible for making sure your return contains accurate information and is filed on time. Chapter 1 Filing Information Page 7 Table 1-2. 2020 Filing Requirements for Dependents See chapter 3 to find out if someone can claim you as a dependent. If your parents (or someone else) can claim you as a dependent, use this table to see if you must file a return. (See Table 1-3 for other situations when you must file.) In this table, unearned income includes taxable interest, ordinary dividends, and capital gain distributions. It also includes unemployment compensation, taxable social security benefits, pensions, annuities, and distributions of unearned income from a trust. Earned income includes salaries, wages, tips, professional fees, and taxable scholarship and fellowship grants. (See Scholarships and fellowships in chapter 8.) Gross income is the total of your earned and unearned income. Single dependents—Were you either age 65 or older or blind? No. You must file a return if any of the following apply. • Your unearned income was more than $1,100. • Your earned income was more than $12,400. • Your gross income was more than the larger of: • $1,100, or • Your earned income (up to $12,050) plus $350. Yes. You must file a return if any of the following apply. • Your unearned income was more than $2,750 ($4,400 if 65 or older and blind). • Your earned income was more than $14,050 ($15,700 if 65 or older and blind). • Your gross income was more than the larger of: • $2,750 ($4,400 if 65 or older and blind), or • Your earned income (up to $12,050) plus $2,000 ($3,650 if 65 or older and blind). Married dependents—Were you either age 65 or older or blind? No. You must file a return if any of the following apply. • Your unearned income was more than $1,100. • Your earned income was more than $12,400. • 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: • $1,100, or • Your earned income (up to $12,050) plus $350. Yes. You must file a return if any of the following apply. • Your unearned income was more than $2,400 ($3,700 if 65 or older and blind). • Your earned income was more than $13,700 ($15,000 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: • $2,400 ($3,700 if 65 or older and blind), or • Your earned income (up to $12,050) plus $1,650 ($2,950 if 65 or older and blind). If your return is filed with IRS e-file, you will receive an acknowledgment that your return was received and accepted. If you owe tax, you can e-file and pay electronically. The IRS has processed more than one billion e-filed returns safely and securely. Using e-file doesn't affect your chances of an IRS examination of your return. Requirements for an electronic return signature. To file your return electronically, you must sign the return electronically using a personal identification number (PIN). If you are filing online, you must use a Self-Select PIN. For 2020, if we issued you an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN) (as described in more detail below), all six digits of your IP PIN must appear in the IP PIN spaces provided next to the space for your occupation for your electronic signature to be complete. Failure to include an issued IP PIN on the elecPage 8 Chapter 1 Filing Information tronic return will result in an invalid signature and a rejected return. If you are filing a joint return and both taxpayers were issued an IP PIN, enter both IP PINs in the spaces provided. If you are filing electronically using a tax practitioner, you can use a Self-Select PIN or a Practitioner PIN. Self-Select PIN. The Self-Select PIN method allows you to create your own PIN. If you are married filing jointly, you and your spouse will each need to create a PIN and enter these PINs as your electronic signatures. A PIN is any combination of five digits you choose except five zeros. If you use a PIN, there is nothing to sign and nothing to mail—not even your Forms W-2. Your electronic return is considered a valid signed return only when it includes your PIN; last name; date of birth; IP PIN, if applicable; and AGI from your originally filed 2019 federal income tax return, if applicable. If you're filing jointly, your electronic return must also include your spouse's PIN; last name; date of birth; IP PIN, if applicable; and AGI, if applicable, in order to be considered validly signed. Don't use AGI from an amended return (Form 1040-X) or a math error correction made by the IRS. AGI is the amount shown on your 2019 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, line 8b. If you don't have your 2019 income tax return, you can request a transcript by using our automated self-service tool. Go to IRS.gov/Transcript. (If you filed electronically last year, you, and your spouse if filing jointly, may use your prior year PIN to verify your identity instead of your prior year AGI. The prior year PIN is the five-digit PIN you used to electronically sign your 2019 return.) You will also be prompted to enter your date of birth. ! CAUTION You can’t use the Self-Select PIN method if you are a first-time filer under age 16 at the end of 2020. Practitioner PIN. The Practitioner PIN method allows you to authorize your tax practitioner to enter or generate your PIN. Your electronic return is considered a validly signed return only when it includes your PIN; last name; date of birth; and IP PIN, if applicable. If you’re filing jointly, your electronic return must also include your spouse’s PIN; last name; date of birth; and IP PIN, if applicable, in order to be considered a validly signed return. The practitioner can provide you with details. Form 8453. You must send in a paper Form 8453 if you have to attach certain forms or other documents that can’t be electronically filed. For details, see Form 8453. For more details, visit IRS.gov/efile. Identity Protection PIN. If the IRS gave you an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN) because you were a victim of identity theft, enter it in the spaces provided on your tax form. If the IRS hasn’t given you this type of number, leave these spaces blank. For more information, see the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. Power of attorney. If an agent is signing your return for you, a power of attorney (POA) must be filed. Attach the POA to Form 8453 and file it using that form's instructions. See Signatures, later, for more information on POAs. State returns. In most states, you can file an electronic state return simultaneously with your federal return. For more information, check with your local IRS office, state tax agency, tax professional, or the IRS website at IRS.gov/efile. Refunds. You can have a refund check mailed to you, or you can have your refund deposited directly to your checking or savings account or split among two or three accounts. With e-file, your refund will be issued faster than if you filed on paper. As with a paper return, you may not get all of your refund if you owe certain past-due amounts, such as federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support, or certain other federal nontax debts, such as student loans. See Offset against debts under Refunds, later. Table 1-3. Other Situations When You Must File a 2020 Return You must file a return if any of the seven conditions below apply for 2020. 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 didn't report to your employer or on wages you received from an employer who didn't withhold these taxes. e. Write-in taxes, including uncollected social security and Medicare or RRTA tax on tips you reported to your employer on group-term life insurance and additional taxes on health savings accounts. See the instructions for Schedule 2 (Form 1040), line 8. f. Recapture taxes. See the instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR, line 16, and Schedule 2 (Form 1040), lines 7b and 8. 2. You (or your spouse, if filing jointly) received health savings account, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA distributions. 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. 5. Advance payments of the premium tax credit were made for you, your spouse, or a dependent who enrolled in coverage through the Marketplace. You or whoever enrolled you should have received Form(s) 1095-A showing the amount of the advance payments. 6. Advance payments of the health coverage tax credit were made for you, your spouse, or a dependent. You or whoever enrolled you should have received Form(s) 1099-H showing the amount of the advance payments. 7. You are required to include amounts in income under section 965 or you have a net tax liability under section 965 that you are paying in installments under section 965(h) or deferred by making an election under section 965(i). Refund inquiries. Information about your return will generally be available within 24 hours after the IRS receives your e-filed return. See Refund Information, later. Amount you owe. To avoid late-payment penalties and interest, pay your taxes in full by April 15, 2021. See How To Pay, later, for information on how to pay the amount you owe. Table 1-4. Free Ways To e-file Use Free File for free tax software and free e-file. • IRS partners offer name-brand products for free. • Many taxpayers are eligible for Free File software. • Everyone is eligible for Free File Fillable Forms, an electronic version of IRS paper forms. • Free File software and Free File Fillable Forms are available only at IRS.gov/FreeFile. Using Your Personal Computer Use VITA/TCE for free tax help from volunteers and free e-file. You can file your tax return in a fast, easy, and convenient way using your personal computer. A computer with Internet access and tax preparation software are all you need. Best of all, you can e-file from the comfort of your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • Volunteers prepare your return and e-file it for free. • Some sites also offer do-it-yourself software. • You are eligible based either on your income or age. • Sites are located nationwide. Find one near you by visiting IRS.gov/VITA. IRS-approved tax preparation software is available for online use on the Internet, for download from the Internet, and in retail stores. For information, visit IRS.gov/efile. Through Employers and Financial Institutions Some businesses offer free e-file to their employees, members, or customers. Others offer it for a fee. Ask your employer or financial institution if they offer IRS e-file as an employee, member, or customer benefit. Free Help With Your Return The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $57,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited-English-speaking taxpayers who need help preparing their own tax returns. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 years of age and older. TCE volunteers specialize in answering questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors. You can go to IRS.gov to see your options for preparing and filing your return, which include the following. • Free File. Go to IRS.gov/FreeFile. See if you qualify to use brand-name software to prepare and e-file your federal tax return for free. • VITA. Go to IRS.gov/VITA, download the free IRS2Go app, or call 800-906-9887 to find the nearest VITA location for free tax return preparation. • TCE. Go to IRS.gov/TCE, download the free IRS2Go app, or call 888-227-7669 to find the nearest TCE location for free tax return preparation. Using a Tax Professional Many tax professionals electronically file tax returns for their clients. You may personally enter your PIN or complete Form 8879, IRS e-file Signature Authorization, to authorize the tax professional to enter your PIN on your return. Chapter 1 Filing Information Page 9 Note. Tax professionals may charge a fee for IRS e-file. Fees can vary depending on the professional and the specific services rendered. Table 1-5. When To File Your 2020 Return For U.S. citizens and residents who file returns on a calendar year basis. When Do I Have To File? April 15, 2021, is the due date for filing your 2020 income tax return if you use the calendar year. For a quick view of due dates for filing a return with or without an extension of time to file (discussed later), see Table 1-5. If you use a fiscal year (a year ending on the last day of any month except December, or a 52-53-week year), your income tax return is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the close of your fiscal year. When the due date for doing any act for tax purposes—filing a return, paying taxes, etc.—falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is delayed until the next business day. Filing paper returns on time. Your paper return is filed on time if it is mailed in an envelope that is properly addressed, has enough postage, and is postmarked by the due date. If you send your return by registered mail, the date of the registration is the postmark date. The registration is evidence that the return was delivered. If you send a return by certified mail and have your receipt postmarked by a postal employee, the date on the receipt is the postmark date. The postmarked certified mail receipt is evidence that the return was delivered. Private delivery services. If you use a private delivery service designated by the IRS to send your return, the postmark date is generally the date the private delivery service records in its database or marks on the mailing label. The private delivery service can tell you how to get written proof of this date. The following are designated private delivery services. • United Parcel Service (UPS): UPS Next Day Air Early A.M., UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next Day Air Saver, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air A.M., UPS Worldwide Express Plus, and UPS Worldwide Express. • Federal Express (FedEx): FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx 2 Day, FedEx International Next Flight Out, FedEx International Priority, FedEx International First, and FedEx International Economy. • DHL Express 9:00, DHL Express 10:30, DHL Express 12:00, DHL Express Worldwide, DHL Express Envelope, DHL Import Express 10:30, DHL Import Express 12:00, and DHL Import Express Worldwide. To check for any updates to the list of designated private delivery services, go to IRS.gov/ PDS. For the IRS mailing addresses to use if you’re using a private delivery service, go to IRS.gov/PDSStreetAddresses. The private delivery service can tell you how to get written proof of the mailing date. Filing electronic returns on time. If you use IRS e-file, your return is considered filed on Page 10 Chapter 1 Filing Information For Most Taxpayers No extension requested Automatic extension April 15, 2021 June 15, 2021 October 15, 2021 October 15, 2021 time if the authorized electronic return transmitter postmarks the transmission by the due date. An authorized electronic return transmitter is a participant in the IRS e-file program that transmits electronic tax return information directly to the IRS. The electronic postmark is a record of when the authorized electronic return transmitter received the transmission of your electronically filed return on its host system. The date and time in your time zone controls whether your electronically filed return is timely. Filing late. If you don't file your return by the due date, you may have to pay a failure-to-file penalty and interest. For more information, see Penalties, later. Also see Interest under Amount You Owe, later. If you were due a refund but you didn't file a return, you must generally file within 3 years from the date the return was due (including extensions) to get that refund. Nonresident alien. If you are a nonresident alien and earn wages subject to U.S. income tax withholding, your 2020 U.S. income tax return (Form 1040-NR) is due by: • April 15, 2021, if you use a calendar year; or • The 15th day of the 4th month after the end of your fiscal year, if you use a fiscal year. If you don't earn wages subject to U.S. income tax withholding, your return is due by: • June 15, 2021, if you use a calendar year; or • The 15th day of the 6th month after the end of your fiscal year, if you use a fiscal year. See Pub. 519 for more filing information. Filing for a decedent. If you must file a final income tax return for a taxpayer who died during the year (a decedent), the return is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the end of the decedent's normal tax year. See Pub. 559. Extensions of Time To File You may be able to get an extension of time to file your return. There are three types of situations where you may qualify for an extension. • Automatic extensions. • You are outside the United States. • You are serving in a combat zone. For Certain Taxpayers Outside the United States Automatic Extension If you can’t file your 2020 return by the due date, you may be able to get an automatic 6-month extension of time to file. Example. If your return is due on April 15, 2021, you will have until October 15, 2021, to file. If you don't pay the tax due by the regular due date (April 15 for most taxpayCAUTION ers), you will owe interest. You may also be charged penalties, discussed later. ! How to get the automatic extension. You can get the automatic extension by: 1. Using IRS e-file (electronic filing), or 2. Filing a paper form. E-file options. There are two ways you can use e-file to get an extension of time to file. Complete Form 4868 to use as a worksheet. If you think you may owe tax when you file your return, use Part II of the form to estimate your balance due. If you e-file Form 4868 to the IRS, don't send a paper Form 4868. E-file using your personal computer or a tax professional. You can use a tax software package with your personal computer or a tax professional to file Form 4868 electronically. Free File and Free File Fillable Forms, both available at IRS.gov, allow you to prepare and e-file Form 4868 for free. You will need to provide certain information from your 2019 tax return. If you wish to make a payment by direct transfer from your bank account, see Pay online under How To Pay, later in this chapter. E-file and pay by credit or debit card or by direct transfer from your bank account. You can get an extension by paying part or all of your estimate of tax due by using a credit or debit card or by direct transfer from your bank account. You can do this by phone or over the Internet. You don't file Form 4868. See Pay online under How To Pay, later in this chapter. Filing a paper Form 4868. You can get an extension of time to file by filing a paper Form 4868. If you are a fiscal year taxpayer, you must file a paper Form 4868. Mail it to the address shown in the form instructions. If you want to make a payment with the form, make your check or money order payable to “United States Treasury.” Write your SSN, daytime phone number, and “2020 Form 4868” on your check or money order. When to file. You must request the automatic extension by the due date for your return. You can file your return any time before the 6-month extension period ends. When you file your return. Enter any payment you made related to the extension of time to file on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 9. Individuals Outside the United States You are allowed an automatic 2-month extension, without filing Form 4868 (until June 15, 2021, if you use the calendar year), to file your 2020 return and pay any federal income tax due if: 1. You are a U.S. citizen or resident; and 2. On the due date of your return: a. You are living outside the United States and Puerto Rico, and your main place of business or post of duty is outside the United States and Puerto Rico; or b. You are in military or naval service on duty outside the United States and Puerto Rico. However, if you pay the tax due after the regular due date (April 15 for most taxpayers), interest will be charged from that date until the date the tax is paid. If you served in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area, you may be eligible for a longer extension of time to file. See Individuals Serving in Combat Zone, later, for special rules that apply to you. Married taxpayers. If you file a joint return, only one spouse has to qualify for this automatic extension. If you and your spouse file separate returns, the automatic extension applies only to the spouse who qualifies. How to get the extension. To use this automatic extension, you must attach a statement to your return explaining what situation qualified you for the extension. (See the situations listed under (2), earlier.) Extensions beyond 2 months. If you can’t file your return within the automatic 2-month extension period, you may be able to get an additional 4-month extension, for a total of 6 months. File Form 4868 and check the box on line 8. No further extension. An extension of more than 6 months will generally not be granted. However, if you are outside the United States and meet certain tests, you may be granted a longer extension. For more information, see When To File and Pay in Pub. 54. Individuals Serving in Combat Zone The deadline for filing your tax return, paying any tax you may owe, and filing a claim for refund is automatically extended if you serve in a combat zone. This applies to members of the Armed Forces, as well as merchant marines serving aboard vessels under the operational control of the Department of Defense, Red Cross personnel, accredited correspondents, and civilians under the direction of the Armed Forces in support of the Armed Forces. Combat zone. A combat zone is any area the President of the United States designates by executive order as an area in which the U.S. Armed Forces are engaging or have engaged in combat. An area usually becomes a combat zone and ceases to be a combat zone on the dates the President designates by executive order. For purposes of the automatic extension, the term “combat zone” includes the following areas. 1. The Arabian peninsula area, effective January 17, 1991. 2. The Kosovo area, effective March 24, 1999. 3. The Afghanistan area, effective September 19, 2001. See Pub. 3 for more detailed information on the locations comprising each combat zone. Pub. 3 also has information about other tax benefits available to military personnel serving in a combat zone. Extension period. The deadline for filing your return, paying any tax due, filing a claim for refund, and taking other actions with the IRS is extended in two steps. First, your deadline is extended for 180 days after the later of: 1. The last day you are in a combat zone or the last day the area qualifies as a combat zone, or 2. The last day of any continuous qualified hospitalization (defined later) for injury from service in the combat zone. Second, in addition to the 180 days, your deadline is also extended by the number of days you had left to take action with the IRS when you entered the combat zone. For example, you have 31/2 months (January 1–April 15) to file your tax return. Any days left in this period when you entered the combat zone (or the entire 31/2 months if you entered it before the beginning of the year) are added to the 180 days. See Extension of Deadlines in Pub. 3 for more information. The rules on the extension for filing your return also apply when you are deployed outside the United States (away from your permanent duty station) while participating in a designated contingency operation. Qualified hospitalization. The hospitalization must be the result of an injury received while serving in a combat zone or a contingency operation. Qualified hospitalization means: certain sections of the form. You may find Table 1-6 helpful when you prepare your paper return. Table 1-6. Six Steps for Preparing Your Paper Return 1 — Get your records together for income and expenses. 2 — Get the forms, schedules, and publications you need. 3 — Fill in your return. 4 — Check your return to make sure it is correct. 5 — Sign and date your return. 6 — Attach all required forms and schedules. Electronic returns. For information you may find useful in preparing an electronic return, see Why Should I File Electronically, earlier. Substitute tax forms. You can’t use your own version of a tax form unless it meets the requirements explained in Pub. 1167. Form W-2. If you were an employee, you should receive Form W-2 from your employer. You will need the information from this form to prepare your return. See Form W-2 under Credit for Withholding and Estimated Tax for 2020 in chapter 4. Your employer is required to provide or send Form W-2 to you no later than January 31, 2021. If it is mailed, you should allow adequate time to receive it before contacting your employer. If you still don't get the form by February 15, the IRS can help you by requesting the form from your employer. When you request IRS help, be prepared to provide the following information. • Your name, address (including ZIP code), and phone number. • Your SSN. • Your dates of employment. • Your employer's name, address (including ZIP code), and phone number. See Pub. 3 for more information on qualified hospitalizations. Form 1099. If you received certain types of income, you may receive a Form 1099. For example, if you received taxable interest of $10 or more, the payer is required to provide or send Form 1099 to you no later than January 31, 2021 (or by February 15, 2021, if furnished by a broker). If it is mailed, you should allow adequate time to receive it before contacting the payer. If you still don't get the form by February 15 (or by March 1, 2021, if furnished by a broker), call the IRS for help. How Do I Prepare My Return? When Do I Report My Income and Expenses? • Any hospitalization outside the United States, and • Up to 5 years of hospitalization in the United States. This section explains how to get ready to fill in your tax return and when to report your income and expenses. It also explains how to complete You must figure your taxable income on the basis of a tax year. A “tax year” is an annual accounting period used for keeping records and reporting income and expenses. You must account for your income and expenses in a way Chapter 1 Filing Information Page 11 that clearly shows your taxable income. The way you do this is called an accounting method. This section explains which accounting periods and methods you can use. Accounting Periods Most individual tax returns cover a calendar year—the 12 months from January 1 through December 31. If you don't use a calendar year, your accounting period is a fiscal year. A regular fiscal year is a 12-month period that ends on the last day of any month except December. A 52-53-week fiscal year varies from 52 to 53 weeks and always ends on the same day of the week. You choose your accounting period (tax year) when you file your first income tax return. It can’t be longer than 12 months. More information. For more information on accounting periods, including how to change your accounting period, see Pub. 538. Accounting Methods Your accounting method is the way you account for your income and expenses. Most taxpayers use either the cash method or an accrual method. You choose a method when you file your first income tax return. If you want to change your accounting method after that, you must generally get IRS approval. Use Form 3115 to request an accounting method change. Cash method. If you use this method, report all items of income in the year in which you actually or constructively receive them. Generally, you deduct all expenses in the year you actually pay them. This is the method most individual taxpayers use. Constructive receipt. Generally, you constructively receive income when it is credited to your account or set apart in any way that makes it available to you. You don't need to have physical possession of it. For example, interest credited to your bank account on December 31, 2020, is taxable income to you in 2020 if you could have withdrawn it in 2020 (even if the amount isn't entered in your records or withdrawn until 2021). Garnished wages. If your employer uses your wages to pay your debts, or if your wages are attached or garnished, the full amount is constructively received by you. You must include these wages in income for the year you would have received them. Debts paid for you. If another person cancels or pays your debts (but not as a gift or loan), you have constructively received the amount and must generally include it in your gross income for the year. See Canceled Debts in chapter 8 for more information. paid to another person, you must include the amount in your gross income when the other person receives it. Check received or available. A valid check that was made available to you before the end of the tax year is constructively received by you in that year. A check that was “made available to you” includes a check you have already received, but not cashed or deposited. It also includes, for example, your last paycheck of the year that your employer made available for you to pick up at the office before the end of the year. It is constructively received by you in that year whether or not you pick it up before the end of the year or wait to receive it by mail after the end of the year. No constructive receipt. There may be facts to show that you didn't constructively receive income. Example. Alice Johnson, a teacher, agreed to her school board's condition that, in her absence, she would receive only the difference between her regular salary and the salary of a substitute teacher hired by the school board. Therefore, Alice didn't constructively receive the amount by which her salary was reduced to pay the substitute teacher. Accrual method. If you use an accrual method, you generally report income when you earn it, rather than when you receive it. You generally deduct your expenses when you incur them, rather than when you pay them. Income paid in advance. An advance payment of income is generally included in gross income in the year you receive it. Your method of accounting doesn't matter as long as the income is available to you. An advance payment may include rent or interest you receive in advance and pay for services you will perform later. A limited deferral until the next tax year may be allowed for certain advance payments. See Pub. 538 for specific information. Additional information. For more information on accounting methods, including how to change your accounting method, see Pub. 538. Social Security Number (SSN) You must enter your SSN on your return. If you are married, enter the SSNs for both you and your spouse, whether you file jointly or separately. If you are filing a joint return, include the SSNs in the same order as the names. Use this same order in submitting other forms and documents to the IRS. Payment to third party. If a third party is paid income from property you own, you have constructively received the income. It is the same as if you had actually received the income and paid it to the third party. If you, or your spouse if filing jointly, don't have an SSN (or ITIN) issued on CAUTION or before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions), you can't claim certain tax benefits on your original or an amended 2020 return. Payment to an agent. Income an agent receives for you is income you constructively received in the year the agent receives it. If you indicate in a contract that your income is to be Check that both the name and SSN on your Form 1040 or 1040-SR, W-2, and 1099 agree with your social security card. If they don't, certain deductions and credits on your Form 1040 Page 12 Chapter 1 Filing Information ! or 1040-SR may be reduced or disallowed and you may not receive credit for your social security earnings. If your Form W-2 shows an incorrect SSN or name, notify your employer or the form-issuing agent as soon as possible to make sure your earnings are credited to your social security record. If the name or SSN on your social security card is incorrect, call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 800-772-1213. Name change. If you changed your name because of marriage, divorce, etc., be sure to report the change to your local SSA office before filing your return. This prevents delays in processing your return and issuing refunds. It also safeguards your future social security benefits. Dependent's SSN. You must provide the SSN of each dependent you claim, regardless of the dependent's age. This requirement applies to all dependents (not just your children) claimed on your tax return. Your child must have an SSN valid for employment issued before the due CAUTION date of your 2020 return (including extensions) to be considered a qualifying child for certain tax benefits on your original or amended 2020 return. See chapter 14 and Pub. 596. ! Exception. If your child was born and died in 2020 and didn't have an SSN, enter “DIED” in column (2) of the Dependents section of Form 1040 or 1040-SR and include a copy of the child's birth certificate, death certificate, or hospital records. The document must show that the child was born alive. No SSN. File Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, with your local SSA office to get an SSN for yourself or your dependent. It usually takes about 2 weeks to get an SSN. If you or your dependent isn't eligible for an SSN, see Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), later. If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, you must show proof of age, identity, and citizenship or alien status with your Form SS-5. If you are 12 or older and have never been assigned an SSN, you must appear in person with this proof at an SSA office. Form SS-5 is available at any SSA office, on the Internet at SSA.gov, or by calling 800-772-1213. If you have any questions about which documents you can use as proof of age, identity, or citizenship, contact your SSA office. If your dependent doesn't have an SSN by the time your return is due, you may want to ask for an extension of time to file, as explained earlier under When Do I Have To File. If you don't provide a required SSN or if you provide an incorrect SSN, your tax may be increased and any refund may be reduced. Adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN). If you are in the process of adopting a child who is a U.S. citizen or resident and can’t get an SSN for the child until the adoption is final, you can apply for an ATIN to use instead of an SSN. File Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions, with the IRS to get an ATIN if all of the following are true. • You have a child living with you who was placed in your home for legal adoption. • You can’t get the child's existing SSN even though you have made a reasonable attempt to get it from the birth parents, the placement agency, and other persons. • You can’t get an SSN for the child from the SSA because, for example, the adoption isn't final. • You are eligible to claim the child as a dependent on your tax return. After the adoption is final, you must apply for an SSN for the child. You can’t continue using the ATIN. See Form W-7A for more information. Nonresident alien spouse. If your spouse is a nonresident alien, your spouse must have either an SSN or an ITIN if: • You file a joint return, or • Your spouse is filing a separate return. If your spouse isn't eligible for an SSN, see the following discussion on ITINs. Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The IRS will issue you an ITIN if you are a nonresident or resident alien and you don't have and aren’t eligible to get an SSN. This also applies to an alien spouse or dependent. To apply for an ITIN, file Form W-7 with the IRS. It usually takes about 7 weeks to get an ITIN. Enter the ITIN on your tax return wherever an SSN is requested. Make sure your ITIN hasn’t expired. If you haven't used your ITIN on a U.S. tax return at least once in the last 3 years, or if your ITIN has the middle digits 88, (9NN-88-NNNN) or if your ITIN has the middle digits 90, 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 and was assigned before 2013, it expired at the end of 2020 and must be renewed if you need to file a U.S. federal tax return in 2021. You don't need to renew your ITIN if you don't need to file a federal tax return. You can find more information at IRS.gov/ITIN. ITINs with middle digits 70 through 87 TIP have expired and must also be re- newed if you need to file a tax return in 2021 and haven't already renewed the ITIN. If you are applying for an ITIN for your- TIP self, your spouse, or a dependent in or- der to file your tax return, attach your completed tax return to your Form W-7. See the Form W-7 instructions for how and where to file. You can’t e-file a return using an ITIN in the calendar year the ITIN is issued; CAUTION however, you can e-file returns in the following years. ! ITIN for tax use only. An ITIN is for federal tax use only. It doesn't entitle you to social security benefits or change your employment or immigration status under U.S. law. Penalty for not providing social security number. If you don't include your SSN or the SSN of your spouse or dependent as required, you may have to pay a penalty. See the discussion on Penalties, later, for more information. SSN on correspondence. If you write to the IRS about your tax account, be sure to include your SSN (and the name and SSN of your spouse, if you filed a joint return) in your correspondence. Because your SSN is used to identify your account, this helps the IRS respond to your correspondence promptly. Presidential Election Campaign Fund This fund helps pay for Presidential election campaigns. The fund also helps pay for pediatric medical research. If you want $3 to go to this fund, check the box. If you are filing a joint return, your spouse can also have $3 go to the fund. If you check the box, your tax or refund won't change. Computations The following information may be useful in making the return easier to complete. Rounding off dollars. You can round off cents to whole dollars on your return and schedules. If you do round to whole dollars, you must round all amounts. To round, drop amounts under 50 cents and increase amounts from 50 to 99 cents to the next dollar. For example, $1.39 becomes $1 and $2.50 becomes $3. If you have to add two or more amounts to figure the amount to enter on a line, include cents when adding the amounts and round off only the total. If you are entering amounts that include cents, make sure to include the decimal point. There is no cents column on Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Equal amounts. If you are asked to enter the smaller or larger of two equal amounts, enter that amount. Negative amounts. If you file a paper return and you need to enter a negative amount, put the amount in parentheses rather than using a minus sign. To combine positive and negative amounts, add all the positive amounts together and then subtract the negative amounts. Attachments Depending on the form you file and the items reported on your return, you may have to complete additional schedules and forms and attach them to your paper return. You may be able to file a paperless reTIP turn using IRS e-file. There's nothing to attach or mail, not even your Forms W-2. See Why Should I File Electronically, earlier. Form W-2. Form W-2 is a statement from your employer of wages and other compensation paid to you and taxes withheld from your pay. You should have a Form W-2 from each employer. If you file a paper return, be sure to attach a copy of Form W-2 in the place indicated on your return. For more information, see Form W-2 in chapter 4. Form 1099-R. If you received a Form 1099-R showing federal income tax withheld, and you file a paper return, attach a copy of that form in the place indicated on your return. Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If you file a paper return, attach any forms and schedules behind Form 1040 or 1040-SR in order of the “Attachment Sequence No.” shown in the upper right corner of the form or schedule. Then, arrange all other statements or attachments in the same order as the forms and schedules they relate to and attach them last. Don't attach items unless required to do so. Third Party Designee If you want to allow your preparer, a friend, a family member, or any other person you choose to discuss your 2020 tax return with the IRS, check the “Yes” box in the “Third Party Designee” area of your return. Also, enter the designee's name, phone number, and any five digits the designee chooses as his or her personal identification number (PIN). If you check the “Yes” box, you, and your spouse if filing a joint return, are authorizing the IRS to call the designee to answer any questions that arise during the processing of your return. You are also authorizing the designee to: • Give information that is missing from your return to the IRS; • Call the IRS for information about the pro- cessing of your return or the status of your refund or payments; • Receive copies of notices or transcripts related to your return, upon request; and • Respond to certain IRS notices about math errors, offsets (see Refunds, later), and return preparation. You aren't authorizing the designee to receive any refund check, bind you to anything (including any additional tax liability), or otherwise represent you before the IRS. If you want to expand the designee's authorization, see Pub. 947. The authorization will automatically end no later than the due date (without any extensions) for filing your 2021 tax return. This is April 18, 2022, for most people. See your form instructions for more information. Signatures You must sign and date your return. If you file a joint return, both you and your spouse must sign the return, even if only one of you had income. If you file a joint return, both spouses are generally liable for the tax, and the CAUTION entire tax liability may be assessed against either spouse. See chapter 2. ! Your return isn't considered a valid return unless you sign it in accordance with the requirements in the instructions for your return. You must handwrite your signature on your return if you file it on paper. Digital, electronic, Chapter 1 Filing Information Page 13 or typed-font signatures are not valid signatures for Forms 1040 or 1040-SR filed on paper. If you electronically file your return, you can use an electronic signature to sign your return in accordance with the requirements contained in the instructions for your return. Failure to sign your return in accordance with these requirements may prevent you from obtaining a refund. Enter your occupation. If you file a joint return, enter both your occupation and your spouse's occupation. When someone can sign for you. You can appoint an agent to sign your return if you are: If the preparer is self-employed (that is, not employed by any person or business to prepare the return), he or she should check the self-employed box in the “Paid Preparer Use Only” space on the return. The preparer must give you a copy of your return in addition to the copy filed with the IRS. If you prepare your own return, leave this area blank. If another person prepares your return and doesn't charge you, that person shouldn't sign your return. If you have questions about whether a preparer must sign your return, contact any IRS office. 1. Unable to sign the return because of disease or injury, Refunds 2. Absent from the United States for a continuous period of at least 60 days before the due date for filing your return, or When you complete your return, you will determine if you paid more income tax than you owed. If so, you can get a refund of the amount you overpaid or you can choose to apply all or part of the overpayment to your next year's (2021) estimated tax. 3. Given permission to do so by the IRS office in your area. Power of attorney. A return signed by an agent in any of these cases must have a power of attorney (POA) attached that authorizes the agent to sign for you. You can use a POA that states that the agent is granted authority to sign the return, or you can use Form 2848. Part I of Form 2848 must state that the agent is granted authority to sign the return. Court-appointed conservator, guardian, or other fiduciary. If you are a court-appointed conservator, guardian, or other fiduciary for a mentally or physically incompetent individual who has to file a tax return, sign your name for the individual. File Form 56. Unable to sign. If the taxpayer is mentally competent but physically unable to sign the return or POA, a valid “signature” is defined under state law. It can be anything that clearly indicates the taxpayer's intent to sign. For example, the taxpayer's “X” with the signatures of two witnesses might be considered a valid signature under a state's law. Spouse unable to sign. If your spouse is unable to sign for any reason, see Signing a joint return in chapter 2. Child's return. If a child has to file a tax return but can’t sign the return, the child's parent, guardian, or another legally responsible person must sign the child's name, followed by the words “By (your signature), parent for minor child.” Paid Preparer Generally, anyone you pay to prepare, assist in preparing, or review your tax return must sign it and fill in the other blanks, including their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), in the paid preparer's area of your return. Many preparers are required to e-file the tax returns they prepare. They sign these e-filed returns using their tax preparation software. However, you can choose to have your return completed on paper if you prefer. In that case, the paid preparer can sign the paper return manually or use a rubber stamp or mechanical device. The preparer is personally responsible for affixing his or her signature to the return. Page 14 Chapter 1 Filing Information If you choose to have a 2020 overpayment applied to your 2021 estimated CAUTION tax, you can’t change your mind and have any of it refunded to you after the due date (without extensions) of your 2020 return. ! Follow the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR to complete the entries to claim your refund and/or to apply your overpayment to your 2021 estimated tax. If your refund for 2020 is large, you TIP may want to decrease the amount of income tax withheld from your pay in 2021. See chapter 4 for more information. DIRECT DEPOSIT Instead of getting a pa- Simple. Safe. Secure. per check, you may be able to have your refund deposited directly into your checking or savings account, including an individual retirement arrangement (IRA). Follow the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR to request direct deposit. If the direct deposit can’t be done, the IRS will send a check instead. Don't request a deposit of any part of your refund to an account that isn't in your name. Don't allow your tax preparer to deposit any part of your refund into his or her account. The number of direct deposits to a single account or prepaid debit card is limited to three refunds a year. After this limit is exceeded, paper checks will be sent instead. Learn more at IRS.gov/ Individuals/Direct-Deposit-Limits. IRA. You can have your refund (or part of it) directly deposited to a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or SEP-IRA, but not a SIMPLE IRA. You must establish the IRA at a bank or financial institution before you request direct deposit. TreasuryDirect®. You can request a deposit of your refund to a TreasuryDirect® online account to buy U.S. Treasury marketable securities and savings bonds. For more information, go to http://go.usa.gov/3KvcP. Split refunds. If you choose direct deposit, you may be able to split the refund and have it deposited among two or three accounts or buy up to $5,000 in paper series I savings bonds. Complete Form 8888 and attach it to your return. Overpayment less than one dollar. If your overpayment is less than one dollar, you won't get a refund unless you ask for it in writing. Cashing your refund check. Cash your tax refund check soon after you receive it. Checks expire the last business day of the 12th month of issue. If your check has expired, you can apply to the IRS to have it reissued. Refund more or less than expected. If you receive a check for a refund you aren’t entitled to, or for an overpayment that should have been credited to estimated tax, don't cash the check. Call the IRS. If you receive a check for more than the refund you claimed, don't cash the check until you receive a notice explaining the difference. If your refund check is for less than you claimed, it should be accompanied by a notice explaining the difference. Cashing the check doesn't stop you from claiming an additional amount of refund. If you didn't receive a notice and you have any questions about the amount of your refund, you should wait 2 weeks. If you still haven’t received a notice, call the IRS. Offset against debts. If you are due a refund but haven’t paid certain amounts you owe, all or part of your refund may be used to pay all or part of the past-due amount. This includes past-due federal income tax, other federal debts (such as student loans), state income tax, child and spousal support payments, and state unemployment compensation debt. You will be notified if the refund you claimed has been offset against your debts. Joint return and injured spouse. When a joint return is filed and only one spouse owes a past-due amount, the other spouse can be considered an injured spouse. An injured spouse should file Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, if both of the following apply and the spouse wants a refund of his or her share of the overpayment shown on the joint return. 1. You aren’t legally obligated to pay the past-due amount. 2. You made and reported tax payments (such as federal income tax withheld from your wages or estimated tax payments), or claimed a refundable tax credit (see the credits listed under Who Should File, earlier). Note. If the injured spouse's residence was in a community property state at any time during the tax year, special rules may apply. See the Instructions for Form 8379. If you haven’t filed your joint return and you know that your joint refund will be offset, file Form 8379 with your return. You should receive your refund within 14 weeks from the date the paper return is filed or within 11 weeks from the date the return is filed electronically. If you filed your joint return and your joint refund was offset, file Form 8379 by itself. When filed after offset, it can take up to 8 weeks to receive your refund. Don't attach the previously filed tax return, but do include copies of all Forms W-2 and W-2G for both spouses and any Forms 1099 that show income tax withheld. The processing of Form 8379 may be delayed if these forms aren’t attached, or if the form is incomplete when filed. A separate Form 8379 must be filed for each tax year to be considered. An injured spouse claim is different from an innocent spouse relief request. CAUTION An injured spouse uses Form 8379 to request the division of the tax overpayment attributed to each spouse. An innocent spouse uses Form 8857, Request for Innocent Spouse Relief, to request relief from joint liability for tax, interest, and penalties on a joint return for items of the other spouse (or former spouse) that were incorrectly reported on the joint return. For information on innocent spouses, see Relief from joint responsibility under Filing a Joint Return in chapter 2. ! Amount You Owe When you complete your return, you will determine if you have paid the full amount of tax that you owe. If you owe additional tax, you should pay it with your return. TIP You don't have to pay if the amount you owe is under $1. • Debit or credit card. To use EFTPS, you must be enrolled either online or have an enrollment form mailed to you. To make a payment using EFTPS, call 800-555-4477 (English) or 800-244-4829 (Español). People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and have access to TTY/TDD equipment can call 800-733-4829. For more information about EFTPS, go to IRS.gov/Payments or EFTPS.gov. To pay using a debit or credit card, you can call one of the following service providers. There is a convenience fee charged by these providers that varies by provider, card type, and payment amount. WorldPay US, Inc. 844-PAY-TAX-8TM (844-729-8298) www.payUSAtax.com Official Payments 888-UPAY-TAXTM (888-872-9829) www.officialpayments.com Link2Gov Corporation 888-PAY-1040TM (888-729-1040) www.PAY1040.com If the IRS figures your tax for you, you will receive a bill for any tax that is due. You should pay this bill within 30 days (or by the due date of your return, if later). See Tax Figured by IRS in chapter 13. For the latest details on how to pay by phone, go to IRS.gov/Payments. If you don't pay your tax when due, you may have to pay a failure-to-pay penCAUTION alty. See Penalties, later. For more information about your balance due, see Pub. 594. Pay by cash. Cash is an in-person payment option for individuals provided through retail partners with a maximum of $1,000 per day per transaction. To make a cash payment, you must first be registered online at www.officialpayments.com. If the amount you owe for 2020 is large, Pay by check or money order. Make your check or money order payable to “United States Treasury” for the full amount due. Don't send cash. Don't attach the payment to your return. Show your correct name, address, SSN, daytime phone number, and the tax year and form number on the front of your check or money order. If you are filing a joint return, enter the SSN shown first on your tax return. ! TIP you may want to increase the amount of income tax withheld from your pay or make estimated tax payments for 2021. See chapter 4 for more information. How To Pay You can pay online, by phone, by mobile device, in cash, or by check or money order. Don't include any estimated tax payment for 2021 in this payment. Instead, make the estimated tax payment separately. Bad check or payment. The penalty for writing a bad check to the IRS is $25 or 2% of the check, whichever is more. This penalty also applies to other forms of payment if the IRS doesn't receive the funds. Pay online. Paying online is convenient and secure and helps make sure we get your payments on time. You can pay online with a direct transfer from your bank account using IRS Direct Pay or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), or by debit or credit card. To pay your taxes online or for more information, go to IRS.gov/Payments. Pay by phone. Paying by phone is another safe and secure method of paying electronically. Use one of the following methods. • EFTPS. Pay by mobile device. To pay through your mobile device, download the IRS2Go app. Notice to taxpayers presenting checks. When you provide a check as payment, you authorize us either to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction. When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day we receive your payment, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution. No checks of $100 million or more accepted. The IRS can’t accept a single check (including a cashier’s check) for amounts of $100,000,000 ($100 million) or more. If you are sending $100 million or more by check, you’ll need to spread the payment over 2 or more checks with each check made out for an amount less than $100 million. This limit doesn’t apply to other methods of payment (such as electronic payments). Please consider a method of payment other than check if the amount of the payment is over $100 million. Estimated tax payments. Don't include any 2021 estimated tax payment in the payment for your 2020 income tax return. See chapter 4 for information on how to pay estimated tax. Interest Interest is charged on tax you don't pay by the due date of your return. Interest is charged even if you get an extension of time for filing. If the IRS figures your tax for you, to TIP avoid interest for late payment, you must pay the bill within 30 days of the date of the bill or by the due date of your return, whichever is later. For information, see Tax Figured by IRS in chapter 13. Interest on penalties. Interest is charged on the failure-to-file penalty, the accuracy-related penalty, and the fraud penalty from the due date of the return (including extensions) to the date of payment. Interest on other penalties starts on the date of notice and demand, but isn't charged on penalties paid within 21 calendar days from the date of the notice (or within 10 business days if the notice is for $100,000 or more). Interest due to IRS error or delay. All or part of any interest you were charged can be forgiven if the interest is due to an unreasonable error or delay by an officer or employee of the IRS in performing a ministerial or managerial act. A ministerial act is a procedural or mechanical act that occurs during the processing of your case. A managerial act includes personnel transfers and extended personnel training. A decision concerning the proper application of federal tax law isn't a ministerial or managerial act. The interest can be forgiven only if you aren’t responsible in any important way for the error or delay and the IRS has notified you in writing of the deficiency or payment. For more information, see Pub. 556. Interest and certain penalties may also be suspended for a limited period if you filed your return by the due date (including extensions) and the IRS doesn't provide you with a notice specifically stating your liability and the basis for it before the close of the 36-month period beginning on the later of: • The date the return is filed, or • The due date of the return without regard to extensions. For more information, see Pub. 556. Installment Agreement If you can’t pay the full amount due with your return, you can ask to make monthly installment payments for the full or a partial amount. However, you will be charged interest and may be charged a late payment penalty on the tax not paid by the date your return is due, even if your request to pay in installments is granted. If your request is granted, you must also pay a fee. To limit the interest and penalty charges, pay as much of the tax as possible with your return. But before requesting an installment agreement, you should consider other less costly Chapter 1 Filing Information Page 15 alternatives, such as a bank loan or credit card payment. To apply for an installment agreement online, go to IRS.gov/OPA. You can also use Form 9465. In addition to paying by check or money order, you can use a credit or debit card or direct payment from your bank account to make installment agreement payments. See How To Pay, earlier. file it electronically. See Why Should I File Electronically, earlier. Mailing your paper return. Mail your paper return to the address shown in the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. What Happens After I File? Gift To Reduce Debt Held by the Public After you send your return to the IRS, you may have some questions. This section discusses concerns you may have about recordkeeping, your refund, and what to do if you move. You can make a contribution (gift) to reduce debt held by the public. If you wish to do so, make a separate check payable to “Bureau of the Fiscal Service.” What Records Should I Keep? Send your check to: Bureau of the Fiscal Service ATTN: Department G P.O. Box 2188 Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188 Or enclose your separate check in the envelope with your income tax return. Don't add this gift to any tax you owe. For information on making this type of gift online, go to TreasuryDirect.gov and click on “How to Make a Contribution to Reduce the Debt.” You may be able to deduct this gift as a charitable contribution on next year's tax return if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040). Name and Address After you have completed your return, fill in your name and address in the appropriate area of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. ! You must include your SSN in the correct place on your tax return. CAUTION P.O. box. If your post office doesn't deliver mail to your street address and you have a P.O. box, enter your P.O. box number on the line for your present home address instead of your street address. Foreign address. If your address is outside the United States or its possessions or territories, enter the city name on the appropriate line of your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Don't enter any other information on that line, but also complete the spaces below that line. 1. Foreign country name. 2. Foreign province/state/county. 3. Foreign postal code. Don’t abbreviate the country name. Follow the country's practice for entering the postal code and the name of the province, county, or state. This part discusses why you should keep records, what kinds of records you should keep, and how long you should keep them. You must keep records so that you can prepare a complete and accurate inRECORDS come tax return. The law doesn't require any special form of records. However, you should keep all receipts, canceled checks or other proof of payment, and any other records to support any deductions or credits you claim. If you file a claim for refund, you must be able to prove by your records that you have overpaid your tax. This part doesn't discuss the records you should keep when operating a business. For information on business records, see Pub. 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records. Why Keep Records? Good records help you: • Identify sources of income. Your re- cords can identify the sources of your income to help you separate business from nonbusiness income and taxable from nontaxable income. • Keep track of expenses. You can use your records to identify expenses for which you can claim a deduction. This helps you determine if you can itemize deductions on your tax return. • Keep track of the basis of property. You need to keep records that show the basis of your property. This includes the original cost or other basis of the property and any improvements you made. • Prepare tax returns. You need records to prepare your tax return. • Support items reported on tax returns. The IRS may question an item on your return. Your records will help you explain any item and arrive at the correct tax. If you can’t produce the correct documents, you may have to pay additional tax and be subject to penalties. Where Do I File? Kinds of Records To Keep After you complete your return, you must send it to the IRS. You can mail it or you may be able to The IRS doesn't require you to keep your records in a particular way. Keep them in a Page 16 Chapter 1 Filing Information manner that allows you and the IRS to determine your correct tax. You can use your checkbook to keep a record of your income and expenses. You also need to keep documents, such as receipts and sales slips, that can help prove a deduction. In this section, you will find guidance about basic records that everyone should keep. The section also provides guidance about specific records you should keep for certain items. Electronic records. All requirements that apply to hard copy books and records also apply to electronic storage systems that maintain tax books and records. When you replace hard copy books and records, you must maintain the electronic storage systems for as long as they are material to the administration of tax law. For details on electronic storage system requirements, see Revenue Procedure 97-22, which is on page 9 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 1997-13 at IRS.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb97-13.pdf. Copies of tax returns. You should keep copies of your tax returns as part of your tax records. They can help you prepare future tax returns, and you will need them if you file an amended return or are audited. Copies of your returns and other records can be helpful to your survivor or the executor or administrator of your estate. If necessary, you can request a copy of a return and all attachments (including Form W-2) from the IRS by using Form 4506. There is a charge for a copy of a return. For information on the cost and where to file, see the instructions for Form 4506. If you just need information from your return, you can order a transcript in one of the following ways. • Go to IRS.gov/Transcript. • Call 800-908-9946. • Use Form 4506-T or Form 4506T-EZ. There is no fee for a transcript. For more information, see Form 4506-T. Basic Records Basic records are documents that everybody should keep. These are the records that prove your income and expenses. If you own a home or investments, your basic records should contain documents related to those items. Income. Your basic records prove the amounts you report as income on your tax return. Your income may include wages, dividends, interest, and partnership or S corporation distributions. Your records can also prove that certain amounts aren’t taxable, such as tax-exempt interest. Note. If you receive a Form W-2, keep Copy C until you begin receiving social security benefits. This will help protect your benefits in case there is a question about your work record or earnings in a particular year. Expenses. Your basic records prove the expenses for which you claim a deduction (or credit) on your tax return. Your deductions may include alimony, charitable contributions, mortgage interest, and real estate taxes. You may also have childcare expenses for which you can claim a credit. Home. Your basic records should enable you to determine the basis or adjusted basis of your home. You need this information to determine if you have a gain or loss when you sell your home or to figure depreciation if you use part of your home for business purposes or for rent. Your records should show the purchase price, settlement or closing costs, and the cost of any improvements. They may also show any casualty losses deducted and insurance reimbursements for casualty losses. For detailed information on basis, including which settlement or closing costs are included in the basis of your home, see Pub. 551, Basis of Assets. When you sell your home, your records should show the sales price and any selling expenses, such as commissions. For information on selling your home, see Pub. 523, Selling Your Home. Investments. Your basic records should enable you to determine your basis in an investment and whether you have a gain or loss when you sell it. Investments include stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Your records should show the purchase price, sales price, and commissions. They may also show any reinvested dividends, stock splits and dividends, load charges, and original issue discount (OID). For information on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, see Pub. 550, Investment Income and Expenses, and Pub. 551. Proof of Payment One of your basic records is proof of payment. You should keep these records to support certain amounts shown on your tax return. Proof of payment alone isn't proof that the item claimed on your return is allowable. You should also keep other documents that will help prove that the item is allowable. Generally, you prove payment with a cash receipt, financial account statement, credit card statement, canceled check, or substitute check. If you make payments in cash, you should get a dated and signed receipt showing the amount and the reason for the payment. If you make payments using your bank account, you may be able to prove payment with an account statement. Account statements. You may be able to prove payment with a legible financial account statement prepared by your bank or other financial institution. Pay statements. You may have deductible expenses withheld from your paycheck, such as medical insurance premiums. You should keep your year-end or final pay statements as proof of payment of these expenses. How Long To Keep Records You must keep your records as long as they may be needed for the administration of any provision of the Internal Revenue Code. Generally, this means you must keep records that support items shown on your return until the period of limitations for that return runs out. The period of limitations is the period of time in which you can amend your return to claim a credit or refund or the IRS can assess additional tax. Table 1-7 contains the periods of limitations that apply to income tax returns. Unless otherwise stated, the years refer to the period beginning after the return was filed. Returns filed before the due date are treated as being filed on the due date. Table 1-7. Period of Limitations IF you... THEN the period is... 1 File a return and (2), (3), and (4) don't apply to you 3 years. 2 Don't report income that you should and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on your return 6 years. 3 File a fraudulent return No limit. 4 Don't file a return No limit. 5 File a claim for credit or refund after you filed your return The later of 3 years or 2 years after tax was paid. 6 File a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction 7 years. Property. Keep records relating to property until the period of limitations expires for the year in which you dispose of the property in a taxable disposition. You must keep these records to figure your basis for computing gain or loss when you sell or otherwise dispose of the property. Generally, if you received property in a nontaxable exchange, your basis in that property is the same as the basis of the property you gave up. You must keep the records on the old property, as well as the new property, until the period of limitations expires for the year in which you dispose of the new property in a taxable disposition. Refund Information You can go online to check the status of your 2020 refund 24 hours after the IRS receives your e-filed return, or 4 weeks after you mail a paper return. If you filed Form 8379 with your return, allow 14 weeks (11 weeks if you filed electronically) before checking your refund status. Be sure to have a copy of your 2020 tax return handy because you will need to know the filing status, the first SSN shown on the return, and the exact whole-dollar amount of the refund. To check on your refund, do one of the following. • Go to IRS.gov/Refunds. • Download the free IRS2Go app to your smart phone and use it to check your refund status. • Call the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954. Interest on Refunds If you are due a refund, you may get interest on it. The interest rates are adjusted quarterly. If the refund is made within 45 days after the due date of your return, no interest will be paid. If you file your return after the due date (including extensions), no interest will be paid if the refund is made within 45 days after the date you filed. If the refund isn't made within this 45-day period, interest will be paid from the due date of the return or from the date you filed, whichever is later. Accepting a refund check doesn't change your right to claim an additional refund and interest. File your claim within the period of time that applies. See Amended Returns and Claims for Refund, later. If you don't accept a refund check, no more interest will be paid on the overpayment included in the check. Interest on erroneous refund. All or part of any interest you were charged on an erroneous refund will generally be forgiven. Any interest charged for the period before demand for repayment was made will be forgiven unless: 1. You, or a person related to you, caused the erroneous refund in any way; or 2. The refund is more than $50,000. For example, if you claimed a refund of $100 on your return, but the IRS made an error and sent you $1,000, you wouldn't be charged interest for the time you held the $900 difference. You must, however, repay the $900 when the IRS asks. Change of Address If you have moved, file your return using your new address. If you move after you filed your return, you should give the IRS clear and concise notification of your change of address. The notification may be written, electronic, or oral. Send written notification to the Internal Revenue Service Center serving your old address. You can use Form 8822, Change of Address. If you are expecting a refund, also notify the post office serving your old address. This will help in forwarding your check to your new address (unless you chose direct deposit of your refund). For more information, see Revenue Procedure 2010-16, 2010-19 I.R.B. 664, available at IRS.gov/irb/ 2010-19_IRB/ar07.html. Be sure to include your SSN (and the name and SSN of your spouse if you filed a joint return) in any correspondence with the IRS. What if I Made a Mistake? Errors may delay your refund or result in notices being sent to you. If you discover an error, you can file an amended return or claim for refund. Chapter 1 Filing Information Page 17 Amended Returns and Claims for Refund You should correct your return if, after you have filed it, you find that: 1. You didn't report some income, 2. You claimed deductions or credits you shouldn't have claimed, 3. You didn't claim deductions or credits you could have claimed, or 4. You should have claimed a different filing status. (Once you file a joint return, you can’t choose to file separate returns for that year after the due date of the return. However, an executor may be able to make this change for a deceased spouse.) If you need a copy of your return, see Copies of tax returns under Kinds of Records To Keep, earlier, in this chapter. Form 1040-X. Use Form 1040-X to correct a return you have already filed. Completing Form 1040-X. On Form 1040-X, enter your income, deductions, and credits as you originally reported them on your return; the changes you are making; and the corrected amounts. Then, figure the tax on the corrected amount of taxable income and the amount you owe or your refund. If you owe tax, the IRS offers several payment options. See How To Pay, earlier. The tax owed won't be subtracted from any amount you had credited to your estimated tax. If you can’t pay the full amount due with your return, you can ask to make monthly installment payments. See Installment Agreement, earlier. If you overpaid tax, you can have all or part of the overpayment refunded to you, or you can apply all or part of it to your estimated tax. If you choose to get a refund, it will be sent separately from any refund shown on your original return. Filing Form 1040-X. When completing Form 1040-X, don't forget to show the year of your original return and explain all changes you made. Be sure to attach any forms or schedules needed to explain your changes. Mail your Form 1040-X to the Internal Revenue Service Center serving the area where you now live (as shown in the Instructions for Form 1040-X). However, if you are filing Form 1040-X in response to a notice you received from the IRS, mail it to the address shown on the notice. File a separate form for each tax year involved. Time for filing a claim for refund. Generally, you must file your claim for a credit or refund within 3 years after the date you filed your original return or within 2 years after the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. Returns filed before the due date (without regard to extensions) are considered filed on the due date (even if the due date was a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday). These time periods are suspended while you are financially disabled, discussed later. If the last day for claiming a credit or refund is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, you can file the claim on the next business day. If you don't file a claim within this period, you may not be entitled to a credit or a refund. Page 18 Chapter 1 Filing Information Federally declared disaster. If you were affected by a federally declared disaster, you may have additional time to file your amended return. See Pub. 556 for details. Protective claim for refund. Generally, a protective claim is a formal claim or amended return for credit or refund normally based on current litigation or expected changes in tax law or other legislation. You file a protective claim when your right to a refund is contingent on future events and may not be determinable until after the statute of limitations expires. A valid protective claim doesn't have to list a particular dollar amount or demand an immediate refund. However, a valid protective claim must: • Be in writing and signed; • Include your name, address, SSN or ITIN, and other contact information; • Identify and describe the contingencies affecting the claim; • Clearly alert the IRS to the essential nature of the claim; and • Identify the specific year(s) for which a refund is sought. Mail your protective claim for refund to the address listed in the Instructions for Form 1040-X under Where To File. Generally, the IRS will delay action on the protective claim until the contingency is resolved. Limit on amount of refund. If you file your claim within 3 years after the date you filed your return, the credit or refund can’t be more than the part of the tax paid within the 3-year period (plus any extension of time for filing your return) immediately before you filed the claim. This time period is suspended while you are financially disabled, discussed later. Tax paid. Payments, including estimated tax payments, made before the due date (without regard to extensions) of the original return are considered paid on the due date. For example, income tax withheld during the year is considered paid on the due date of the return, April 15 for most taxpayers. Example 1. You made estimated tax payments of $500 and got an automatic extension of time to October 15, 2017, to file your 2016 income tax return. When you filed your return on that date, you paid an additional $200 tax. On October 15, 2020, you filed an amended return and claimed a refund of $700. Because you filed your claim within 3 years after you filed your original return, you can get a refund of up to $700, the tax paid within the 3 years plus the 6-month extension period immediately before you filed the claim. Example 2. The situation is the same as in Example 1, except you filed your return on October 30, 2017, 2 weeks after the extension period ended. You paid an additional $200 on that date. On October 31, 2020, you filed an amended return and claimed a refund of $700. Although you filed your claim within 3 years from the date you filed your original return, the refund was limited to $200, the tax paid within the 3 years plus the 6-month extension period immediately before you filed the claim. The estimated tax of $500 paid before that period can’t be refunded or credited. If you file a claim more than 3 years after you file your return, the credit or refund can’t be more than the tax you paid within the 2 years immediately before you file the claim. Example. You filed your 2016 tax return on April 15, 2017. You paid taxes of $500. On November 5, 2018, after an examination of your 2016 return, you had to pay an additional tax of $200. On May 12, 2020, you file a claim for a refund of $300. However, because you filed your claim more than 3 years after you filed your return, your refund will be limited to the $200 you paid during the 2 years immediately before you filed your claim. Financially disabled. The time periods for claiming a refund are suspended for the period in which you are financially disabled. For a joint income tax return, only one spouse has to be financially disabled for the time period to be suspended. You are financially disabled if you are unable to manage your financial affairs because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. However, you aren’t treated as financially disabled during any period your spouse or any other person is authorized to act on your behalf in financial matters. To claim that you are financially disabled, you must send in the following written statements with your claim for refund. 1. A statement from your qualified physician that includes: a. The name and a description of your physical or mental impairment; b. The physician's medical opinion that the impairment prevented you from managing your financial affairs; c. The physician's medical opinion that the impairment was or can be expected to result in death, or that its duration has lasted, or can be expected to last, at least 12 months; d. The specific time period (to the best of the physician's knowledge); and e. The following certification signed by the physician: “I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the above representations are true, correct, and complete.” 2. A statement made by the person signing the claim for credit or refund that no person, including your spouse, was authorized to act on your behalf in financial matters during the period of disability (or the exact dates that a person was authorized to act for you). Exceptions for special types of refunds. If you file a claim for one of the items in the following list, the dates and limits discussed earlier may not apply. These items, and where to get more information, are as follows. • Bad debt. See Pub. 550. • Worthless security. See Pub. 550. • Foreign tax paid or accrued. See Pub. 514. • Net operating loss carryback. See Pub. 536. • Carryback of certain business tax credits. See Form 3800. • Claim based on an agreement with the IRS extending the period for assessment of tax. Processing claims for refund. Claims are usually processed 8–12 weeks after they are filed. Your claim may be accepted as filed, disallowed, or subject to examination. If a claim is examined, the procedures are the same as in the examination of a tax return. If your claim is disallowed, you will receive an explanation of why it was disallowed. Taking your claim to court. You can sue for a refund in court, but you must first file a timely claim with the IRS. If the IRS disallows your claim or doesn't act on your claim within 6 months after you file it, you can then take your claim to court. For information on the burden of proof in a court proceeding, see Pub. 556. The IRS provides a direct method to move your claim to court if: • You are filing a claim for a credit or refund based solely on contested income tax or on estate tax or gift tax issues considered in your previously examined returns, and • You want to take your case to court instead of appealing it within the IRS. When you file your claim with the IRS, you get the direct method by requesting in writing that your claim be immediately rejected. A notice of claim disallowance will be sent to you. You have 2 years from the date of mailing of the notice of claim disallowance to file a refund suit in the U.S. District Court having jurisdiction or in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Interest on refund. If you receive a refund because of your amended return, interest will be paid on it from the due date of your original return or the date you filed your original return, whichever is later, to the date you filed the amended return. However, if the refund isn't made within 45 days after you file the amended return, interest will be paid up to the date the refund is paid. Reduced refund. Your refund may be reduced by an additional tax liability that has been assessed against you. Also, your refund may be reduced by amounts you owe for past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support, or certain other federal nontax debts, such as student loans. If your spouse owes these debts, see Offset against debts under Refunds, earlier, for the correct refund procedures to follow. Effect on state tax liability. If your return is changed for any reason, it may affect your state income tax liability. This includes changes made as a result of an examination of your return by the IRS. Contact your state tax agency for more information. Penalties The law provides penalties for failure to file returns or pay taxes as required. Civil Penalties If you don't file your return and pay your tax by the due date, you may have to pay a penalty. You may also have to pay a penalty if you substantially understate your tax, understate a reportable transaction, file an erroneous claim for refund or credit, file a frivolous tax submission, or fail to supply your SSN or ITIN. If you provide fraudulent information on your return, you may have to pay a civil fraud penalty. Filing late. If you don't file your return by the due date (including extensions), you may have to pay a failure-to-file penalty. The penalty is usually 5% for each month or part of a month that a return is late, but not more than 25%. The penalty is based on the tax not paid by the due date (without regard to extensions). Fraud. If your failure to file is due to fraud, the penalty is 15% for each month or part of a month that your return is late, up to a maximum of 75%. Return over 60 days late. If you file your return more than 60 days after the due date, or extended due date, the minimum penalty is the smaller of $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax. Exception. You won't have to pay the penalty if you show that you failed to file on time because of reasonable cause and not because of willful neglect. Paying tax late. You will have to pay a failure-to-pay penalty of 1/2 of 1% (0.50%) of your unpaid taxes for each month, or part of a month, after the due date that the tax isn't paid. This penalty doesn't apply during the automatic 6-month extension of time to file period if you paid at least 90% of your actual tax liability on or before the due date of your return and pay the balance when you file the return. The monthly rate of the failure-to-pay penalty is half the usual rate (0.25% instead of 0.50%) if an installment agreement is in effect for that month. You must have filed your return by the due date (including extensions) to qualify for this reduced penalty. If a notice of intent to levy is issued, the rate will increase to 1% at the start of the first month beginning at least 10 days after the day that the notice is issued. If a notice and demand for immediate payment is issued, the rate will increase to 1% at the start of the first month beginning after the day that the notice and demand is issued. This penalty can’t be more than 25% of your unpaid tax. You won't have to pay the penalty if you can show that you had a good reason for not paying your tax on time. Combined penalties. If both the failure-to-file penalty and the failure-to-pay penalty (discussed earlier) apply in any month, the 5% (or 15%) failure-to-file penalty is reduced by the failure-to-pay penalty. However, if you file your return more than 60 days after the due date or extended due date, the minimum penalty is the smaller of $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax. Accuracy-related penalty. You may have to pay an accuracy-related penalty if you underpay your tax because: 1. You show negligence or disregard of the rules or regulations, 2. You substantially understate your income tax, 3. You claim tax benefits for a transaction that lacks economic substance, or 4. You fail to disclose a foreign financial asset. The penalty is equal to 20% of the underpayment. The penalty is 40% of any portion of the underpayment that is attributable to an undisclosed noneconomic substance transaction or an undisclosed foreign financial asset transaction. The penalty won't be figured on any part of an underpayment on which the fraud penalty (discussed later) is charged. Negligence or disregard. The term “negligence” includes a failure to make a reasonable attempt to comply with the tax law or to exercise ordinary and reasonable care in preparing a return. Negligence also includes failure to keep adequate books and records. You won't have to pay a negligence penalty if you have a reasonable basis for a position you took. The term “disregard” includes any careless, reckless, or intentional disregard. Adequate disclosure. You can avoid the penalty for disregard of rules or regulations if you adequately disclose on your return a position that has at least a reasonable basis. See Disclosure statement, later. This exception won't apply to an item that is attributable to a tax shelter. In addition, it won't apply if you fail to keep adequate books and records, or substantiate items properly. Substantial understatement of income tax. You understate your tax if the tax shown on your return is less than the correct tax. The understatement is substantial if it is more than the larger of 10% of the correct tax or $5,000. However, the amount of the understatement may be reduced to the extent the understatement is due to: 1. Substantial authority, or 2. Adequate disclosure and a reasonable basis. If an item on your return is attributable to a tax shelter, there is no reduction for an adequate disclosure. However, there is a reduction for a position with substantial authority, but only if you reasonably believed that your tax treatment was more likely than not the proper treatment. Substantial authority. Whether there is or was substantial authority for the tax treatment of an item depends on the facts and circumstances. Some of the items that may be considered are court opinions, Treasury regulations, revenue rulings, revenue procedures, and notices and announcements issued by the IRS and published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin that involve the same or similar circumstances as yours. Disclosure statement. To adequately disclose the relevant facts about your tax Chapter 1 Filing Information Page 19 treatment of an item, use Form 8275. You must also have a reasonable basis for treating the item the way you did. In cases of substantial understatement only, items that meet the requirements of Revenue Procedure 2019-42 (or later update) are considered adequately disclosed on your return without filing Form 8275. Use Form 8275-R to disclose items or positions contrary to regulations. Transaction lacking economic substance. For more information on economic substance, see section 7701(o). Foreign financial asset. For more information on undisclosed foreign financial assets, see section 6662(j). Reasonable cause. You won't have to pay a penalty if you show a good reason (reasonable cause) for the way you treated an item. You must also show that you acted in good faith. This doesn't apply to a transaction that lacks economic substance. Filing erroneous claim for refund or credit. You may have to pay a penalty if you file an erroneous claim for refund or credit. The penalty is equal to 20% of the disallowed amount of the claim, unless you can show a reasonable basis for the way you treated an item. However, any disallowed amount due to a transaction that lacks economic substance won't be treated as having a reasonable basis. The penalty won't be figured on any part of the disallowed amount of the claim that relates to the earned income credit or on which the accuracy-related or fraud penalties are charged. Frivolous tax submission. You may have to pay a penalty of $5,000 if you file a frivolous tax return or other frivolous submissions. A frivolous tax return is one that doesn't include enough information to figure the correct tax or that contains information clearly showing that the tax you reported is substantially incorrect. For more information on frivolous returns, frivolous submissions, and a list of positions that are identified as frivolous, see Notice 2010-33, 2010-17 I.R.B. 609, available at IRS.gov/irb/ 2010-17_IRB/ar13.html. You will have to pay the penalty if you filed this kind of return or submission based on a frivolous position or a desire to delay or interfere with the administration of federal tax laws. This includes altering or striking out the preprinted language above the space provided for your signature. This penalty is added to any other penalty provided by law. Fraud. If there is any underpayment of tax on your return due to fraud, a penalty of 75% of the underpayment due to fraud will be added to your tax. Joint return. The fraud penalty on a joint return doesn't apply to a spouse unless some part of the underpayment is due to the fraud of that spouse. Failure to supply SSN. If you don't include your SSN or the SSN of another person where required on a return, statement, or other document, you will be subject to a penalty of $50 for each failure. You will also be subject to a penalty of $50 if you don't give your SSN to another Page 20 Chapter 2 Filing Status person when it is required on a return, statement, or other document. For example, if you have a bank account that earns interest, you must give your SSN to the bank. The number must be shown on the Form 1099-INT or other statement the bank sends you. If you don't give the bank your SSN, you will be subject to the $50 penalty. (You may also be subject to “backup” withholding of income tax. See chapter 4.) You won't have to pay the penalty if you are able to show that the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. Criminal Penalties You may be subject to criminal prosecution (brought to trial) for actions such as: 1. Tax evasion; 2. Willful failure to file a return, supply information, or pay any tax due; 3. Fraud and false statements; The IRS doesn't initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS doesn't request detailed personal information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts. If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward the message to [email protected]. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration toll free at 800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at [email protected] or report them at ftc.gov/complaint. You can contact them at ftc.gov/idtheft or 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338). If you have been a victim of identity theft, see IdentityTheft.gov or Pub. 5027. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and who have access to TTY/TDD equipment can call 866-653-4261. Go to IRS.gov/IDProtection to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk. 4. Preparing and filing a fraudulent return; or 5. Identity theft. Identity Theft Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund. To reduce your risk: • Protect your SSN, • Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and • Be careful when choosing a tax preparer. If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter. If your SSN has been lost or stolen or you suspect you are a victim of tax-related identity theft, visit IRS.gov/IdentityTheft to learn what steps you should take. For more information, see Pub. 5027. Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a systemic problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the National Taxpayer Advocate helpline at 877-777-4778 or 800-829-4059 (TTY/ TDD). Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals can also contact the IRS through relay services such as the Federal Relay Service, available at GSA.gov/fedrelay. Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common form is the act of sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. 2. Filing Status What’s New Tuition and fees. The tuition and fees deduction is extended for qualified tuition and fees paid in calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020. Don’t claim the deduction for expenses paid after 2020 unless the credit is extended again. Introduction This chapter helps you determine which filing status to use. There are five filing statuses. • • • • • Single. Married Filing Jointly. Married Filing Separately. Head of Household. Qualifying Widow(er). If more than one filing status applies to TIP you, choose the one that will give you the lowest tax. You must determine your filing status before you can determine whether you must file a tax return (chapter 1), your standard deduction (chapter 10), and your tax (chapter 11). You also use your filing status to determine whether you are eligible to claim certain deductions and credits. Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 501 Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information 501 503 Child and Dependent Care Expenses 503 519 U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens 519 555 Community Property 555 559 Survivors, Executors, and Administrators 559 925 Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules 925 For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. Marital Status In general, your filing status depends on whether you are considered unmarried or married. Unmarried persons. You are considered unmarried for the whole year if, on the last day of your tax year, you are either: • Unmarried, or • Legally separated from your spouse under a divorce or separate maintenance decree. State law governs whether you are married or legally separated under a divorce or separate maintenance decree. Divorced persons. If you are divorced under a final decree by the last day of the year, you are considered unmarried for the whole year. Divorce and remarriage. If you obtain a divorce for the sole purpose of filing tax returns as unmarried individuals, and at the time of divorce you intend to and do, in fact, remarry each other in the next tax year, you and your spouse must file as married individuals in both years. Annulled marriages. If you obtain a court decree of annulment, which holds that no valid marriage ever existed, you are considered unmarried even if you filed joint returns for earlier years. File Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, claiming single or head of household status for all tax years that are affected by the annulment and not closed by the statute of limitations for filing a tax return. Generally, for a credit or refund, you must file Form 1040-X within 3 years (including extensions) after the date you filed your original return or within 2 years after the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. If you filed your original return early (for example, March 1), your return is considered filed on the due date (generally April 15). However, if you had an extension to file (for example, until October 15) but you filed earlier and we received it on July 1, your return is considered filed on July 1. Head of household or qualifying widow(er). If you are considered unmarried, you may be able to file as head of household or as qualifying widow(er). See Head of Household and Qualifying Widow(er) to see if you qualify. Married persons. If you are considered married, you and your spouse can file a joint return or separate returns. Considered married. You are considered married for the whole year if, on the last day of your tax year, you and your spouse meet any one of the following tests. 1. You are married and living together. 2. You are living together in a common law marriage recognized in the state where you now live or in the state where the common law marriage began. joint return even if one of you had no income or deductions. If you and your spouse decide to file a joint return, your tax may be lower than your combined tax for the other filing statuses. Also, your standard deduction (if you don’t itemize deductions) may be higher, and you may qualify for tax benefits that don’t apply to other filing statuses. 3. You are married and living apart, but not legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance. How to file. On Form 1040 or 1040-SR, show your filing status as married filing jointly by checking the “Married filing jointly” box on the Filing Status line at the top of the form. Use the Married filing jointly column of the Tax Table, or Section B of the Tax Computation Worksheet, to figure your tax. 4. You are separated under an interlocutory (not final) decree of divorce. TIP come, you may want to figure your tax Spouse died during the year. If your spouse died during the year, you are considered married for the whole year for filing status purposes. If you didn't remarry before the end of the tax year, you can file a joint return for yourself and your deceased spouse. For the next 2 years, you may be entitled to the special benefits described later under Qualifying Widow(er). If you remarried before the end of the tax year, you can file a joint return with your new spouse. Your deceased spouse's filing status is married filing separately for that year. Married persons living apart. If you live apart from your spouse and meet certain tests, you may be able to file as head of household even if you aren't divorced or legally separated. If you qualify to file as head of household instead of married filing separately, your standard deduction will be higher. Also, your tax may be lower, and you may be able to claim the earned income credit. See Head of Household, later. Single Your filing status is single if you are considered unmarried and you don’t qualify for another filing status. To determine your marital status, see Marital Status, earlier. Widow(er). Your filing status may be single if you were widowed before January 1, 2020, and didn't remarry before the end of 2020. You may, however, be able to use another filing status that will give you a lower tax. See Head of Household and Qualifying Widow(er), later, to see if you qualify. How to file. On Form 1040 or 1040-SR, show your filing status as single by checking the “Single” box on the Filing Status line at the top of the form. Use the Single column of the Tax Table, or Section A of the Tax Computation Worksheet, to figure your tax. Married Filing Jointly You can choose married filing jointly as your filing status if you are considered married and both you and your spouse agree to file a joint return. On a joint return, you and your spouse report your combined income and deduct your combined allowable expenses. You can file a If you and your spouse each have in- both on a joint return and on separate returns (using the filing status of married filing separately). You can choose the method that gives the two of you the lower combined tax unless you are required to file separately. Spouse died. If your spouse died during the year, you are considered married for the whole year and can choose married filing jointly as your filing status. See Spouse died during the year, under Married persons, earlier, for more information. If your spouse died in 2021 before filing a 2020 return, you can choose married filing jointly as your filing status on your 2020 return. Divorced persons. If you are divorced under a final decree by the last day of the year, you are considered unmarried for the whole year and you can’t choose married filing jointly as your filing status. Filing a Joint Return Both you and your spouse must include all of your income and deductions on your joint return. Accounting period. Both of you must use the same accounting period, but you can use different accounting methods. See Accounting Periods and Accounting Methods in chapter 1. Joint responsibility. Both of you may be held responsible, jointly and individually, for the tax and any interest or penalty due on your joint return. This means that if one spouse doesn't pay the tax due, the other may have to. Or, if one spouse doesn't report the correct tax, both spouses may be responsible for any additional taxes assessed by the IRS. One spouse may be held responsible for all the tax due even if all the income was earned by the other spouse. You may want to file separately if: • You believe your spouse isn't reporting all of his or her income, or • You don’t want to be responsible for any taxes due if your spouse doesn't have enough tax withheld or doesn't pay enough estimated tax. Divorced taxpayer. You may be held jointly and individually responsible for any tax, interest, and penalties due on a joint return filed before your divorce. This responsibility may apply Chapter 2 Filing Status Page 21 even if your divorce decree states that your former spouse will be responsible for any amounts due on previously filed joint returns. Relief from joint responsibility. In some cases, one spouse may be relieved of joint responsibility for tax, interest, and penalties on a joint return for items of the other spouse that were incorrectly reported on the joint return. You can ask for relief no matter how small the liability. There are three types of relief available. 1. Innocent spouse relief. 2. Separation of liability (available only to joint filers who are divorced, widowed, legally separated, or haven't lived together for the 12 months ending on the date the election for this relief is filed). 3. Equitable relief. You must file Form 8857, Request for Innocent Spouse Relief, to request relief from joint responsibility. Pub. 971, Innocent Spouse Relief, explains these kinds of relief and who may qualify for them. Signing a joint return. For a return to be considered a joint return, both spouses must generally sign the return. Spouse died before signing. If your spouse died before signing the return, the executor or administrator must sign the return for your spouse. If neither you nor anyone else has yet been appointed as executor or administrator, you can sign the return for your spouse and enter “Filing as surviving spouse” in the area where you sign the return. Spouse away from home. If your spouse is away from home, you should prepare the return, sign it, and send it to your spouse to sign so that it can be filed on time. Injury or disease prevents signing. If your spouse can’t sign because of disease or injury and tells you to sign for him or her, you can sign your spouse's name in the proper space on the return followed by the words “By (your name), Husband (or Wife).” Be sure to sign in the space provided for your signature. Attach a dated statement, signed by you, to the return. The statement should include the form number of the return you are filing, the tax year, and the reason your spouse can’t sign; it should also state that your spouse has agreed to your signing for him or her. Signing as guardian of spouse. If you are the guardian of your spouse who is mentally incompetent, you can sign the return for your spouse as guardian. Spouse in combat zone. You can sign a joint return for your spouse if your spouse can’t sign because he or she is serving in a combat zone (such as the Persian Gulf Area, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, or Afghanistan), even if you don’t have a power of attorney or other statement. Attach a signed statement to your return explaining that your spouse is serving in a combat zone. For more information on special tax rules for persons who are serving in a combat zone, or who are in missing status as a result of serving in a combat zone, see Pub. 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide. Page 22 Chapter 2 Filing Status Power of attorney. In order for you to sign a return for your spouse in any of these cases, you must attach to the return a power of attorney (POA) that authorizes you to sign for your spouse. You can use a POA that states that you have been granted authority to sign the return, or you can use Form 2848. Part I of Form 2848 must state that you are granted authority to sign the return. Nonresident alien or dual-status alien. Generally, a married couple can’t file a joint return if either one is a nonresident alien at any time during the tax year. However, if one spouse was a nonresident alien or dual-status alien who was married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien at the end of the year, the spouses can choose to file a joint return. If you do file a joint return, you and your spouse are both treated as U.S. residents for the entire tax year. See chapter 1 of Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. Married Filing Separately You can choose married filing separately as your filing status if you are married. This filing status may benefit you if you want to be responsible only for your own tax or if it results in less tax than filing a joint return. If you and your spouse don’t agree to file a joint return, you must use this filing status unless you qualify for head of household status, discussed later. You may be able to choose head of household filing status if you are considered unmarried because you live apart from your spouse and meet certain tests (explained under Head of Household, later). This can apply to you even if you aren't divorced or legally separated. If you qualify to file as head of household, instead of as married filing separately, your tax may be lower, you may be able to claim the earned income credit and certain other benefits, and your standard deduction will be higher. The head of household filing status allows you to choose the standard deduction even if your spouse chooses to itemize deductions. See Head of Household, later, for more information. You will generally pay more combined TIP tax on separate returns than you would on a joint return for the reasons listed under Special Rules, later. However, unless you are required to file separately, you should figure your tax both ways (on a joint return and on separate returns). This way, you can make sure you are using the filing status that results in the lowest combined tax. When figuring the combined tax of a married couple, you may want to consider state taxes as well as federal taxes. How to file. If you file a separate return, you generally report only your own income, credits, and deductions. Select this filing status by checking the “Married filing separately” box on the Filing Status line at the top of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Enter your spouse's full name and SSN or ITIN in the entry space at the bottom of the Filing Status section. If your spouse doesn't have and isn't required to have an SSN or ITIN, enter “NRA” in the space for your spouse's SSN. Use the Married filing separately column of the Tax Table, or Section C of the Tax Computation Worksheet, to figure your tax. Special Rules If you choose married filing separately as your filing status, the following special rules apply. Because of these special rules, you usually pay more tax on a separate return than if you use another filing status you qualify for. 1. Your tax rate is generally higher than on a joint return. 2. Your exemption amount for figuring the alternative minimum tax is half that allowed on a joint return. 3. You can’t take the credit for child and dependent care expenses in most cases, and the amount you can exclude from income under an employer's dependent care assistance program is limited to $2,500 (instead of $5,000 on a joint return). However, if you are legally separated or living apart from your spouse, you may be able to file a separate return and still take the credit. For more information about these expenses, the credit, and the exclusion, see What’s Your Filing Status? in Pub. 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. 4. You can’t take the earned income credit. 5. You can’t take the exclusion or credit for adoption expenses in most cases. 6. You can’t take the education credits (the American opportunity credit and lifetime learning credit), the deduction for student loan interest, or the deduction for tuition and fees. 7. You can’t exclude any interest income from qualified U.S. savings bonds you used for higher education expenses. 8. If you lived with your spouse at any time during the tax year: a. You can’t claim the credit for the elderly or the disabled, and b. You must include in income a greater percentage (up to 85%) of any social security or equivalent railroad retirement benefits you received. 9. The following credits and deductions are reduced at income levels half of those for a joint return: a. The child tax credit and the credit for other dependents, and b. The retirement savings contributions credit. 10. Your capital loss deduction limit is $1,500 (instead of $3,000 on a joint return). 11. If your spouse itemizes deductions, you can’t claim the standard deduction. If you can claim the standard deduction, your basic standard deduction is half of the amount allowed on a joint return. Adjusted gross income (AGI) limits. If your AGI on a separate return is lower than it would have been on a joint return, you may be able to deduct a larger amount for certain deductions that are limited by AGI, such as medical expenses. Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs). You may not be able to deduct all or part of your contributions to a traditional IRA if you or your spouse were covered by an employee retirement plan at work during the year. Your deduction is reduced or eliminated if your income is more than a certain amount. This amount is much lower for married individuals who file separately and lived together at any time during the year. For more information, see How Much Can You Deduct in chapter 9. Rental activity losses. If you actively participated in a passive rental real estate activity that produced a loss, you can generally deduct the loss from your nonpassive income, up to $25,000. This is called a “special allowance.” However, married persons filing separate returns who lived together at any time during the year can’t claim this special allowance. Married persons filing separate returns who lived apart at all times during the year are each allowed a $12,500 maximum special allowance for losses from passive real estate activities. See Rental Activities in Pub. 925, Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules, for more information. Community property states. If you live in a community property state and file separately, your income may be considered separate income or community income for income tax purposes. Community property states include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. See Pub. 555, Community Property, for more information. Joint Return After Separate Returns You can change your filing status from a separate return to a joint return by filing an amended return using Form 1040-X. You can generally change to a joint return any time within 3 years from the due date of the separate return or returns. This doesn't include any extensions. A separate return includes a return filed by you or your spouse claiming married filing separately, single, or head of household filing status. Separate Returns After Joint Return Once you file a joint return, you can’t choose to file separate returns for that year after the due date of the return. Exception. A personal representative for a decedent can change from a joint return elected by the surviving spouse to a separate return for the decedent. The personal representative has 1 year from the due date (including extensions) of the return to make the change. See Pub. 559, Survivors, Executors, and Administrators, for more information on filing a return for a decedent. Qualifying Child in chapter 3, or referred to in Support Test for Children of Divorced or Separated Parents (or Parents Who Live Apart) under Qualifying Relative in chapter 3. The general rules for claiming a child as a dependent are explained in chapter 3. Head of Household You may be able to file as head of household if you meet all of the following requirements. 1. You are unmarried or considered unmarried on the last day of the year. See Marital Status, earlier, and Considered Unmarried, later. 2. You paid more than half of the cost of keeping up a home for the year. 3. A qualifying person lived with you in the home for more than half the year (except for temporary absences, such as school). However, if the qualifying person is your dependent parent, he or she doesn't have to live with you. See Special rule for parent, later, under Qualifying Person. If you qualify to file as head of house- TIP hold, your tax rate will usually be lower than the rates for single or married filing separately. You will also receive a higher standard deduction than if you file as single or married filing separately. How to file. Indicate your choice of this filing status by checking the “Head of Household” box on the Filing Status line at the top of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If the child who qualifies you for this filing status isn't claimed as your dependent in the Dependents section of Form 1040 or 1040-SR, enter the child's name in the entry space at the bottom of the Filing Status section. Use the Head of a household column of the Tax Table, or Section D of the Tax Computation Worksheet, to figure your tax. Considered Unmarried To qualify for head of household status, you must be either unmarried or considered unmarried on the last day of the year. You are considered unmarried on the last day of the tax year if you meet all of the following tests. 1. You file a separate return. A separate return includes a return claiming married filing separately, single, or head of household filing status. 2. You paid more than half of the cost of keeping up your home for the tax year. 3. Your spouse didn't live in your home during the last 6 months of the tax year. Your spouse is considered to live in your home even if he or she is temporarily absent due to special circumstances. See Temporary absences under Qualifying Person, later. If you were considered married for part of the year and lived in a community CAUTION property state (listed earlier under Married Filing Separately), special rules may apply in determining your income and expenses. See Pub. 555 for more information. ! Nonresident alien spouse. You are considered unmarried for head of household purposes if your spouse was a nonresident alien at any time during the year and you don’t choose to treat your nonresident spouse as a resident alien. However, your spouse isn't a qualifying person for head of household purposes. You must have another qualifying person and meet the other tests to be eligible to file as head of household. Choice to treat spouse as resident. You are considered married if you choose to treat your spouse as a resident alien. See chapter 1 of Pub. 519. Keeping Up a Home To qualify for head of household status, you must pay more than half of the cost of keeping up a home for the year. You can determine whether you paid more than half of the cost of keeping up a home by using Worksheet 2-1. Costs you include. Include in the cost of keeping up a home expenses, such as rent, mortgage interest, real estate taxes, insurance on the home, repairs, utilities, and food eaten in the home. Costs you don’t include. Don’t include the costs of clothing, education, medical treatment, vacations, life insurance, or transportation. Also don’t include the rental value of a home you own or the value of your services or those of a member of your household. Qualifying Person See Table 2-1 to see who is a qualifying person. Any person not described in Table 2-1 isn't a qualifying person. 4. Your home was the main home of your child, stepchild, or foster child for more than half the year. (See Home of qualifying person under Qualifying Person, later, for rules applying to a child's birth, death, or temporary absence during the year.) Example 1—Child. Your unmarried son lived with you all year and was 18 years old at the end of the year. He didn't provide more than half of his own support and doesn't meet the tests to be a qualifying child of anyone else. As a result, he is your qualifying child (see Qualifying Child in chapter 3) and, because he is single, your qualifying person for head of household purposes. 5. You must be able to claim the child as a dependent. However, you meet this test if you can’t claim the child as a dependent only because the noncustodial parent can claim the child using the rules described in Children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart) under Example 2—Child who isn't qualifying person. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except your son was 25 years old at the end of the year and his gross income was $5,000. Because he doesn't meet the age test (explained under Qualifying Child in chapter 3), your son isn't your qualifying child. Because he Chapter 2 Filing Status Page 23 Worksheet 2-1. Cost of Keeping Up a Home Keep for Your Records Amount You Paid Property taxes Mortgage interest expense Rent Utility charges Repairs/Maintenance Property insurance Food eaten in the home Other household expenses Totals Minus total amount you paid Amount others paid $ entry space at the bottom of the Filing Status section. Use the Married filing jointly column of the Tax Table, or Section B of the Tax Computation Worksheet, to figure your tax. Eligibility rules. You are eligible to file your 2020 return as a qualifying widow(er) if you meet all of the following tests. Total Cost $ • You were entitled to file a joint return with your spouse for the year your spouse died. It doesn't matter whether you actually filed a joint return. • Your spouse died in 2018 or 2019 and you didn't remarry before the end of 2020. • You have a child or stepchild (not a foster $ child) whom you can claim as a dependent or could claim as a dependent except that, for 2020: $ ( a. The child had gross income of $4,300 or more, ) $ b. The child filed a joint return, or c. You could be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return. If the total amount you paid is more than the amount others paid, you meet the requirement of paying more than half of the cost of keeping up the home. doesn't meet the gross income test (explained under Qualifying Relative in chapter 3), he isn't your qualifying relative. As a result, he isn't your qualifying person for head of household purposes. Example 3—Girlfriend. Your girlfriend lived with you all year. Even though she may be your qualifying relative if the gross income and support tests (explained in chapter 3) are met, she isn't your qualifying person for head of household purposes because she isn't related to you in one of the ways listed under Relatives who don’t have to live with you in chapter 3. See Table 2-1. Example 4—Girlfriend's child. The facts are the same as in Example 3, except your girlfriend's 10-year-old son also lived with you all year. He isn't your qualifying child and, because he is your girlfriend's qualifying child, he isn't your qualifying relative (see Not a Qualifying Child Test in chapter 3). As a result, he isn't your qualifying person for head of household purposes. Home of qualifying person. Generally, the qualifying person must live with you for more than half the year. Special rule for parent. If your qualifying person is your father or mother, you may be eligible to file as head of household even if your father or mother doesn't live with you. However, you must be able to claim your father or mother as a dependent. Also, you must pay more than half of the cost of keeping up a home that was the main home for the entire year for your father or mother. If you pay more than half of the cost of keeping your parent in a rest home or home for the elderly, that counts as paying more than half of the cost of keeping up your parent's main home. Death or birth. You may be eligible to file as head of household even if the individual who qualifies you for this filing status is born or dies during the year. If the individual is your Page 24 Chapter 2 Filing Status If the child isn't claimed as your dependent in the Dependents section on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, enter the child's name in the entry space at the bottom of the Filing Status section. If you don’t enter the name, it will take us longer to process your return. qualifying child, the child must have lived with you for more than half the part of the year he or she was alive. If the individual is anyone else, see Pub. 501. Temporary absences. You and your qualifying person are considered to live together even if one or both of you are temporarily absent from your home due to special circumstances, such as illness, education, business, vacation, military service, or detention in a juvenile facility. It must be reasonable to assume the absent person will return to the home after the temporary absence. You must continue to keep up the home during the absence. Kidnapped child. You may be eligible to file as head of household even if the child who is your qualifying person has been kidnapped. For more information, see Pub 501. Qualifying Widow(er) If your spouse died in 2020, you can use married filing jointly as your filing status for 2020 if you otherwise qualify to use that status. The year of death is the last year for which you can file jointly with your deceased spouse. See Married Filing Jointly, earlier. You may be eligible to use qualifying widow(er) as your filing status for 2 years following the year your spouse died. For example, if your spouse died in 2019, and you haven't remarried, you may be able to use this filing status for 2020 and 2021. This filing status entitles you to use joint return tax rates and the highest standard deduction amount (if you don’t itemize deductions). It doesn't entitle you to file a joint return. How to file. Indicate your choice of this filing status by checking the “Qualifying widow(er)” box on the Filing Status line at the top of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If the child who qualifies you for this filing status isn’t claimed as your dependent in the Dependents section of Form 1040 or 1040-SR, enter the child’s name in the • This child lived in your home all year, ex- cept for temporary absences. See Temporary absences, earlier, under Head of Household. There are also exceptions, described later, for a child who was born or died during the year and for a kidnapped child. • You paid more than half of the cost of keeping up a home for the year. See Keeping Up a Home, earlier, under Head of Household. Example. John's wife died in 2018. John hasn't remarried. During 2019 and 2020, he continued to keep up a home for himself and his child, who lives with him and whom he can claim as a dependent. For 2018, he was entitled to file a joint return for himself and his deceased wife. For 2019 and 2020, he can file as qualifying widower. After 2020, he can file as head of household if he qualifies. Death or birth. You may be eligible to file as a qualifying widow(er) if the child who qualifies you for this filing status is born or dies during the year. You must have provided more than half of the cost of keeping up a home that was the child's main home during the entire part of the year he or she was alive. Kidnapped child. You may be eligible to file as a qualifying widow(er) even if the child who qualifies you for this filing status has been kidnapped. See Pub. 501. ! CAUTION As mentioned earlier, this filing status is available for only 2 years following the year your spouse died. Table 2-1. Who Is a Qualifying Person Qualifying You To File as Head of Household?1 Caution. See the text of this chapter for the other requirements you must meet to claim head of household filing status. IF the person is your . . . AND . . . THEN that person is . . . qualifying child (such as a son, daughter, or grandchild who lived with you more than half the year and meets certain other tests)2 he or she is single a qualifying person, whether or not the child meets the Citizen or Resident Test in chapter 3. he or she is married and you can claim him or her as a dependent a qualifying person. he or she is married and you can’t claim him or her as a dependent not a qualifying person.3 qualifying relative4 who is your father or mother you can claim him or her as a dependent5 a qualifying person.6 you can’t claim him or her as a dependent not a qualifying person. qualifying relative other than your father or mother (such as a grandparent, brother, or sister who meets certain tests) he or she lived with you more than half the year, and he or she is related to you in one of the ways listed under Relatives who don’t have to live with you in chapter 3 and you can claim him or her as a dependent5 a qualifying person. he or she didn't live with you more than half the year not a qualifying person. he or she isn't related to you in one of the ways listed under Relatives who don’t have to live with you in chapter 3 and is your qualifying relative only because he or she lived with you all year as a member of your household not a qualifying person. you can’t claim him or her as a dependent not a qualifying person. 4 1 A person can’t qualify more than one taxpayer to use the head of household filing status for the year. The term qualifying child is defined in chapter 3. Note. If you are a noncustodial parent, the term “qualifying child” for head of household filing status doesn't include a child who is your qualifying child only because of the rules described under Children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart) under Qualifying Child in chapter 3. If you are the custodial parent and those rules apply, the child is generally your qualifying child for head of household filing status even though the child isn't a qualifying child you can claim as a dependent. 2 3 This person is a qualifying person if the only reason you can’t claim them as a dependent is that you, or your spouse if filing jointly, can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return. 4 The term qualifying relative is defined in chapter 3. 5 If you can claim a person as a dependent only because of a multiple support agreement, that person isn't a qualifying person. See Multiple Support Agreement in chapter 3. 6 See Special rule for parent under Qualifying Person, earlier. Useful Items 3. Dependents You may want to see: Publication 501 Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information 501 503 Child and Dependent Care Expenses 503 Introduction This chapter discusses the following topics. • Dependents—You can generally claim your qualifying child or qualifying relative as a dependent. • Social security number (SSN) requirement for dependents—You must list the SSN of any person you claim as a dependent. How to claim dependents. On page 1 of your Form 1040 or 1040-SR, enter the names of your dependents in the Dependents section. 526 Charitable Contributions 526 Form (and Instructions) 2120 Multiple Support Declaration 2120 8332 Release/Revocation of Release of Claim to Exemption for Child by Custodial Parent 8332 Dependents The terms qualifying child and qualifying relative are defined later. All the requirements for claiming a dependent are summarized in Table 3-1. Housekeepers, maids, or servants. If these people work for you, you can’t claim them as dependents. Child tax credit. You may be entitled to a child tax credit for each qualifying child who was under age 17 at the end of the year if you claimed that child as a dependent. For more information, see chapter 14. Credit for other dependents. You may be entitled to a credit for other dependents for each qualifying child who isn’t a qualifying child for the child tax credit and for each qualifying relative. For more information, see chapter 14. The term “dependent” means: • A qualifying child, or • A qualifying relative. Chapter 3 Dependents Page 25 Table 3-1. Overview of the Rules for Claiming a Dependent Caution. This table is only an overview of the rules. For details, see the rest of this chapter. • You can’t claim any dependents if you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) could be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer. • You can’t claim a married person who files a joint return as a dependent unless that joint return is filed only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid. • You can’t claim a person as a dependent unless that person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico.1 • You can’t claim a person as a dependent unless that person is your qualifying child or qualifying relative. Tests To Be a Qualifying Child 1. The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them. 2. The child must be (a) under age 19 at the end of the year and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly); (b) under age 24 at the end of the year, a student, and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly); or (c) any age if permanently and totally disabled. 3. The child must have lived with you for more than half of the year.2 4. The child must not have provided more than half of his or her own support for the year. Tests To Be a Qualifying Relative 1. The person can’t be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. 2. The person either (a) must be related to you in one of the ways listed under Relatives who don’t have to live with you, or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household2 (and your relationship must not violate local law). 3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,300.3 4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.4 5. The child must not be filing a joint return for the year (unless that return is filed only to get a refund of income tax withheld or estimated tax paid). If the child meets the rules to be a qualifying child of more than one person, only one person can actually treat the child as a qualifying child. See Qualifying Child of More Than One Person, later, to find out which person is the person entitled to claim the child as a qualifying child. 1 There is an exception for certain adopted children. There are exceptions for temporary absences, children who were born or died during the year, children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), and kidnapped children. 2 3 There is an exception if the person is disabled and has income from a sheltered workshop. There are exceptions for multiple support agreements, children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), and kidnapped children. 4 Exceptions Dependent Taxpayer Test Even if you have a qualifying child or qualifying relative, you can claim that person as a dependent only if these three tests are met. If you can be claimed as a dependent by another person, you can’t claim anyone else as a dependent. Even if you have a qualifying child or qualifying relative, you can’t claim that person as a dependent. If you are filing a joint return and your spouse can be claimed as a dependent by someone else, you and your spouse can’t claim any dependents on your joint return. 1. Dependent taxpayer test. 2. Joint return test. 3. Citizen or resident test. These three tests are explained in detail here. Joint Return Test You generally can’t claim a married person as a dependent if he or she files a joint return. Page 26 Chapter 3 Dependents Exception. You can claim a person as a dependent who files a joint return if that person and his or her spouse file the joint return only to claim a refund of income tax withheld or estimated tax paid. Example 1—Child files joint return. You supported your 18-year-old daughter, and she lived with you all year while her husband was in the Armed Forces. He earned $25,000 for the year. The couple files a joint return. You can’t claim your daughter as a dependent. Example 2—Child files joint return only as claim for refund of withheld tax. Your 18-year-old son and his 17-year-old wife had $800 of wages from part-time jobs and no other income. They lived with you all year. Neither is required to file a tax return. They don’t have a child. Taxes were taken out of their pay so they filed a joint return only to get a refund of the withheld taxes. The exception to the joint return test applies, so you aren't disqualified from claiming each of them as a dependent just because they file a joint return. You can claim each of them as a dependent if all the other tests to do so are met. Example 3—Child files joint return to claim American opportunity credit. The facts are the same as in Example 2, except no taxes were taken out of your son's pay or his wife's pay. However, they file a joint return to claim an American opportunity credit of $124 and get a refund of that amount. Because claiming the American opportunity credit is their reason for filing the return, they aren't filing it only to get a refund of income tax withheld or estimated tax paid. The exception to the joint return test doesn't apply, so you can’t claim either of them as a dependent. Citizen or Resident Test You generally can’t claim a person as a dependent unless that person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico. However, there is an exception for certain adopted children, as explained next. Exception for adopted child. If you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. national who has legally adopted a child who isn't a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, or U.S. national, this test is met if the child lived with you as a member of your household all year. This exception also applies if the child was lawfully placed with you for legal adoption. Child's place of residence. Children usually are citizens or residents of the country of their parents. If you were a U.S. citizen when your child was born, the child may be a U.S. citizen and meet this test even if the other parent was a nonresident alien and the child was born in a foreign country. Foreign students' place of residence. Foreign students brought to this country under a qualified international education exchange program and placed in American homes for a temporary period generally aren't U.S. residents and don’t meet this test. You can’t claim them as dependents. However, if you provided a home for a foreign student, you may be able to take a charitable contribution deduction. See Expenses Paid for Student Living With You in Pub. 526, Charitable Contributions. U.S. national. A U.S. national is an individual who, although not a U.S. citizen, owes his or her allegiance to the United States. U.S. nationals include American Samoans and Northern Mariana Islanders who chose to become U.S. nationals instead of U.S. citizens. Qualifying Child Five tests must be met for a child to be your qualifying child. The five tests are: 1. Relationship, 2. Age, 3. Residency, 4. Support, and 5. Joint return. These tests are explained next. If a child meets the five tests to be the qualifying child of more than one perCAUTION son, there are rules you must use to determine which person can actually treat the child as a qualifying child. See Qualifying Child of More Than One Person, later. ! Relationship Test To meet this test, a child must be: • Your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, or a descendant (for example, your grandchild) of any of them; or • Your brother, sister, half brother, half sis- ter, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant (for example, your niece or nephew) of any of them. Adopted child. An adopted child is always treated as your own child. The term “adopted child” includes a child who was lawfully placed with you for legal adoption. Foster child. A foster child is an individual who is placed with you by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction. Age Test To meet this test, a child must be: • Under age 19 at the end of the year and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly); • A student under age 24 at the end of the year and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly); or • Permanently and totally disabled at any spouse are 21 years old, and you file a joint return. Your brother isn't your qualifying child because he isn't younger than you or your spouse. Example 2—Child younger than your spouse but not younger than you. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except your spouse is 25 years old. Because your brother is younger than your spouse, and you and your spouse are filing a joint return, your brother is your qualifying child, even though he isn't younger than you. Student defined. To qualify as a student, your child must be, during some part of each of any 5 calendar months of the year: 1. A full-time student at a school that has a regular teaching staff, course of study, and a regularly enrolled student body at the school; or 2. A student taking a full-time, on-farm training course given by a school described in (1), or by a state, county, or local government agency. The 5 calendar months don’t have to be consecutive. Full-time student. A full-time student is a student who is enrolled for the number of hours or courses the school considers to be full-time attendance. School defined. A school can be an elementary school; junior or senior high school; college; university; or technical, trade, or mechanical school. However, an on-the-job training course, correspondence school, or school offering courses only through the Internet doesn’t count as a school. Vocational high school students. Students who work on “co-op” jobs in private industry as a part of a school's regular course of classroom and practical training are considered full-time students. Permanently and totally disabled. Your child is permanently and totally disabled if both of the following apply. • He or she can’t engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental condition. • A doctor determines the condition has las- ted or can be expected to last continuously for at least a year or can lead to death. time during the year, regardless of age. Example. Your son turned 19 on December 10. Unless he was permanently and totally disabled or a student, he doesn't meet the age test because, at the end of the year, he wasn't under age 19. Child must be younger than you or spouse. To be your qualifying child, a child who isn't permanently and totally disabled must be younger than you. However, if you are married filing jointly, the child must be younger than you or your spouse but doesn't have to be younger than both of you. Example 1—Child not younger than you or spouse. Your 23-year-old brother, who is a student and unmarried, lives with you and your spouse, who provide more than half of his support. He isn't disabled. Both you and your Residency Test To meet this test, your child must have lived with you for more than half the year. There are exceptions for temporary absences, children who were born or died during the year, kidnapped children, and children of divorced or separated parents. Temporary absences. Your child is considered to have lived with you during periods of time when one of you, or both, are temporarily absent due to special circumstances such as: • • • • Illness, Education, Business, Vacation, Chapter 3 Dependents Page 27 • Military service, or • Detention in a juvenile facility. Death or birth of child. A child who was born or died during the year is treated as having lived with you more than half of the year if your home was the child's home more than half of the time he or she was alive during the year. The same is true if the child lived with you more than half the year except for any required hospital stay following birth. Child born alive. You may be able to claim as a dependent a child born alive during the year, even if the child lived only for a moment. State or local law must treat the child as having been born alive. There must be proof of a live birth shown by an official document, such as a birth certificate. The child must be your qualifying child or qualifying relative, and all the other tests to claim the child as a dependent must be met. Stillborn child. You can’t claim a stillborn child as a dependent. Kidnapped child. You may be able to treat your child as meeting the residency test even if the child has been kidnapped. See Pub. 501 for details. Children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart). In most cases, because of the residency test, a child of divorced or separated parents is the qualifying child of the custodial parent. However, the child will be treated as the qualifying child of the noncustodial parent if all four of the following statements are true. 1. The parents: a. Are divorced or legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance; b. Are separated under a written separation agreement; or c. Lived apart at all times during the last 6 months of the year, whether or not they are or were married. 2. The child received over half of his or her support for the year from the parents. 3. The child is in the custody of one or both parents for more than half of the year. 4. Either of the following statements is true. a. The custodial parent signs a written declaration, discussed later, that he or she won't claim the child as a dependent for the year, and the noncustodial parent attaches this written declaration to his or her return. (If the decree or agreement went into effect after 1984 and before 2009, see Post-1984 and pre-2009 divorce decree or separation agreement, later. If the decree or agreement went into effect after 2008, see Post-2008 divorce decree or separation agreement, later.) b. A pre-1985 decree of divorce or separate maintenance or written separation agreement that applies to 2020 states that the noncustodial parent can claim the child as a dependent, the decree or agreement wasn't Page 28 Chapter 3 Dependents changed after 1984 to say the noncustodial parent can’t claim the child as a dependent, and the noncustodial parent provides at least $600 for the child's support during the year. If statements (1) through (4) are all true, only the noncustodial parent can: • Claim the child as a dependent, and • Claim the child as a qualifying child for the child tax credit or credit for other dependents. However, this doesn’t allow the noncustodial parent to claim head of household filing status, the credit for child and dependent care expenses, the exclusion for dependent care benefits, the earned income credit, or the health coverage tax credit. See Applying the tiebreaker rules to divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), later. Example—Earned income credit. Even if statements (1) through (4) are all true and the custodial parent signs Form 8332 or a substantially similar statement that he or she won’t claim the child as a dependent for 2020, this doesn’t allow the noncustodial parent to claim the child as a qualifying child for the earned income credit. The custodial parent or another taxpayer, if eligible, can claim the child for the earned income credit. Custodial parent and noncustodial parent. The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child lived for the greater number of nights during the year. The other parent is the noncustodial parent. If the parents divorced or separated during the year and the child lived with both parents before the separation, the custodial parent is the one with whom the child lived for the greater number of nights during the rest of the year. A child is treated as living with a parent for a night if the child sleeps: • At that parent's home, whether or not the parent is present; or • In the company of the parent, when the child doesn't sleep at a parent's home (for example, the parent and child are on vacation together). Equal number of nights. If the child lived with each parent for an equal number of nights during the year, the custodial parent is the parent with the higher adjusted gross income (AGI). December 31. The night of December 31 is treated as part of the year in which it begins. For example, the night of December 31, 2020, is treated as part of 2020. Emancipated child. If a child is emancipated under state law, the child is treated as not living with either parent. See Examples 5 and 6. Absences. If a child wasn't with either parent on a particular night (because, for example, the child was staying at a friend's house), the child is treated as living with the parent with whom the child normally would have lived for that night, except for the absence. But if it can’t be determined with which parent the child normally would have lived or if the child wouldn’t have lived with either parent that night, the child is treated as not living with either parent that night. Parent works at night. If, due to a parent's nighttime work schedule, a child lives for a greater number of days, but not nights, with the parent who works at night, that parent is treated as the custodial parent. On a school day, the child is treated as living at the primary residence registered with the school. Example 1—Child lived with one parent for a greater number of nights. You and your child’s other parent are divorced. In 2020, your child lived with you 210 nights and with the other parent 156 nights. You are the custodial parent. Example 2—Child is away at camp. In 2020, your daughter lives with each parent for alternate weeks. In the summer, she spends 6 weeks at summer camp. During the time she is at camp, she is treated as living with you for 3 weeks and with her other parent, your ex-spouse, for 3 weeks because this is how long she would have lived with each parent if she hadn’t attended summer camp. Example 3—Child lived same number of nights with each parent. Your son lived with you 180 nights during the year and lived the same number of nights with his other parent, your ex-spouse. Your AGI is $40,000. Your ex-spouse's AGI is $25,000. You are treated as your son's custodial parent because you have the higher AGI. Example 4—Child is at parent’s home but with other parent. Your son normally lives with you during the week and with his other parent, your ex-spouse, every other weekend. You become ill and are hospitalized. The other parent lives in your home with your son for 10 consecutive days while you are in the hospital. Your son is treated as living with you during this 10-day period because he was living in your home. Example 5—Child emancipated in May. When your son turned age 18 in May 2020, he became emancipated under the law of the state where he lives. As a result, he isn't considered in the custody of his parents for more than half of the year. The special rule for children of divorced or separated parents doesn't apply. Example 6—Child emancipated in August. Your daughter lives with you from January 1, 2020, until May 31, 2020, and lives with her other parent, your ex-spouse, from June 1, 2020, through the end of the year. She turns 18 and is emancipated under state law on August 1, 2020. Because she is treated as not living with either parent beginning on August 1, she is treated as living with you the greater number of nights in 2020. You are the custodial parent. Written declaration. The custodial parent must use either Form 8332 or a similar statement (containing the same information required by the form) to make the written declaration to release a claim to an exemption for a child to the noncustodial parent. Although the exemption amount is zero for tax year 2020, this release allows the noncustodial parent to claim the child tax credit, additional child tax credit, and credit for other dependents, if applicable, for the child. The noncustodial parent must attach a copy of the form or statement to his or her tax return. The release can be for 1 year, for a number of specified years (for example, alternate years), or for all future years, as specified in the declaration. Post-1984 and pre-2009 divorce decree or separation agreement. If the divorce decree or separation agreement went into effect after 1984 and before 2009, the noncustodial parent may be able to attach certain pages from the decree or agreement instead of Form 8332. The decree or agreement must state all three of the following. 1. The noncustodial parent can claim the child as a dependent without regard to any condition, such as payment of support. 2. The custodial parent won't claim the child as a dependent for the year. 3. The years for which the noncustodial parent, rather than the custodial parent, can claim the child as a dependent. The noncustodial parent must attach all of the following pages of the decree or agreement to his or her tax return. • The cover page (write the other parent's social security number on this page). • The pages that include all of the information identified in items (1) through (3) above. • The signature page with the other parent's signature and the date of the agreement. Post-2008 divorce decree or separation agreement. The noncustodial parent can’t attach pages from the decree or agreement instead of Form 8332 if the decree or agreement went into effect after 2008. The custodial parent must sign either Form 8332 or a similar statement whose only purpose is to release the custodial parent's claim to an exemption for a child, and the noncustodial parent must attach a copy to his or her return. The form or statement must release the custodial parent's claim to the child without any conditions. For example, the release must not depend on the noncustodial parent paying support. ! CAUTION The noncustodial parent must attach the required information even if it was filed with a return in an earlier year. Revocation of release of claim to an exemption. The custodial parent can revoke a release of claim to an exemption. For the revocation to be effective for 2020, the custodial parent must have given (or made reasonable efforts to give) written notice of the revocation to the noncustodial parent in 2019 or earlier. The custodial parent can use Part III of Form 8332 for this purpose and must attach a copy of the revocation to his or her return for each tax year he or she claims the child as a dependent as a result of the revocation. Remarried parent. If you remarry, the support provided by your new spouse is treated as provided by you. Parents who never married. This special rule for divorced or separated parents also applies to parents who never married and who lived apart at all times during the last 6 months of the year. Support Test (To Be a Qualifying Child) To meet this test, the child can’t have provided more than half of his or her own support for the year. This test is different from the support test to be a qualifying relative, which is described later. However, to see what is or isn't support, see Support Test (To Be a Qualifying Relative), later. If you aren't sure whether a child provided more than half of his or her own support, you may find Worksheet 3-1 helpful. Example. You provided $4,000 toward your 16-year-old son's support for the year. He has a part-time job and provided $6,000 to his own support. He provided more than half of his own support for the year. He isn't your qualifying child. Foster care payments and expenses. Payments you receive for the support of a foster child from a child placement agency are considered support provided by the agency. Similarly, payments you receive for the support of a foster child from a state or county are considered support provided by the state or county. If you aren't in the trade or business of providing foster care and your unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses in caring for a foster child were mainly to benefit an organization qualified to receive deductible charitable contributions, the expenses are deductible as charitable contributions but aren't considered support you provided. For more information about the deduction for charitable contributions, see Pub. 526. If your unreimbursed expenses aren't deductible as charitable contributions, they may qualify as support you provided. If you are in the trade or business of providing foster care, your unreimbursed expenses aren't considered support provided by you. Example 1. Lauren, a foster child, lived with Mr. and Mrs. Smith for the last 3 months of the year. The Smiths cared for Lauren because they wanted to adopt her (although she hadn’t been placed with them for adoption). They didn't care for her as a trade or business or to benefit the agency that placed her in their home. The Smiths' unreimbursed expenses aren't deductible as charitable contributions but are considered support they provided for Lauren. Example 2. You provided $3,000 toward your 10-year-old foster child's support for the year. The state government provided $4,000, which is considered support provided by the state, not by the child. See Support provided by the state (welfare, food stamps, housing, etc.), later. Your foster child didn't provide more than half of her own support for the year. Scholarships. A scholarship received by a child who is a student isn't taken into account in determining whether the child provided more than half of his or her own support. Joint Return Test (To Be a Qualifying Child) To meet this test, the child can’t file a joint return for the year. Exception. An exception to the joint return test applies if your child and his or her spouse file a joint return only to claim a refund of income tax withheld or estimated tax paid. Example 1—Child files joint return. You supported your 18-year-old daughter, and she lived with you all year while her husband was in the Armed Forces. He earned $25,000 for the year. The couple files a joint return. Because your daughter and her husband file a joint return, she isn't your qualifying child. Example 2—Child files joint return only as a claim for refund of withheld tax. Your 18-year-old son and his 17-year-old wife had $800 of wages from part-time jobs and no other income. They lived with you all year. Neither is required to file a tax return. They don’t have a child. Taxes were taken out of their pay so they filed a joint return only to get a refund of the withheld taxes. The exception to the joint return test applies, so your son may be your qualifying child if all the other tests are met. Example 3—Child files joint return to claim American opportunity credit. The facts are the same as in Example 2, except no taxes were taken out of your son's pay or his wife's pay. However, they file a joint return to claim an American opportunity credit of $124 and get a refund of that amount. Because claiming the American opportunity credit is their reason for filing the return, they aren't filing it only to get a refund of income tax withheld or estimated tax paid. The exception to the joint return test doesn't apply, so your son isn't your qualifying child. Qualifying Child of More Than One Person If your qualifying child isn't a qualifying TIP child of anyone else, this topic doesn't apply to you and you don’t need to read about it. This is also true if your qualifying child isn't a qualifying child of anyone else except your spouse with whom you plan to file a joint return. If a child is treated as the qualifying child of the noncustodial parent under CAUTION the rules for children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart) described earlier, see Applying the tiebreaker rules to divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), later. ! Sometimes, a child meets the relationship, age, residency, support, and joint return tests to be a qualifying child of more than one person. Although the child is a qualifying child of each of these persons, only one person can actually treat the child as a qualifying child to take all of the following tax benefits (provided the person is eligible for each benefit). 1. The child tax credit or credit for other dependents. Chapter 3 Dependents Page 29 Worksheet 3-1. Worksheet for Determining Support Funds Belonging to the Person You Supported 1. Enter the total funds belonging to the person you supported, including income received (taxable and nontaxable) and amounts borrowed during the year, plus the amount in savings and other accounts at the beginning of the year. Don’t include funds provided by the state; include those amounts on line 23 instead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Enter the amount on line 1 that was used for the person's support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Enter the amount on line 1 that was used for other purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Enter the total amount in the person's savings and other accounts at the end of the year . . . . . . 5. Add lines 2 through 4. (This amount should equal line 1.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expenses for Entire Household (where the person you supported lived) 6. Lodging (complete line 6a or 6b): a. Enter the total rent paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . b. Enter the fair rental value of the home. If the person you supported owned the home, also include this amount in line 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. Enter the total food expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Enter the total amount of utilities (heat, light, water, etc., not included in line 6a or 6b) . . . . . . . . 9. Enter the total amount of repairs (not included in line 6a or 6b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. Enter the total of other expenses. Don’t include expenses of maintaining the home, such as mortgage interest, real estate taxes, and insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. Add lines 6a through 10. These are the total household expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. Enter total number of persons who lived in the household . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expenses for the Person You Supported Divide line 11 by line 12. This is the person's share of the household expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enter the person's total clothing expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enter the person's total education expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enter the person's total medical and dental expenses not paid for or reimbursed by insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. Enter the person's total travel and recreation expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18. Enter the total of the person's other expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19. Add lines 13 through 18. This is the total cost of the person's support for the year . . . . . . . . . . . 13. 14. 15. 16. Did the Person Provide More Than Half of His or Her Own Support? 20. Multiply line 19 by 50% (0.50) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21. Enter the amount from line 2, plus the amount from line 6b if the person you supported owned the home. This is the amount the person provided for his or her own support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22. Is line 21 more than line 20? Keep for Your Records 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6a. 6b. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. No. You meet the support test for this person to be your qualifying child. If this person also meets the other tests to be a qualifying child, stop here; don’t complete lines 23–26. Otherwise, go to line 23 and fill out the rest of the worksheet to determine if this person is your qualifying relative. Yes. You don’t meet the support test for this person to be either your qualifying child or your qualifying relative. Stop here. Did You Provide More Than Half? 23. Enter the amount others provided for the person's support. Include amounts provided by state, local, and other welfare societies or agencies. Don’t include any amounts included on line 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24. Add lines 21 and 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25. Subtract line 24 from line 19. This is the amount you provided for the person's support . . . . . . . 26. Is line 25 more than line 20? 23. 24. 25. Yes. You meet the support test for this person to be your qualifying relative. No. You don’t meet the support test for this person to be your qualifying relative. You can’t claim this person as a dependent unless you can do so under a multiple support agreement, the support test for children of divorced or separated parents, or the special rule for kidnapped children. See Multiple Support Agreement or Support Test for Children of Divorced or Separated Parents (or Parents Who Live Apart), or Kidnapped child under Qualifying Relative. Page 30 Chapter 3 Dependents 2. Head of household filing status. 3. The credit for child and dependent care expenses. 4. The exclusion from income for dependent care benefits. 5. The earned income credit. The other person can’t take any of these benefits based on this qualifying child. In other words, you and the other person can’t agree to divide these benefits between you. Tiebreaker rules. To determine which person can treat the child as a qualifying child to claim these five tax benefits, the following tiebreaker rules apply. • If only one of the persons is the child's parent, the child is treated as the qualifying child of the parent. • If the parents file a joint return together and can claim the child as a qualifying child, the child is treated as the qualifying child of the parents. • If the parents don’t file a joint return to- gether but both parents claim the child as a qualifying child, the IRS will treat the child as the qualifying child of the parent with whom the child lived for the longer period of time during the year. If the child lived with each parent for the same amount of time, the IRS will treat the child as the qualifying child of the parent who had the higher adjusted gross income (AGI) for the year. • If no parent can claim the child as a quali- fying child, the child is treated as the qualifying child of the person who had the highest AGI for the year. • If a parent can claim the child as a qualify- ing child but no parent does so claim the child, the child is treated as the qualifying child of the person who had the highest AGI for the year, but only if that person's AGI is higher than the highest AGI of any of the child's parents who can claim the child. Subject to these tiebreaker rules, you and the other person may be able to choose which of you claims the child as a qualifying child. You may be able to qualify for the TIP earned income credit under the rules for taxpayers without a qualifying child if you have a qualifying child for the earned income credit who is claimed as a qualifying child by another taxpayer. For more information, see Pub. 596. Example 1—Child lived with parent and grandparent. You and your 3-year-old daughter Jane lived with your mother all year. You are 25 years old, unmarried, and your AGI is $9,000. Your mother's AGI is $15,000. Jane's father didn't live with you or your daughter. You haven't signed Form 8332 (or a similar statement). Jane is a qualifying child of both you and your mother because she meets the relationship, age, residency, support, and joint return tests for both you and your mother. However, only one of you can claim her. Jane isn't a qualifying child of anyone else, including her father. You agree to let your mother claim Jane. This means your mother can claim Jane as a qualifying child for all of the five tax benefits listed earlier, if she qualifies for each of those benefits (and if you don’t claim Jane as a qualifying child for any of those tax benefits). Example 2—Parent has higher AGI than grandparent. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except your AGI is $18,000. Because your mother's AGI isn't higher than yours, she can’t claim Jane. Only you can claim Jane. Example 3—Two persons claim same child. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that you and your mother both claim Jane as a qualifying child. In this case, you, as the child's parent, will be the only one allowed to claim Jane as a qualifying child. The IRS will disallow your mother's claim to the five tax benefits listed earlier based on Jane. However, your mother may qualify for the earned income credit as a taxpayer without a qualifying child. Example 4—Qualifying children split between two persons. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except you also have two other young children who are qualifying children of both you and your mother. Only one of you can claim each child. However, if your mother's AGI is higher than yours, you can allow your mother to claim one or more of the children. For example, if you claim one child, your mother can claim the other two. Example 5—Taxpayer who is a qualifying child. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except you are only 18 years old and didn't provide more than half of your own support for the year. This means you are your mother's qualifying child. If she can claim you as a dependent, then you can’t claim your daughter as a dependent because of the Dependent Taxpayer Test, explained earlier. Example 6—Separated parents. You, your husband, and your 10-year-old son lived together until August 1, 2020, when your husband moved out of the household. In August and September, your son lived with you. For the rest of the year, your son lived with your husband, the boy's father. Your son is a qualifying child of both you and your husband because your son lived with each of you for more than half the year and because he met the relationship, age, support, and joint return tests for both of you. At the end of the year, you and your husband still weren't divorced, legally separated, or separated under a written separation agreement, so the rule for children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart) doesn't apply. You and your husband will file separate returns. Your husband agrees to let you treat your son as a qualifying child. This means, if your husband doesn't claim your son as a qualifying child, you can claim your son as a qualifying child for the child tax credit and exclusion for dependent care benefits (if you qualify for each of those tax benefits). However, you can’t claim head of household filing status because you and your husband didn't live apart for the last 6 months of the year. As a result, your filing status is married filing separately, so you can’t claim the earned income credit or the credit for child and dependent care expenses. Example 7—Separated parents claim same child. The facts are the same as in Example 6, except that you and your husband both claim your son as a qualifying child. In this case, only your husband will be allowed to treat your son as a qualifying child. This is because, during 2020, the boy lived with him longer than with you. If you claimed the child tax credit for your son, the IRS will disallow your claim to the child tax credit. If you don’t have another qualifying child or dependent, the IRS will also disallow your claim to the exclusion for dependent care benefits. In addition, because you and your husband didn't live apart for the last 6 months of the year, your husband can’t claim head of household filing status. As a result, his filing status is married filing separately, so he can’t claim the earned income credit or the credit for child and dependent care expenses. Example 8—Unmarried parents. You, your 5-year-old son, and your son's father lived together all year. You and your son's father aren't married. Your son is a qualifying child of both you and his father because he meets the relationship, age, residency, support, and joint return tests for both you and his father. Your AGI is $12,000 and your son's father's AGI is $14,000. Your son's father agrees to let you claim the child as a qualifying child. This means you can claim him as a qualifying child for the child tax credit, head of household filing status, credit for child and dependent care expenses, exclusion for dependent care benefits, and the earned income credit, if you qualify for each of those tax benefits (and if your son's father doesn't claim your son as a qualifying child for any of those tax benefits). Example 9—Unmarried parents claim same child. The facts are the same as in Example 8, except that you and your son's father both claim your son as a qualifying child. In this case, only your son's father will be allowed to treat your son as a qualifying child. This is because his AGI, $14,000, is more than your AGI, $12,000. If you claimed the child tax credit for your son, the IRS will disallow your claim to this credit. If you don’t have another qualifying child or dependent, the IRS will also disallow your claim to head of household filing status, the credit for child and dependent care expenses, and the exclusion for dependent care benefits. However, you may be able to claim the earned income credit as a taxpayer without a qualifying child. Example 10—Child didn't live with a parent. You and your 7-year-old niece, your sister's child, lived with your mother all year. You are 25 years old, and your AGI is $9,300. Your mother's AGI is $15,000. Your niece's parents file jointly, have an AGI of less than $9,000, and don’t live with you or their child. Your niece is a qualifying child of both you and your mother because she meets the relationship, age, residency, support, and joint return tests for both you and your mother. However, only your mother can treat her as a qualifying child. This is because your mother's AGI, $15,000, is more than your AGI, $9,300. Chapter 3 Dependents Page 31 Applying the tiebreaker rules to divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart). If a child is treated as the qualifying child of the noncustodial parent under the rules described earlier for children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), only the noncustodial parent can claim the child as a dependent and the child tax credit or credit for other dependents for the child. However, only the custodial parent can claim the credit for child and dependent care expenses or the exclusion for dependent care benefits for the child, and only the custodial parent can treat the child as a dependent for the health coverage tax credit. Also, the noncustodial parent can't claim the child as a qualifying child for head of household filing status or the earned income credit. Instead, the custodial parent, if eligible, or other eligible person can claim the child as a qualifying child for those two benefits. If the child is the qualifying child of more than one person for these benefits, then the tiebreaker rules just explained determine whether the custodial parent or another eligible person can treat the child as a qualifying child. Example 1. You and your 5-year-old son lived all year with your mother, who paid the entire cost of keeping up the home. Your AGI is $10,000. Your mother's AGI is $25,000. Your son's father didn't live with you or your son. Under the rules explained earlier for children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), your son is treated as the qualifying child of his father, who can claim the child tax credit for him. Because of this, you can’t claim the child tax credit for your son. However, those rules don't allow your son's father to claim your son as a qualifying child for head of household filing status, the credit for child and dependent care expenses, the exclusion for dependent care benefits, the earned income credit, or the health coverage tax credit. You and your mother didn't have any child care expenses or dependent care benefits, so neither of you can claim the credit for child and dependent care expenses or the exclusion for dependent care benefits. Also, neither of you qualifies for the health coverage tax credit. But the boy is a qualifying child of both you and your mother for head of household filing status and the earned income credit because he meets the relationship, age, residency, support, and joint return tests for both you and your mother. (The support test doesn't apply for the earned income credit.) However, you agree to let your mother claim your son. This means she can claim him for head of household filing status and the earned income credit if she qualifies for each and if you don’t claim him as a qualifying child for the earned income credit. (You can’t claim head of household filing status because your mother paid the entire cost of keeping up the home.) You may be able to claim the earned income credit as a taxpayer without a qualifying child. Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except your AGI is $25,000 and your mother's AGI is $21,000. Your mother can’t claim your son as a qualifying child for any purpose because her AGI isn't higher than yours. Page 32 Chapter 3 Dependents Example 3. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except you and your mother both claim your son as a qualifying child for the earned income credit. Your mother also claims him as a qualifying child for head of household filing status. You, as the child's parent, will be the only one allowed to claim your son as a qualifying child for the earned income credit. The IRS will disallow your mother's claim to head of household filing status unless she has another qualifying child or dependent. Your mother can't claim the earned income credit as a taxpayer without a qualifying child because her AGI is more than $15,820. Qualifying Relative Four tests must be met for a person to be your qualifying relative. The four tests are: 1. Not a qualifying child test, 2. Member of household or relationship test, 3. Gross income test, and 4. Support test. Age. Unlike a qualifying child, a qualifying relative can be any age. There is no age test for a qualifying relative. Kidnapped child. You may be able to treat a child as your qualifying relative even if the child has been kidnapped. See Pub. 501 for details. Not a Qualifying Child Test A child isn't your qualifying relative if the child is your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. Example 1. Your 22-year-old daughter, who is a student, lives with you and meets all the tests to be your qualifying child. She isn't your qualifying relative. Example 2. Your 2-year-old son lives with your parents and meets all the tests to be their qualifying child. He isn't your qualifying relative. Example 3. Your son lives with you but isn't your qualifying child because he is 30 years old and doesn't meet the age test. He may be your qualifying relative if the gross income test and the support test are met. Example 4. Your 13-year-old grandson lived with his mother for 3 months, with his uncle for 4 months, and with you for 5 months during the year. He isn't your qualifying child because he doesn't meet the residency test. He may be your qualifying relative if the gross income test and the support test are met. Child of person not required to file a return. A child isn't the qualifying child of any other taxpayer and so may qualify as your qualifying relative if the child's parent (or other person for whom the child is defined as a qualifying child) isn't required to file an income tax return and either: • Doesn't file an income tax return, or • Files a return only to get a refund of in- come tax withheld or estimated tax paid. Example 1—Return not required. You support an unrelated friend and her 3-year-old child, who lived with you all year in your home. Your friend has no gross income, isn't required to file a 2020 tax return, and doesn't file a 2020 tax return. Both your friend and her child are your qualifying relatives if the support test is met. Example 2—Return filed to claim refund. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except your friend had wages of $1,500 during the year and had income tax withheld from her wages. She files a return only to get a refund of the income tax withheld and doesn't claim the earned income credit or any other tax credits or deductions. Both your friend and her child are your qualifying relatives if the support test is met. Example 3—Earned income credit claimed. The facts are the same as in Example 2, except your friend had wages of $8,000 during the year and claimed the earned income credit on her return. Your friend's child is the qualifying child of another taxpayer (your friend), so you can’t claim your friend's child as your qualifying relative. Also, you can’t claim your friend as your qualifying relative because of the gross income test explained later. Child in Canada or Mexico. You may be able to claim your child as a dependent even if the child lives in Canada or Mexico. If the child doesn't live with you, the child doesn't meet the residency test to be your qualifying child. However, the child may still be your qualifying relative. If the persons the child does live with aren't U.S. citizens and have no U.S. gross income, those persons aren't “taxpayers,” so the child isn't the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. If the child isn't the qualifying child of any other taxpayer, the child is your qualifying relative as long as the gross income test and the support test are met. You can’t claim as a dependent a child who lives in a foreign country other than Canada or Mexico, unless the child is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, or U.S. national. There is an exception for certain adopted children who lived with you all year. See Citizen or Resident Test, earlier. Example. You provide all the support of your children, ages 6, 8, and 12, who live in Mexico with your mother and have no income. You are single and live in the United States. Your mother isn't a U.S. citizen and has no U.S. income, so she isn't a “taxpayer.” Your children aren't your qualifying children because they don’t meet the residency test. But since they aren't the qualifying children of any other taxpayer, they are your qualifying relatives and you can claim them as dependents. You may also be able to claim your mother as a dependent if the gross income and support tests are met. Member of Household or Relationship Test To meet this test, a person must either: 1. Live with you all year as a member of your household, or 2. Be related to you in one of the ways listed under Relatives who don’t have to live with you next. If at any time during the year the person was your spouse, that person can’t be your qualifying relative. Relatives who don’t have to live with you. A person related to you in any of the following ways doesn't have to live with you all year as a member of your household to meet this test. • Your child, stepchild, foster child, or a de- scendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild). (A legally adopted child is considered your child.) • Your brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, or stepsister. • Your father, mother, grandparent, or other direct ancestor, but not foster parent. • Your stepfather or stepmother. • A son or daughter of your brother or sister. • A son or daughter of your half brother or half sister. • A brother or sister of your father or mother. • Your son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law. Any of these relationships that were established by marriage aren't ended by death or divorce. Example. You and your wife began supporting your wife's father, a widower, in 2014. Your wife died in 2019. Despite your wife's death, your father-in-law continues to meet this test, even if he doesn't live with you. You can claim him as a dependent if all other tests are met, including the gross income test and support test. Foster child. A foster child is an individual who is placed with you by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction. Joint return. If you file a joint return, the person can be related to either you or your spouse. Also, the person doesn't need to be related to the spouse who provides support. For example, your spouse's uncle who receives more than half of his support from you may be your qualifying relative, even though he doesn't live with you. However, if you and your spouse file separate returns, your spouse's uncle can be your qualifying relative only if he lives with you all year as a member of your household. Temporary absences. A person is considered to live with you as a member of your household during periods of time when one of you, or both, are temporarily absent due to special circumstances such as: • • • • • • Illness, Education, Business, Vacation, Military service, or Detention in a juvenile facility. If the person is placed in a nursing home for an indefinite period of time to receive constant medical care, the absence may be considered temporary. Death or birth. A person who died during the year, but lived with you as a member of your household until death, will meet this test. The same is true for a child who was born during the year and lived with you as a member of your household for the rest of the year. The test is also met if a child lived with you as a member of your household except for any required hospital stay following birth. If your dependent died during the year and you otherwise qualify to claim that person as a dependent, you can still claim that person as a dependent. Example. Your mother died on January 15. She met the tests to be your qualifying relative. You can claim her as a dependent. Local law violated. A person doesn't meet this test if at any time during the year the relationship between you and that person violates local law. Example. Your girlfriend lived with you as a member of your household all year. However, your relationship with her violated the laws of the state where you live because she was married to someone else. Therefore, she doesn't meet this test and you can’t claim her as a dependent. Adopted child. An adopted child is always treated as your own child. The term “adopted child” includes a child who was lawfully placed with you for legal adoption. Cousin. Your cousin meets this test only if he or she lives with you all year as a member of your household. A cousin is a descendant of a brother or sister of your father or mother. Gross Income Test To meet this test, a person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,300. Gross income defined. Gross income is all income in the form of money, property, and services that isn't exempt from tax. In a manufacturing, merchandising, or mining business, gross income is the total net sales minus the cost of goods sold, plus any miscellaneous income from the business. Gross receipts from rental property are gross income. Don’t deduct taxes, repairs, or other expenses to determine the gross income from rental property. Gross income includes a partner's share of the gross (not a share of the net) partnership income. Gross income also includes all taxable unemployment compensation, taxable social security benefits, and certain scholarship and fellowship grants. Scholarships received by degree candidates and used for tuition, fees, supplies, books, and equipment required for particular courses generally aren't included in gross income. For more information about scholarships, see chapter 8. Disabled dependent working at sheltered workshop. For purposes of the gross income test, the gross income of an individual who is permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year doesn't include income for services the individual performs at a sheltered workshop. The availability of medical care at the workshop must be the main reason for the individual's presence there. Also, the income must come solely from activities at the workshop that are incident to this medical care. A “sheltered workshop” is a school that: • Provides special instruction or training de- signed to alleviate the disability of the individual; and • Is operated by certain tax-exempt organi- zations, or by a state, a U.S. possession, a political subdivision of a state or possession, the United States, or the District of Columbia. Permanently and totally disabled has the same meaning here as under Qualifying Child, earlier. Support Test (To Be a Qualifying Relative) To meet this test, you must generally provide more than half of a person's total support during the calendar year. However, if two or more persons provide support, but no one person provides more than half of a person's total support, see Multiple Support Agreement, later. How to determine if support test is met. You figure whether you have provided more than half of a person's total support by comparing the amount you contributed to that person's support with the entire amount of support that person received from all sources. This includes support the person provided from his or her own funds. You may find Worksheet 3-1 helpful in figuring whether you provided more than half of a person's support. Person's own funds not used for support. A person's own funds aren't support unless they are actually spent for support. Example. Your mother received $2,400 in social security benefits and $300 in interest. She paid $2,000 for lodging and $400 for recreation. She put $300 in a savings account. Even though your mother received a total of $2,700 ($2,400 + $300), she spent only $2,400 ($2,000 + $400) for her own support. If you spent more than $2,400 for her support and no other support was received, you have provided more than half of her support. Child's wages used for own support. You can’t include in your contribution to your child's support any support paid for by the child with the child's own wages, even if you paid the wages. Year support is provided. The year you provide the support is the year you pay for it, even if you do so with borrowed money that you repay in a later year. If you use a fiscal year to report your income, you must provide more than half of the Chapter 3 Dependents Page 33 dependent's support for the calendar year in which your fiscal year begins. Armed Forces dependency allotments. The part of the allotment contributed by the government and the part taken out of your military pay are both considered provided by you in figuring whether you provide more than half of the support. If your allotment is used to support persons other than those you name, you can claim them as dependents if they otherwise qualify. Example. You are in the Armed Forces. You authorize an allotment for your widowed mother that she uses to support herself and her sister. If the allotment provides more than half of each person's support, you can claim each of them as a dependent, if they otherwise qualify, even though you authorize the allotment only for your mother. Tax-exempt military quarters allowances. These allowances are treated the same way as dependency allotments in figuring support. The allotment of pay and the tax-exempt basic allowance for quarters are both considered as provided by you for support. Tax-exempt income. In figuring a person's total support, include tax-exempt income, savings, and borrowed amounts used to support that person. Tax-exempt income includes certain social security benefits, welfare benefits, nontaxable life insurance proceeds, Armed Forces family allotments, nontaxable pensions, and tax-exempt interest. Example 1. You provide $4,000 toward your mother's support during the year. She has earned income of $600, nontaxable social security benefits of $4,800, and tax-exempt interest of $200. She uses all these for her support. You can’t claim your mother as a dependent because the $4,000 you provide isn't more than half of her total support of $9,600 ($4,000 + $600 + $4,800 + $200). Example 2. Your niece takes out a student loan of $2,500 and uses it to pay her college tuition. She is personally responsible for the loan. You provide $2,000 toward her total support. You can’t claim her as a dependent because you provide less than half of her support. Social security benefits. If a married couple receives benefits that are paid by one check made out to both of them, half of the total paid is considered to be for the support of each spouse, unless they can show otherwise. If a child receives social security benefits and uses them toward his or her own support, the benefits are considered as provided by the child. Support provided by the state (welfare, food stamps, housing, etc.). Benefits provided by the state to a needy person are generally considered support provided by the state. However, payments based on the needs of the recipient won't be considered as used entirely for that person's support if it is shown that part of the payments weren't used for that purpose. Foster care. Payments you receive for the support of a foster child from a child placement agency are considered support provided by the Page 34 Chapter 3 Dependents agency. See Foster care payments and expenses, earlier. Home for the aged. If you make a lump-sum advance payment to a home for the aged to take care of your relative for life and the payment is based on that person's life expectancy, the amount of support you provide each year is the lump-sum payment divided by the relative's life expectancy. The amount of support you provide also includes any other amounts you provided during the year. Total Support To figure if you provided more than half of a person's support, you must first determine the total support provided for that person. Total support includes amounts spent to provide food, lodging, clothing, education, medical and dental care, recreation, transportation, and similar necessities. Generally, the amount of an item of support is the amount of the expense incurred in providing that item. For lodging, the amount of support is the fair rental value of the lodging. Expenses not directly related to any one member of a household, such as the cost of food for the household, must be divided among the members of the household. Example 1. Grace Brown, mother of Mary Miller, lives with Frank and Mary Miller and their two children. Grace gets social security benefits of $2,400, which she spends for clothing, transportation, and recreation. Grace has no other income. Frank and Mary's total food expense for the household is $5,200. They pay Grace's medical and drug expenses of $1,200. The fair rental value of the lodging provided for Grace is $1,800 a year, based on the cost of similar rooming facilities. Figure Grace's total support as follows. Fair rental value of lodging . . . . . . . . Clothing, transportation, and recreation . . . . . . . . . Medical expenses . . . . . . . . 2,400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 Share of food (1/5 of $5,200) Total support $ 1,800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,040 $6,440 The support Frank and Mary provide, $4,040 ($1,800 lodging + $1,200 medical expenses + $1,040 food), is more than half of Grace's $6,440 total support. Example 2. Your parents live with you, your spouse, and your two children in a house you own. The fair rental value of your parents' share of the lodging is $2,000 a year ($1,000 each), which includes furnishings and utilities. Your father receives a nontaxable pension of $4,200, which he spends equally between your mother and himself for items of support such as clothing, transportation, and recreation. Your total food expense for the household is $6,000. Your heat and utility bills amount to $1,200. Your mother has hospital and medical expenses of $600, which you pay during the year. Figure your parents' total support as follows. Support provided Fair rental value of lodging Pension spent for their support . . . . . . . Share of food (1/6 of $6,000) . . . . . . Medical expenses for mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Father Mother $1,000 $1,000 2,100 2,100 1,000 1,000 600 . . . . . . Parents' total support . . . . $4,100 $4,700 You must apply the support test separately to each parent. You provide $2,000 ($1,000 lodging + $1,000 food) of your father's total support of $4,100—less than half. You provide $2,600 to your mother ($1,000 lodging + $1,000 food + $600 medical)—more than half of her total support of $4,700. You meet the support test for your mother, but not your father. Heat and utility costs are included in the fair rental value of the lodging, so these aren't considered separately. Lodging. If you provide a person with lodging, you are considered to provide support equal to the fair rental value of the room, apartment, house, or other shelter in which the person lives. Fair rental value includes a reasonable allowance for the use of furniture and appliances, and for heat and other utilities that are provided. Fair rental value defined. Fair rental value is the amount you could reasonably expect to receive from a stranger for the same kind of lodging. It is used instead of actual expenses such as taxes, interest, depreciation, paint, insurance, utilities, and the cost of furniture and appliances. In some cases, fair rental value may be equal to the rent paid. If you provide the total lodging, the amount of support you provide is the fair rental value of the room the person uses, or a share of the fair rental value of the entire dwelling if the person has use of your entire home. If you don’t provide the total lodging, the total fair rental value must be divided depending on how much of the total lodging you provide. If you provide only a part and the person supplies the rest, the fair rental value must be divided between both of you according to the amount each provides. Example. Your parents live rent free in a house you own. It has a fair rental value of $5,400 a year furnished, which includes a fair rental value of $3,600 for the house and $1,800 for the furniture. This doesn't include heat and utilities. The house is completely furnished with furniture belonging to your parents. You pay $600 for their utility bills. Utilities usually aren't included in rent for houses in the area where your parents live. Therefore, you consider the total fair rental value of the lodging to be $6,000 ($3,600 fair rental value of the unfurnished house + $1,800 allowance for the furnishings provided by your parents + $600 cost of utilities) of which you are considered to provide $4,200 ($3,600 + $600). Person living in his or her own home. The total fair rental value of a person's home that he or she owns is considered support contributed by that person. Living with someone rent free. If you live with a person rent free in his or her home, you must reduce the amount you provide for support of that person by the fair rental value of lodging he or she provides you. Property. Property provided as support is measured by its fair market value. Fair market value is the price that property would sell for on the open market. It is the price that would be agreed upon between a willing buyer and a willing seller, with neither being required to act, and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. Capital expenses. Capital items, such as furniture, appliances, and cars, bought for a person during the year can be included in total support under certain circumstances. The following examples show when a capital item is or isn't support. $2,000). You haven't provided more than half of his support. claim your mother as a dependent and neither has to sign a statement. Child care expenses. If you pay someone to provide child or dependent care, you can include these payments in the amount you provided for the support of your child or disabled dependent, even if you claim a credit for the payments. For information on the credit, see Pub. 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. Example 2. You and your brother each provide 20% of your mother's support for the year. The remaining 60% of her support is provided equally by two persons who aren't related to her. She doesn't live with them. Because more than half of her support is provided by persons who can’t claim her as a dependent, no one can claim her as a dependent. Other support items. Other items may be considered as support depending on the facts in each case. Don’t Include in Total Support The following items aren't included in total support. Example 1. You buy a $200 power lawn mower for your 13-year-old child. The child is given the duty of keeping the lawn trimmed. Because the lawn mower benefits all members of the household, don’t include the cost of the lawn mower in the support of your child. 1. Federal, state, and local income taxes paid by persons from their own income. Example 2. You buy a $150 television set as a birthday present for your 12-year-old child. The television set is placed in your child's bedroom. You can include the cost of the television set in the support of your child. 4. Funeral expenses. Example 3. You pay $5,000 for a car and register it in your name. You and your 17-year-old daughter use the car equally. Because you own the car and don’t give it to your daughter but merely let her use it, don’t include the cost of the car in your daughter's total support. However, you can include in your daughter's support your out-of-pocket expenses of operating the car for her benefit. Example 4. Your 17-year-old son, using personal funds, buys a car for $4,500. You provide the rest of your son's support, $4,000. Because the car is bought and owned by your son, the car's fair market value ($4,500) must be included in his support. Your son has provided more than half of his own total support of $8,500 ($4,500 + $4,000), so he isn't your qualifying child. You didn't provide more than half of his total support, so he isn't your qualifying relative. You can’t claim your son as a dependent. Medical insurance premiums. Medical insurance premiums you pay, including premiums for supplementary Medicare coverage, are included in the support you provide. Medical insurance benefits. Medical insurance benefits, including basic and supplementary Medicare benefits, aren't part of support. Tuition payments and allowances under the GI Bill. Amounts veterans receive under the GI Bill for tuition payments and allowances while they attend school are included in total support. Example. During the year, your son receives $2,200 from the government under the GI Bill. He uses this amount for his education. You provide the rest of his support, $2,000. Because GI benefits are included in total support, your son's total support is $4,200 ($2,200 + 2. Social security and Medicare taxes paid by persons from their own income. 3. Life insurance premiums. 5. Scholarships received by your child if your child is a student. 6. Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance payments used for the support of the child who receives them. Multiple Support Agreement Sometimes no one provides more than half of the support of a person. Instead, two or more persons, each of whom would be able to claim the person as a dependent but for the support test, together provide more than half of the person's support. When this happens, you can agree that any one of you who individually provides more than 10% of the person's support, but only one, can claim the person as a dependent. Each of the others must sign a statement agreeing not to claim the person as a dependent for that year. The person who claims the person as a dependent must keep these signed statements for his or her records. A multiple support declaration identifying each of the others who agreed not to claim the person as a dependent must be attached to the return of the person claiming the person as a dependent. Form 2120 can be used for this purpose. You can claim someone as a dependent under a multiple support agreement for someone related to you or for someone who lived with you all year as a member of your household. Example 1. You, your sister, and your two brothers provide the entire support of your mother for the year. You provide 45%, your sister 35%, and your two brothers each provide 10%. Either you or your sister can claim your mother as a dependent. The other must sign a statement agreeing not to claim your mother as a dependent. The one who claims your mother as a dependent must attach Form 2120, or a similar declaration, to his or her return and must keep the statement signed by the other for his or her records. Because neither brother provides more than 10% of the support, neither can Example 3. Your father lives with you and receives 25% of his support from social security, 40% from you, 24% from his brother (your uncle), and 11% from a friend. Either you or your uncle can claim your father as a dependent if the other signs a statement agreeing not to. The one who claims your father as a dependent must attach Form 2120, or a similar declaration, to his return and must keep for his records the signed statement from the one agreeing not to claim your father as a dependent. Support Test for Children of Divorced or Separated Parents (or Parents Who Live Apart) In most cases, a child of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart) will be a qualifying child of one of the parents. See Children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart) under Qualifying Child, earlier. However, if the child doesn't meet the requirements to be a qualifying child of either parent, the child may be a qualifying relative of one of the parents. If you think this might apply to you, see Pub. 501. Social Security Numbers for Dependents You must show the social security number (SSN) of any dependent you list in the Dependents section of your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If you don’t show the dependent's SSN when required, or if you show an incorCAUTION rect SSN, certain tax benefits may be disallowed. ! No SSN. If a person whom you expect to claim as a dependent on your return doesn't have an SSN, either you or that person should apply for an SSN as soon as possible by filing Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, with the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can get Form SS-5 online at SSA.gov or at your local SSA office. It usually takes about 2 weeks to get an SSN once the SSA has all the information it needs. If you don’t have a required SSN by the filing due date, you can file Form 4868 for an extension of time to file. Born and died in 2020. If your child was born and died in 2020, and you don’t have an SSN for the child, you may attach a copy of the child's birth certificate, death certificate, or hospital records instead. The document must show the child was born alive. If you do this, enter Chapter 3 Dependents Page 35 “DIED” in column (2) of the Dependents section of your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Alien or adoptee with no SSN. If your dependent doesn't have and can’t get an SSN, you must list the individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) or adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN) instead of an SSN. Taxpayer identification numbers for aliens. If your dependent is a resident or nonresident alien who doesn't have and isn't eligible to get an SSN, your dependent must apply for an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). For details on how to apply, see Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Taxpayer identification numbers for adoptees. If you have a child who was placed with you by an authorized placement agency, you may be able to claim the child as a dependent. However, if you can’t get an SSN or an ITIN for the child, you must get an adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN) for the child from the IRS. See Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions, for details. tax for 2021 or 110% of the tax shown on your 2020 return to avoid an estimated tax penalty. Introduction This chapter discusses how to pay your tax as you earn or receive income during the year. In general, the federal income tax is a pay-as-you-go tax. There are two ways to pay as you go. • Withholding. If you are an employee, your employer probably withholds income tax from your pay. Tax may also be withheld from certain other income, such as pensions, bonuses, commissions, and gambling winnings. The amount withheld is paid to the IRS in your name. • Estimated tax. If you don't pay your tax through withholding, or don't pay enough tax that way, you may have to pay estimated tax. People who are in business for themselves will generally have to pay their tax this way. Also, you may have to pay estimated tax if you receive income such as dividends, interest, capital gains, rent, and royalties. Estimated tax is used to pay not only income tax, but self-employment tax and alternative minimum tax as well. This chapter explains these methods. In addition, it also explains the following. 4. • Credit for withholding and estimated Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax What's New for 2020 Extended due dates for estimated tax payments. The due date for filing estimated tax forms and paying estimated taxes has been postponed to July 15, 2020. What's New for 2021 tax. When you file your 2020 income tax return, take credit for all the income tax withheld from your salary, wages, pensions, etc., and for the estimated tax you paid for 2020. Also take credit for any excess social security or railroad retirement tax withheld. See Pub. 505. • Underpayment penalty. If you didn't pay enough tax during the year, either through withholding or by making estimated tax payments, you may have to pay a penalty. In most cases, the IRS can figure this penalty for you. See Underpayment Penalty for 2020 at the end of this chapter. Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 505 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax 505 Tax law changes for 2021. When you figure how much income tax you want withheld from your pay and when you figure your estimated tax, consider tax law changes effective in 2021. For more information, see Pub. 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax. Form (and Instructions) W-4 Employee's Withholding Certificate W-4 W-4P Withholding Certificate for Retirement or Annuity Payments W-4P Reminders W-4S Request for Federal Income Tax Withholding From Sick Pay Estimated tax safe harbor for higher income taxpayers. If your 2020 adjusted gross income was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if you are married filing a separate return), you must pay the smaller of 90% of your expected W-4V Voluntary Withholding Request W-4S W-4V 1040-ES Estimated Tax for Individuals 1040-ES 2210 Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates, and Trusts 2210 2210-F Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Farmers and Fishermen 2210-F Page 36 Chapter 4 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Tax Withholding for 2021 This section discusses income tax withholding on: • • • • • • • • Salaries and wages, Tips, Taxable fringe benefits, Sick pay, Pensions and annuities, Gambling winnings, Unemployment compensation, and Certain federal payments. This section explains the rules for withholding tax from each of these types of income. This section also covers backup withholding on interest, dividends, and other payments. Salaries and Wages Income tax is withheld from the pay of most employees. Your pay includes your regular pay, bonuses, commissions, and vacation allowances. It also includes reimbursements and other expense allowances paid under a nonaccountable plan. See Supplemental Wages, later, for more information about reimbursements and allowances paid under a nonaccountable plan. If your income is low enough that you won't have to pay income tax for the year, you may be exempt from withholding. This is explained under Exemption From Withholding, later. You can ask your employer to withhold income tax from noncash wages and other wages not subject to withholding. If your employer doesn't agree to withhold tax, or if not enough is withheld, you may have to pay estimated tax, as discussed later under Estimated Tax for 2021. Military retirees. Military retirement pay is treated in the same manner as regular pay for income tax withholding purposes, even though it is treated as a pension or annuity for other tax purposes. Household workers. If you are a household worker, you can ask your employer to withhold income tax from your pay. A household worker is an employee who performs household work in a private home, local college club, or local fraternity or sorority chapter. Tax is withheld only if you want it withheld and your employer agrees to withhold it. If you don't have enough income tax withheld, you may have to pay estimated tax, as discussed later under Estimated Tax for 2021. Farmworkers. Generally, income tax is withheld from your cash wages for work on a farm unless your employer does both of these: • Pays you cash wages of less than $150 during the year, and • Has expenditures for agricultural labor totaling less than $2,500 during the year. Differential wage payments. When employees are on leave from employment for military duty, some employers make up the difference between the military pay and civilian pay. Payments to an employee who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days will be subject to income tax withholding, but not subject to social security, Medicare, or federal unemployment (FUTA) tax withholding. The wages and withholding will be reported on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. Determining Amount of Tax Withheld Using Form W-4 The amount of income tax your employer withholds from your regular pay depends on two things. • The amount you earn in each payroll period. • The information you give your employer on Form W-4. Form W-4 includes steps to help you figure your withholding. Complete Steps 2 through 4 only if they apply to you. • Step 1. Enter your personal information including your filing status. • Step 2. Complete this step if you have more than one job at the same time or are married filing jointly and you and your spouse both work. • Step 3. Complete this step if you claim dependents. • Step 4. Complete this optional step to make other adjustments. *Other income *Deductions *Extra withholding New Job When you start a new job, you must fill out Form W-4 and give it to your employer. Your employer should have copies of the form. If you need to change the information later, you must fill out a new form. If you work only part of the year (for example, you start working after the beginning of the year), too much tax may be withheld. You may be able to avoid overwithholding if your employer agrees to use the part-year method. See Part-Year Method in chapter 1 of Pub. 505 for more information. Employee also receiving pension income. If you receive pension or annuity income and begin a new job, you will need to file Form W-4 with your new employer. However, you can choose to split your withholding between your pension and job in any manner. Changing Your Withholding During the year, changes may occur to your marital status, adjustments, deductions, or credits you expect to claim on your tax return. When this happens, you may need to give your employer a new Form W-4 to change your withholding status. Generally, you can submit a new Form W-4 whenever you wish to change the information you entered on your Form W-4 for any reason. Changing your withholding for 2022. If events in 2021 will change the amount of with- holding you should claim for 2022, you must give your employer a new Form W-4 by December 1, 2021. If the event occurs in December 2021, submit a new Form W-4 within 10 days. • You have nonwage income, such as interest, dividends, alimony, unemployment compensation, or self-employment income. • You will owe additional amounts with your Checking Your Withholding return, such as self-employment tax. After you have given your employer a Form W-4, you can check to see whether the amount of tax withheld from your pay is too little or too much. If too much or too little tax is being withheld, you should give your employer a new Form W-4 to change your withholding. You should try to have your withholding match your actual tax liability. If not enough tax is withheld, you will owe tax at the end of the year and may have to pay interest and a penalty. If too much tax is withheld, you will lose the use of that money until you get your refund. Always check your withholding if there are personal or financial changes in your life or changes in the law that might change your tax liability. Note. You can’t give your employer a payment to cover withholding on salaries and wages for past pay periods or a payment for estimated tax. • Your withholding is based on obsolete Form W-4 information for a substantial part of the year. • You work only part of the year. • You change the amount of your withholding during the year. Cumulative wage method. If you change the amount of your withholding during the year, too much or too little tax may have been withheld for the period before you made the change. You may be able to compensate for this if your employer agrees to use the cumulative wage withholding method for the rest of the year. You must ask your employer in writing to use this method. To be eligible, you must have been paid for the same kind of payroll period (weekly, biweekly, etc.) since the beginning of the year. Publication 505 Completing Form W-4 and Worksheets Form W-4 has worksheets to help you figure the correct amount of withholding you can claim. The worksheets are for your own records. Don't give them to your employer. Multiple Jobs Worksheet. If you have income from more than one job at the same time, or are married filing jointly and you and your spouse both work, complete the Multiple Jobs Worksheet on the Form W-4. If you and your spouse expect to file separate returns, figure your withholding using separate worksheets based on your own individual income, adjustments, deductions, and credits. Deductions Worksheet. Use the Deductions Worksheet on Form W-4 if you plan to itemize deductions or claim certain adjustments to income and you want to reduce your withholding. Also complete this worksheet when you have changes to these items to see if you need to change your withholding. Getting the Right Amount of Tax Withheld In most situations, the tax withheld from your pay will be close to the tax you figure on your return if you follow these two rules. • You accurately complete all the Form W-4 worksheets that apply to you. • You give your employer a new Form W-4 when changes occur. But because the worksheets and withholding methods don't account for all possible situations, you may not be getting the right amount withheld. This is most likely to happen in the following situations. • You are married and both you and your spouse work. • You have more than one job at a time. Chapter 4 To make sure you are getting the right amount of tax withheld, get Pub. 505. It will help you compare the total tax to be withheld during the year with the tax you can expect to figure on your return. It will also help you determine how much, if any, additional withholding is needed each payday to avoid owing tax when you file your return. If you don't have enough tax withheld, you may have to pay estimated tax, as explained under Estimated Tax for 2021, later. You can use the Tax Withholding Esti- TIP mator at IRS.gov/W4App, instead of Pub. 505 or the worksheets included with Form W-4, to determine whether you need to have your withholding increased or decreased. Rules Your Employer Must Follow It may be helpful for you to know some of the withholding rules your employer must follow. These rules can affect how to fill out your Form W-4 and how to handle problems that may arise. New Form W-4. When you start a new job, your employer should have you complete a Form W-4. Beginning with your first payday, your employer will use the information you give on the form to figure your withholding. If you later fill out a new Form W-4, your employer can put it into effect as soon as possible. The deadline for putting it into effect is the start of the first payroll period ending 30 or more days after you turn it in. No Form W-4. If you don't give your employer a completed Form W-4, your employer must withhold at the highest rate, as if you were single. Repaying withheld tax. If you find you are having too much tax withheld because you didn't claim the correct amount of withholding you are entitled to, you should give your Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Page 37 employer a new Form W-4. Your employer can’t repay any of the tax previously withheld. Instead, claim the full amount withheld when you file your tax return. However, if your employer has withheld more than the correct amount of tax for the Form W-4 you have in effect, you don't have to fill out a new Form W-4 to have your withholding lowered to the correct amount. Your employer can repay the amount that was withheld incorrectly. If you aren’t repaid, your Form W-2 will reflect the full amount actually withheld, which you would claim when you file your tax return. Exemption From Withholding If you claim exemption from withholding, your employer won't withhold federal income tax from your wages. The exemption applies only to income tax, not to social security, Medicare, or FUTA tax withholding. You can claim exemption from withholding for 2021 only if both of the following situations apply. • For 2020, you had a right to a refund of all federal income tax withheld because you had no tax liability. • For 2021, you expect a refund of all federal income tax withheld because you expect to have no tax liability. Students. If you are a student, you aren’t automatically exempt. See chapter 1 to find out if you must file a return. If you work only part time or only during the summer, you may qualify for exemption from withholding. Age 65 or older or blind. If you are 65 or older or blind, use Worksheet 1-1 or 1-2 in chapter 1 of Pub. 505 to help you decide if you qualify for exemption from withholding. Don't use either worksheet if you will itemize deductions or claim tax credits on your 2021 return. Instead, see Itemizing deductions or claiming credits in chapter 1 of Pub. 505. Claiming exemption from withholding. To claim exemption, you must give your employer a Form W-4. Write “Exempt” on the form in the space below Step 4(c) and complete the applicable steps of the form. If you claim exemption, but later your situation changes so that you will have to pay income tax after all, you must file a new Form W-4 within 10 days after the change. If you claim exemption in 2021, but you expect to owe income tax for 2022, you must file a new Form W-4 by December 1, 2021. Your claim of exempt status may be reviewed by the IRS. An exemption is good for only 1 year. You must give your employer a new Form W-4 by February 15 each year to continue your exemption. Supplemental Wages Supplemental wages include bonuses, commissions, overtime pay, vacation allowances, certain sick pay, and expense allowances under certain plans. The payer can figure withholding on supplemental wages using the same method used for your regular wages. However, if these payments are identified separately from your Page 38 regular wages, your employer or other payer of supplemental wages can withhold income tax from these wages at a flat rate. Expense allowances. Reimbursements or other expense allowances paid by your employer under a nonaccountable plan are treated as supplemental wages. Reimbursements or other expense allowances paid under an accountable plan that are more than your proven expenses are treated as paid under a nonaccountable plan if you don't return the excess payments within a reasonable period of time. For more information about accountable and nonaccountable expense allowance plans, see Pub. 505. Penalties You may have to pay a penalty of $500 if both of the following apply. • You make statements or claim withholding on your Form W-4 that reduce the amount of tax withheld. • You have no reasonable basis for those statements or withholding at the time you prepare your Form W-4. There is also a criminal penalty for willfully supplying false or fraudulent information on your Form W-4 or for willfully failing to supply information that would increase the amount withheld. The penalty upon conviction can be either a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to 1 year, or both. These penalties will apply if you deliberately and knowingly falsify your Form W-4 in an attempt to reduce or eliminate the proper withholding of taxes. A simple error or an honest mistake won't result in one of these penalties. Tips The tips you receive while working on your job are considered part of your pay. You must include your tips on your tax return on the same line as your regular pay. However, tax isn't withheld directly from tip income, as it is from your regular pay. Nevertheless, your employer will take into account the tips you report when figuring how much to withhold from your regular pay. For more information on reporting your tips to your employer and on the withholding rules for tip income, see Pub. 531, Reporting Tip Income. How employer figures amount to withhold. The tips you report to your employer are counted as part of your income for the month you report them. Your employer can figure your withholding in either of two ways. • By withholding at the regular rate on the sum of your pay plus your reported tips. • By withholding at the regular rate on your pay plus a percentage of your reported tips. Not enough pay to cover taxes. If your regular pay isn't enough for your employer to withhold all the tax (including income tax and social security and Medicare taxes (or the equivalent railroad retirement tax)) due on your pay plus your tips, you can give your employer money to Chapter 4 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax cover the shortage. See Pub. 531 for more information. Allocated tips. Your employer shouldn't withhold income tax, Medicare tax, social security tax, or railroad retirement tax on any allocated tips. Withholding is based only on your pay plus your reported tips. Your employer should refund to you any incorrectly withheld tax. See Pub. 531 for more information. Taxable Fringe Benefits The value of certain noncash fringe benefits you receive from your employer is considered part of your pay. Your employer must generally withhold income tax on these benefits from your regular pay. For information on fringe benefits, see Fringe Benefits under Employee Compensation in chapter 5. Although the value of your personal use of an employer-provided car, truck, or other highway motor vehicle is taxable, your employer can choose not to withhold income tax on that amount. Your employer must notify you if this choice is made. For more information on withholding on taxable fringe benefits, see chapter 1 of Pub. 505. Sick Pay Sick pay is a payment to you to replace your regular wages while you are temporarily absent from work due to sickness or personal injury. To qualify as sick pay, it must be paid under a plan to which your employer is a party. If you receive sick pay from your employer or an agent of your employer, income tax must be withheld. An agent who doesn't pay regular wages to you may choose to withhold income tax at a flat rate. However, if you receive sick pay from a third party who isn't acting as an agent of your employer, income tax will be withheld only if you choose to have it withheld. See Form W-4S, later. If you receive payments under a plan in which your employer doesn't participate (such as an accident or health plan where you paid all the premiums), the payments aren’t sick pay and usually aren’t taxable. Union agreements. If you receive sick pay under a collective bargaining agreement between your union and your employer, the agreement may determine the amount of income tax withholding. See your union representative or your employer for more information. Form W-4S. If you choose to have income tax withheld from sick pay paid by a third party, such as an insurance company, you must fill out Form W-4S. Its instructions contain a worksheet you can use to figure the amount you want withheld. They also explain restrictions that may apply. Give the completed form to the payer of your sick pay. The payer must withhold according to your directions on the form. Estimated tax. If you don't request withholding on Form W-4S, or if you don't have enough tax withheld, you may have to make estimated tax payments. If you don't pay enough tax, either through estimated tax or withholding, or a combination of both, you may have to pay a penalty. See Underpayment Penalty for 2020 at the end of this chapter. Pensions and Annuities Income tax will usually be withheld from your pension or annuity distributions unless you choose not to have it withheld. This rule applies to distributions from: • A traditional individual retirement arrangement (IRA); • A life insurance company under an endowment, annuity, or life insurance contract; • A pension, annuity, or profit-sharing plan; • A stock bonus plan; and • Any other plan that defers the time you receive compensation. The amount withheld depends on whether you receive payments spread out over more than 1 year (periodic payments), within 1 year (nonperiodic payments), or as an eligible rollover distribution (ERD). Income tax withholding from an ERD is mandatory. More information. For more information on withholding on pensions and annuities, including a discussion of Form W-4P, see Pensions and Annuities in chapter 1 of Pub. 505. Gambling Winnings Income tax is withheld at a flat 24% rate from certain kinds of gambling winnings. Gambling winnings of more than $5,000 from the following sources are subject to income tax withholding. • Any sweepstakes; wagering pool, including payments made to winners of poker tournaments; or lottery. • Any other wager, if the proceeds are at least 300 times the amount of the bet. It doesn't matter whether your winnings are paid in cash, in property, or as an annuity. Winnings not paid in cash are taken into account at their fair market value. Exception. Gambling winnings from bingo, keno, and slot machines generally aren’t subject to income tax withholding. However, you may need to provide the payer with a social security number to avoid withholding. See Backup withholding on gambling winnings in chapter 1 of Pub. 505. If you receive gambling winnings not subject to withholding, you may need to pay estimated tax. See Estimated Tax for 2021, later. If you don't pay enough tax, either through withholding or estimated tax, or a combination of both, you may have to pay a penalty. See Underpayment Penalty for 2020 at the end of this chapter. Form W-2G. If a payer withholds income tax from your gambling winnings, you should receive a Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, showing the amount you won and the amount withheld. Report the tax withheld on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 25c. Unemployment Compensation You can choose to have income tax withheld from unemployment compensation. To make this choice, fill out Form W-4V (or a similar form provided by the payer) and give it to the payer. All unemployment compensation is taxable. If you don't have income tax withheld, you may have to pay estimated tax. See Estimated Tax for 2021, later. If you don't pay enough tax, either through withholding or estimated tax, or a combination of both, you may have to pay a penalty. See Underpayment Penalty for 2020 at the end of this chapter. Federal Payments You can choose to have income tax withheld from certain federal payments you receive. These payments are the following. 1. Social security benefits. 2. Tier 1 railroad retirement benefits. 3. Commodity credit corporation loans you choose to include in your gross income. 4. Payments under the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), as amended, or title II of the Disaster Assistance Act of 1988, that are treated as insurance proceeds and that you receive because: a. Your crops were destroyed or damaged by drought, flood, or any other natural disaster; or b. You were unable to plant crops because of a natural disaster described in (a). 5. Any other payment under federal law as determined by the Secretary. To make this choice, fill out Form W-4V (or a similar form provided by the payer) and give it to the payer. If you don't choose to have income tax withheld, you may have to pay estimated tax. See Estimated Tax for 2021, later. If you don't pay enough tax, either through withholding or estimated tax, or a combination of both, you may have to pay a penalty. See Underpayment Penalty for 2020 at the end of this chapter. More information. For more information about the tax treatment of social security and railroad retirement benefits, see chapter 7. Get Pub. 225, Farmer's Tax Guide, for information about the tax treatment of commodity credit corporation loans or crop disaster payments. Backup Withholding These payments generally aren’t subject to withholding. However, “backup” withholding is required in certain situations. Backup withholding can apply to most kinds of payments that are reported on Form 1099. The payer must withhold at a flat 24% rate in the following situations. • You don't give the payer your TIN in the required manner. • The IRS notifies the payer that the TIN you gave is incorrect. • You are required, but fail, to certify that you aren’t subject to backup withholding. • The IRS notifies the payer to start withholding on interest or dividends because you have underreported interest or dividends on your income tax return. The IRS will do this only after it has mailed you four notices. Go to IRS.gov/Businesses/SmallBusinesses-Self-Employed/BackupWithholding for more information on kinds of payments subject to backup withholding. Penalties. There are civil and criminal penalties for giving false information to avoid backup withholding. The civil penalty is $500. The criminal penalty, upon conviction, is a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment of up to 1 year, or both. Estimated Tax for 2021 Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that isn't subject to withholding. This includes income from self-employment, interest, dividends, alimony, rent, gains from the sale of assets, prizes, and awards. You may also have to pay estimated tax if the amount of income tax being withheld from your salary, pension, or other income isn't enough. Estimated tax is used to pay both income tax and self-employment tax, as well as other taxes and amounts reported on your tax return. If you don't pay enough tax, either through withholding or estimated tax, or a combination of both, you may have to pay a penalty. If you don't pay enough by the due date of each payment period (see When To Pay Estimated Tax, later), you may be charged a penalty even if you are due a refund when you file your tax return. For information on when the penalty applies, see Underpayment Penalty for 2020 at the end of this chapter. Who Doesn't Have To Pay Estimated Tax If you receive salaries or wages, you can avoid having to pay estimated tax by asking your employer to take more tax out of your earnings. To do this, give a new Form W-4 to your employer. See chapter 1 of Pub. 505. Banks or other businesses that pay you certain kinds of income must file an information return (Form 1099) with the IRS. The information return shows how much you were paid during the year. It also includes your name and taxpayer identification number (TIN). TINs are explained in chapter 1 under Social Security Number (SSN). Estimated tax not required. You don't have to pay estimated tax for 2021 if you meet all three of the following conditions. Chapter 4 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Page 39 • You had no tax liability for 2020. • You were a U.S. citizen or resident alien for the whole year. Figure 4-A. Do You Have To Pay Estimated Tax? Start Here Will you owe $1,000 or more for 2021 after subtracting income tax withholding and refundable credits* from your total tax? (Don’t subtract any estimated tax payments.) Will your income tax withholding and refundable credits* be at least 90% (662/3% for farmers and fishermen) of the tax shown on your 2021 tax return? Yes No Yes No Will your income tax withholding and refundable credits* be at least 100%** of the tax shown on your 2020 tax return? Note. Your 2020 return must have covered a 12-month period. No Yes You are NOT required to pay estimated tax. You MUST make estimated tax payment(s) by the required due date(s). See When To Pay Estimated Tax. *Use the refundable credits shown on the 2021 Estimated Tax Worksheet in Pub. 505. **110% if less than two-thirds of your gross income for 2020 and 2021 is from farming or fishing and your 2020 adjusted gross income was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if your filing status for 2021 is married filing a separate return). • Your 2020 tax year covered a 12-month period. You had no tax liability for 2020 if your total tax was zero or you didn't have to file an income tax return. For the definition of “total tax” for 2020, see Pub. 505, chapter 2. Who Must Pay Estimated Tax If you owe additional tax for 2020, you may have to pay estimated tax for 2021. You can use the following general rule as a guide during the year to see if you will have enough withholding, or if you should increase your withholding or make estimated tax payments. General rule. In most cases, you must pay estimated tax for 2021 if both of the following apply. 1. You expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax for 2021, after subtracting your withholding and refundable credits. 2. You expect your withholding plus your refundable credits to be less than the smaller of: a. 90% of the tax to be shown on your 2021 tax return, or b. 100% of the tax shown on your 2020 tax return (but see Special rules for farmers, fishermen, and higher income taxpayers, later). Your 2020 tax return must cover all 12 months. Page 40 If the result from using the general rule above suggests that you won't have CAUTION enough withholding, complete the 2021 Estimated Tax Worksheet in Pub. 505 for a more accurate calculation. ! Special rules for farmers, fishermen, and higher income taxpayers. If at least two-thirds of your gross income for tax year 2020 or 2021 is from farming or fishing, substitute 662/3% for 90% in (2a) under the General rule, earlier. If your AGI for 2020 was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if your filing status for 2021 is married filing a separate return), substitute 110% for 100% in (2b) under General rule, earlier. See Figure 4-A and Pub. 505, chapter 2, for more information. Aliens. Resident and nonresident aliens may also have to pay estimated tax. Resident aliens should follow the rules in this chapter unless noted otherwise. Nonresident aliens should get Form 1040-ES (NR), U.S. Estimated Tax for Nonresident Alien Individuals. You are an alien if you aren’t a citizen or national of the United States. You are a resident alien if you either have a green card or meet the substantial presence test. For more information about the substantial presence test, see Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. Married taxpayers. If you qualify to make joint estimated tax payments, apply the rules discussed here to your joint estimated income. You and your spouse can make joint estimated tax payments even if you aren’t living together. Chapter 4 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax However, you and your spouse can’t make joint estimated tax payments if: • You are legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance, • You and your spouse have different tax years, or • Either spouse is a nonresident alien (un- less that spouse elected to be treated as a resident alien for tax purposes (see chapter 1 of Pub. 519)). If you and your spouse can’t make estimated tax payments, apply these rules to your separate estimated income. Making joint or separate estimated tax payments won't affect your choice of filing a joint tax return or separate returns for 2021. 2020 separate returns and 2021 joint return. If you plan to file a joint return with your spouse for 2021 but you filed separate returns for 2020, your 2020 tax is the total of the tax shown on your separate returns. You filed a separate return if you filed as single, head of household, or married filing separately. 2020 joint return and 2021 separate returns. If you plan to file a separate return for 2021 but you filed a joint return for 2020, your 2020 tax is your share of the tax on the joint return. You file a separate return if you file as single, head of household, or married filing separately. To figure your share of the tax on the joint return, first figure the tax both you and your spouse would have paid had you filed separate returns for 2020 using the same filing status as for 2021. Then, multiply the tax on the joint return by the following fraction. . *See Saturday, Sunday, holiday rule and January payment. The tax you would have paid had you filed a separate return The total tax you and your spouse would have paid had you filed separate returns Example. Joe and Heather filed a joint return for 2020 showing taxable income of $48,500 and a tax of $5,428. Of the $48,500 taxable income, $40,100 was Joe's and the rest was Heather's. For 2021, they plan to file married filing separately. Joe figures his share of the tax on the 2020 joint return as follows. Tax on $40,100 based on a separate return . . . . . . . Tax on $8,400 based on a separate return . . . . . . . Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe's percentage of total ($4,618 ÷ $5,461) . . . . . . Joe's share of tax on joint return ($5,428 × 85%) . . . . . . . $4,618 843 $5,461 85% $4,614 How To Figure Estimated Tax To figure your estimated tax, you must figure your expected adjusted gross income (AGI), taxable income, taxes, deductions, and credits for the year. When figuring your 2021 estimated tax, it may be helpful to use your income, deductions, and credits for 2020 as a starting point. Use your 2020 federal tax return as a guide. You can use Form 1040-ES and Pub. 505 to figure your estimated tax. Nonresident aliens use Form 1040-ES (NR) and Pub. 505 to figure estimated tax (see chapter 8 of Pub. 519 for more information). You must make adjustments both for changes in your own situation and for recent changes in the tax law. For a discussion of these changes, visit IRS.gov. For more complete information on how to figure your estimated tax for 2021, see chapter 2 of Pub. 505. When To Pay Estimated Tax For estimated tax purposes, the tax year is divided into four payment periods. Each period has a specific payment due date. If you don't pay enough tax by the due date of each payment period, you may be charged a penalty even if you are due a refund when you file your income tax return. The payment periods and due dates for estimated tax payments are shown next. For the period: Due date:* Jan. 1–March 31 . . . . . . April 1–May 31 . . . . . . . June 1–August 31 . . . . . Sept. 1–Dec. 31 . . . . . . April 15 June 15 Sept. 15 Jan. 18, next year Saturday, Sunday, holiday rule. If the due date for an estimated tax payment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the payment will be on time if you make it on the next day that isn't a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. January payment. If you file your 2021 Form 1040 or 1040-SR by January 31, 2022, and pay the rest of the tax you owe, you don't need to make the payment due on January 18, 2022. Fiscal year taxpayers. If your tax year doesn't start on January 1, see the Form 1040-ES instructions for your payment due dates. When To Start You don't have to make estimated tax payments until you have income on which you will owe income tax. If you have income subject to estimated tax during the first payment period, you must make your first payment by the due date for the first payment period. You can pay all your estimated tax at that time, or you can pay it in installments. If you choose to pay in installments, make your first payment by the due date for the first payment period. Make your remaining installment payments by the due dates for the later periods. No income subject to estimated tax during first period. If you don't have income subject to estimated tax until a later payment period, you must make your first payment by the due date for that period. You can pay your entire estimated tax by the due date for that period or you can pay it in installments by the due date for that period and the due dates for the remaining periods. Table 4-1. General Due Dates for Estimated Tax Installment Payments How To Figure Each Payment You should pay enough estimated tax by the due date of each payment period to avoid a penalty for that period. You can figure your required payment for each period by using either the regular installment method or the annualized income installment method. These methods are described in chapter 2 of Pub. 505. If you don't pay enough during each payment period, you may be charged a penalty even if you are due a refund when you file your tax return. If the earlier discussion of No income subject to estimated tax during first period or the later discussion of Change in estimated tax applies to you, you may benefit from reading Annualized Income Installment Method in chapter 2 of Pub. 505 for information on how to avoid a penalty. Underpayment penalty. Under the regular installment method, if your estimated tax payment for any period is less than one-fourth of your estimated tax, you may be charged a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax for that period when you file your tax return. Under the annualized income installment method, your estimated tax payments vary with your income, but the amount required must be paid each period. See Instructions for Form 2210 for more information. Change in estimated tax. After you make an estimated tax payment, changes in your income, adjustments, deductions, or credits may make it necessary for you to refigure your estimated tax. Pay the unpaid balance of your amended estimated tax by the next payment due date after the change or in installments by that date and the due dates for the remaining payment periods. Estimated Tax Payments Not Required You don't have to pay estimated tax if your withholding in each payment period is at least as much as: If you first have income on which you must pay estimated tax: Make installments by:* Make later installments by:* Before April 1 April 15 June 15 Sept. 15 Jan. 15, next year You also don't have to pay estimated tax if you will pay enough through withholding to keep the amount you owe with your return under $1,000. April 1–May 31 June 15 Sept. 15 Jan. 15, next year How To Pay Estimated Tax June 1–Aug. 31 Sept. 15 Jan. 15, next year • Credit an overpayment on your 2020 return After Aug. 31 (None) • One-fourth of your required annual payment, or • Your required annualized income installment for that period. Jan. 15, next year *See Saturday, Sunday, holiday rule and January payment. How much to pay to avoid a penalty. To determine how much you should pay by each payment due date, see How To Figure Each Payment next. Chapter 4 There are several ways to pay estimated tax. to your 2021 estimated tax. • Pay by direct transfer from your bank ac- count, or pay by debit or credit card using a pay-by-phone system or the Internet. • Send in your payment (check or money order) with a payment voucher from Form 1040-ES. Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Page 41 Credit an Overpayment Link2Gov Corporation 888-PAY-1040TM (888-729-1040) www.PAY1040.com If you show an overpayment of tax after completing your Form 1040 or 1040-SR for 2020, you can apply part or all of it to your estimated tax for 2021. On line 36 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR, enter the amount you want credited to your estimated tax rather than refunded. Take the amount you have credited into account when figuring your estimated tax payments. You can’t have any of the amount you credited to your estimated tax refunded to you until you file your tax return for the following year. You also can’t use that overpayment in any other way. EFTPS. To use EFTPS, you must be enrolled either online or have an enrollment form mailed to you. To make a payment using EFTPS, call 800-555-4477 (English) or 800-244-4829 (Español). People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and who have access to TTY/TDD equipment can call 800-733-4829. For more information about EFTPS, go to IRS.gov/Payments or www.EFTPS.gov. Pay Online To pay through your mobile device, download the IRS2Go application. The IRS offers an electronic payment option that is right for you. Paying online is convenient, secure, and helps make sure we get your payments on time. To pay your taxes online or for more information, go to IRS.gov/Payments. You can pay using any of the following methods. • IRS Direct Pay. For online transfers di- rectly from your checking or savings account at no cost to you, go to IRS.gov/ Payments. • Pay by Card. To pay by debit or credit card, go to IRS.gov/Payments. A convenience fee is charged by these service providers. • Electronic Funds Withdrawal (EFW). This is an integrated e-file/e-pay option offered only when filing your federal taxes electronically using tax preparation software, through a tax professional, or the IRS at IRS.gov/Payments. • Online Payment Agreement. If you can’t pay in full by the due date of your tax return, you can apply for an online monthly installment agreement at IRS.gov/ Payments. Once you complete the online process, you will receive immediate notification of whether your agreement has been approved. A user fee is charged. • IRS2GO. This is the mobile application of the IRS. You can access Direct Pay or Pay By Card by downloading the application. Pay by Phone Paying by phone is another safe and secure method of paying electronically. Use one of the following methods: (1) call one of the debit or credit card providers, or (2) use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). Debit or credit card. Call one of our service providers. Each charges a fee that varies by provider, card type, and payment amount. WorldPay US, Inc. 844-PAY-TAX-8TM (844-729-8298) www.payUSAtax.com Official Payments Corporation 888-UPAY-TAXTM (888-872-9829) www.officialpayments.com Page 42 Pay by Mobile Device Pay by Cash Cash is an in-person payment option for individuals provided through retail partners with a maximum of $1,000 per day per transaction. To make a cash payment, you must first be registered online at www.officialpayments.com, our Official Payment provider. Pay by Check or Money Order Using the Estimated Tax Payment Voucher Before submitting a payment through the mail using the estimated tax payment voucher, please consider alternative methods. One of our safe, quick, and easy electronic payment options might be right for you. If you choose to mail in your payment, each payment of estimated tax by check or money order must be accompanied by a payment voucher from Form 1040-ES. During 2020, if you: • Made at least one estimated tax payment but not by electronic means, • Didn't use software or a paid preparer to prepare or file your return, then you should receive a copy of the 2021 Form 1040-ES with payment vouchers. The enclosed payment vouchers will be preprinted with your name, address, and social security number. Using the preprinted vouchers will speed processing, reduce the chance of error, and help save processing costs. Use the window envelopes that came with your Form 1040-ES package. If you use your own envelopes, make sure you mail your payment vouchers to the address shown in the Form 1040-ES instructions for the place where you live. No checks of $100 million or more accepted. The IRS can’t accept a single check (including a cashier’s check) for amounts of $100,000,000 ($100 million) or more. If you are sending $100 million or more by check, you’ll need to spread the payment over two or more checks with each check made out for an amount less than $100 million. This limit doesn’t apply to other methods of payment (such as electronic payments). Please consider a method of payment other than check if the amount of the payment is over $100 million. Chapter 4 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Note. These criteria can change without notice. If you don't receive a Form 1040-ES package and you are required to make an estimated tax payment, you should go to IRS.gov/ Form1040ES and print a copy of Form 1040-ES that includes four blank payment vouchers. Complete one of these and make your payment timely to avoid penalties for paying late. ! CAUTION ments. Don't use the address shown in the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR for your estimated tax pay- If you didn't pay estimated tax last year, you can order Form 1040-ES from the IRS (see the inside back cover of this publication) or download it from IRS.gov. Follow the instructions to make sure you use the vouchers correctly. Joint estimated tax payments. If you file a joint return and are making joint estimated tax payments, enter the names and social security numbers on the payment voucher in the same order as they will appear on the joint return. Change of address. You must notify the IRS if you are making estimated tax payments and you changed your address during the year. Complete Form 8822, Change of Address, and mail it to the address shown in the instructions for that form. Credit for Withholding and Estimated Tax for 2020 When you file your 2020 income tax return, take credit for all the income tax and excess social security or railroad retirement tax withheld from your salary, wages, pensions, etc. Also take credit for the estimated tax you paid for 2020. These credits are subtracted from your total tax. Because these credits are refundable, you should file a return and claim these credits, even if you don't owe tax. Two or more employers. If you had two or more employers in 2020 and were paid wages of more than $137,700, too much social security or tier 1 railroad retirement tax may have been withheld from your pay. You may be able to claim the excess as a credit against your income tax when you file your return. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR for more information. Withholding If you had income tax withheld during 2020, you should be sent a statement by January 31, 2021, showing your income and the tax withheld. Depending on the source of your income, you should receive: • Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement; • Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings; or • A form in the 1099 series. Forms W-2 and W-2G. If you file a paper return, always file Form W-2 with your income tax return. File Form W-2G with your return only if it shows any federal income tax withheld from your winnings. You should get at least two copies of each form. If you file a paper return, attach one copy to the front of your federal income tax return. Keep one copy for your records. You should also receive copies to file with your state and local returns. Form W-2 Your employer is required to provide or send Form W-2 to you no later than January 31, 2021. You should receive a separate Form W-2 from each employer you worked for. If you stopped working before the end of 2020, your employer could have given you your Form W-2 at any time after you stopped working. However, your employer must provide or send it to you by January 31, 2021. If you ask for the form, your employer must send it to you within 30 days after receiving your written request or within 30 days after your final wage payment, whichever is later. If you haven't received your Form W-2 by January 31, you should ask your employer for it. If you don't receive it by early February, call the IRS. Form W-2 shows your total pay and other compensation and the income tax, social security tax, and Medicare tax that was withheld during the year. Include the federal income tax withheld (as shown in box 2 of Form W-2) on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 25a. In addition, Form W-2 is used to report any taxable sick pay you received and any income tax withheld from your sick pay. Form W-2G If you had gambling winnings in 2020, the payer may have withheld income tax. If tax was withheld, the payer will give you a Form W-2G showing the amount you won and the amount of tax withheld. Report the amounts you won on Schedule 1 (Form 1040). Take credit for the tax withheld on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 25c. The 1099 Series Form Not Correct Separate Returns If you receive a form with incorrect information on it, you should ask the payer for a corrected form. Call the telephone number or write to the address given for the payer on the form. The corrected Form W-2G or Form 1099 you receive will have an “X” in the “CORRECTED” box at the top of the form. A special form, Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement, is used to correct a Form W-2. In certain situations, you will receive two forms in place of the original incorrect form. This will happen when your taxpayer identification number is wrong or missing, your name and address are wrong, or you received the wrong type of form (for example, a Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions, instead of a Form 1099-INT, Interest Income). One new form you receive will be the same incorrect form or have the same incorrect information, but all money amounts will be zero. This form will have an “X” in the “CORRECTED” box at the top of the form. The second new form should have all the correct information, prepared as though it is the original (the “CORRECTED” box won't be checked). If you and your spouse made separate estimated tax payments for 2020 and you file separate returns, you can take credit only for your own payments. If you made joint estimated tax payments, you must decide how to divide the payments between your returns. One of you can claim all of the estimated tax paid and the other none, or you can divide it in any other way you agree on. If you can’t agree, you must divide the payments in proportion to each spouse's individual tax as shown on your separate returns for 2020. Form Received After Filing If you file your return and you later receive a form for income that you didn't include on your return, you should report the income and take credit for any income tax withheld by filing Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Separate Returns If you are married but file a separate return, you can take credit only for the tax withheld from your own income. Don't include any amount withheld from your spouse's income. However, different rules may apply if you live in a community property state. Community property states are listed in chapter 2. For more information on these rules, and some exceptions, see Pub. 555, Community Property. Estimated Tax Most forms in the 1099 series aren’t filed with your return. These forms should be furnished to you by January 31, 2021 (or, for Forms 1099-B, 1099-S, and certain Forms 1099-MISC, by February 15, 2021). Unless instructed to file any of these forms with your return, keep them for your records. There are several different forms in this series, which are not listed. See the instructions for the specific Form 1099 for more information. Name changed. If you changed your name, and you made estimated tax payments using your old name, attach a brief statement to the front of your paper tax return indicating: Form 1099-R. Attach Form 1099-R to your paper return if box 4 shows federal income tax withheld. Include the amount withheld in the total on line 25b of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. • When you made the payments, • The amount of each payment, • Your name when you made the payments, Backup withholding. If you were subject to backup withholding on income you received during 2020, include the amount withheld, as shown on your Form 1099, in the total on line 25b of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Take credit for all your estimated tax payments for 2020 on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 26. Include any overpayment from 2019 that you had credited to your 2020 estimated tax. and • Your social security number. The statement should cover payments you made jointly with your spouse as well as any you made separately. Be sure to report the change to the Social Security Administration. This prevents delays in processing your return and issuing any refunds. Chapter 4 Divorced Taxpayers If you made joint estimated tax payments for 2020, and you were divorced during the year, either you or your former spouse can claim all of the joint payments, or you each can claim part of them. If you can’t agree on how to divide the payments, you must divide them in proportion to each spouse's individual tax as shown on your separate returns for 2020. If you claim any of the joint payments on your tax return, enter your former spouse's social security number (SSN) in the space provided on the front of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If you divorced and remarried in 2020, enter your present spouse's SSN in the space provided on the front of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Also, on the dotted line next to line 26, enter your former spouse’s SSN, followed by “DIV.” Underpayment Penalty for 2020 If you didn't pay enough tax, either through withholding or by making timely estimated tax payments, you will have an underpayment of estimated tax and you may have to pay a penalty. Generally, you won't have to pay a penalty for 2020 if any of the following apply. • The total of your withholding and estimated tax payments was at least as much as your 2019 tax (or 110% of your 2019 tax if your AGI was more than $150,000, $75,000 if your 2020 filing status is married filing separately) and you paid all required estimated tax payments on time; • The tax balance due on your 2020 return is no more than 10% of your total 2020 tax, and you paid all required estimated tax payments on time; • Your total 2020 tax minus your withholding and refundable credits is less than $1,000; • You didn't have a tax liability for 2019 and your 2019 tax year was 12 months; or • You didn't have any withholding taxes and your current year tax less any household employment taxes is less than $1,000. Extended due dates for 2020 estimated tax payments. The due date for filing estimated tax forms and paying estimated taxes has been postponed to July 15, 2020. For more information, see Filing and Payment Deadlines Questions and Answers on IRS.gov. Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Page 43 Farmers and fishermen. Special rules apply if you are a farmer or fisherman. See the Instructions for Form 2210-F for more information. IRS can figure the penalty for you. If you think you owe the penalty but you don't want to Page 44 figure it yourself when you file your tax return, you may not have to. Generally, the IRS will figure the penalty for you and send you a bill. However, if you think you are able to lower or eliminate your penalty, you must complete Chapter 4 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Form 2210 or Form 2210-F and attach it to your paper return. See Instructions for Form 2210 for more information. Part Two. Income and Adjustments to Income The five chapters in this part discuss many kinds of income and adjustments to income. They explain which income is and isn’t taxed and discuss some of the adjustments to income that you can make in figuring your adjusted gross income. The Form 1040 and 1040-SR schedules that are discussed in these chapters are: • Schedule 1, Additional Income and Adjustments to Income; • Schedule 2 (Part II), Other Taxes; and • Schedule 3 (Part II), Other Payments and Refundable Credits. Table V. Other Adjustments to Income Use this table to find information about other adjustments to income not covered in this part of the publication. IF you are looking for more information about the deduction for... THEN see... contributions to a health savings account Pub. 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans. moving expenses Pub. 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide. part of your self-employment tax chapter 11. self-employed health insurance Pub. 502, Medical and Dental Expenses. payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, and qualified plans Pub. 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business. penalty on the early withdrawal of savings chapter 6. contributions to an Archer MSA Pub. 969. reforestation amortization or expense chapters 7 and 8 of Pub. 535, Business Expenses. contributions to Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(18)(D) pension plans Pub. 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income. expenses from the rental of personal property chapter 8. certain required repayments of supplemental unemployment benefits (sub-pay) chapter 8. foreign housing costs chapter 4 of Pub. 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad. jury duty pay given to your employer chapter 8. contributions by certain ministers or chaplains to Internal Revenue Code section 403(b) plans Pub. 517, Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers. attorney fees and certain costs for actions involving IRS awards to whistleblowers Pub. 525. Chapter 4 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Page 45 5. Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings Reminders Deferred compensation contribution limit increased. If you participate in a 401(k) plan, 403(b) plan, or the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan, the total annual amount you can contribute is increased to $19,500. This also applies to most 457 plans. Introduction This chapter discusses compensation received for services as an employee, such as wages, salaries, and fringe benefits. The following topics are included. • Bonuses and awards. • Special rules for certain employees. • Sickness and injury benefits. The chapter explains what income is included and isn’t included in the employee's gross income and what’s not included. Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 463 Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses 463 502 Medical and Dental Expenses 502 524 Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled 524 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income 525 526 Charitable Contributions 526 550 Investment Income and Expenses 550 554 Tax Guide for Seniors 554 575 Pension and Annuity Income Form W-2. If you’re an employee, you should receive a Form W-2 from your employer showing the pay you received for your services. Include your pay on line 1 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR, even if you don’t receive a Form W-2. In some instances, your employer isn’t required to give you a Form W-2. Your employer isn’t required to give you a Form W-2 if you perform household work in your employer's home for less than $2,200 in cash wages during the calendar year and you have no federal income taxes withheld from your wages. Household work is work done in or around an employer's home. Some examples of workers who do household work are: • • • • • • • • • • • Babysitters, Caretakers, House cleaning workers, Domestic workers, Drivers, Health aides, Housekeepers, Maids, Nannies, Private nurses, and Yard workers. See Schedule H (Form 1040), Household Employment Taxes, and its instructions, and Pub. 926 for more information. If you performed services, other than as an independent contractor, and your employer didn’t withhold social security and Medicare taxes from your pay, you must file Form 8919, Uncollected Social Security and Medicare Tax on Wages, with your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. See Form 8919 and its instructions for more information on how to figure unreported wages and taxes and how to include them on your income tax return. Childcare providers. If you provide childcare, either in the child's home or in your home or other place of business, the pay you receive must be included in your income. If you aren’t an employee, you’re probably self-employed and must include payments for your services on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business. You generally aren’t an employee unless you’re subject to the will and control of the person who employs you as to what you’re to do and how you’re to do it. 575 907 Tax Highlights for Persons With Disabilities 907 926 Household Employer's Tax Guide 926 3920 Tax Relief for Victims of Terrorist Attacks 3920 For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. Employee Compensation This section discusses various types of employee compensation, including fringe benefits, retirement plan contributions, stock options, and restricted property. Page 46 Babysitting. If you’re paid to babysit, even for relatives or neighborhood children, whether on a regular basis or only periodically, the rules for childcare providers apply to you. Employment tax. Whether you're an employee or self-employed person, your income could be subject to self-employment tax. See the instructions for Schedules C and SE (Form 1040) if you're self-employed. Also, see Pub. 926 for more information. Miscellaneous Compensation This section discusses different types of employee compensation. Chapter 5 Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings Advance commissions and other earnings. If you receive advance commissions or other amounts for services to be performed in the future and you’re a cash-method taxpayer, you must include these amounts in your income in the year you receive them. If you repay unearned commissions or other amounts in the same year you receive them, reduce the amount included in your income by the repayment. If you repay them in a later tax year, you can deduct the repayment as an itemized deduction on your Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16, or you may be able to take a credit for that year. See Repayments in chapter 8. Allowances and reimbursements. If you receive travel, transportation, or other business expense allowances or reimbursements from your employer, see Pub. 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses. If you’re reimbursed for moving expenses, see Pub. 521, Moving Expenses. Back pay awards. If you receive an amount in payment of a settlement or judgment for back pay, you must include the amount of the payment in your income. This includes payments made to you for damages, unpaid life insurance premiums, and unpaid health insurance premiums. They should be reported to you by your employer on Form W-2. Bonuses and awards. If you receive a bonus or award (cash, goods, services) from your employer, you must include its value in your income. However, if your employer merely promises to pay you a bonus or award at some future time, it isn’t taxable until you receive it or it’s made available to you. Employee achievement award. If you receive tangible personal property (other than cash, a gift certificate, or an equivalent item) as an award for length of service or safety achievement, you can generally exclude its value from your income. The amount you can exclude is limited to your employer's cost and can’t be more than $1,600 for qualified plan awards or $400 for nonqualified plan awards for all such awards you receive during the year. Your employer can tell you whether your award is a qualified plan award. Your employer must make the award as part of a meaningful presentation, under conditions and circumstances that don’t create a significant likelihood of it being disguised pay. However, the exclusion doesn’t apply to the following awards. • A length-of-service award if you received it for less than 5 years of service or if you received another length-of-service award during the year or the previous 4 years. • A safety achievement award if you’re a manager, administrator, clerical employee, or other professional employee or if more than 10% of eligible employees previously received safety achievement awards during the year. Example. Ben Green received three employee achievement awards during the year: a nonqualified plan award of a watch valued at $250, two qualified plan awards of a stereo valued at $1,000, and a set of golf clubs valued at $500. Assuming that the requirements for qualified plan awards are otherwise satisfied, each award by itself would be excluded from income. However, because the $1,750 total value of the awards is more than $1,600, Ben must include $150 ($1,750 – $1,600) in his income. to your tax return a copy of the receipt or statement given to you by the agency you repaid to explain the difference between the wages on the return and the wages on your Forms W-2. Differential wage payments. This is any payment made to you by an employer for any period during which you are, for a period of more than 30 days, an active duty member of the uniformed services and represents all or a portion of the wages you would have received from the employer during that period. These payments are treated as wages and are subject to income tax withholding, but not FICA or FUTA taxes. The payments are reported as wages on Form W-2. Outplacement services. If you choose to accept a reduced amount of severance pay so that you can receive outplacement services (such as training in résumé writing and interview techniques), you must include the unreduced amount of the severance pay in income. Government cost-of-living allowances. Most payments received by U.S. Government civilian employees for working abroad are taxable. However, certain cost-of-living allowances are tax free. Pub. 516, U.S. Government Civilian Employees Stationed Abroad, explains the tax treatment of allowances, differentials, and other special pay you receive for employment abroad. Nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Your employer may report to you the total amount of deferrals for the year under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan on Form W-2, box 12, using code Y. This amount isn’t included in your income. However, if at any time during the tax year, the plan fails to meet certain requirements, or isn’t operated under those requirements, all amounts deferred under the plan for the tax year and all preceding tax years to the extent vested and not previously included in income are included in your income for the current year. This amount is included in your wages shown on Form W-2, box 1. It’s also shown on Form W-2, box 12, using code Z. Note received for services. If your employer gives you a secured note as payment for your services, you must include the fair market value (usually the discount value) of the note in your income for the year you receive it. When you later receive payments on the note, a proportionate part of each payment is the recovery of the fair market value that you previously included in your income. Don’t include that part again in your income. Include the rest of the payment in your income in the year of payment. If your employer gives you a nonnegotiable unsecured note as payment for your services, payments on the note that are credited toward the principal amount of the note are compensation income when you receive them. Severance pay. If you receive a severance payment when your employment with your employer ends or is terminated, you must include this amount in your income. Accrued leave payment. If you’re a federal employee and receive a lump-sum payment for accrued annual leave when you retire or resign, this amount will be included as wages on your Form W-2. If you resign from one agency and are reemployed by another agency, you may have to repay part of your lump-sum annual leave payment to the second agency. You can reduce gross wages by the amount you repaid in the same tax year in which you received it. Attach Sick pay. Pay you receive from your employer while you’re sick or injured is part of your salary or wages. In addition, you must include in your income sick pay benefits received from any of the following payers. • • • • A welfare fund. A state sickness or disability fund. An association of employers or employees. An insurance company, if your employer paid for the plan. However, if you paid the premiums on an accident or health insurance policy yourself, the benefits you receive under the policy aren’t taxable. For more information, see Pub. 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income. Social security and Medicare taxes paid by employer. If you and your employer have an agreement that your employer pays your social security and Medicare taxes without deducting them from your gross wages, you must report the amount of tax paid for you as taxable wages on your tax return. The payment is also treated as wages for figuring your social security and Medicare taxes and your social security and Medicare benefits. However, these payments aren’t treated as social security and Medicare wages if you’re a household worker or a farm worker. Stock appreciation rights. Don’t include a stock appreciation right granted by your employer in income until you exercise (use) the right. When you use the right, you’re entitled to a cash payment equal to the fair market value of the corporation's stock on the date of use minus the fair market value on the date the right was granted. You include the cash payment in your income in the year you use the right. Fringe Benefits • The special accounting period rule: bene- fits provided during the last 2 months of the calendar year (or any shorter period) are treated as paid during the following calendar year. For example, each year your employer reports the value of benefits provided during the last 2 months of the prior year and the first 10 months of the current year. Your employer doesn’t have to use the same accounting period for each fringe benefit, but must use the same period for all employees who receive a particular benefit. You must use the same accounting period that you use to report the benefit to claim an employee business deduction (for use of a car, for example). Form W-2. Your employer must include all taxable fringe benefits in box 1 of Form W-2 as wages, tips, and other compensation and, if applicable, in boxes 3 and 5 as social security and Medicare wages. Although not required, your employer may include the total value of fringe benefits in box 14 (or on a separate statement). However, if your employer provided you with a vehicle and included 100% of its annual lease value in your income, the employer must separately report this value to you in box 14 (or on a separate statement). Accident or Health Plan In most cases, the value of accident or health plan coverage provided to you by your employer isn’t included in your income. Benefits you receive from the plan may be taxable, as explained later under Sickness and Injury Benefits. For information on the items covered in this section, other than long-term care coverage, see Pub. 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans. Long-term care coverage. Contributions by your employer to provide coverage for long-term care services generally aren’t included in your income. However, contributions made through a flexible spending or similar arrangement offered by your employer must be included in your income. This amount will be reported as wages in box 1 of your Form W-2. Contributions you make to the plan are discussed in Pub. 502, Medical and Dental Expenses. Fringe benefits received in connection with the performance of your services are included in your income as compensation unless you pay fair market value for them or they’re specifically excluded by law. Refraining from the performance of services (for example, under a covenant not to compete) is treated as the performance of services for purposes of these rules. Archer MSA contributions. Contributions by your employer to your Archer MSA generally aren’t included in your income. Their total will be reported in box 12 of Form W-2 with code R. You must report this amount on Form 8853, Archer MSAs and Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts. File the form with your return. Accounting period. You must use the same accounting period your employer uses to report your taxable noncash fringe benefits. Your employer has the option to report taxable noncash fringe benefits by using either of the following rules. Health flexible spending arrangement (health FSA). If your employer provides a health FSA that qualifies as an accident or health plan, the amount of your salary reduction, and reimbursements of your medical care expenses, in most cases, aren’t included in your income. • The general rule: benefits are reported for a full calendar year (January 1–December 31). Note. Health FSAs are subject to a limit on salary reduction contributions for plan years beginning after 2012. For tax years beginning in Chapter 5 Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings Page 47 2020, the dollar limitation (as indexed for inflation) on voluntary employee salary reductions for contributions to health FSAs is $2,750. Health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). If your employer provides an HRA that qualifies as an accident or health plan, coverage and reimbursements of your medical care expenses generally aren’t included in your income. Health savings account (HSA). If you’re an eligible individual, you and any other person, including your employer or a family member, can make contributions to your HSA. Contributions, other than employer contributions, are deductible on your return whether or not you itemize deductions. Contributions made by your employer aren’t included in your income. Distributions from your HSA that are used to pay qualified medical expenses aren’t included in your income. Distributions not used for qualified medical expenses are included in your income. See Pub. 969 for the requirements of an HSA. Contributions by a partnership to a bona fide partner's HSA aren’t contributions by an employer. The contributions are treated as a distribution of money and aren’t included in the partner's gross income. Contributions by a partnership to a partner's HSA for services rendered are treated as guaranteed payments that are includible in the partner's gross income. In both situations, the partner can deduct the contribution made to the partner's HSA. Contributions by an S corporation to a 2% shareholder-employee's HSA for services rendered are treated as guaranteed payments and are includible in the shareholder-employee's gross income. The shareholder-employee can deduct the contribution made to the shareholder-employee's HSA. Qualified HSA funding distribution. You can make a one-time distribution from your individual retirement account (IRA) to an HSA and you generally won’t include any of the distribution in your income. Adoption Assistance You may be able to exclude from your income amounts paid or expenses incurred by your employer for qualified adoption expenses in connection with your adoption of an eligible child. See the Instructions for Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses, for more information. Adoption benefits are reported by your employer in box 12 of Form W-2 with code T. They are also included as social security and Medicare wages in boxes 3 and 5. However, they aren’t included as wages in box 1. To determine the taxable and nontaxable amounts, you must complete Part III of Form 8839. File the form with your return. De Minimis (Minimal) Benefits If your employer provides you with a product or service and the cost of it is so small that it would be unreasonable for the employer to account for it, you generally don’t include its value in your income. In most cases, don’t include in your income the value of discounts at company cafeterias, cab fares home when working overtime, and company picnics. Page 48 Holiday gifts. If your employer gives you a turkey, ham, or other item of nominal value at Christmas or other holidays, don’t include the value of the gift in your income. However, if your employer gives you cash or a cash equivalent, you must include it in your income. Educational Assistance You can exclude from your income up to $5,250 of qualified employer-provided educational assistance. For more information, see Pub. 970, Tax Benefits for Education. Group-Term Life Insurance In most cases, the cost of up to $50,000 of group-term life insurance coverage provided to you by your employer (or former employer) isn’t included in your income. However, you must include in income the cost of employer-provided insurance that is more than the cost of $50,000 of coverage reduced by any amount you pay toward the purchase of the insurance. For exceptions, see Entire cost excluded and Entire cost taxed, later. If your employer provided more than $50,000 of coverage, the amount included in your income is reported as part of your wages in box 1 of your Form W-2. Also, it’s shown separately in box 12 with code C. Group-term life insurance. This insurance is term life insurance protection (insurance for a fixed period of time) that: • Provides a general death benefit, • Is provided to a group of employees, • Is provided under a policy carried by the employer, and • Provides an amount of insurance to each employee based on a formula that prevents individual selection. Permanent benefits. If your group-term life insurance policy includes permanent benefits, such as a paid-up or cash surrender value, you must include in your income, as wages, the cost of the permanent benefits minus the amount you pay for them. Your employer should be able to tell you the amount to include in your income. Accidental death benefits. Insurance that provides accidental or other death benefits but doesn’t provide general death benefits (travel insurance, for example) isn’t group-term life insurance. Former employer. If your former employer provided more than $50,000 of group-term life insurance coverage during the year, the amount included in your income is reported as wages in box 1 of Form W-2. Also, it’s shown separately in box 12 with code C. Box 12 will also show the amount of uncollected social security and Medicare taxes on the excess coverage, with codes M and N. You must pay these taxes with your income tax return. Include them on Schedule 2 (Form 1040), line 8, and follow the instructions there. Two or more employers. Your exclusion for employer-provided group-term life insurance coverage can’t exceed the cost of $50,000 of coverage, whether the insurance is provided by Chapter 5 Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings a single employer or multiple employers. If two or more employers provide insurance coverage that totals more than $50,000, the amounts reported as wages on your Forms W-2 won’t be correct. You must figure how much to include in your income. Reduce the amount you figure by any amount reported with code C in box 12 of your Forms W-2, add the result to the wages reported in box 1, and report the total on your return. Figuring the taxable cost. Use Worksheet 5-1 to figure the amount to include in your income. Worksheet 5-1. Figuring the Cost of Group-Term Life Insurance To Include in Income Keep for Your Records 1. Enter the total amount of your insurance coverage from your employer(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 2. Limit on exclusion for employer-provided group-term life insurance coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 50,000 3. Subtract line 2 from line 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. 4. Divide line 3 by $1,000. Figure to the nearest tenth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. 5. Go to Table 5-1. Using your age on the last day of the tax year, find your age group in the left column, and enter the cost from the column on the right for your age group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. 6. Multiply line 4 by line 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. 7. Enter the number of full months of coverage at this cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. 8. Multiply line 6 by line 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. 9. Enter the premiums you paid per month . . . . . 9. 10. Enter the number of months you paid the premiums . . . . . 10. 11. Multiply line 9 by line 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. 12. Subtract line 11 from line 8. Include this amount in your income as wages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. Table 5-1. Cost of $1,000 of Group-Term Life Insurance for 1 Month Age Under 25 . . . 25 through 29 30 through 34 35 through 39 40 through 44 45 through 49 50 through 54 55 through 59 60 through 64 65 through 69 70 and above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Entire cost excluded. You aren’t taxed on the cost of group-term life insurance if any of the following circumstances apply. Cost $ 0.05 0.06 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.15 0.23 0.43 0.66 1.27 2.06 Example. You are 51 years old and work for employers A and B. Both employers provide group-term life insurance coverage for you for the entire year. Your coverage is $35,000 with employer A and $45,000 with employer B. You pay premiums of $4.15 a month under the employer B group plan. You figure the amount to include in your income as shown in Worksheet 5-1. Figuring the Cost of Group-Term Life Insurance To Include in Income—Illustrated next. Worksheet 5-1. Figuring the Cost of Group-Term Life Insurance To Include in Income—Illustrated Keep for Your Records 1. Enter the total amount of your insurance coverage from your employer(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Limit on exclusion for employer-provided group-term life insurance coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Subtract line 2 from line 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Divide line 3 by $1,000. Figure to the nearest tenth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. Go to Table 5-1. Using your age on the last day of the tax year, find your age group in the left column, and enter the cost from the column on the right for your age group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Multiply line 4 by line 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. Enter the number of full months of coverage at this cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Multiply line 6 by line 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. Enter the premiums you paid per month . . . . . 9. 4.15 1. You’re permanently and totally disabled and have ended your employment. 2. Your employer is the beneficiary of the policy for the entire period the insurance is in force during the tax year. 3. A charitable organization (defined in Pub. 526, Charitable Contributions) to which contributions are deductible is the only beneficiary of the policy for the entire period the insurance is in force during the tax year. (You aren’t entitled to a deduction for a charitable contribution for naming a charitable organization as the beneficiary of your policy.) 4. The plan existed on January 1, 1984, and: a. You retired before January 2, 1984, and were covered by the plan when you retired, or b. You reached age 55 before January 2, 1984, and were employed by the employer or its predecessor in 1983. Entire cost taxed. You’re taxed on the entire cost of group-term life insurance if either of the following circumstances apply. • The insurance is provided by your em- ployer through a qualified employees' trust, such as a pension trust or a qualified annuity plan. • You're a key employee and your employ- er's plan discriminates in favor of key employees. 1. 80,000 2. 50,000 3. 30,000 Retirement Planning Services Generally, don’t include the value of qualified retirement planning services provided to you and your spouse by your employer's qualified retirement plan. Qualified services include retirement planning advice, information about your employer's retirement plan, and information about how the plan may fit into your overall individual retirement income plan. You can’t exclude the value of any tax preparation, accounting, legal, or brokerage services provided by your employer. 4. 30.0 5. 0.23 Transportation 6. 6.90 7. 12 If your employer provides you with a qualified transportation fringe benefit, it can be excluded from your income, up to certain limits. A qualified transportation fringe benefit is: 8. 82.80 10. Enter the number of months you paid the 12 premiums . . . . . 10. 11. Multiply line 9 by line 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. 12. Subtract line 11 from line 8. Include this amount in your income as wages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. • Transportation in a commuter highway vehicle (such as a van) between your home and work place, • A transit pass, or • Qualified parking. 49.80 33.00 Cash reimbursement by your employer for these expenses under a bona fide reimbursement arrangement is also excludable. However, cash reimbursement for a transit pass is excludable only if a voucher or similar item that can be exchanged only for a transit pass isn’t readily available for direct distribution to you. Chapter 5 Exclusion limit. The exclusion for commuter vehicle transportation and transit pass fringe benefits can’t be more than $270 a month. The exclusion for the qualified parking fringe benefit can’t be more than $270 a month. If the benefits have a value that is more than these limits, the excess must be included in your income. Commuter highway vehicle. This is a highway vehicle that seats at least six adults (not including the driver). At least 80% of the vehicle's mileage must reasonably be expected to be: • For transporting employees between their homes and workplace, and • On trips during which employees occupy at least half of the vehicle's adult seating capacity (not including the driver). Transit pass. This is any pass, token, farecard, voucher, or similar item entitling a person to ride mass transit (whether public or private) free or at a reduced rate or to ride in a commuter highway vehicle operated by a person in the business of transporting persons for compensation. Qualified parking. This is parking provided to an employee at or near the employer's place of business. It also includes parking provided on or near a location from which the employee commutes to work by mass transit, in a commuter highway vehicle, or by carpool. It doesn’t include parking at or near the employee's home. Retirement Plan Contributions Your employer's contributions to a qualified retirement plan for you aren’t included in income at the time contributed. (Your employer can tell you whether your retirement plan is qualified.) However, the cost of life insurance coverage included in the plan may have to be included. See Group-Term Life Insurance, earlier, under Fringe Benefits. If your employer pays into a nonqualified plan for you, you must generally include the contributions in your income as wages for the tax year in which the contributions are made. However, if your interest in the plan isn’t transferable or is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (you have a good chance of losing it) at the time of the contribution, you don’t have to include the value of your interest in your income until it’s transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For information on distributions from TIP retirement plans, see Pub. 575, Pen- sion and Annuity Income (or Pub. 721, Tax Guide to U.S. Civil Service Retirement Benefits, if you’re a federal employee or retiree). Elective deferrals. If you’re covered by certain kinds of retirement plans, you can choose to have part of your compensation contributed by your employer to a retirement fund, rather than have it paid to you. The amount you set aside (called an elective deferral) is treated as an employer contribution to a qualified plan. An elective deferral, other than a designated Roth Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings Page 49 contribution (discussed later), isn’t included in wages subject to income tax at the time contributed. Rather, it’s subject to income tax when distributed from the plan. However, it’s included in wages subject to social security and Medicare taxes at the time contributed. Elective deferrals include elective contributions to the following retirement plans. 1. Cash or deferred arrangements (section 401(k) plans). 2. The Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees. 3. Salary reduction simplified employee pension plans (SARSEP). 4. Savings incentive match plans for employees (SIMPLE plans). 5. Tax-sheltered annuity plans (section 403(b) plans). 6. Section 501(c)(18)(D) plans. 7. Section 457 plans. Qualified automatic contribution arrangements. Under a qualified automatic contribution arrangement, your employer can treat you as having elected to have a part of your compensation contributed to a section 401(k) plan. You are to receive written notice of your rights and obligations under the qualified automatic contribution arrangement. The notice must explain: • Your rights to elect not to have elective contributions made, or to have contributions made at a different percentage; and • How contributions made will be invested in the absence of any investment decision by you. You must be given a reasonable period of time after receipt of the notice and before the first elective contribution is made to make an election with respect to the contributions. Overall limit on deferrals. For 2020, in most cases, you shouldn’t have deferred more than a total of $19,500 of contributions to the plans listed in (1) through (3) and (5) above. The limit for SIMPLE plans is $13,500. The limit for section 501(c)(18)(D) plans is the lesser of $7,000 or 25% of your compensation. The limit for section 457 plans is the lesser of your includible compensation or $19,500. Amounts deferred under specific plan limits are part of the overall limit on deferrals. Designated Roth contributions. Employers with section 401(k) and section 403(b) plans can create qualified Roth contribution programs so that you may elect to have part or all of your elective deferrals to the plan designated as after-tax Roth contributions. Designated Roth contributions are treated as elective deferrals, except that they’re included in income at the time contributed. Excess deferrals. Your employer or plan administrator should apply the proper annual limit when figuring your plan contributions. However, you’re responsible for monitoring the total you defer to ensure that the deferrals aren’t more than the overall limit. If you set aside more than the limit, the excess must generally be included in your income Page 50 for that year, unless you have an excess deferral of a designated Roth contribution. See Pub. 525 for a discussion of the tax treatment of excess deferrals. Catch-up contributions. You may be allowed catch-up contributions (additional elective deferral) if you’re age 50 or older by the end of the tax year. Stock Options If you receive a nonstatutory option to buy or sell stock or other property as payment for your services, you will usually have income when you receive the option, when you exercise the option (use it to buy or sell the stock or other property), or when you sell or otherwise dispose of the option. However, if your option is a statutory stock option, you won’t have any income until you sell or exchange your stock. Your employer can tell you which kind of option you hold. For more information, see Pub. 525. Restricted Property In most cases, if you receive property for your services, you must include its fair market value in your income in the year you receive the property. However, if you receive stock or other property that has certain restrictions that affect its value, you don’t include the value of the property in your income until it has substantially vested. (Although you can elect to include the value of the property in your income in the year it’s transferred to you.) For more information, see Restricted Property in Pub. 525. Dividends received on restricted stock. Dividends you receive on restricted stock are treated as compensation and not as dividend income. Your employer should include these payments on your Form W-2. Stock you elected to include in income. Dividends you receive on restricted stock you elected to include in your income in the year transferred are treated the same as any other dividends. Report them on your return as dividends. For a discussion of dividends, see Pub. 550, Investment Income and Expenses. For information on how to treat dividends reported on both your Form W-2 and Form 1099-DIV, see Dividends received on restricted stock in Pub. 525. Special Rules for Certain Employees This section deals with special rules for people in certain types of employment: members of the clergy, members of religious orders, people working for foreign employers, military personnel, and volunteers. Clergy Generally, if you’re a member of the clergy, you must include in your income offerings and fees you receive for marriages, baptisms, funerals, masses, etc., in addition to your salary. If the offering is made to the religious institution, it isn’t taxable to you. Chapter 5 Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings If you’re a member of a religious organization and you give your outside earnings to the religious organization, you must still include the earnings in your income. However, you may be entitled to a charitable contribution deduction for the amount paid to the organization. See Pub. 526. Pension. A pension or retirement pay for a member of the clergy is usually treated as any other pension or annuity. It must be reported on lines 5a and 5b of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Housing. Special rules for housing apply to members of the clergy. Under these rules, you don’t include in your income the rental value of a home (including utilities) or a designated housing allowance provided to you as part of your pay. However, the exclusion can’t be more than the reasonable pay for your services. If you pay for the utilities, you can exclude any allowance designated for utility cost, up to your actual cost. The home or allowance must be provided as compensation for your services as an ordained, licensed, or commissioned minister. However, you must include the rental value of the home or the housing allowance as earnings from self-employment on Schedule SE (Form 1040) if you’re subject to the self-employment tax. For more information, see Pub. 517, Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers. Members of Religious Orders If you’re a member of a religious order who has taken a vow of poverty, how you treat earnings that you renounce and turn over to the order depends on whether your services are performed for the order. Services performed for the order. If you’re performing the services as an agent of the order in the exercise of duties required by the order, don’t include in your income the amounts turned over to the order. If your order directs you to perform services for another agency of the supervising church or an associated institution, you’re considered to be performing the services as an agent of the order. Any wages you earn as an agent of an order that you turn over to the order aren’t included in your income. Example. You’re a member of a church order and have taken a vow of poverty. You renounce any claims to your earnings and turn over to the order any salaries or wages you earn. You’re a registered nurse, so your order assigns you to work in a hospital that is an associated institution of the church. However, you remain under the general direction and control of the order. You’re considered to be an agent of the order and any wages you earn at the hospital that you turn over to your order aren’t included in your income. Services performed outside the order. If you’re directed to work outside the order, your services aren’t an exercise of duties required by the order unless they meet both of the following requirements. • They’re the kind of services that are ordi- narily the duties of members of the order. • They’re part of the duties that you must exercise for, or on behalf of, the religious order as its agent. If you’re an employee of a third party, the services you perform for the third party won’t be considered directed or required of you by the order. Amounts you receive for these services are included in your income, even if you have taken a vow of poverty. Example. Mark Brown is a member of a religious order and has taken a vow of poverty. He renounces all claims to his earnings and turns over his earnings to the order. Mark is a schoolteacher. He was instructed by the superiors of the order to get a job with a private tax-exempt school. Mark became an employee of the school, and, at his request, the school made the salary payments directly to the order. Because Mark is an employee of the school, he is performing services for the school rather than as an agent of the order. The wages Mark earns working for the school are included in his income. Foreign Employer Special rules apply if you work for a foreign employer. U.S. citizen. If you’re a U.S. citizen who works in the United States for a foreign government, an international organization, a foreign embassy, or any foreign employer, you must include your salary in your income. Social security and Medicare taxes. You’re exempt from social security and Medicare employee taxes if you’re employed in the United States by an international organization or a foreign government. However, you must pay self-employment tax on your earnings from services performed in the United States, even though you aren’t self-employed. This rule also applies if you’re an employee of a qualifying wholly owned instrumentality of a foreign government. Employees of international organizations or foreign governments. Your compensation for official services to an international organization is exempt from federal income tax if you aren’t a citizen of the United States or you’re a citizen of the Philippines (whether or not you’re a citizen of the United States). Your compensation for official services to a foreign government is exempt from federal income tax if all of the following are true. • You aren’t a citizen of the United States or you’re a citizen of the Philippines (whether or not you’re a citizen of the United States). • Your work is like the work done by employees of the United States in foreign countries. • The foreign government gives an equal exemption to employees of the United States in its country. Waiver of alien status. If you’re an alien who works for a foreign government or international organization and you file a waiver under section 247(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to keep your immigrant status, different rules may apply. See Foreign Employer in Pub. 525. Employment abroad. For information on the tax treatment of income earned abroad, see Pub. 54. Military Payments you receive as a member of a military service are generally taxed as wages except for retirement pay, which is taxed as a pension. Allowances generally aren’t taxed. For more information on the tax treatment of military allowances and benefits, see Pub. 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide. Differential wage payments. Any payments made to you by an employer during the time you’re performing service in the uniformed services are treated as compensation. These wages are subject to income tax withholding and are reported on a Form W-2. See the discussion under Miscellaneous Compensation, earlier. Military retirement pay. If your retirement pay is based on age or length of service, it’s taxable and must be included in your income as a pension on lines 5a and 5b of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Don’t include in your income the amount of any reduction in retirement or retainer pay to provide a survivor annuity for your spouse or children under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan or the Survivor Benefit Plan. For more detailed discussion of survivor annuities, see Pub. 575, Pension and Annuity Income. Disability. If you’re retired on disability, see Military and Government Disability Pensions under Sickness and Injury Benefits, later. Veterans' benefits. Don’t include in your income any veterans' benefits paid under any law, regulation, or administrative practice administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The following amounts paid to veterans or their families aren’t taxable. • Education, training, and subsistence allowances. • Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities paid either to veterans or their families. • Grants for homes designed for wheelchair living. • Grants for motor vehicles for veterans who lost their sight or the use of their limbs. • Veterans' insurance proceeds and divi- dends paid either to veterans or their beneficiaries, including the proceeds of a veteran's endowment policy paid before death. • Interest on insurance dividends you leave on deposit with the VA. • Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program. • The death gratuity paid to a survivor of a member of the Armed Forces who died after September 10, 2001. • Payments made under the compensated work therapy program. Chapter 5 • Any bonus payment by a state or political subdivision because of service in a combat zone. Volunteers The tax treatment of amounts you receive as a volunteer worker for the Peace Corps or similar agency is covered in the following discussions. Peace Corps. Living allowances you receive as a Peace Corps volunteer or volunteer leader for housing, utilities, household supplies, food, and clothing are generally exempt from tax. Taxable allowances. The following allowances, however, must be included in your income and reported as wages. • Allowances paid to your spouse and minor children while you’re a volunteer leader training in the United States. • Living allowances designated by the Director of the Peace Corps as basic compensation. These are allowances for personal items such as domestic help, laundry and clothing maintenance, entertainment and recreation, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses. • Leave allowances. • Readjustment allowances or termination payments. These are considered received by you when credited to your account. Example. Gary Carpenter, a Peace Corps volunteer, gets $175 a month as a readjustment allowance during his period of service, to be paid to him in a lump sum at the end of his tour of duty. Although the allowance isn’t available to him until the end of his service, Gary must include it in his income on a monthly basis as it’s credited to his account. Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). If you’re a VISTA volunteer, you must include meal and lodging allowances paid to you in your income as wages. National Senior Services Corps programs. Don’t include in your income amounts you receive for supportive services or reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses from the following programs. • Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). • Foster Grandparent Program. • Senior Companion Program. Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). If you receive amounts for supportive services or reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses from SCORE, don’t include these amounts in gross income. Volunteer tax counseling. Don’t include in your income any reimbursements you receive for transportation, meals, and other expenses you have in training for, or actually providing, volunteer federal income tax counseling for the elderly (TCE). You can deduct as a charitable contribution your unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses in taking part in the volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) program. See Pub. 526. Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings Page 51 Volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders. If you are a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical responder, don’t include in your income the following benefits you receive from a state or local government. • Rebates or reductions of property or in- come taxes you receive because of services you performed as a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical responder. • Payments you receive because of services you performed as a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical responder, up to $50 for each month you provided services. The excluded income reduces any related tax or contribution deduction. Sickness and Injury Benefits This section discusses sickness and injury benefits, including disability pensions, long-term care insurance contracts, workers' compensation, and other benefits. In most cases, you must report as income any amount you receive for personal injury or sickness through an accident or health plan that is paid for by your employer. If both you and your employer pay for the plan, only the amount you receive that is due to your employer's payments is reported as income. However, certain payments may not be taxable to you. For information on nontaxable payments, see Military and Government Disability Pensions and Other Sickness and Injury Benefits, later in this discussion. Don’t report as income any amounts TIP paid to reimburse you for medical expenses you incurred after the plan was established. Cost paid by you. If you pay the entire cost of a health or accident insurance plan, don’t include any amounts you receive from the plan for personal injury or sickness as income on your tax return. If your plan reimbursed you for medical expenses you deducted in an earlier year, you may have to include some, or all, of the reimbursement in your income. See What If You Receive Insurance Reimbursement in a Later Year? in Pub. 502, Medical and Dental Expenses. Cafeteria plans. In most cases, if you’re covered by an accident or health insurance plan through a cafeteria plan, and the amount of the insurance premiums wasn’t included in your income, you aren’t considered to have paid the premiums and you must include any benefits you receive in your income. If the amount of the premiums was included in your income, you’re considered to have paid the premiums, and any benefits you receive aren’t taxable. Disability Pensions If you retired on disability, you must include in income any disability pension you receive under a plan that is paid for by your employer. You must report your taxable disability payments as wages on line 1 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR until you reach minimum retirement age. Minimum Page 52 retirement age is generally the age at which you can first receive a pension or annuity if you’re not disabled. c. Takes place under conditions simulating war, including training exercises such as maneuvers; or You may be entitled to a tax credit if d. Is caused by an instrumentality of war. TIP you were permanently and totally disa- bled when you retired. For information on this credit and the definition of permanent and total disability, see Pub. 524, Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. Beginning on the day after you reach minimum retirement age, payments you receive are taxable as a pension or annuity. Report the payments on lines 5a and 5b of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. The rules for reporting pensions are explained in Disability Pensions in Pub 575. For information on disability payments from a governmental program provided as a substitute for unemployment compensation, see Unemployment Benefits in chapter 8. Retirement and profit-sharing plans. If you receive payments from a retirement or profit-sharing plan that doesn’t provide for disability retirement, don’t treat the payments as a disability pension. The payments must be reported as a pension or annuity. For more information on pensions, see Pub 575. Accrued leave payment. If you retire on disability, any lump-sum payment you receive for accrued annual leave is a salary payment. The payment is not a disability payment. Include it in your income in the tax year you receive it. Military and Government Disability Pensions Certain military and government disability pensions aren’t taxable. Service-connected disability. You may be able to exclude from income amounts you receive as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in one of the following government services. • The armed forces of any country. • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. • The Public Health Service. • The Foreign Service. Conditions for exclusion. Don’t include the disability payments in your income if any of the following conditions apply. 1. You were entitled to receive a disability payment before September 25, 1975. 2. You were a member of a listed government service or its reserve component, or were under a binding written commitment to become a member, on September 24, 1975. 3. You receive the disability payments for a combat-related injury. This is a personal injury or sickness that: a. Results directly from armed conflict; b. Takes place while you’re engaged in extra-hazardous service; Chapter 5 Wages, Salaries, and Other Earnings 4. You would be entitled to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) if you filed an application for it. Your exclusion under this condition is equal to the amount you would be entitled to receive from the VA. Pension based on years of service. If you receive a disability pension based on years of service, in most cases you must include it in your income. However, if the pension qualifies for the exclusion for a service-connected disability (discussed earlier), don’t include in income the part of your pension that you would have received if the pension had been based on a percentage of disability. You must include the rest of your pension in your income. Retroactive VA determination. If you retire from the armed services based on years of service and are later given a retroactive service-connected disability rating by the VA, your retirement pay for the retroactive period is excluded from income up to the amount of VA disability benefits you would have been entitled to receive. You can claim a refund of any tax paid on the excludable amount (subject to the statute of limitations) by filing an amended return on Form 1040-X for each previous year during the retroactive period. You must include with each Form 1040-X a copy of the official VA Determination letter granting the retroactive benefit. The letter must show the amount withheld and the effective date of the benefit. If you receive a lump-sum disability severance payment and are later awarded VA disability benefits, exclude 100% of the severance benefit from your income. However, you must include in your income any lump-sum readjustment or other nondisability severance payment you received on release from active duty, even if you’re later given a retroactive disability rating by the VA. Special period of limitation. In most cases, under the period of limitation, a claim for credit or refund must be filed within 3 years from the time a return was filed or 2 years from the time the tax was paid. However, if you receive a retroactive service-connected disability rating determination, the period of limitation is extended by a 1-year period beginning on the date of the determination. This 1-year extended period applies to claims for credit or refund filed after June 17, 2008, and doesn’t apply to any tax year that began more than 5 years before the date of the determination. Terrorist attack or military action. Don’t include in your income disability payments you receive for injuries incurred as a direct result of a terrorist attack directed against the United States (or its allies), whether outside or within the United States or from military action. See Pub. 3920 and Pub. 907 for more information. Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts Long-term care insurance contracts in most cases are treated as accident and health insurance contracts. Amounts you receive from them (other than policyholder dividends or premium refunds) in most cases are excludable from income as amounts received for personal injury or sickness. To claim an exclusion for payments made on a per diem or other periodic basis under a long-term care insurance contract, you must file Form 8853 with your return. A long-term care insurance contract is an insurance contract that only provides coverage for qualified long-term care services. The contract must: • Be guaranteed renewable; • Not provide for a cash surrender value or other money that can be paid, assigned, pledged, or borrowed; • Provide that refunds, other than refunds on the death of the insured or complete surrender or cancellation of the contract, and dividends under the contract, may only be used to reduce future premiums or increase future benefits; and • In most cases, not pay or reimburse ex- penses incurred for services or items that would be reimbursed under Medicare, except where Medicare is a secondary payer or the contract makes per diem or other periodic payments without regard to expenses. Qualified long-term care services. Qualified long-term care services are: • Necessary diagnostic, preventive, thera- peutic, curing, treating, mitigating, and rehabilitative services, and maintenance and personal care services; and • Required by a chronically ill individual and provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner. Chronically ill individual. A chronically ill individual is one who has been certified by a licensed health care practitioner within the previous 12 months as one of the following. • An individual who, for at least 90 days, is unable to perform at least two activities of daily living without substantial assistance due to loss of functional capacity. Activities of daily living are eating, toileting, transferring, bathing, dressing, and continence. • An individual who requires substantial supervision to be protected from threats to health and safety due to severe cognitive impairment. Limit on exclusion. You can generally exclude from gross income up to $380 a day for 2020. See Limit on exclusion, under Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts, under Other Sickness and Injury Benefits in Pub. 525 for more information. Workers' Compensation Amounts you receive as workers' compensation for an occupational sickness or injury are fully exempt from tax if they’re paid under a workers' compensation act or a statute in the nature of a workers' compensation act. The exemption also applies to your survivors. The exemption, however, doesn’t apply to retirement plan benefits you receive based on your age, length of service, or prior contributions to the plan, even if you retired because of an occupational sickness or injury. If part of your workers' compensation reduces your social security or equivaCAUTION lent railroad retirement benefits received, that part is considered social security (or equivalent railroad retirement) benefits and may be taxable. For more information, see Pub. 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits. ! Return to work. If you return to work after qualifying for workers' compensation, salary payments you receive for performing light duties are taxable as wages. Other Sickness and Injury Benefits In addition to disability pensions and annuities, you may receive other payments for sickness or injury. Railroad sick pay. Payments you receive as sick pay under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act are taxable and you must include them in your income. However, don’t include them in your income if they’re for an on-the-job injury. If you received income because of a disability, see Disability Pensions, earlier. Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Payments received under this Act for personal injury or sickness, including payments to beneficiaries in case of death, aren’t taxable. However, you’re taxed on amounts you receive under this Act as continuation of pay for up to 45 days while a claim is being decided. Report this income as wages. Also, pay for sick leave while a claim is being processed is taxable and must be included in your income as wages. If part of the payments you receive under FECA reduces your social security CAUTION or equivalent railroad retirement benefits received, that part is considered social security (or equivalent railroad retirement) benefits and may be taxable. See Pub. 554 for more information. ! Other compensation. Many other amounts you receive as compensation for sickness or injury aren’t taxable. These include the following amounts. • Compensatory damages you receive for physical injury or physical sickness, whether paid in a lump sum or in periodic payments. • Benefits you receive under an accident or health insurance policy on which either you paid the premiums or your employer paid the premiums but you had to include them in your income. • Disability benefits you receive for loss of income or earning capacity as a result of injuries under a no-fault car insurance policy. • Compensation you receive for permanent loss or loss of use of a part or function of your body, or for your permanent disfigurement. This compensation must be based only on the injury and not on the period of your absence from work. These benefits aren’t taxable even if your employer pays for the accident and health plan that provides these benefits. Reimbursement for medical care. A reimbursement for medical care is generally not taxable. However, it may reduce your medical expense deduction. For more information, see Pub. 502. 6. Interest Income What’s New Change in tax rates. Recent legislation modified the tax rates and brackets used to figure the tax on 2020 unearned income for certain children. See the Instructions for Form 8615 or Pub. 929 for more information. Reminder Foreign-source income. If you are a U.S. citizen with interest income from sources outside the United States (foreign income), you must report that income on your tax return unless it is exempt by U.S. law. This is true whether you reside inside or outside the United States and whether or not you receive a Form 1099 from the foreign payer. Automatic 6-month extension. If you receive your Form 1099 reporting your interest income late and you need more time to file your tax return, you can request a 6-month extension of time to file. See Automatic Extension in chapter 1. Introduction This chapter discusses the following topics. • Different types of interest income. • What interest is taxable and what interest is nontaxable. • When to report interest income. • How to report interest income on your tax return. In general, any interest you receive or that is credited to your account and can be withdrawn is taxable income. Exceptions to this rule are discussed later in this chapter. Chapter 6 Interest Income Page 53 You may be able to deduct expenses you have in earning this income on Schedule A (Form 1040) if you itemize your deductions. See Money borrowed to invest in certificate of deposit, later, and chapter 12. Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 537 Installment Sales 537 550 Investment Income and Expenses 550 1212 Guide to Original Issue Discount (OID) Instruments 1212 Form (and Instructions) Schedule A (Form 1040) Itemized Deductions Schedule A (Form 1040) Schedule B (Form 1040) Interest and Ordinary Dividends Schedule B (Form 1040) 8615 Tax for Certain Children Who Have Unearned Income 8615 8814 Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends 8814 8815 Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989 8815 8818 Optional Form To Record Redemption of Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989 8818 For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. General Information A few items of general interest are covered here. Recordkeeping. You should keep a list showing sources of interest income RECORDS and interest amounts received during the year. Also, keep the forms you receive showing your interest income (Forms 1099-INT, for example) as an important part of your records. Tax on unearned income of certain children. Part of a child's 2020 unearned income may be taxed at the parent's tax rate. If so, Form 8615 must be completed and attached to the child's tax return. If not, Form 8615 isn't required and the child's income is taxed at his or her own tax rate. Some parents can choose to include the child's interest and dividends on the parent's return. If you can, use Form 8814 for this purpose. For more information about the tax on unearned income of children and the parents' election, go to Form 8615. Beneficiary of an estate or trust. Interest you receive as a beneficiary of an estate or trust is generally taxable income. You should receive a Schedule K-1 (Form 1041), Beneficiary's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., from the fiduciary. Your copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) and its instructions will tell you where to report the income on your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Page 54 Chapter 6 Interest Income Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). You must give your name and TIN (either a social security number (SSN), an employer identification number (EIN), or an individual tax identification number (ITIN)) to any person required by federal tax law to make a return, statement, or other document that relates to you. This includes payers of interest. If you don't give your TIN to the payer of interest, you may have to pay a penalty or be subject to backup withholding. TIN for joint account. If the funds in a joint account belong to one person, list that person's name first on the account and give that person's TIN to the payer. (For information on who owns the funds in a joint account, see Joint accounts, later.) If the joint account contains combined funds, give the TIN of the person whose name is listed first on the account. This is because only one name and SSN can be shown on Form 1099. These rules apply to both joint ownership by a married couple and to joint ownership by other individuals. For example, if you open a joint savings account with your child using funds belonging to the child, list the child's name first on the account and give the child's TIN. Custodian account for your child. If your child is the actual owner of an account that is recorded in your name as custodian for the child, give the child's TIN to the payer. For example, you must give your child's SSN to the payer of interest on an account owned by your child, even though the interest is paid to you as custodian. Penalty for failure to supply TIN. If you don't give your TIN to the payer of interest, you may have to pay a penalty. See Failure to supply SSN under Penalties in chapter 1. Backup withholding may also apply. Backup withholding. Your interest income is generally not subject to regular withholding. However, it may be subject to backup withholding to ensure that income tax is collected on the income. Under backup withholding, the payer of interest must withhold, as income tax, on the amount you are paid, by applying the appropriate withholding rate. Backup withholding may also be required if the IRS has determined that you underreported your interest or dividend income. For more information, see Backup Withholding in chapter 4. Reporting backup withholding. If backup withholding is deducted from your interest income, the payer must give you a Form 1099-INT for the year indicating the amount withheld. The Form 1099-INT will show any backup withholding as “Federal income tax withheld.” Joint accounts. If two or more persons hold property (such as a savings account or bond) as joint tenants, tenants by the entirety, or tenants in common, each person's share of any interest from the property is determined by local law. Income from property given to a child. Property you give as a parent to your child under the Model Gifts of Securities to Minors Act, the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, or any similar law becomes the child's property. Income from the property is taxable to the child, except that any part used to satisfy a legal obligation to support the child is taxable to the parent or guardian having that legal obligation. Savings account with parent as trustee. Interest income from a savings account opened for a minor child, but placed in the name and subject to the order of the parents as trustees, is taxable to the child if, under the law of the state in which the child resides, both of the following are true. • The savings account legally belongs to the child. • The parents aren't legally permitted to use any of the funds to support the child. Form 1099-INT. Interest income is generally reported to you on Form 1099-INT, or a similar statement, by banks, savings and loans, and other payers of interest. This form shows you the interest income you received during the year. Keep this form for your records. You don't have to attach it to your tax return. Report on your tax return the total interest income you receive for the tax year. See the instructions for Form 1099-INT to see whether you need to adjust any of the amounts reported to you. Interest not reported on Form 1099-INT. Even if you don't receive a Form 1099-INT, you must still report all of your interest income. For example, you may receive distributive shares of interest from partnerships or S corporations. This interest is reported to you on Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner's Share of Income, Deduction, Credits, etc.; or Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S), Shareholder's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc. Nominees. Generally, if someone receives interest as a nominee for you, that person must give you a Form 1099-INT showing the interest received on your behalf. If you receive a Form 1099-INT that includes amounts belonging to another person, see the discussion on nominee distributions under How To Report Interest Income in chapter 1 of Pub. 550, or the Schedule B (Form 1040) instructions. Incorrect amount. If you receive a Form 1099-INT that shows an incorrect amount or other incorrect information, you should ask the issuer for a corrected form. The new Form 1099-INT you receive will have the “CORRECTED” box checked. Form 1099-OID. Reportable interest income may also be shown on Form 1099-OID, Original Issue Discount. For more information about amounts shown on this form, see Original Issue Discount (OID), later in this chapter. Exempt-interest dividends. Exempt-interest dividends you receive from a mutual fund or other regulated investment company, including those received from a qualified fund of funds in any tax year beginning after December 22, 2010, aren't included in your taxable income. (However, see Information-reporting requirement next.) Exempt-interest dividends should be shown on Form 1099-DIV, box 11. You don't reduce your basis for distributions that are exempt-interest dividends. Information-reporting requirement. Although exempt-interest dividends aren't taxable, you must show them on your tax return if you have to file. This is an information-reporting requirement and doesn't change the exempt-interest dividends into taxable income. Note. Exempt-interest dividends paid from specified private activity bonds may be subject to the alternative minimum tax. See Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) in chapter 13 for more information. Chapter 1 of Pub. 550 contains a discussion on private activity bonds under State or Local Government Obligations. Interest on VA dividends. Interest on insurance dividends left on deposit with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) isn't taxable. This includes interest paid on dividends on converted United States Government Life Insurance and on National Service Life Insurance policies. Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs). Interest on a Roth IRA generally isn't taxable. Interest on a traditional IRA is tax deferred. You generally don't include interest earned in an IRA in your income until you make withdrawals from the IRA. See chapter 9. Taxable Interest Taxable interest includes interest you receive from bank accounts, loans you make to others, and other sources. The following are some sources of taxable interest. Dividends that are actually interest. Certain distributions commonly called dividends are actually interest. You must report as interest so-called dividends on deposits or on share accounts in: • • • • • Cooperative banks, Credit unions, Domestic building and loan associations, Domestic savings and loan associations, Federal savings and loan associations, and • Mutual savings banks. The “dividends” will be shown as interest income on Form 1099-INT. Money market funds. Money market funds pay dividends and are offered by nonbank financial institutions, such as mutual funds and stock brokerage houses. Generally, amounts you receive from money market funds should be reported as dividends, not as interest. Certificates of deposit and other deferred interest accounts. If you open any of these accounts, interest may be paid at fixed intervals of 1 year or less during the term of the account. You must generally include this interest in your income when you actually receive it or are entitled to receive it without paying a substantial penalty. The same is true for accounts that mature in 1 year or less and pay interest in a single payment at maturity. If interest is deferred for more than 1 year, see Original Issue Discount (OID), later. Interest subject to penalty for early withdrawal. If you withdraw funds from a deferred interest account before maturity, you may have to pay a penalty. You must report the total amount of interest paid or credited to your account during the year, without subtracting the penalty. See Penalty on early withdrawal of savings in chapter 1 of Pub. 550 for more information on how to report the interest and deduct the penalty. Money borrowed to invest in certificate of deposit. The interest expense you pay on money borrowed from a bank or savings institution to meet the minimum deposit required for a certificate of deposit from the institution and the interest you earn on the certificate are two separate items. You must report the total interest income you earn on the certificate in your income. If you itemize deductions, you can deduct the interest you pay as investment interest, up to the amount of your net investment income. See Interest Expenses in chapter 3 of Pub. 550. Example. You deposited $5,000 with a bank and borrowed $5,000 from the bank to make up the $10,000 minimum deposit required to buy a 6-month certificate of deposit. The certificate earned $575 at maturity in 2020, but you received only $265, which represented the $575 you earned minus $310 interest charged on your $5,000 loan. The bank gives you a Form 1099-INT for 2020 showing the $575 interest you earned. The bank also gives you a statement showing that you paid $310 of interest for 2020. You must include the $575 in your income. If you itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040), you can deduct $310, subject to the net investment income limit. Gift for opening account. If you receive noncash gifts or services for making deposits or for opening an account in a savings institution, you may have to report the value as interest. For deposits of less than $5,000, gifts or services valued at more than $10 must be reported as interest. For deposits of $5,000 or more, gifts or services valued at more than $20 must be reported as interest. The value is determined by the cost to the financial institution. Example. You open a savings account at your local bank and deposit $800. The account earns $20 interest. You also receive a $15 calculator. If no other interest is credited to your account during the year, the Form 1099-INT you receive will show $35 interest for the year. You must report $35 interest income on your tax return. Interest on insurance dividends. Interest on insurance dividends left on deposit with an insurance company that can be withdrawn annually is taxable to you in the year it is credited to your account. However, if you can withdraw it only on the anniversary date of the policy (or other specified date), the interest is taxable in the year that date occurs. Prepaid insurance premiums. Any increase in the value of prepaid insurance premiums, advance premiums, or premium deposit funds is interest if it is applied to the payment of premiums due on insurance policies or made available for you to withdraw. U.S. obligations. Interest on U.S. obligations issued by any agency or instrumentality of the United States, such as U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds, is taxable for federal income tax purposes. Interest on tax refunds. Interest you receive on tax refunds is taxable income. Interest on condemnation award. If the condemning authority pays you interest to compensate you for a delay in payment of an award, the interest is taxable. Installment sale payments. If a contract for the sale or exchange of property provides for deferred payments, it also usually provides for interest payable with the deferred payments. Generally, that interest is taxable when you receive it. If little or no interest is provided for in a deferred payment contract, part of each payment may be treated as interest. See Unstated Interest and Original Issue Discount in Pub. 537, Installment Sales. Interest on annuity contract. Accumulated interest on an annuity contract you sell before its maturity date is taxable. Usurious interest. Usurious interest is interest charged at an illegal rate. This is taxable as interest unless state law automatically changes it to a payment on the principal. Interest income on frozen deposits. Exclude from your gross income interest on frozen deposits. A deposit is frozen if, at the end of the year, you can't withdraw any part of the deposit because: • The financial institution is bankrupt or insolvent, or • The state where the institution is located has placed limits on withdrawals because other financial institutions in the state are bankrupt or insolvent. The amount of interest you must exclude is the interest that was credited on the frozen deposits minus the sum of: • The net amount you withdrew from these deposits during the year, and • The amount you could have withdrawn as of the end of the year (not reduced by any penalty for premature withdrawals of a time deposit). If you receive a Form 1099-INT for interest income on deposits that were frozen at the end of 2020, see Frozen deposits under How To Report Interest Income in chapter 1 of Pub. 550 for information about reporting this interest income exclusion on your tax return. The interest you exclude is treated as credited to your account in the following year. You must include it in income in the year you can withdraw it. Example. $100 of interest was credited on your frozen deposit during the year. You withdrew $80 but couldn't withdraw any more as of the end of the year. You must include $80 in your income and exclude $20 from your income for the year. You must include the $20 in your income for the year you can withdraw it. Bonds traded flat. If you buy a bond at a discount when interest has been defaulted or Chapter 6 Interest Income Page 55 when the interest has accrued but hasn't been paid, the transaction is described as trading a bond flat. The defaulted or unpaid interest isn't income and isn't taxable as interest if paid later. When you receive a payment of that interest, it is a return of capital that reduces the remaining cost basis of your bond. Interest that accrues after the date of purchase, however, is taxable interest income for the year it is received or accrued. See Bonds Sold Between Interest Dates, later, for more information. Below-market loans. In general, a below-market loan is a loan on which no interest is charged or on which interest is charged at a rate below the applicable federal rate. If you are the lender of a below-market loan, you may have additional interest income. See Below-Market Loans in chapter 1 of Pub. 550 for more information. U.S. Savings Bonds This section provides tax information on U.S. savings bonds. It explains how to report the interest income on these bonds and how to treat transfers of these bonds. For other information on U.S. savings bonds, write to: For Series EE and I electronic savings bonds: Series EE and Series I Treasury Retail Securities Services P.O. Box 7015 Minneapolis, MN 55480-7015 For Series EE and I paper savings bonds: Series EE and Series I Treasury Retail Securities Services P.O. Box 214 Minneapolis, MN 55480-0214 For Series HH and Series H savings bonds: Series HH and Series H Treasury Retail Securities Services P.O. Box 2186 Minneapolis, MN 55480-2186 Or, on the Internet, visit TreasuryDirect.gov/indiv/indiv.htm. Accrual method taxpayers. If you use an accrual method of accounting, you must report interest on U.S. savings bonds each year as it accrues. You can't postpone reporting interest until you receive it or until the bonds mature. Accrual methods of accounting are explained in chapter 1 under Accounting Methods. Cash method taxpayers. If you use the cash method of accounting, as most individual taxpayers do, you generally report the interest on U.S. savings bonds when you receive it. The cash method of accounting is explained in chapter 1 under Accounting Methods. But see Reporting options for cash method taxpayers, later. Series H and HH bonds. These bonds were issued at face value in exchange for other savings bonds. Series HH bonds were issued bePage 56 Chapter 6 Interest Income tween 1980 and 2004. They mature 20 years after issue. Series HH bonds that have not matured pay interest twice a year by direct deposit to your bank account. If you are a cash method taxpayer, you must report this interest as income in the year you receive it. Series H bonds were issued before 1980. All Series H bonds have matured and are no longer earning interest. In addition to the twice-ayear interest payments, most H/HH bonds also have a deferred interest component. The reporting of this as income is addressed later in this chapter. Series EE and Series I bonds. Interest on these bonds is payable when you redeem the bonds. The difference between the purchase price and the redemption value is taxable interest. Series E and EE bonds. Series E bonds were issued before 1980. All Series E bonds have matured and are no longer earning interest. Series EE bonds were first offered in January 1980 and have a maturity period of 30 years; they were offered in paper (definitive) form until 2012. Paper Series EE and Series E bonds were issued at a discount and increase in value as they earn interest. Electronic (book-entry) Series EE bonds were first offered in 2003; they are issued at face value and increase in value as they earn interest. For all Series E and Series EE bonds, the purchase price plus all accrued interest is payable to you at redemption. Series I bonds. Series I bonds were first offered in 1998. These are inflation-indexed bonds issued at face value with a maturity period of 30 years. Series I bonds increase in value as they earn interest. The face value plus all accrued interest is payable to you at redemption. Reporting options for cash method taxpayers. If you use the cash method of reporting income, you can report the interest on Series EE, Series E, and Series I bonds in either of the following ways. 1. Method 1. Postpone reporting the interest until the earlier of the year you cash or dispose of the bonds or the year they mature. (However, see Savings bonds traded, later.) 2. Method 2. Choose to report the increase in redemption value as interest each year. You must use the same method for all Series EE, Series E, and Series I bonds you own. If you don't choose method 2 by reporting the increase in redemption value as interest each year, you must use method 1. If you plan to cash your bonds in the TIP same year you will pay for higher education expenses, you may want to use method 1 because you may be able to exclude the interest from your income. To learn how, see Education Savings Bond Program, later. Change from method 1. If you want to change your method of reporting the interest from method 1 to method 2, you can do so without permission from the IRS. In the year of change, you must report all interest accrued to date and not previously reported for all your bonds. Once you choose to report the interest each year, you must continue to do so for all Series EE, Series E, and Series I bonds you own and for any you get later, unless you request permission to change, as explained next. Change from method 2. To change from method 2 to method 1, you must request permission from the IRS. Permission for the change is automatically granted if you send the IRS a statement that meets all the following requirements. 1. You have typed or printed the following number at the top: “131.” 2. It includes your name and social security number under “131.” 3. It includes the year of change (both the beginning and ending dates). 4. It identifies the savings bonds for which you are requesting this change. 5. It includes your agreement to: a. Report all interest on any bonds acquired during or after the year of change when the interest is realized upon disposition, redemption, or final maturity, whichever is earliest; and b. Report all interest on the bonds acquired before the year of change when the interest is realized upon disposition, redemption, or final maturity, whichever is earliest, with the exception of the interest reported in prior tax years. You must attach this statement to your tax return for the year of change, which you must file by the due date (including extensions). You can have an automatic extension of 6 months from the due date of your return for the year of change (excluding extensions) to file the statement with an amended return. To get this extension, you must have filed your original return for the year of the change by the due date (including extensions). Instead of filing this statement, you can request permission to change from method 2 to method 1 by filing Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method. In that case, follow the form instructions for an automatic change. No user fee is required. Co-owners. If a U.S. savings bond is issued in the names of co-owners, such as you and your child or you and your spouse, interest on the bond is generally taxable to the co-owner who bought the bond. One co-owner's funds used. If you used your funds to buy the bond, you must pay the tax on the interest. This is true even if you let the other co-owner redeem the bond and keep all the proceeds. Under these circumstances, the co-owner who redeemed the bond will receive a Form 1099-INT at the time of redemption and must provide you with another Form 1099-INT showing the amount of interest from the bond taxable to you. The co-owner who redeemed the bond is a “nominee.” See Nominee distributions under How To Report Interest Income in chapter 1 of Pub. 550 for more Table 6-1. Who Pays the Tax on U.S. Savings Bond Interest IF... THEN the interest must be reported by... you buy a bond in your name and the name of another person as co-owners, using only your own funds you. you buy a bond in the name of another person, who is the sole owner of the bond the person for whom you bought the bond. you and another person buy a bond as co-owners, each contributing part of the purchase price both you and the other co-owner, in proportion to the amount each paid for the bond. you and your spouse, who live in a community property state, buy a bond that is community property you and your spouse. If you file separate returns, both you and your spouse generally report one-half of the interest. information about how a person who is a nominee reports interest income belonging to another person. Both co-owners' funds used. If you and the other co-owner each contribute part of the bond's purchase price, the interest is generally taxable to each of you, in proportion to the amount each of you paid. Community property. If you and your spouse live in a community property state and hold bonds as community property, one-half of the interest is considered received by each of you. If you file separate returns, each of you must generally report one-half of the bond interest. For more information about community property, see Pub. 555. Table 6-1. These rules are also shown in Table 6-1. Ownership transferred. If you bought Series E, Series EE, or Series I bonds entirely with your own funds and had them reissued in your co-owner's name or beneficiary's name alone, you must include in your gross income for the year of reissue all interest that you earned on these bonds and have not previously reported. But, if the bonds were reissued in your name alone, you don't have to report the interest accrued at that time. This same rule applies when bonds (other than bonds held as community property) are transferred between spouses or incident to divorce. Purchased jointly. If you and a co-owner each contributed funds to buy Series E, Series EE, or Series I bonds jointly and later have the bonds reissued in the co-owner's name alone, you must include in your gross income for the year of reissue your share of all the interest earned on the bonds that you have not previously reported. The former co-owner doesn't have to include in gross income at the time of reissue his or her share of the interest earned that was not reported before the transfer. This interest, however, as well as all interest earned after the reissue, is income to the former co-owner. This income-reporting rule also applies when the bonds are reissued in the name of your former co-owner and a new co-owner. But the new co-owner will report only his or her share of the interest earned after the transfer. If bonds that you and a co-owner bought jointly are reissued to each of you separately in the same proportion as your contribution to the purchase price, neither you nor your co-owner has to report at that time the interest earned before the bonds were reissued. Example 1. You and your spouse each spent an equal amount to buy a $1,000 Series EE savings bond. The bond was issued to you and your spouse as co-owners. You both postpone reporting interest on the bond. You later have the bond reissued as two $500 bonds, one in your name and one in your spouse's name. At that time, neither you nor your spouse has to report the interest earned to the date of reissue. Example 2. You bought a $1,000 Series EE savings bond entirely with your own funds. The bond was issued to you and your spouse as co-owners. You both postpone reporting interest on the bond. You later have the bond reissued as two $500 bonds, one in your name and one in your spouse's name. You must report half the interest earned to the date of reissue. Transfer to a trust. If you own Series E, Series EE, or Series I bonds and transfer them to a trust, giving up all rights of ownership, you must include in your income for that year the interest earned to the date of transfer if you have not already reported it. However, if you are considered the owner of the trust and if the increase in value both before and after the transfer continues to be taxable to you, you can continue to defer reporting the interest earned each year. You must include the total interest in your income in the year you cash or dispose of the bonds or the year the bonds finally mature, whichever is earlier. The same rules apply to previously unreported interest on Series EE or Series E bonds if the transfer to a trust consisted of Series HH or Series H bonds you acquired in a trade for the Series EE or Series E bonds. See Savings bonds traded, later. Decedents. The manner of reporting interest income on Series E, Series EE, or Series I bonds, after the death of the owner (decedent), depends on the accounting and income-reporting methods previously used by the decedent. This is explained in chapter 1 of Pub. 550. Savings bonds traded. If you postponed reporting the interest on your Series EE or Series E bonds, you didn't recognize taxable income when you traded the bonds for Series HH or Series H bonds, unless you received cash in the trade. (You can't trade Series I bonds for Series HH bonds. After August 31, 2004, you can't trade any other series of bonds for Series HH bonds.) Any cash you received is income up to the amount of the interest earned on the bonds traded. When your Series HH or Series H bonds mature, or if you dispose of them before maturity, you report as interest the difference between their redemption value and your cost. Your cost is the sum of the amount you paid for the traded Series EE or Series E bonds plus any amount you had to pay at the time of the trade. Example. You traded Series EE bonds (on which you postponed reporting the interest) for $2,500 in Series HH bonds and $223 in cash. You reported the $223 as taxable income on your tax return. At the time of the trade, the Series EE bonds had accrued interest of $523 and a redemption value of $2,723. You hold the Series HH bonds until maturity, when you receive $2,500. You must report $300 as interest income in the year of maturity. This is the difference between their redemption value, $2,500, and your cost, $2,200 (the amount you paid for the Series EE bonds). It is also the difference between the accrued interest of $523 on the Series EE bonds and the $223 cash received on the trade. Choice to report interest in year of trade. You could have chosen to treat all of the previously unreported accrued interest on the Series EE or Series E bonds traded for Series HH bonds as income in the year of the trade. If you made this choice, it is treated as a change from method 1. See Change from method 1, earlier. Form 1099-INT for U.S. savings bonds interest. When you cash a bond, the bank or other payer that redeems it must give you a Form 1099-INT if the interest part of the payment you receive is $10 or more. Box 3 of your Form 1099-INT should show the interest as the difference between the amount you received and the amount paid for the bond. However, your Form 1099-INT may show more interest than you have to include on your income tax return. For example, this may happen if any of the following are true. • You chose to report the increase in the re- demption value of the bond each year. The interest shown on your Form 1099-INT won't be reduced by amounts previously included in income. • You received the bond from a decedent. The interest shown on your Form 1099-INT won't be reduced by any interest reported by the decedent before death, or on the decedent's final return, or by the estate on the estate's income tax return. • Ownership of the bond was transferred. The interest shown on your Form 1099-INT won't be reduced by interest that accrued before the transfer. • You were named as a co-owner, and the other co-owner contributed funds to buy the bond. The interest shown on your Form 1099-INT won't be reduced by the amount you received as nominee for the other co-owner. (See Co-owners, earlier in this chapter, for more information about the reporting requirements.) • You received the bond in a taxable distri- bution from a retirement or profit-sharing plan. The interest shown on your Form 1099-INT won't be reduced by the interest portion of the amount taxable as a distribution from the plan and not taxable as interest. (This amount is generally shown on Chapter 6 Interest Income Page 57 Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc., for the year of distribution.) For more information on including the correct amount of interest on your return, see How To Report Interest Income, later. Pub. 550 includes examples showing how to report these amounts. Interest on U.S. savings bonds is exTIP empt from state and local taxes. The Form 1099-INT you receive will indicate the amount that is for U.S. savings bond interest in box 3. Education Savings Bond Program You may be able to exclude from income all or part of the interest you receive on the redemption of qualified U.S. savings bonds during the year if you pay qualified higher educational expenses during the same year. This exclusion is known as the Education Savings Bond Program. You don't qualify for this exclusion if your filing status is married filing separately. Form 8815. Use Form 8815 to figure your exclusion. Attach the form to your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Qualified U.S. savings bonds. A qualified U.S. savings bond is a Series EE bond issued after 1989 or a Series I bond. The bond must be issued either in your name (sole owner) or in your and your spouse's names (co-owners). You must be at least 24 years old before the bond's issue date. For example, a bond bought by a parent and issued in the name of his or her child under age 24 doesn't qualify for the exclusion by the parent or child. The issue date of a bond may be earlier than the date the bond is purCAUTION chased because the issue date assigned to a bond is the first day of the month in which it is purchased. ! Beneficiary. You can designate any individual (including a child) as a beneficiary of the bond. Verification by IRS. If you claim the exclusion, the IRS will check it by using bond redemption information from the Department of the Treasury. Qualified expenses. Qualified higher education expenses are tuition and fees required for you, your spouse, or your dependent (for whom you claim an exemption) to attend an eligible educational institution. Qualified expenses include any contribution you make to a qualified tuition program or to a Coverdell education savings account (ESA). Qualified expenses don't include expenses for room and board or for courses involving sports, games, or hobbies that aren't part of a degree- or certificate-granting program. Eligible educational institutions. These institutions include most public, private, and nonprofit universities, colleges, and vocational Page 58 Chapter 6 Interest Income schools that are accredited and eligible to participate in student aid programs run by the U.S. Department of Education. 1040-SR, line 11) figured before the interest exclusion, and modified by adding back any: Reduction for certain benefits. You must reduce your qualified higher education expenses by all of the following tax-free benefits. 2. Foreign housing exclusion and deduction, 1. Tax-free part of scholarships and fellowships (see Scholarships and fellowships in chapter 8). 2. Expenses used to figure the tax-free portion of distributions from a Coverdell ESA. 3. Expenses used to figure the tax-free portion of distributions from a qualified tuition program. 4. Any tax-free payments (other than gifts or inheritances) received for educational expenses, such as: a. Veterans' educational assistance benefits, b. Qualified tuition reductions, or c. Employer-provided educational assistance. 5. Any expense used in figuring the American opportunity and lifetime learning credits. Amount excludable. If the total proceeds (interest and principal) from the qualified U.S. savings bonds you redeem during the year aren't more than your adjusted qualified higher education expenses for the year, you may be able to exclude all of the interest. If the proceeds are more than the expenses, you may be able to exclude only part of the interest. To determine the excludable amount, multiply the interest part of the proceeds by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the qualified higher education expenses you paid during the year. The denominator of the fraction is the total proceeds you received during the year. Example. In September 2020, Mark and Joan, a married couple, cashed qualified Series EE U.S. savings bonds with a total denomination of $10,000 that they bought in April 2004 for $5,000. They received proceeds of $7,128, representing principal of $5,000 and interest of $2,128. In 2020, they paid $4,000 of their daughter's college tuition. They aren't claiming an education credit for that amount, and their daughter doesn't have any tax-free educational assistance. They can exclude $1,194 ($2,128 × ($4,000 ÷ $7,128)) of interest in 2020. They must include the remaining $934 ($2,128 − $1,194) interest in gross income. Modified adjusted gross income limit. The interest exclusion is limited if your modified adjusted gross income (modified AGI) is: • $82,350 to $97,350 for taxpayers filing single or head of household, and • $123,550 to $153,550 for married taxpay- ers filing jointly or for a qualifying widow(er) with dependent child. You don't qualify for the interest exclusion if your modified AGI is equal to or more than the upper limit for your filing status. Modified AGI, for purposes of this exclusion, is adjusted gross income (Form 1040 or 1. Foreign earned income exclusion, 3. Exclusion of income for bona fide residents of American Samoa, 4. Exclusion for income from Puerto Rico, 5. Exclusion for adoption benefits received under an employer's adoption assistance program, 6. Deduction for student loan interest, and 7. Deduction for tuition and fees. Use the Line 9 Worksheet in the Form 8815 instructions to figure your modified AGI. If you have investment interest expense incurred to earn royalties and other investment income, see Education Savings Bond Program in chapter 1 of Pub. 550. Recordkeeping. If you claim the interest exclusion, you must keep a written RECORDS record of the qualified U.S. savings bonds you redeem. Your record must include the serial number, issue date, face value, and total redemption proceeds (principal and interest) of each bond. You can use Form 8818 to record this information. You should also keep bills, receipts, canceled checks, or other documentation that shows you paid qualified higher education expenses during the year. U.S. Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds Treasury bills, notes, and bonds are direct debts (obligations) of the U.S. Government. Taxation of interest. Interest income from Treasury bills, notes, and bonds is subject to federal income tax but is exempt from all state and local income taxes. You should receive a Form 1099-INT showing the interest paid to you for the year in box 3. Payments of principal and interest will generally be credited to your designated checking or savings account by direct deposit through the TreasuryDirect® system. Treasury bills. These bills generally have a 4-week, 13-week, 26-week, or 52-week maturity period. They are generally issued at a discount in the amount of $100 and multiples of $100. The difference between the discounted price you pay for the bills and the face value you receive at maturity is interest income. Generally, you report this interest income when the bill is paid at maturity. If you paid a premium for a bill (more than the face value), you generally report the premium as a section 171 deduction when the bill is paid at maturity. Treasury notes and bonds. Treasury notes have maturity periods of more than 1 year, ranging up to 10 years. Maturity periods for Treasury bonds are longer than 10 years. Both are generally issued in denominations of $100 to $1 million and generally pay interest every 6 months. Generally, you report this interest for the year paid. For more information, see U.S. Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds in chapter 1 of Pub. 550. For other information on Treasury notes or bonds, write to: Treasury Retail Securities Services P.O. Box 7015 Minneapolis, MN 55480-7015 Or, click on the link to the Treasury website at: TreasuryDirect.gov/indiv/ indiv.htm. For information on Series EE, Series I, and Series HH savings bonds, see U.S. Savings Bonds, earlier. Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS). These securities pay interest twice a year at a fixed rate, based on a principal amount adjusted to take into account inflation and deflation. For the tax treatment of these securities, see Inflation-Indexed Debt Instruments under Original Issue Discount (OID) in Pub. 550. Bonds Sold Between Interest Dates If you sell a bond between interest payment dates, part of the sales price represents interest accrued to the date of sale. You must report that part of the sales price as interest income for the year of sale. If you buy a bond between interest payment dates, part of the purchase price represents interest accrued before the date of purchase. When that interest is paid to you, treat it as a nontaxable return of your capital investment, rather than as interest income. See Accrued interest on bonds under How To Report Interest Income in chapter 1 of Pub. 550 for information on reporting the payment. Insurance Life insurance proceeds paid to you as beneficiary of the insured person are usually not taxable. But if you receive the proceeds in installments, you must usually report a part of each installment payment as interest income. For more information about insurance proceeds received in installments, see Pub. 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income. Annuity. If you buy an annuity with life insurance proceeds, the annuity payments you receive are taxed as pension and annuity income from a nonqualified plan, not as interest income. See chapter 5 for information on pension and annuity income from nonqualified plans. State or Local Government Obligations Interest on a bond used to finance government operations generally isn't taxable if the bond is issued by a state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of their political subdivisions. Bonds issued after 1982 (including tribal economic development bonds issued after February 17, 2009) by an Indian tribal government are treated as issued by a state. Interest on these bonds is generally tax exempt if the bonds are part of an issue of which substantially all proceeds are to be used in the exercise of any essential government function. For information on federally guaranteed bonds, mortgage revenue bonds, arbitrage bonds, private activity bonds, qualified tax credit bonds, and Build America bonds, see State or Local Government Obligations in chapter 1 of Pub. 550. Information-reporting requirement. If you file a tax return, you are required to show any tax-exempt interest you received on your return. This is an information-reporting requirement only. It doesn't change tax-exempt interest to taxable interest. Original Issue Discount (OID) Original issue discount (OID) is a form of interest. You generally include OID in your income as it accrues over the term of the debt instrument, whether or not you receive any payments from the issuer. A debt instrument generally has OID when the instrument is issued for a price that is less than its stated redemption price at maturity. OID is the difference between the stated redemption price at maturity and the issue price. All debt instruments that pay no interest before maturity are presumed to be issued at a discount. Zero coupon bonds are one example of these instruments. The OID accrual rules generally don't apply to short-term obligations (those with a fixed maturity date of 1 year or less from date of issue). See Discount on Short-Term Obligations in chapter 1 of Pub. 550. De minimis OID. You can treat the discount as zero if it is less than one-fourth of 1% (0.0025) of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of full years from the date of original issue to maturity. This small discount is known as de minimis OID. Example 1. You bought a 10-year bond with a stated redemption price at maturity of $1,000, issued at $980 with OID of $20. One-fourth of 1% of $1,000 (stated redemption price) times 10 (the number of full years from the date of original issue to maturity) equals $25. Because the $20 discount is less than $25, the OID is treated as zero. (If you hold the bond at maturity, you will recognize $20 ($1,000 − $980) of capital gain.) Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that the bond was issued at $950. The OID is $50. Because the $50 discount is more than the $25 figured in Example 1, you must include the OID in income as it accrues over the term of the bond. Debt instrument bought after original issue. If you buy a debt instrument with de minimis OID at a premium, the de minimis OID isn't includible in income. If you buy a debt instrument with de minimis OID at a discount, the discount is reported under the market discount rules. See Market Discount Bonds in chapter 1 of Pub. 550. Exceptions to reporting OID as current income. The OID rules discussed in this chapter don't apply to the following debt instruments. 1. Tax-exempt obligations. (However, see Stripped tax-exempt obligations under Stripped Bonds and Coupons in chapter 1 of Pub. 550.) 2. U.S. savings bonds. 3. Short-term debt instruments (those with a fixed maturity date of not more than 1 year from the date of issue). 4. Loans between individuals if all the following are true. a. The loan is not made in the course of a trade or business of the lender. b. The amount of the loan, plus the amount of any outstanding prior loans between the same individuals, is $10,000 or less. c. Avoiding any federal tax isn't one of the principal purposes of the loan. 5. A debt instrument purchased at a premium. Form 1099-OID. The issuer of the debt instrument (or your broker if you held the instrument through a broker) should give you Form 1099-OID, or a similar statement, if the total OID for the calendar year is $10 or more. Form 1099-OID will show, in box 1, the amount of OID for the part of the year that you held the bond. It will also show, in box 2, the stated interest you must include in your income. Box 8 shows OID on a U.S. Treasury obligation for the part of the year you owned it and isn't included in box 1. A copy of Form 1099-OID will be sent to the IRS. Don't file your copy with your return. Keep it for your records. In most cases, you must report the entire amount in boxes 1, 2, and 8 of Form 1099-OID as interest income. But see Refiguring OID shown on Form 1099-OID, later in this discussion, for more information. Form 1099-OID not received. If you had OID for the year but didn't receive a Form 1099-OID, you may have to figure the correct amount of OID to report on your return. See Pub. 1212 for details on how to figure the correct OID. Nominee. If someone else is the holder of record (the registered owner) of an OID instrument belonging to you and receives a Form 1099-OID on your behalf, that person must give you a Form 1099-OID. Refiguring OID shown on Form 1099-OID. You may need to refigure the OID shown in box 1 or box 8 of Form 1099-OID if either of the following applies. • You bought the debt instrument after its original issue and paid a premium or an acquisition premium. • The debt instrument is a stripped bond or a stripped coupon (including certain zero coupon instruments). If you acquired your debt instrument before January 1, 2014, your payer is only required to report a gross amount of OID in box 1 or box 8 of Form 1099-OID. Chapter 6 Interest Income Page 59 For information about figuring the correct amount of OID to include in your income, see Figuring OID on Long-Term Debt Instruments in Pub. 1212 and the instructions for Form 1099-OID. If you acquired your debt instrument on or after January 1, 2014, unless you have informed your payer that you do not want to amortize bond premium, your payer must generally report either (1) a net amount of OID that reflects the offset of OID by the amount of bond premium or acquisition premium amortization for the year, or (2) a gross amount for both the OID and the bond premium or acquisition premium amortization for the year. Refiguring periodic interest shown on Form 1099-OID. If you disposed of a debt instrument or acquired it from another holder during the year, see Bonds Sold Between Interest Dates, earlier, for information about the treatment of periodic interest that may be shown in box 2 of Form 1099-OID for that instrument. Certificates of deposit (CDs). If you buy a CD with a maturity of more than 1 year, you must include in income each year a part of the total interest due and report it in the same manner as other OID. This also applies to similar deposit arrangements with banks, building and loan associations, etc., including: • • • • • • Time deposits, Bonus plans, Savings certificates, Deferred income certificates, Bonus savings certificates, and Growth savings certificates. Bearer CDs. CDs issued after 1982 must generally be in registered form. Bearer CDs are CDs not in registered form. They aren't issued in the depositor's name and are transferable from one individual to another. Banks must provide the IRS and the person redeeming a bearer CD with a Form 1099-INT. More information. See chapter 1 of Pub. 550 for more information about OID and related topics, such as market discount bonds. When To Report Interest Income When to report your interest income depends on whether you use the cash method or an accrual method to report income. Cash method. Most individual taxpayers use the cash method. If you use this method, you generally report your interest income in the year in which you actually or constructively receive it. However, there are special rules for reporting the discount on certain debt instruments. See U.S. Savings Bonds and Original Issue Discount (OID), earlier. Example. On September 1, 2018, you loaned another individual $2,000 at 4% interest, compounded annually. You aren't in the business of lending money. The note stated that principal and interest would be due on August 31, 2020. In 2020, you received $2,163.20 Page 60 Chapter 6 Interest Income ($2,000 principal and $163.20 interest). If you use the cash method, you must include in income on your 2020 return the $163.20 interest you received in that year. 5. You received, as a nominee, interest that actually belongs to someone else. Constructive receipt. You constructively receive income when it is credited to your account or made available to you. You don't need to have physical possession of it. For example, you are considered to receive interest, dividends, or other earnings on any deposit or account in a bank, savings and loan, or similar financial institution, or interest on life insurance policy dividends left to accumulate, when they are credited to your account and subject to your withdrawal. This is true even if they aren't yet entered in your passbook. You constructively receive income on the deposit or account even if you must: 7. You received a Form 1099-INT for interest on a bond you bought between interest payment dates. • Make withdrawals in multiples of even amounts; • Give a notice to withdraw before making the withdrawal; • Withdraw all or part of the account to withdraw the earnings; or • Pay a penalty on early withdrawals, unless the interest you are to receive on an early withdrawal or redemption is substantially less than the interest payable at maturity. Accrual method. If you use an accrual method, you report your interest income when you earn it, whether or not you have received it. Interest is earned over the term of the debt instrument. Example. If, in the previous example, you use an accrual method, you must include the interest in your income as you earn it. You would report the interest as follows: 2018, $26.67; 2019, $81.06; and 2020, $55.47. Coupon bonds. Interest on bearer bonds with detachable coupons is generally taxable in the year the coupon becomes due and payable. It doesn't matter when you mail the coupon for payment. How To Report Interest Income Generally, you report all your taxable interest income on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 2b. Schedule B (Form 1040). You must also complete Schedule B (Form 1040), Part I, if you file Form 1040 or 1040-SR and any of the following apply. 1. Your taxable interest income is more than $1,500. 2. You are claiming the interest exclusion under the Education Savings Bond Program (discussed earlier). 3. You received interest from a seller-financed mortgage, and the buyer used the property as a home. 4. You received a Form 1099-INT for U.S. savings bond interest that includes amounts you reported in a previous tax year. 6. You received a Form 1099-INT for interest on frozen deposits. 8. You are reporting OID in an amount less than the amount shown on Form 1099-OID. 9. You reduce interest income from bonds by amortizable bond premium. In Part I, line 1, list each payer's name and the amount received from each. If you received a Form 1099-INT or Form 1099-OID from a brokerage firm, list the brokerage firm as the payer. Reporting tax-exempt interest. Total your tax-exempt interest (such as interest or accrued OID on certain state and municipal bonds, including zero coupon municipal bonds) reported on Form 1099-INT, box 8, and exempt-interest dividends from a mutual fund or other regulated investment company reported on Form 1099-DIV, box 11. Add these amounts to any other tax-exempt interest you received. Report the total on line 2a of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Form 1099-INT, box 9, and Form 1099-DIV, box 12, show the tax-exempt interest subject to the alternative minimum tax on Form 6251. These amounts are already included in the amounts on Form 1099-INT, box 8, and Form 1099-DIV, box 11. Don't add the amounts in Form 1099-INT, box 9, and Form 1099-DIV, box 12, to, or subtract them from, the amounts on Form 1099-INT, box 8, and Form 1099-DIV, box 11. ! Don't report interest from an IRA as tax-exempt interest. CAUTION Form 1099-INT. Your taxable interest income, except for interest from U.S. savings bonds and Treasury obligations, is shown in box 1 of Form 1099-INT. Add this amount to any other taxable interest income you received. See the instructions for Form 1099-INT if you have interest from a security acquired at a premium. You must report all of your taxable interest income even if you don't receive a Form 1099-INT. Contact your financial institution if you don't receive a Form 1099-INT by February 15. Your identifying number may be truncated on any paper Form 1099-INT you receive. If you forfeited interest income because of the early withdrawal of a time deposit, the deductible amount will be shown on Form 1099-INT in box 2. See Penalty on early withdrawal of savings in chapter 1 of Pub. 550. Box 3 of Form 1099-INT shows the interest income you received from U.S. savings bonds, Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds. Generally, add the amount shown in box 3 to any other taxable interest income you received. If part of the amount shown in box 3 was previously included in your interest income, see U.S. savings bond interest previously reported, later. If you acquired the security at a premium, see the instructions for Form 1099-INT. Box 4 of Form 1099-INT will contain an amount if you were subject to backup withholding. Include the amount from box 4 on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 25b (federal income tax withheld). Box 5 of Form 1099-INT shows investment expenses. See chapter 12 for more information about investment expenses. Box 6 of Form 1099-INT shows foreign tax paid. You may be able to claim this tax as a deduction or a credit on your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. See your tax return instructions. Box 7 of Form 1099-INT shows the country or U.S. possession to which the foreign tax was paid. U.S. savings bond interest previously reported. If you received a Form 1099-INT for U.S. savings bond interest, the form may show interest you don't have to report. See Form 1099-INT for U.S. savings bonds interest, earlier. On Schedule B (Form 1040), Part I, line 1, report all the interest shown on your Form 1099-INT. Then follow these steps. 1. Several rows above line 2, enter a subtotal of all interest listed on line 1. 2. Below the subtotal, enter “U.S. Savings Bond Interest Previously Reported” and enter amounts previously reported or interest accrued before you received the bond. 3. Subtract these amounts from the subtotal and enter the result on line 2. More information. For more information about how to report interest income, see chapter 1 of Pub. 550 or the instructions for the form you must file. • How to use the social security benefits worksheet (with examples). • Deductions related to your benefits and how to treat repayments that are more than the benefits you received during the year. Social security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. They don’t include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, which aren’t taxable. Equivalent tier 1 railroad retirement benefits are the part of tier 1 benefits that a railroad employee or beneficiary would have been entitled to receive under the social security system. They are commonly called the social security equivalent benefit (SSEB) portion of tier 1 benefits. If you received these benefits during 2020, you should have received a Form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement; or Form RRB-1099, Payments by the Railroad Retirement Board. These forms show the amounts received and repaid, and taxes withheld for the year. You may receive more than one of these forms for the same year. You should add the amounts shown on all the Forms SSA-1099 and Forms RRB-1099 you receive for the year to determine the total amounts received and repaid, and taxes withheld for that year. See the Appendix at the end of Pub. 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, for more information. my Social Security account. Social security beneficiaries may quickly and easily obtain information from the SSA's website with a my Social Security account to: them every year, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits Introduction This chapter explains the federal income tax rules for social security benefits and equivalent tier 1 railroad retirement benefits. It explains the following topics. • How to figure whether your benefits are taxable. • How to report your taxable benefits. Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 505 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax 505 519 U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens 519 575 Pension and Annuity Income 575 590-A Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) 590-A 915 Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits 915 Forms (and Instructions) 1040-ES Estimated Tax for Individuals 1040-ES SSA-1099 Social Security Benefit Statement SSA-1099 RRB-1099 Payments by the Railroad Retirement Board RRB-1099 Note. When the term “benefits” is used in this chapter, it applies to both social security benefits and the SSEB portion of tier 1 railroad retirement benefits. • Keep track of your earnings and verify 7. Nonresident Alien Recipients of Payments by the Railroad Retirement Board. For information about these benefits, see Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens; and Pub. 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits. This chapter also doesn’t cover the tax rules for foreign social security benefits. These benefits are taxable as annuities, unless they are exempt from U.S. tax or treated as a U.S. social security benefit under a tax treaty. • Get an estimate of your future benefits if you are still working, • Get a letter with proof of your benefits if you currently receive them, • • • • Change your address, Start or change your direct deposit, Get a replacement Medicare card, and Get a replacement Form SSA-1099 for the tax season. For more information and to set up an account, go to SSA.gov/myaccount. What isn’t covered in this chapter. This chapter doesn’t cover the tax rules for the following railroad retirement benefits. • Non-social security equivalent benefit (NSSEB) portion of tier 1 benefits. • Tier 2 benefits. • Vested dual benefits. • Supplemental annuity benefits. For information on these benefits, see Pub. 575, Pension and Annuity Income. This chapter doesn’t cover the tax rules for social security benefits reported on Form SSA-1042S, Social Security Benefit Statement; or Form RRB-1042S, Statement for Chapter 7 W-4V Voluntary Withholding Request W-4V For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. Are Any of Your Benefits Taxable? To find out whether any of your benefits may be taxable, compare the base amount (explained later) for your filing status with the total of: 1. One-half of your benefits; plus 2. All your other income, including tax-exempt interest. Exclusions. When making this comparison, don’t reduce your other income by any exclusions for: • Interest from qualified U.S. savings bonds, • Employer-provided adoption benefits, • Foreign earned income or foreign housing, or • Income earned by bona fide residents of American Samoa or Puerto Rico. Children's benefits. The rules in this chapter apply to benefits received by children. See Who is taxed, later. Figuring total income. To figure the total of one-half of your benefits plus your other income, use Worksheet 7-1, discussed later. If the total is more than your base amount, part of your benefits may be taxable. If you are married and file a joint return for 2020, you and your spouse must combine your incomes and your benefits to figure whether any of your combined benefits are taxable. Even if Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits Page 61 your spouse didn’t receive any benefits, you must add your spouse's income to yours to figure whether any of your benefits are taxable. If the only income you received during TIP 2020 was your social security or the SSEB portion of tier 1 railroad retirement benefits, your benefits generally aren’t taxable and you probably don’t have to file a return. If you have income in addition to your benefits, you may have to file a return even if none of your benefits are taxable. See Do I Have To File a Return? in chapter 1, earlier; Pub. 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information; or your tax return instructions to find out if you have to file a return. Base amount. Your base amount is: • $25,000 if you are single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er); • $25,000 if you are married filing separately and lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020; • $32,000 if you are married filing jointly; or • $0 if you are married filing separately and lived with your spouse at any time during 2020. Worksheet 7-1. You can use Worksheet 7-1 to figure the amount of income to compare with your base amount. This is a quick way to check whether some of your benefits may be taxable. Worksheet 7-1. A Quick Way To Check if Your Benefits May Be Taxable Filled-in Worksheet 7-1. A Quick Way To Check if Your Benefits May Be Taxable Note. If you plan to file a joint income tax return, include your spouse's amounts, if any, on lines A, C, and D. Note. If you plan to file a joint income tax return, include your spouse's amounts, if any, on lines A, C, and D. A. Enter the amount from box 5 of all your Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099. Include the full amount of any lump-sum benefit payments received in 2020, for 2020 and earlier years. (If you received more than one form, combine the amounts from box 5 and enter the total.) . . . . . . . A. Note. If the amount on line A is zero or less, stop here; none of your benefits are taxable this year. A. Enter the amount from box 5 of all your Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099. Include the full amount of any lump-sum benefit payments received in 2020, for 2020 and earlier years. (If you received more than one form, combine the amounts from box 5 and enter the total.) . . . . . . . A. $8,200 Note. If the amount on line A is zero or less, stop here; none of your benefits are taxable this year. B. Multiply line A by 50% (0.50) . . . . . . . . . . B. B. Multiply line A by 50% (0.50) . . . . . . . . . . C. C. Enter your total income that is taxable (excluding line A), such as pensions, wages, interest, ordinary dividends, and capital gain distributions. Don’t reduce your income by any deductions, exclusions (listed earlier), or exemptions . . . . . . . . . . C. 27,500 D. D. Enter any tax-exempt interest income, such as interest on municipal bonds . . . . . . . . . . . D. . . . C. Enter your total income that is taxable (excluding line A), such as pensions, wages, interest, ordinary dividends, and capital gain distributions. Don’t reduce your income by any deductions, exclusions (listed earlier), or exemptions . . . . . . . . . . D. Enter any tax-exempt interest income, such as interest on municipal bonds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 62 . . . B. 4,100 -0- E. Add lines B, C, and D . . . E. Note. Compare the amount on line E to your base amount for your filing status. If the amount on line E equals or is less than the base amount for your filing status, none of your benefits are taxable this year. If the amount on line E is more than your base amount, some of your benefits may be taxable and you will need to complete Worksheet 1 in Pub. 915 (or the Social Security Benefits Worksheet in your tax form instructions). If none of your benefits are taxable, but you otherwise must file a tax return, see Benefits not taxable, later, under How To Report Your Benefits. E. $31,600 Note. Compare the amount on line E to your base amount for your filing status. If the amount on line E equals or is less than the base amount for your filing status, none of your benefits are taxable this year. If the amount on line E is more than your base amount, some of your benefits may be taxable and you will need to complete Worksheet 1 in Pub. 915 (or the Social Security Benefits Worksheet in your tax form instructions). If none of your benefits are taxable, but you otherwise must file a tax return, see Benefits not taxable, later, under How To Report Your Benefits. Example. You and your spouse (both over 65) are filing a joint return for 2020 and you both received social security benefits during the year. In January 2021, you received a Form SSA-1099 showing net benefits of $5,700 in box 5. Your spouse received a Form SSA-1099 showing net benefits of $2,500 in box 5. You also received a taxable pension of $26,800 and interest income of $700. You didn’t have any tax-exempt interest income. Your benefits aren’t taxable for 2020 because your income, as figured in Worksheet 7-1, isn’t more than your base amount ($32,000) for married filing jointly. Even though none of your benefits are taxable, you must file a return for 2020 because your taxable gross income ($27,500) exceeds the minimum filing requirement amount for your filing status. Who is taxed. Benefits are included in the taxable income (to the extent they are taxable) of the person who has the legal right to receive the benefits. For example, if you and your child receive benefits, but the check for your child is made out in your name, you must use only your part of the benefits to see whether any benefits are taxable to you. One-half of the part that belongs to your child must be added to your child's other income to see whether any of those benefits are taxable to your child. Chapter 7 Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits E. Add lines B, C, and D . . . . . . Repayment of benefits. Any repayment of benefits you made during 2020 must be subtracted from the gross benefits you received in 2020. It doesn’t matter whether the repayment was for a benefit you received in 2020 or in an earlier year. If you repaid more than the gross benefits you received in 2020, see Repayments More Than Gross Benefits, later. Your gross benefits are shown in box 3 of Form SSA-1099 or RRB-1099. Your repayments are shown in box 4. The amount in box 5 shows your net benefits for 2020 (box 3 minus box 4). Use the amount in box 5 to figure whether any of your benefits are taxable. Tax withholding and estimated tax. You can choose to have federal income tax withheld from your social security benefits and/or the SSEB portion of your tier 1 railroad retirement benefits. If you choose to do this, you must complete a Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request. If you don’t choose to have income tax withheld, you may have to request additional withholding from other income or pay estimated tax during the year. For details, see chapter 4, earlier; Pub. 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax; or the Instructions for Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals. How To Report Your Benefits If part of your benefits are taxable, you must use Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Reporting on Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Report your net benefits (the total amount from box 5 of all your Forms SSA-1099 and Forms RRB-1099) on line 6a and the taxable part on line 6b. If you are married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, also enter “D” to the right of the word “benefits” on line 6a. Benefits not taxable. Report your net benefits (the total amount from box 5 of all your Forms SSA-1099 and Forms RRB-1099) on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a. Enter -0- on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b. If you are married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, also enter “D” to the right of the word “benefits” on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a. How Much Is Taxable? If part of your benefits are taxable, how much is taxable depends on the total amount of your benefits and other income. Generally, the higher that total amount, the greater the taxable part of your benefits. Maximum taxable part. Generally, up to 50% of your benefits will be taxable. However, up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable if either of the following situations applies to you. • The total of one-half of your benefits and all your other income is more than $34,000 ($44,000 if you are married filing jointly). • You are married filing separately and lived with your spouse at any time during 2020. Which worksheet to use. A worksheet you can use to figure your taxable benefits is in the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. You can use either that worksheet or Worksheet 1 in Pub. 915, unless any of the following situations applies to you. 1. You contributed to a traditional individual retirement arrangement (IRA) and you or your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work. In this situation, you must use the special worksheets in Appendix B of Pub. 590-A to figure both your IRA deduction and your taxable benefits. 2. Situation 1 doesn’t apply and you take an exclusion for interest from qualified U.S. savings bonds (Form 8815), for adoption benefits (Form 8839), for foreign earned income or housing (Form 2555), or for income earned in American Samoa (Form 4563) or Puerto Rico by bona fide residents. In this situation, you must use Worksheet 1 in Pub. 915 to figure your taxable benefits. 3. You received a lump-sum payment for an earlier year. In this situation, also complete Worksheet 2 or 3 and Worksheet 4 in Pub. 915. See Lump-sum election next. Lump-sum election. You must include the taxable part of a lump-sum (retroactive) payment of benefits received in 2020 in your 2020 income, even if the payment includes benefits for an earlier year. This type of lump-sum benefit payment be confused with the lump-sum death benefit that both the SSA and RRB pay to many of their beneficiaries. No part of the lump-sum death benefit is subject to tax. TIP shouldn’t Generally, you use your 2020 income to figure the taxable part of the total benefits received in 2020. However, you may be able to figure the taxable part of a lump-sum payment for an earlier year separately, using your income for the earlier year. You can elect this method if it lowers your taxable benefits. Making the election. If you received a lump-sum benefit payment in 2020 that includes benefits for one or more earlier years, follow the instructions in Pub. 915 under Lump-Sum Election to see whether making the election will lower your taxable benefits. That discussion also explains how to make the election. Because the earlier year's taxable benefits are included in your 2020 income, CAUTION no adjustment is made to the earlier year's return. Don’t file an amended return for the earlier year. ! Examples To figure his taxable benefits, George completes the worksheet shown here. Be sure to consider the adjustment to TIP income for charitable contributions on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 10b, when deciding whether to itemize. You can only claim that adjustment to income if you take the standard deduction. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR for more information. Filled-in Worksheet 1. Figuring Your Taxable Benefits 1. Enter the total amount from box 5 of ALL your Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099. Also enter this amount on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a . . . . . . . $5,980 2. Multiply line 1 by 50% (0.50) . . . . . . . 2,990 3. Combine the amounts from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, lines 1, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 7; and Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 9 . . . 28,990 4. Enter the amount, if any, from Form -01040 or 1040-SR, line 2a . . . . . . . . 5. Enter the total of any exclusions/ adjustments for: • Adoption benefits (Form 8839, line 28), • Foreign earned income or housing (Form 2555, lines 45 and 50), and • Certain income of bona fide residents of American Samoa (Form 4563, line 15) or Puerto -0Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Combine lines 2, 3, 4, and 5 . . . . . . . 31,980 7. Enter the total of the amounts from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 10b, Schedule 1 (Form 1040), lines 10 through 19, plus any write-in adjustments you entered on the dotted line next to Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Is the amount on line 7 less than the amount on line 6? No. None of your social security benefits are taxable. Enter -0- on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b. Yes. Subtract line 7 from line 6 . . . . . -0- STOP 31,980 9. If you are: • Married filing jointly, enter $32,000 • Single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, enter $25,000 . . . . . . . . 25,000 The following are a few examples you can use as a guide to figure the taxable part of your benefits. Example 1. George White is single and files Form 1040 for 2020. He received the following income in 2020. Fully taxable pension . . . . . . . . Wages from part-time job . . . . . Taxable interest income . . . . . . $18,600 9,400 990 Total $28,990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George also received social security benefits during 2020. The Form SSA-1099 he received in January 2021 shows $5,980 in box 5. Chapter 7 Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits Page 63 Filled-in Worksheet 1. Figuring Your Taxable Benefits Note. If you are married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time in 2020, skip lines 9 through 16, multiply line 8 by 85% (0.85), and enter the result on line 17. Then go to line 18. 10. Is the amount on line 9 less than the amount on line 8? 1. Enter the total amount from box 5 of ALL your Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099. Also enter this amount on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a . . . . . . . $5,600 STOP No. None of your benefits are taxable. Enter -0- on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b. If you are married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, be sure you entered “D” to the right of the word “benefits” on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a. Yes. Subtract line 9 from line 8 . . . . 6,980 2. Multiply line 1 by 50% (0.50) . . . 3. Combine the amounts from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, lines 1, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 7; and Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 9 . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Enter the amount, if any, from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 2a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. Enter $12,000 if married filing jointly; or $9,000 if single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020 . . . . . . . . 9,000 12. Subtract line 11 from line 10. If zero or -0less, enter -0- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. Enter the smaller of line 10 or line 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,980 14. Multiply line 13 by 50% (0.50) . . . . . . 3,490 5. Enter the total of any exclusions/ adjustments for: • Adoption benefits (Form 8839, line 28), • Foreign earned income or housing (Form 2555, lines 45 and 50), and • Certain income of bona fide residents of American Samoa (Form 4563, line 15) or Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15. Enter the smaller of line 2 or line 14 6. Combine lines 2, 3, 4, and 5 . . 2,990 16. Multiply line 12 by 85% (0.85). If line 12 is zero, enter -0- . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. Add lines 15 and 16 . . . . . . . . . . . 2,990 18. Multiply line 1 by 85% (0.85) 5,083 . . . . . . . -0- 19. Taxable benefits. Enter the smaller of line 17 or line 18. Also enter this amount on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b . . . $2,990 The amount on line 19 of George's worksheet shows that $2,990 of his social security benefits is taxable. On line 6a of his Form 1040, George enters his net benefits of $5,980. On line 6b, he enters his taxable benefits of $2,990. Example 2. Ray and Alice Hopkins file a joint return on Form 1040 for 2020. Ray is retired and received a fully taxable pension of $15,500. He also received social security benefits, and his Form SSA-1099 for 2020 shows net benefits of $5,600 in box 5. Alice worked during the year and had wages of $14,000. She made a deductible payment to her IRA account of $1,000 and isn’t covered by a retirement plan at work. Ray and Alice have two savings accounts with a total of $250 in taxable interest income. They complete Worksheet 1, shown below, entering $29,750 ($15,500 + $14,000 + $250) on line 3. They find none of Ray's social security benefits are taxable. On Form 1040, they enter $5,600 on line 6a and -0- on line 6b. Page 64 . . . 7. Enter the total of the amounts from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 10b, Schedule 1 (Form 1040), lines 10 through 19, plus any write-in adjustments you entered on the dotted line next to Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Is the amount on line 7 less than the amount on line 6? 2,800 15. Enter the smaller of line 2 or line 14 29,750 -0- -032,550 1,000 No. None of your social security benefits are taxable. Enter -0- on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b. Yes. Subtract line 7 from 31,550 line 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. If you are: • Married filing jointly, enter $32,000 • Single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, enter $25,000 . . . . . . . . 32,000 Note. If you are married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time in 2020, skip lines 9 through 16, multiply line 8 by 85% (0.85), and enter the result on line 17. Then go to line 18. 10. Is the amount on line 9 less than the amount on line 8? STOP STOP No. None of your benefits are taxable. Enter -0- on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b. If you are married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, be sure you entered “D” to the right of the word “benefits” on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a. Yes. Subtract line 9 from line 8 . . . . Chapter 7 Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits 11. Enter $12,000 if married filing jointly; or $9,000 if single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020 . . . . . . . . 12. Subtract line 11 from line 10. If zero or less, enter -0- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. Enter the smaller of line 10 or line 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14. Multiply line 13 by 50% (0.50) . . . . . . . . 16. Multiply line 12 by 85% (0.85). If line 12 is zero, enter -0- . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. Add lines 15 and 16 . . . . . . . . . . . 18. Multiply line 1 by 85% (0.85) . . . . . . . 19. Taxable benefits. Enter the smaller of line 17 or line 18. Also enter this amount on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b . . . Example 3. Joe and Betty Johnson file a joint return on Form 1040 for 2020. Joe is a retired railroad worker and in 2020 received the SSEB portion of tier 1 railroad retirement benefits. Joe's Form RRB-1099 shows $10,000 in box 5. Betty is a retired government worker and received a fully taxable pension of $38,000. They had $2,300 in taxable interest income plus interest of $200 on a qualified U.S. savings bond. The savings bond interest qualified for the exclusion. They figure their taxable benefits by completing Worksheet 1, shown below. Because they have qualified U.S. savings bond interest, they follow the note at the beginning of the worksheet and use the amount from line 2 of their Schedule B (Form 1040) on line 3 of the worksheet instead of the amount from line 2b of their Form 1040. On line 3 of the worksheet, they enter $40,500 ($38,000 + $2,500). Filled-in Worksheet 1. Figuring Your Taxable Benefits Before you begin: • If you are married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, enter “D” to the right of the word “benefits” on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a. • Don’t use this worksheet if you repaid benefits in 2020 and your total repayments (box 4 of Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099) were more than your gross benefits for 2020 (box 3 of Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099). None of your benefits are taxable for 2020. For more information, see Repayments More Than Gross Benefits, later. • If you are filing Form 8815, Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989, don’t include the amount from line 2b of Form 1040 or 1040-SR on line 3 of this worksheet. Instead, include the amount from Schedule B (Form 1040), line 2. 1. Enter the total amount from box 5 of ALL your Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099. Also enter this amount on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a . . . . . . . $10,000 2. Multiply line 1 by 50% (0.50) . . . . . . . 5,000 3. Combine the amounts from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, lines 1, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 7; and Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 9 . . . 40,500 4. Enter the amount, if any, from Form -01040 or 1040-SR, line 2a . . . . . . . . 5. Enter the total of any exclusions/ adjustments for: • Adoption benefits (Form 8839, line 28), • Foreign earned income or housing (Form 2555, lines 45 and 50), and • Certain income of bona fide residents of American Samoa (Form 4563, line 15) or Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Combine lines 2, 3, 4, and 5 -0- . . . . . . . 7. Enter the total of the amounts from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 10b, Schedule 1 (Form 1040), lines 10 through 19, plus any write-in adjustments you entered on the dotted line next to Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Is the amount on line 7 less than the amount on line 6? No. None of your social security benefits are taxable. Enter -0- on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b. Yes. Subtract line 7 from line 6 . . . . 45,500 Note. If you are married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time in 2020, skip lines 9 through 16, multiply line 8 by 85% (0.85), and enter the result on line 17. Then go to line 18. 10. Is the amount on line 9 less than the amount on line 8? STOP No. None of your benefits are taxable. Enter -0- on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b. If you are married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, be sure you entered “D” to the right of the word “benefits” on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6a. Yes. Subtract line 9 from line 8 . . . . 13,500 11. Enter $12,000 if married filing jointly; or $9,000 if single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020 . . . . . . . . 12. Subtract line 11 from line 10. If zero or less, enter -0- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. Enter the smaller of line 10 or line 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14. Multiply line 13 by 50% (0.50) . . . . . . 15. Enter the smaller of line 2 or line 14 12,000 1,500 12,000 6,000 . . 5,000 16. Multiply line 12 by 85% (0.85). If line 12 is zero, enter -0- . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. Add lines 15 and 16 . . . . . . . . . . . 1,275 18. Multiply line 1 by 85% (0.85) 8,500 . . . . . . . 6,275 19. Taxable benefits. Enter the smaller of line 17 or line 18. Also enter this amount on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 6b . . . $6,275 More than 50% of Joe's net benefits are taxable because the income on line 8 of the worksheet ($45,500) is more than $44,000. (See Maximum taxable part under How Much Is Taxable, earlier.) Joe and Betty enter $10,000 on Form 1040, line 6a; and $6,275 on Form 1040, line 6b. Deductions Related to Your Benefits You may be entitled to deduct certain amounts related to the benefits you receive. . -0- STOP 45,500 9. If you are: • Married filing jointly, enter $32,000 • Single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately and you lived apart from your spouse for all of 2020, enter $25,000 . . . . . . . . 32,000 Disability payments. You may have received disability payments from your employer or an insurance company that you included as income on your tax return in an earlier year. If you received a lump-sum payment from the SSA or RRB, and you had to repay the employer or insurance company for the disability payments, you can take an itemized deduction for the part of the payments you included in gross income in the earlier year. If the amount you repay is more than $3,000, you may be able to claim a tax credit instead. Claim the deduction or credit in the same way explained under Repayment of benefits received in an earlier year in the section Repayments More Than Gross Benefits next. Repayments More Than Gross Benefits In some situations, your Form SSA-1099 or Form RRB-1099 will show that the total benefits Chapter 7 you repaid (box 4) are more than the gross benefits (box 3) you received. If this occurred, your net benefits in box 5 will be a negative figure (a figure in parentheses) and none of your benefits will be taxable. Don’t use a worksheet in this case. If you receive more than one form, a negative figure in box 5 of one form is used to offset a positive figure in box 5 of another form for that same year. If you have any questions about this negative figure, contact your local SSA office or your local RRB field office. Joint return. If you and your spouse file a joint return, and your Form SSA-1099 or RRB-1099 has a negative figure in box 5, but your spouse's doesn’t, subtract the amount in box 5 of your form from the amount in box 5 of your spouse's form. You do this to get your net benefits when figuring if your combined benefits are taxable. Example. John and Mary file a joint return for 2020. John received Form SSA-1099 showing $3,000 in box 5. Mary also received Form SSA-1099 and the amount in box 5 was ($500). John and Mary will use $2,500 ($3,000 minus $500) as the amount of their net benefits when figuring if any of their combined benefits are taxable. Repayment of benefits received in an earlier year. If the total amount shown in box 5 of all of your Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099 is a negative figure, you may be able to deduct part of this negative figure that represents benefits you included in gross income in an earlier year if the figure is more than $3,000. If the figure is $3,000 or less, it is a miscellaneous itemized deduction and can no longer be deducted. Deduction more than $3,000. If this deduction is more than $3,000, you should figure your tax two ways. 1. Figure your tax for 2020 with the itemized deduction included on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16. 2. Figure your tax for 2020 in the following steps. a. Figure the tax without the itemized deduction included on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16. b. For each year after 1983 for which part of the negative figure represents a repayment of benefits, refigure your taxable benefits as if your total benefits for the year were reduced by that part of the negative figure. Then refigure the tax for that year. c. Subtract the total of the refigured tax amounts in (b) from the total of your actual tax amounts. d. Subtract the result in (c) from the result in (a). Compare the tax figured in methods 1 and 2. Your tax for 2020 is the smaller of the two amounts. If method 1 results in less tax, take the itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16. If method 2 results in less tax, claim a credit for the amount from step 2c above on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 12d. Enter “I.R.C. 1341” on the entry line. If both Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits Page 65 methods produce the same tax, deduct the repayment on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16. 523 Selling Your Home 523 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income changes during 2020. The IRS will also receive a copy of Form 1099-B. 525 544 Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets 544 547 Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts 547 8. 550 Investment Income and Expenses 550 4681 Canceled Debts, Foreclosures, Repossessions, and Abandonments 4681 Other Income Reminders Unemployment compensation. If you received unemployment compensation but did not receive Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, through the mail, you may need to access your information through your state’s website to get your electronic Form 1099-G. Introduction You must include on your return all items of income you receive in the form of money, property, and services unless the tax law states that you don’t include them. Some items, however, are only partly excluded from income. This chapter discusses many kinds of income and explains whether they’re taxable or nontaxable. • Income that’s taxable must be reported on your tax return and is subject to tax. • Income that’s nontaxable may have to be shown on your tax return but isn’t taxable. This chapter begins with discussions of the following income items. • Bartering. • Canceled debts. • Sales parties at which you’re the host or hostess. • • • • • • • • • Life insurance proceeds. Partnership income. S corporation income. Recoveries (including state income tax refunds). Rents from personal property. Repayments. Royalties. Unemployment benefits. Welfare and other public assistance benefits. These discussions are followed by brief discussions of other income items. Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 502 Medical and Dental Expenses 502 504 Divorced or Separated Individuals 504 Page 66 Chapter 8 Other Income For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. Bartering Bartering is an exchange of property or services. You must include in your income, at the time received, the fair market value of property or services you receive in bartering. If you exchange services with another person and you both have agreed ahead of time on the value of the services, that value will be accepted as fair market value unless the value can be shown to be otherwise. Generally, you report this income on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business. However, if the barter involves an exchange of something other than services, such as in Example 3 below, you may have to use another form or schedule instead. Example 1. You’re a self-employed attorney who performs legal services for a client, a small corporation. The corporation gives you shares of its stock as payment for your services. You must include the fair market value of the shares in your income on Schedule C (Form 1040) in the year you receive them. Example 2. You’re self-employed and a member of a barter club. The club uses “credit units” as a means of exchange. It adds credit units to your account for goods or services you provide to members, which you can use to purchase goods or services offered by other members of the barter club. The club subtracts credit units from your account when you receive goods or services from other members. You must include in your income the value of the credit units that are added to your account, even though you may not actually receive goods or services from other members until a later tax year. Example 3. You own a small apartment building. In return for 6 months rent-free use of an apartment, an artist gives you a work of art she created. You must report as rental income on Schedule E (Form 1040), Supplemental Income and Loss, the fair market value of the artwork, and the artist must report as income on Schedule C (Form 1040) the fair rental value of the apartment. Form 1099-B from barter exchange. If you exchanged property or services through a barter exchange, Form 1099-B, Proceeds From Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions, or a similar statement from the barter exchange should be sent to you by February 16, 2021. It should show the value of cash, property, services, credits, or scrip you received from ex- Canceled Debts In most cases, if a debt you owe is canceled or forgiven, other than as a gift or bequest, you must include the canceled amount in your income. You have no income from the canceled debt if it’s intended as a gift to you. A debt includes any indebtedness for which you’re liable or which attaches to property you hold. If the debt is a nonbusiness debt, report the canceled amount on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. If it’s a business debt, report the amount on Schedule C (Form 1040) (or on Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming, if the debt is farm debt and you’re a farmer). Form 1099-C. If a federal government agency, financial institution, or credit union cancels or forgives a debt you owe of $600 or more, you will receive a Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt. The amount of the canceled debt is shown in box 2. Interest included in canceled debt. If any interest is forgiven and included in the amount of canceled debt in box 2, the amount of interest will also be shown in box 3. Whether or not you must include the interest portion of the canceled debt in your income depends on whether the interest would be deductible when you paid it. See Deductible debt under Exceptions, later. If the interest wouldn’t be deductible (such as interest on a personal loan), include in your income the amount from box 2 of Form 1099-C. If the interest would be deductible (such as on a business loan), include in your income the net amount of the canceled debt (the amount shown in box 2 less the interest amount shown in box 3). Discounted mortgage loan. If your financial institution offers a discount for the early payment of your mortgage loan, the amount of the discount is canceled debt. You must include the canceled amount in your income. Mortgage relief upon sale or other disposition. If you’re personally liable for a mortgage (recourse debt), and you’re relieved of the mortgage when you dispose of the property, you may realize gain or loss up to the fair market value of the property. Also, to the extent the mortgage discharge exceeds the fair market value of the property, it’s income from discharge of indebtedness unless it qualifies for exclusion under Excluded debt, later. Report any income from discharge of indebtedness on nonbusiness debt that doesn’t qualify for exclusion as other income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. If you aren’t personally liable for a mortgage (nonrecourse debt), and you’re relieved of the mortgage when you dispose of the property (such as through foreclosure), that relief is included in the amount you realize. You may have a taxable gain if the amount you realize exceeds your adjusted basis in the property. Report any gain on nonbusiness property as a capital gain. See Pub. 4681 for more information. Stockholder debt. If you’re a stockholder in a corporation and the corporation cancels or forgives your debt to it, the canceled debt is a constructive distribution that’s generally dividend income to you. For more information, see Pub. 542, Corporations. If you’re a stockholder in a corporation and you cancel a debt owed to you by the corporation, you generally don’t realize income. This is because the canceled debt is considered as a contribution to the capital of the corporation equal to the amount of debt principal that you canceled. Repayment of canceled debt. If you included a canceled amount in your income and later pay the debt, you may be able to file a claim for refund for the year the amount was included in income. You can file a claim on Form 1040-X if the statute of limitations for filing a claim is still open. The statute of limitations generally doesn’t end until 3 years after the due date of your original return. Exceptions There are several exceptions to the inclusion of canceled debt in income. These are explained next. Student loans. Certain student loans contain a provision that all or part of the debt incurred to attend the qualified educational institution will be canceled if you work for a certain period of time in certain professions for any of a broad class of employers. You don’t have income if your student loan is canceled after you agreed to this provision and then performed the services required. To qualify, the loan must have been made by: 1. The federal government, a state or local government, or an instrumentality, agency, or subdivision thereof; 2. A tax-exempt public benefit corporation that has assumed control of a state, county, or municipal hospital, and whose employees are considered public employees under state law; or 3. An educational institution: a. Under an agreement with an entity described in (1) or (2) that provided the funds to the institution to make the loan, or b. As part of a program of the institution designed to encourage its students to serve in occupations with unmet needs or in areas with unmet needs and under which the services provided by the students (or former students) are for or under the direction of a governmental unit or a tax-exempt organization described in section 501(c)(3). A loan to refinance a qualified student loan will also qualify if it was made by an educational institution or a qualified tax-exempt organization under its program designed as described in item 3b above. Education loan repayment assistance. Education loan repayments made to you by the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC Loan Repayment Program), a state education loan repayment program eligible for funds under the Public Health Service Act, or any other state loan repayment or loan forgiveness program that’s intended to provide for the increased availability of health services in underserved or health professional shortage areas aren’t taxable. Deductible debt. You don’t have income from the cancellation of a debt if your payment of the debt would be deductible. This exception applies only if you use the cash method of accounting. For more information, see chapter 5 of Pub. 334, Tax Guide for Small Business. Price reduced after purchase. In most cases, if the seller reduces the amount of debt you owe for property you purchased, you don’t have income from the reduction. The reduction of the debt is treated as a purchase price adjustment and reduces your basis in the property. Excluded debt. Don’t include a canceled debt in your gross income in the following situations. • The debt is canceled in a bankruptcy case under title 11 of the U.S. Code. See Pub. 908, Bankruptcy Tax Guide. • The debt is canceled when you’re insol- vent. However, you can’t exclude any amount of canceled debt that’s more than the amount by which you’re insolvent. See Pub. 908. • The debt is qualified farm debt and is can- celed by a qualified person. See chapter 3 of Pub. 225, Farmer's Tax Guide. • The debt is qualified real property business debt. See chapter 5 of Pub. 334. • The cancellation is intended as a gift. • The debt is qualified principal residence indebtedness. Host or Hostess If you host a party or event at which sales are made, any gift or gratuity you receive for giving the event is a payment for helping a direct seller make sales. You must report this item as income at its fair market value. Your out-of-pocket party expenses are subject to the 50% limit for meal expenses. For tax years 2018 through 2025, no deduction is allowed for any expenses related to activities generally considered entertainment, amusement, or recreation. Taxpayers may continue to deduct 50% of the cost of business meals if the taxpayer (or an employee of the taxpayer) is present and the food or beverages are not considered lavish or extravagant. The meals may be provided to a current or potential business customer, client, consultant, or similar business contact. Food and beverages that are provided during entertainment events will not be considered entertainment if purchased separately from the event. For more information about the 50% limit for meal expenses, see Pub. 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses. Life Insurance Proceeds Life insurance proceeds paid to you because of the death of the insured person aren’t taxable unless the policy was turned over to you for a price. This is true even if the proceeds were paid under an accident or health insurance policy or an endowment contract. However, interest income received as a result of life insurance proceeds may be taxable. Proceeds not received in installments. If death benefits are paid to you in a lump sum or other than at regular intervals, include in your income only the benefits that are more than the amount payable to you at the time of the insured person's death. If the benefit payable at death isn’t specified, you include in your income the benefit payments that are more than the present value of the payments at the time of death. Proceeds received in installments. If you receive life insurance proceeds in installments, you can exclude part of each installment from your income. To determine the excluded part, divide the amount held by the insurance company (generally, the total lump sum payable at the death of the insured person) by the number of installments to be paid. Include anything over this excluded part in your income as interest. Surviving spouse. If your spouse died before October 23, 1986, and insurance proceeds paid to you because of the death of your spouse are received in installments, you can exclude up to $1,000 a year of the interest included in the installments. If you remarry, you can continue to take the exclusion. Surrender of policy for cash. If you surrender a life insurance policy for cash, you must include in income any proceeds that are more than the cost of the life insurance policy. In most cases, your cost (or investment in the contract) is the total of premiums that you paid for the life insurance policy, less any refunded premiums, rebates, dividends, or unrepaid loans that weren’t included in your income. You should receive a Form 1099-R showing the total proceeds and the taxable part. Report these amounts on lines 5a and 5b of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. More information. For more information, see Life Insurance Proceeds in Pub. 525. Endowment Contract Proceeds An endowment contract is a policy under which you’re paid a specified amount of money on a certain date unless you die before that date, in which case the money is paid to your designated beneficiary. Endowment proceeds paid in a lump sum to you at maturity are taxable only if the proceeds are more than the cost of the policy. To determine your cost, subtract any amount that you previously received under the contract and excluded from your income from the total premiums (or other consideration) paid for the contract. Include in your income the part Chapter 8 Other Income Page 67 of the lump-sum payment that’s more than your cost. Accelerated Death Benefits Certain amounts paid as accelerated death benefits under a life insurance contract or viatical settlement before the insured's death are excluded from income if the insured is terminally or chronically ill. Viatical settlement. This is the sale or assignment of any part of the death benefit under a life insurance contract to a viatical settlement provider. A viatical settlement provider is a person who regularly engages in the business of buying or taking assignment of life insurance contracts on the lives of insured individuals who are terminally or chronically ill and who meets the requirements of section 101(g)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. Exclusion for terminal illness. Accelerated death benefits are fully excludable if the insured is a terminally ill individual. This is a person who has been certified by a physician as having an illness or physical condition that can reasonably be expected to result in death within 24 months from the date of the certification. Exclusion for chronic illness. If the insured is a chronically ill individual who’s not terminally ill, accelerated death benefits paid on the basis of costs incurred for qualified long-term care services are fully excludable. Accelerated death benefits paid on a per diem or other periodic basis are excludable up to a limit. For 2020, this limit is $380. It applies to the total of the accelerated death benefits and any periodic payments received from long-term care insurance contracts. For information on the limit and the definitions of chronically ill individual, qualified long-term care services, and long-term care insurance contracts, see Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts under Sickness and Injury Benefits in Pub. 525. Exception. The exclusion doesn’t apply to any amount paid to a person (other than the insured) who has an insurable interest in the life of the insured because the insured: • Is a director, officer, or employee of the person; or • Has a financial interest in the person's business. Form 8853. To claim an exclusion for accelerated death benefits made on a per diem or other periodic basis, you must file Form 8853, Archer MSAs and Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts, with your return. You don’t have to file Form 8853 to exclude accelerated death benefits paid on the basis of actual expenses incurred. Public Safety Officer Killed or Injured in the Line of Duty A spouse, former spouse, and child of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty can exclude from gross income survivor benefits Page 68 Chapter 8 Other Income received from a governmental section 401(a) plan attributable to the officer’s service. See section 101(h). A public safety officer who’s permanently and totally disabled or killed in the line of duty and a surviving spouse or child can exclude from income death or disability benefits received from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance or death benefits paid by a state program. See section 104(a)(6). For this purpose, the term “public safety officer” includes law enforcement officers, firefighters, chaplains, and rescue squad and ambulance crew members. For more information, see Pub. 559, Survivors, Executors, and Administrators. Partnership Income A partnership generally isn’t a taxable entity. The income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits of a partnership are passed through to the partners based on each partner's distributive share of these items. Schedule K-1 (Form 1065). Although a partnership generally pays no tax, it must file an information return on Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, and send Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) to each partner. In addition, the partnership will send each partner a copy of the Partner's Instructions for Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) to help each partner report his or her share of the partnership's income, deductions, credits, and tax preference items. Keep Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) for your records. Don’t attach it to your RECORDS Form 1040 or 1040-SR, unless you’re specifically required to do so. For more information on partnerships, see Pub. 541, Partnerships. Qualified joint venture. If you and your spouse each materially participate as the only members of a jointly owned and operated business, and you file a joint return for the tax year, you can make a joint election to be treated as a qualified joint venture instead of a partnership. To make this election, you must divide all items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit attributable to the business between you and your spouse in accordance with your respective interests in the venture. For further information on how to make the election and which schedule(s) to file, see the instructions for your individual tax return. S Corporation Income In most cases, an S corporation doesn’t pay tax on its income. Instead, the income, losses, deductions, and credits of the corporation are passed through to the shareholders based on each shareholder's pro rata share. Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S). An S corporation must file a return on Form 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, and send Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S) to each shareholder. In addition, the S corporation will send each shareholder a copy of the Shareholder's Instructions for Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S) to help each shareholder report his or her share of the S corporation's income, losses, credits, and deductions. Keep Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S) for your records. Don’t attach it to your RECORDS Form 1040 or 1040-SR, unless you’re specifically required to do so. For more information on S corporations and their shareholders, see the Instructions for Form 1120-S. Recoveries A recovery is a return of an amount you deducted or took a credit for in an earlier year. The most common recoveries are refunds, reimbursements, and rebates of deductions itemized on Schedule A (Form 1040). You may also have recoveries of nonitemized deductions (such as payments on previously deducted bad debts) and recoveries of items for which you previously claimed a tax credit. Tax benefit rule. You must include a recovery in your income in the year you receive it up to the amount by which the deduction or credit you took for the recovered amount reduced your tax in the earlier year. For this purpose, any increase to an amount carried over to the current year that resulted from the deduction or credit is considered to have reduced your tax in the earlier year. For more information, see Pub. 525. Federal income tax refund. Refunds of federal income taxes aren’t included in your income because they’re never allowed as a deduction from income. State tax refund. If you received a state or local income tax refund (or credit or offset) in 2020, you must generally include it in income if you deducted the tax in an earlier year. The payer should send Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, to you by February 1, 2021. The IRS will also receive a copy of the Form 1099-G. If you file Form 1040 or 1040-SR, use the State and Local Income Tax Refund Worksheet in the 2020 Instructions for Schedule 1 (Form 1040) to figure the amount (if any) to include in your income. See Pub. 525 for when you must use another worksheet. If you could choose to deduct for a tax year either: • State and local income taxes, or • State and local general sales taxes, then the maximum refund that you may have to include in income is limited to the excess of the tax you chose to deduct for that year over the tax you didn’t choose to deduct for that year. For examples, see Pub. 525. Mortgage interest refund. If you received a refund or credit in 2020 of mortgage interest paid in an earlier year, the amount should be shown in box 4 of your Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement. Don’t subtract the refund amount from the interest you paid in 2020. You may have to include it in your income under the rules explained in the following discussions. Interest on recovery. Interest on any of the amounts you recover must be reported as interest income in the year received. For example, report any interest you received on state or local income tax refunds on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 2b. Recovery and expense in same year. If the refund or other recovery and the expense occur in the same year, the recovery reduces the deduction or credit and isn’t reported as income. Recovery for 2 or more years. If you receive a refund or other recovery that’s for amounts you paid in 2 or more separate years, you must allocate, on a pro rata basis, the recovered amount between the years in which you paid it. This allocation is necessary to determine the amount of recovery from any earlier years and to determine the amount, if any, of your allowable deduction for this item for the current year. For information on how to figure the allocation, see Recoveries in Pub. 525. Itemized Deduction Recoveries If you recover any amount that you deducted in an earlier year on Schedule A (Form 1040), you must generally include the full amount of the recovery in your income in the year you receive it. Where to report. Enter your state or local income tax refund on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 1, and the total of all other recoveries as other income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. Standard deduction limit. You are generally allowed to claim the standard deduction if you don’t itemize your deductions. Only your itemized deductions that are more than your standard deduction are subject to the recovery rule (unless you’re required to itemize your deductions). If your total deductions on the earlier year return weren’t more than your income for that year, include in your income this year the lesser of: • Your recoveries, or • The amount by which your itemized deductions exceeded the standard deduction. Example. For 2019, you filed a joint return. Your taxable income was $60,000 and you weren’t entitled to any tax credits. Your standard deduction was $24,400, and you had itemized deductions of $26,200. In 2020, you received the following recoveries for amounts deducted on your 2019 return. Medical expenses . . . . . . . . State and local income tax refund Refund of mortgage interest . . . Total recoveries . . . . . . . $200 400 325 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $925 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . None of the recoveries were more than the deductions taken for 2019. The difference between the state and local income tax you deducted and your local general sales tax was more than $400. Your total recoveries are less than the amount by which your itemized deductions exceeded the standard deduction ($26,200 − $24,400 = $1,800), so you must include your total recoveries in your income for 2020. Report the state and local income tax refund of $400 on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 1, and the balance of your recoveries, $525, on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. Standard deduction for earlier years. To determine if amounts recovered in the current year must be included in your income, you must know the standard deduction for your filing status for the year the deduction was claimed. Look in the instructions for your tax return from prior years to locate the standard deduction for the filing status for that prior year. Example. You filed a joint return on Form 1040 for 2019 with taxable income of $45,000. Your itemized deductions were $24,550. The standard deduction that you could have claimed was $24,400. In 2020, you recovered $2,100 of your 2019 itemized deductions. None of the recoveries were more than the actual deductions for 2019. Include $150 of the recoveries in your 2020 income. This is the smaller of your recoveries ($2,100) or the amount by which your itemized deductions were more than the standard deduction ($24,550 − $24,400 = $150). Recovery limited to deduction. You don’t include in your income any amount of your recovery that’s more than the amount you deducted in the earlier year. The amount you include in your income is limited to the smaller of: • The amount deducted on Schedule A (Form 1040), or • The amount recovered. Example. During 2019, you paid $1,700 for medical expenses. Of this amount, you deducted $200 on your 2019 Schedule A (Form 1040). In 2020, you received a $500 reimbursement from your medical insurance for your 2019 expenses. The only amount of the $500 reimbursement that must be included in your income for 2020 is $200—the amount actually deducted. Other recoveries. See Recoveries in Pub. 525 if: • You have recoveries of items other than itemized deductions, or • You received a recovery for an item for which you claimed a tax credit (other than investment credit or foreign tax credit) in a prior year. Rents From Personal Property If you rent out personal property, such as equipment or vehicles, how you report your income and expenses is in most cases determined by: • Whether or not the rental activity is a business, and • Whether or not the rental activity is conducted for profit. In most cases, if your primary purpose is income or profit and you’re involved in the rental activity with continuity and regularity, your rental activity is a business. See Pub. 535, Business Expenses, for details on deducting expenses for both business and not-for-profit activities. Reporting business income and expenses. If you’re in the business of renting personal property, report your income and expenses on Schedule C (Form 1040). The form instructions have information on how to complete them. Reporting nonbusiness income. If you aren’t in the business of renting personal property, report your rental income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. List the type and amount of the income on the dotted line next to line 8. Reporting nonbusiness expenses. If you rent personal property for profit, include your rental expenses in the total amount you enter on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 22, and see the instructions there. If you don’t rent personal property for profit, your deductions are limited and you can’t report a loss to offset other income. See Activity not for profit under Other Income, later. Repayments If you had to repay an amount that you included in your income in an earlier year, you may be able to deduct the amount repaid from your income for the year in which you repaid it. Or, if the amount you repaid is more than $3,000, you may be able to take a credit against your tax for the year in which you repaid it. Generally, you can claim a deduction or credit only if the repayment qualifies as an expense or loss incurred in your trade or business or in a for-profit transaction. Type of deduction. The type of deduction you’re allowed in the year of repayment depends on the type of income you included in the earlier year. You generally deduct the repayment on the same form or schedule on which you previously reported it as income. For example, if you reported it as self-employment income, deduct it as a business expense on Schedule C (Form 1040) or Schedule F (Form 1040). If you reported it as a capital gain, deduct it as a capital loss as explained in the Instructions for Schedule D (Form 1040). If you reported it as wages, unemployment compensation, or other nonbusiness income, you may be able to deduct it as an other itemized deduction if the amount repaid is over $3,000. Beginning in 2018, you can no longer claim any miscellaneous itemized deCAUTION ductions, so if the amount repaid was $3,000 or less, you are not able to deduct it from your income in the year you repaid it. ! Repaid social security benefits. If you repaid social security benefits or equivalent railroad retirement benefits, see Repayment of benefits. in chapter 7. Repayment of $3,000 or less. If the amount you repaid was $3,000 or less, deduct it from your income in the year you repaid it. Repayment over $3,000. If the amount you repaid was more than $3,000, you can deduct the repayment as an other itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16, if you included the income under a claim of right. This means that at the time you included the income, it appeared that you had an unrestricted right to it. However, you can choose to take a credit for Chapter 8 Other Income Page 69 the year of repayment. Figure your tax under both methods and compare the results. Use the method (deduction or credit) that results in less tax. When determining whether the amount you repaid was more or less than CAUTION $3,000, consider the total amount being repaid on the return. Each instance of repayment isn’t considered separately. ! Method 1. Figure your tax for 2020 claiming a deduction for the repaid amount. If you deduct it as an other itemized deduction, enter it on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16. Method 2. Figure your tax for 2020 claiming a credit for the repaid amount. Follow these steps. 1. Figure your tax for 2020 without deducting the repaid amount. 2. Refigure your tax from the earlier year without including in income the amount you repaid in 2020. 3. Subtract the tax in (2) from the tax shown on your return for the earlier year. This is the credit. 4. Subtract the answer in (3) from the tax for 2020 figured without the deduction (step 1). If method 1 results in less tax, deduct the amount repaid. If method 2 results in less tax, claim the credit figured in (3) above on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 12d, by adding the amount of the credit to any other credits on this line, and see the instructions there. An example of this computation can be found in Pub. 525. Repaid wages subject to social security and Medicare taxes. If you had to repay an amount that you included in your wages or compensation in an earlier year on which social security, Medicare, or tier 1 RRTA taxes were paid, ask your employer to refund the excess amount to you. If the employer refuses to refund the taxes, ask for a statement indicating the amount of the overcollection to support your claim. File a claim for refund using Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement. Repaid wages subject to Additional Medicare Tax. Employers can’t make an adjustment or file a claim for refund for Additional Medicare Tax withholding when there is a repayment of wages received by an employee in a prior year because the employee determines liability for Additional Medicare Tax on the employee's income tax return for the prior year. If you had to repay an amount that you included in your wages or compensation in an earlier year, and on which Additional Medicare Tax was paid, you may be able to recover the Additional Medicare Tax paid on the amount. To recover Additional Medicare Tax on the repaid wages or compensation, you must file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for the prior year in which the wages or compensation was originally received. See the Instructions for Form 1040-X. Page 70 Chapter 8 Other Income Royalties Royalties from copyrights, patents, and oil, gas, and mineral properties are taxable as ordinary income. In most cases, you report royalties in Part I of Schedule E (Form 1040). However, if you hold an operating oil, gas, or mineral interest or are in business as a self-employed writer, inventor, artist, etc., report your income and expenses on Schedule C (Form 1040). Copyrights and patents. Royalties from copyrights on literary, musical, or artistic works, and similar property, or from patents on inventions, are amounts paid to you for the right to use your work over a specified period of time. Royalties are generally based on the number of units sold, such as the number of books, tickets to a performance, or machines sold. Oil, gas, and minerals. Royalty income from oil, gas, and mineral properties is the amount you receive when natural resources are extracted from your property. The royalties are based on units, such as barrels, tons, etc., and are paid to you by a person or company that leases the property from you. Depletion. If you’re the owner of an economic interest in mineral deposits or oil and gas wells, you can recover your investment through the depletion allowance. For information on this subject, see chapter 9 of Pub. 535. Coal and iron ore. Under certain circumstances, you can treat amounts you receive from the disposal of coal and iron ore as payments from the sale of a capital asset, rather than as royalty income. For information about gain or loss from the sale of coal and iron ore, see chapter 2 of Pub. 544. Sale of property interest. If you sell your complete interest in oil, gas, or mineral rights, the amount you receive is considered payment for the sale of property used in a trade or business under section 1231, not royalty income. Under certain circumstances, the sale is subject to capital gain or loss treatment as explained in the Instructions for Schedule D (Form 1040). For more information on selling section 1231 property, see chapter 3 of Pub. 544. If you retain a royalty, an overriding royalty, or a net profit interest in a mineral property for the life of the property, you have made a lease or a sublease, and any cash you receive for the assignment of other interests in the property is ordinary income subject to a depletion allowance. Part of future production sold. If you own mineral property but sell part of the future production, in most cases you treat the money you receive from the buyer at the time of the sale as a loan from the buyer. Don’t include it in your income or take depletion based on it. When production begins, you include all the proceeds in your income, deduct all the production expenses, and deduct depletion from that amount to arrive at your taxable income from the property. Unemployment Benefits The tax treatment of unemployment benefits you receive depends on the type of program paying the benefits. Unemployment compensation. You must include in income all unemployment compensation you receive. You should receive a Form 1099-G showing in box 1 the total unemployment compensation paid to you. In most cases, you enter unemployment compensation on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 7. If you received unemployment compensation but did not receive Form CAUTION 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, through the mail, you may need to access your information through your state’s website to get your electronic Form 1099-G. ! Types of unemployment compensation. Unemployment compensation generally includes any amount received under an unemployment compensation law of the United States or of a state. It includes the following benefits. • Benefits paid by a state or the District of Columbia from the Federal Unemployment Trust Fund. • State unemployment insurance benefits. • Railroad unemployment compensation benefits. • Disability payments from a government program paid as a substitute for unemployment compensation. (Amounts received as workers' compensation for injuries or illness aren’t unemployment compensation. See chapter 5 for more information.) • Trade readjustment allowances under the Trade Act of 1974. • Unemployment assistance under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. • Unemployment assistance under the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 Program. Governmental program. If you contribute to a governmental unemployment compensation program and your contributions aren’t deductible, amounts you receive under the program aren’t included as unemployment compensation until you recover your contributions. If you deducted all of your contributions to the program, the entire amount you receive under the program is included in your income. Repayment of unemployment compensation. If you repaid in 2020 unemployment compensation you received in 2020, subtract the amount you repaid from the total amount you received and enter the difference on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 7. On the dotted line next to your entry, enter “Repaid” and the amount you repaid. If you repaid unemployment compensation in 2020 that you included in income in an earlier year, you can deduct the amount repaid on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16, if you itemize deductions and the amount is more than $3,000. See Repayments, earlier. Tax withholding. You can choose to have federal income tax withheld from your unemployment compensation. To make this choice, complete Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request, and give it to the paying office. Tax will be withheld at 10% of your payment. If you don’t choose to have tax withheld from your unemployment compensaCAUTION tion, you may be liable for estimated tax. If you don’t pay enough tax, either through withholding or estimated tax, or a combination of both, you may have to pay a penalty. For more information on estimated tax, see chapter 4. ! Supplemental unemployment benefits. Benefits received from an employer-financed fund (to which the employees didn’t contribute) aren’t unemployment compensation. They are taxable as wages. For more information, see Supplemental Unemployment Benefits in section 5 of Pub. 15-A, Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide. Report these payments on line 1 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Repayment of benefits. You may have to repay some of your supplemental unemployment benefits to qualify for trade readjustment allowances under the Trade Act of 1974. If you repay supplemental unemployment benefits in the same year you receive them, reduce the total benefits by the amount you repay. If you repay the benefits in a later year, you must include the full amount of the benefits received in your income for the year you received them. Deduct the repayment in the later year as an adjustment to gross income on Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Include the repayment on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 22, and see the instructions there. If the amount you repay in a later year is more than $3,000, you may be able to take a credit against your tax for the later year instead of deducting the amount repaid. For more information on this, see Repayments, earlier. Private unemployment fund. Unemployment benefit payments from a private (nonunion) fund to which you voluntarily contribute are taxable only if the amounts you receive are more than your total payments into the fund. Report the taxable amount on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. Payments by a union. Benefits paid to you as an unemployed member of a union from regular union dues are included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. However, if you contribute to a special union fund and your payments to the fund aren’t deductible, the unemployment benefits you receive from the fund are includible in your income only to the extent they’re more than your contributions. Guaranteed annual wage. Payments you receive from your employer during periods of unemployment, under a union agreement that guarantees you full pay during the year, are taxable as wages. Include them on line 1 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. State employees. Payments similar to a state's unemployment compensation may be made by the state to its employees who aren’t covered by the state's unemployment compensation law. Although the payments are fully taxable, don’t report them as unemployment compensation. Report these payments on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. Welfare and Other Public Assistance Benefits 2. To reimburse or pay reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for the repair or rehabilitation of your home or repair or replacement of its contents to the extent it’s due to a qualified disaster; 3. By a person engaged in the furnishing or sale of transportation as a common carrier because of the death or personal physical injuries incurred as a result of a qualified disaster; or 4. By a federal, state, or local government, agency, or instrumentality in connection with a qualified disaster in order to promote the general welfare. Don’t include in your income governmental benefit payments from a public welfare fund based upon need, such as payments to blind individuals under a state public assistance law. Payments from a state fund for the victims of crime shouldn’t be included in the victims' incomes if they’re in the nature of welfare payments. Don’t deduct medical expenses that are reimbursed by such a fund. You must include in your income any welfare payments that are compensation for services or that are obtained fraudulently. You can exclude this amount only to the extent any expense it pays for isn’t paid for by insurance or otherwise. The exclusion doesn’t apply if you were a participant or conspirator in a terrorist action or a representative of one. A qualified disaster is: Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) payments. RTAA payments received from a state must be included in your income. The state must send you Form 1099-G to advise you of the amount you should include in income. The amount should be reported on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. involving a common carrier, or from any other event, which is determined to be catastrophic by the Secretary of the Treasury or his or her delegate. Persons with disabilities. If you have a disability, you must include in income compensation you receive for services you perform unless the compensation is otherwise excluded. However, you don’t include in income the value of goods, services, and cash that you receive, not in return for your services, but for your training and rehabilitation because you have a disability. Excludable amounts include payments for transportation and attendant care, such as interpreter services for the deaf, reader services for the blind, and services to help individuals with an intellectual disability do their work. Disaster relief grants. Don’t include post-disaster grants received under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in your income if the grant payments are made to help you meet necessary expenses or serious needs for medical, dental, housing, personal property, transportation, child care, or funeral expenses. Don’t deduct casualty losses or medical expenses that are specifically reimbursed by these disaster relief grants. If you have deducted a casualty loss for the loss of your personal residence and you later receive a disaster relief grant for the loss of the same residence, you may have to include part or all of the grant in your taxable income. See Recoveries, earlier. Unemployment assistance payments under the Act are taxable unemployment compensation. See Unemployment compensation under Unemployment Benefits, earlier. Disaster relief payments. You can exclude from income any amount you receive that’s a qualified disaster relief payment. A qualified disaster relief payment is an amount paid to you: 1. To reimburse or pay reasonable and necessary personal, family, living, or funeral expenses that result from a qualified disaster; • A disaster which results from a terrorist or military action; • A federally declared disaster; or • A disaster which results from an accident For amounts paid under item (4), a disaster is qualified if it’s determined by an applicable federal, state, or local authority to warrant assistance from the federal, state, or local government, agency, or instrumentality. Disaster mitigation payments. You can exclude from income any amount you receive that’s a qualified disaster mitigation payment. Qualified disaster mitigation payments are most commonly paid to you in the period immediately following damage to property as a result of a natural disaster. However, disaster mitigation payments are used to mitigate (reduce the severity of) potential damage from future natural disasters. They’re paid to you through state and local governments based on the provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or the National Flood Insurance Act. You can’t increase the basis or adjusted basis of your property for improvements made with nontaxable disaster mitigation payments. Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). If you benefit from Pay-for-Performance Success Payments under HAMP, the payments aren’t taxable. Mortgage assistance payments under section 235 of the National Housing Act. Payments made under section 235 of the National Housing Act for mortgage assistance aren’t included in the homeowner's income. Interest paid for the homeowner under the mortgage assistance program can’t be deducted. Medicare. Medicare benefits received under title XVIII of the Social Security Act aren’t includible in the gross income of the individuals for whom they’re paid. This includes basic (Part A (Hospital Insurance Benefits for the Aged)) and supplementary (Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged)). Chapter 8 Other Income Page 71 Social security benefits (including lump-sum payments attributable to prior years), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, and lump-sum death benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides benefits such as old-age benefits, benefits to disabled workers, and benefits to spouses and dependents. These benefits may be subject to federal income tax depending on your filing status and other income. See chapter 7 in this publication and Pub. 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, for more information. An individual originally denied benefits, but later approved, may receive a lump-sum payment for the period when benefits were denied (which may be prior years). See Pub. 915 for information on how to make a lump-sum election, which may reduce your tax liability. There are also other types of benefits paid by the SSA. However, SSI benefits and lump-sum death benefits (one-time payment to spouse and children of deceased) aren’t subject to federal income tax. For more information on these benefits, go to SSA.gov. Nutrition Program for the Elderly. Food benefits you receive under the Nutrition Program for the Elderly aren’t taxable. If you prepare and serve free meals for the program, include in your income as wages the cash pay you receive, even if you’re also eligible for food benefits. Payments to reduce cost of winter energy. Payments made by a state to qualified people to reduce their cost of winter energy use aren’t taxable. Other Income The following brief discussions are arranged in alphabetical order. Other income items briefly discussed below are referenced to publications which provide more topical information. Activity not for profit. You must include on your return income from an activity from which you don’t expect to make a profit. An example of this type of activity is a hobby or a farm you operate mostly for recreation and pleasure. Enter this income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. Deductions for expenses related to the activity are limited. They can’t total more than the income you report and can be taken only if you itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040). See Not-for-Profit Activities in chapter 1 of Pub. 535 for information on whether an activity is considered carried on for a profit. Alaska Permanent Fund dividend. If you received a payment from Alaska's mineral income fund (Alaska Permanent Fund dividend), report it as income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. The state of Alaska sends each recipient a document that shows the amount of the payment with the check. The amount is also reported to the IRS. Alimony. Include in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 2a, any taxable alimony payments you receive. Amounts you receive for child support aren’t income to you. Alimony and child support payments are discussed in Pub. 504. Page 72 Chapter 8 Other Income Don’t include alimony payments you receive under a divorce or separation CAUTION agreement (1) executed after 2018, or (2) executed before 2019 but later modified if the modification expressly states the repeal of the deduction for alimony payments applies to the modification. ! Bribes. If you receive a bribe, include it in your income. Campaign contributions. These contributions aren’t income to a candidate unless they’re diverted to his or her personal use. To be nontaxable, the contributions must be spent for campaign purposes or kept in a fund for use in future campaigns. However, interest earned on bank deposits, dividends received on contributed securities, and net gains realized on sales of contributed securities are taxable and must be reported on Form 1120-POL, U.S. Income Tax Return for Certain Political Organizations. Excess campaign funds transferred to an office account must be included in the officeholder's income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8, in the year transferred. Car pools. Don’t include in your income amounts you receive from the passengers for driving a car in a car pool to and from work. These amounts are considered reimbursement for your expenses. However, this rule doesn’t apply if you have developed car pool arrangements into a profit-making business of transporting workers for hire. Cash rebates. A cash rebate you receive from a dealer or manufacturer of an item you buy isn’t income, but you must reduce your basis by the amount of the rebate. Example. You buy a new car for $24,000 cash and receive a $2,000 rebate check from the manufacturer. The $2,000 isn’t income to you. Your basis in the car is $22,000. This is the basis on which you figure gain or loss if you sell the car and depreciation if you use it for business. Casualty insurance and other reimbursements. You generally shouldn’t report these reimbursements on your return unless you’re figuring gain or loss from the casualty or theft. See Pub. 547 for more information. Child support payments. You shouldn’t report these payments on your return. See Pub. 504 for more information. Court awards and damages. To determine if settlement amounts you receive by compromise or judgment must be included in your income, you must consider the item that the settlement replaces. The character of the income as ordinary income or capital gain depends on the nature of the underlying claim. Include the following as ordinary income. 1. Interest on any award. 2. Compensation for lost wages or lost profits in most cases. 5. Damages for: a. Patent or copyright infringement, b. Breach of contract, or c. Interference with business operations. 6. Back pay and damages for emotional distress received to satisfy a claim under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 7. Attorney fees and costs (including contingent fees) where the underlying recovery is included in gross income. 8. Attorney fees and costs relating to whistleblower awards where the underlying recovery is included in gross income. Don’t include in your income compensatory damages for personal physical injury or physical sickness (whether received in a lump sum or installments). Emotional distress. Emotional distress itself isn’t a physical injury or physical sickness, but damages you receive for emotional distress due to a physical injury or sickness are treated as received for the physical injury or sickness. Don’t include them in your income. If the emotional distress is due to a personal injury that isn’t due to a physical injury or sickness (for example, employment discrimination or injury to reputation), you must include the damages in your income, except for any damages that aren’t more than amounts paid for medical care due to that emotional distress. Emotional distress includes physical symptoms that result from emotional distress, such as headaches, insomnia, and stomach disorders. Credit card insurance. In most cases, if you receive benefits under a credit card disability or unemployment insurance plan, the benefits are taxable to you. These plans make the minimum monthly payment on your credit card account if you can’t make the payment due to injury, illness, disability, or unemployment. Report on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8, the amount of benefits you received during the year that’s more than the amount of the premiums you paid during the year. Down payment assistance. If you purchase a home and receive assistance from a nonprofit corporation to make the down payment, that assistance isn’t included in your income. If the corporation qualifies as a tax-exempt charitable organization, the assistance is treated as a gift and is included in your basis of the house. If the corporation doesn’t qualify, the assistance is treated as a rebate or reduction of the purchase price and isn’t included in your basis. Employment agency fees. If you get a job through an employment agency, and the fee is paid by your employer, the fee isn’t includible in your income if you aren’t liable for it. However, if you pay it and your employer reimburses you for it, it’s includible in your income. 3. Punitive damages, in most cases. It doesn’t matter if they relate to a physical injury or physical sickness. Energy conservation subsidies. You can exclude from gross income any subsidy provided, either directly or indirectly, by public utilities for the purchase or installation of an energy conservation measure for a dwelling unit. 4. Amounts received in settlement of pension rights (if you didn’t contribute to the plan). Energy conservation measure. This includes installations or modifications that are primarily designed to reduce consumption of electricity or natural gas, or improve the management of energy demand. that person, and only restores you to the position you were in before the loss, the payment isn’t includible in your income. Dwelling unit. This includes a house, apartment, condominium, mobile home, boat, or similar property. If a building or structure contains both dwelling and other units, any subsidy must be properly allocated. Fees for services. Include all fees for your services in your income. Examples of these fees are amounts you receive for services you perform as: Estate and trust income. An estate or trust, unlike a partnership, may have to pay federal income tax. If you’re a beneficiary of an estate or trust, you may be taxed on your share of its income distributed or required to be distributed to you. However, there is never a double tax. Estates and trusts file their returns on Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts, and your share of the income is reported to you on Schedule K-1 (Form 1041). Current income required to be distributed. If you’re the beneficiary of an estate or trust that must distribute all of its current income, you must report your share of the distributable net income, whether or not you actually received it. Current income not required to be distributed. If you’re the beneficiary of an estate or trust and the fiduciary has the choice of whether to distribute all or part of the current income, you must report: • All income that’s required to be distributed to you, whether or not it’s actually distributed, plus • All other amounts actually paid or credited to you, up to the amount of your share of distributable net income. How to report. Treat each item of income the same way that the estate or trust would treat it. For example, if a trust's dividend income is distributed to you, you report the distribution as dividend income on your return. The same rule applies to distributions of tax-exempt interest and capital gains. The fiduciary of the estate or trust must tell you the type of items making up your share of the estate or trust income and any credits you’re allowed on your individual income tax return. Losses. Losses of estates and trusts generally aren’t deductible by the beneficiaries. Grantor trust. Income earned by a grantor trust is taxable to the grantor, not the beneficiary, if the grantor keeps certain control over the trust. (The grantor is the one who transferred property to the trust.) This rule applies if the property (or income from the property) put into the trust will or may revert (be returned) to the grantor or the grantor's spouse. Generally, a trust is a grantor trust if the grantor has a reversionary interest valued (at the date of transfer) at more than 5% of the value of the transferred property. Expenses paid by another. If your personal expenses are paid for by another person, such as a corporation, the payment may be taxable to you depending upon your relationship with that person and the nature of the payment. But if the payment makes up for a loss caused by • A corporate director; • An executor, administrator, or personal representative of an estate; • A manager of a trade or business you operated before declaring chapter 11 bankruptcy; • A notary public; or • An election precinct official. Nonemployee compensation. If you aren’t an employee and the fees for your services from a single payer in the course of the payer's trade or business total $600 or more for the year, the payer should send you a Form 1099-MISC. You may need to report your fees as self-employment income. See Self-Employed Persons in chapter 1 for a discussion of when you’re considered self-employed. Corporate director. Corporate director fees are self-employment income. Report these payments on Schedule C (Form 1040). Personal representatives. All personal representatives must include in their gross income fees paid to them from an estate. If you aren’t in the trade or business of being an executor (for instance, you’re the executor of a friend's or relative's estate), report these fees on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. If you’re in the trade or business of being an executor, report these fees as self-employment income on Schedule C (Form 1040). The fee isn’t includible in income if it’s waived. Manager of trade or business for bankruptcy estate. Include in your income all payments received from your bankruptcy estate for managing or operating a trade or business that you operated before you filed for bankruptcy. Report this income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. Notary public. Report payments for these services on Schedule C (Form 1040). These payments aren’t subject to self-employment tax. See the separate Instructions for Schedule SE (Form 1040) for details. Election precinct official. You should receive a Form W-2 showing payments for services performed as an election official or election worker. Report these payments on line 1 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Foster care providers. Generally, payment you receive from a state, political subdivision, or a qualified foster care placement agency for caring for a qualified foster individual in your home is excluded from your income. However, you must include in your income payment to the extent it’s received for the care of more than five qualified foster individuals age 19 years or older. A qualified foster individual is a person who: 1. Is living in a foster family home; and 2. Was placed there by: a. An agency of a state or one of its political subdivisions, or b. A qualified foster care placement agency. Difficulty-of-care payments. These are payments that are designated by the payer as compensation for providing the additional care that’s required for physically, mentally, or emotionally handicapped qualified foster individuals. A state must determine that this compensation is needed, and the care for which the payments are made must be provided in the foster care provider's home in which the qualified foster individual was placed. Certain Medicaid waiver payments are treated as difficulty-of-care payments when received by an individual care provider for caring for an eligible individual living in the provider's home. See Notice 2014-4, available at IRS.gov/irb/2014-4_IRB/ar06.html, and related questions and answers, available at IRS.gov/ Individuals/Certain-Medicaid-WaiverPayments-May-Be-Excludable-From-Income, for more information. You must include in your income difficulty-of-care payments to the extent they’re received for more than: • 10 qualified foster individuals under age 19, or • Five qualified foster individuals age 19 or older. Maintaining space in home. If you’re paid to maintain space in your home for emergency foster care, you must include the payment in your income. Reporting taxable payments. If you receive payments that you must include in your income and you’re in business as a foster care provider, report the payments on Schedule C (Form 1040). See Pub. 587, Business Use of Your Home, to help you determine the amount you can deduct for the use of your home. Found property. If you find and keep property that doesn’t belong to you that has been lost or abandoned (treasure trove), it’s taxable to you at its fair market value in the first year it’s your undisputed possession. Free tour. If you received a free tour from a travel agency for organizing a group of tourists, you must include its value in your income. Report the fair market value of the tour on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8, if you aren’t in the trade or business of organizing tours. You can’t deduct your expenses in serving as the voluntary leader of the group at the group's request. If you organize tours as a trade or business, report the tour's value on Schedule C (Form 1040). Gambling winnings. You must include your gambling winnings in income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. If you itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040), you can deduct gambling losses you had during the year, but only up to the amount of your winnings. If you’re in the trade or business of gambling, use Schedule C (Form 1040). Lotteries and raffles. Winnings from lotteries and raffles are gambling winnings. In addition to cash winnings, you must include in your Chapter 8 Other Income Page 73 income the fair market value of bonds, cars, houses, and other noncash prizes. If you win a state lottery prize payable TIP in installments, see Pub. 525 for more information. Form W-2G. You may have received a Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, showing the amount of your gambling winnings and any tax taken out of them. Include the amount from box 1 on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. Include the amount shown in box 4 on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 25c, as federal income tax withheld. Reporting winnings and recordkeeping. For more information on reporting gambling winnings and recordkeeping, see Gambling Losses up to the Amount of Gambling Winnings in chapter 12. Gifts and inheritances. In most cases, property you receive as a gift, bequest, or inheritance isn’t included in your income. However, if property you receive this way later produces income such as interest, dividends, or rents, that income is taxable to you. If property is given to a trust and the income from it is paid, credited, or distributed to you, that income is also taxable to you. If the gift, bequest, or inheritance is the income from the property, that income is taxable to you. Inherited pension or individual retirement arrangement (IRA). If you inherited a pension or an IRA, you may have to include part of the inherited amount in your income. See Survivors and Beneficiaries in Pub. 575 if you inherited a pension. See What if You Inherit an IRA? in Pubs. 590-A and 590-B if you inherited an IRA. Hobby losses. Losses from a hobby aren’t deductible from other income. A hobby is an activity from which you don’t expect to make a profit. See Activity not for profit, earlier. If you collect stamps, coins, or other items as a hobby for recreation and CAUTION pleasure, and you sell any of the items, your gain is taxable as a capital gain. (See Pub. 550, Investment Income and Expenses.) However, if you sell items from your collection at a loss, you can’t deduct the loss. ! Illegal activities. Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity. from qualified U.S. savings bonds you redeem if you pay qualified higher education expenses in the same year. For more information on this exclusion, see Education Savings Bond Program under U.S. Savings Bonds in chapter 6. prize in your income if you meet all of the following requirements. Job interview expenses. If a prospective employer asks you to appear for an interview and either pays you an allowance or reimburses you for your transportation and other travel expenses, the amount you receive is generally not taxable. You include in income only the amount you receive that’s more than your actual expenses. • You aren’t required to perform substantial Jury duty. Jury duty pay you receive must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. If you gave any of your jury duty pay to your employer because your employer continued to pay you while you served jury duty, include the amount you gave your employer as an income adjustment on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 22, and see the instructions there. Kickbacks. You must include kickbacks, side commissions, push money, or similar payments you receive in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity. Example. You sell cars and help arrange car insurance for buyers. Insurance brokers pay back part of their commissions to you for referring customers to them. You must include the kickbacks in your income. Medical savings accounts (Archer MSAs and Medicare Advantage MSAs). In most cases, you don’t include in income amounts you withdraw from your Archer MSA or Medicare Advantage MSA if you use the money to pay for qualified medical expenses. Generally, qualified medical expenses are those you can deduct on Schedule A (Form 1040). For more information about qualified medical expenses, see Pub. 502. For more information about Archer MSAs or Medicare Advantage MSAs, see Pub. 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans. Prizes and awards. If you win a prize in a lucky number drawing, television or radio quiz program, beauty contest, or other event, you must include it in your income. For example, if you win a $50 prize in a photography contest, you must report this income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. If you refuse to accept a prize, don’t include its value in your income. Prizes and awards in goods or services must be included in your income at their fair market value. Indian fishing rights. If you’re a member of a qualified Indian tribe that has fishing rights secured by treaty, executive order, or an Act of Congress as of March 17, 1988, don’t include in your income amounts you receive from activities related to those fishing rights. The income isn’t subject to income tax, self-employment tax, or employment taxes. Employee awards or bonuses. Cash awards or bonuses given to you by your employer for good work or suggestions must generally be included in your income as wages. However, certain noncash employee achievement awards can be excluded from income. See Bonuses and awards in chapter 5. Interest on frozen deposits. In general, you exclude from your income the amount of interest earned on a frozen deposit. See Interest income on frozen deposits. in chapter 6. Pulitzer, Nobel, and similar prizes. If you were awarded a prize in recognition of accomplishments in religious, charitable, scientific, artistic, educational, literary, or civic fields, you must generally include the value of the prize in your income. However, you don’t include this Interest on qualified savings bonds. You may be able to exclude from income the interest Page 74 Chapter 8 Other Income • You were selected without any action on your part to enter the contest or proceeding. future services as a condition to receiving the prize or award. • The prize or award is transferred by the payer directly to a governmental unit or tax-exempt charitable organization as designated by you. See Pub. 525 for more information about the conditions that apply to the transfer. Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF). Effective December 22, 2017, Code section 1400Z-2 provides a temporary deferral on inclusion in gross income for capital gains invested in QOFs, and permanent exclusion of capital gains from the sale or exchange of an investment in the QOF if the investment is held for at least 10 years. See the Instructions for Form 8949 on how to report your election to defer eligible gains invested in a QOF. See the instructions for Form 8997, Initial and Annual Statement of Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) Investments, for reporting information. For additional information, see Opportunity Zones Frequently Asked Questions at IRS.gov/ Newsroom/Opportunity-Zones-FrequentlyAsked-Questions. Qualified tuition programs (QTPs). A QTP (also known as a 529 program) is a program set up to allow you to either prepay or contribute to an account established for paying a student's qualified higher education expenses at an eligible educational institution. A program can be established and maintained by a state, an agency or instrumentality of a state, or an eligible educational institution. The part of a distribution representing the amount paid or contributed to a QTP isn’t included in income. This is a return of the investment in the program. In most cases, the beneficiary doesn’t include in income any earnings distributed from a QTP if the total distribution is less than or equal to adjusted qualified higher education expenses. See Pub. 970 for more information. Railroad retirement annuities. The following types of payments are treated as pension or annuity income and are taxable under the rules explained in Pub. 575, Pension and Annuity Income. • Tier 1 railroad retirement benefits that are more than the social security equivalent benefit. • Tier 2 benefits. • Vested dual benefits. Rewards. If you receive a reward for providing information, include it in your income. Sale of home. You may be able to exclude from income all or part of any gain from the sale or exchange of your main home. See Pub. 523. Sale of personal items. If you sold an item you owned for personal use, such as a car, refrigerator, furniture, stereo, jewelry, or silverware, your gain is taxable as a capital gain. Report it as explained in the Instructions for Schedule D (Form 1040). You can’t deduct a loss. However, if you sold an item you held for investment, such as gold or silver bullion, coins, or gems, any gain is taxable as a capital gain and any loss is deductible as a capital loss. Example. You sold a painting on an online auction website for $100. You bought the painting for $20 at a garage sale years ago. Report your gain as a capital gain as explained in the Instructions for Schedule D (Form 1040). Scholarships and fellowships. A candidate for a degree can exclude amounts received as a qualified scholarship or fellowship. A qualified scholarship or fellowship is any amount you receive that’s for: • Tuition and fees to enroll at or attend an educational institution; or • Fees, books, supplies, and equipment re- quired for courses at the educational institution. Union benefits and dues. Amounts deducted from your pay for union dues, assessments, contributions, or other payments to a union can’t be excluded from your income. Strike and lockout benefits. Benefits paid to you by a union as strike or lockout benefits, including both cash and the fair market value of other property, are usually included in your income as compensation. You can exclude these benefits from your income only when the facts clearly show that the union intended them as gifts to you. Utility rebates. If you’re a customer of an electric utility company and you participate in the utility's energy conservation program, you may receive on your monthly electric bill either: • A reduction in the purchase price of elec- tricity furnished to you (rate reduction), or • A nonrefundable credit against the purchase price of the electricity. The amount of the rate reduction or nonrefundable credit isn’t included in your income. Amounts used for room and board don’t qualify for the exclusion. See Pub. 970 for more information on qualified scholarships and fellowship grants. Payment for services. In most cases, you must include in income the part of any scholarship or fellowship that represents payment for past, present, or future teaching, research, or other services. This applies even if all candidates for a degree must perform the services to receive the degree. For information about the rules that apply to a tax-free qualified tuition reduction provided to employees and their families by an educational institution, see Pub. 970. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) payments. Allowances paid by the VA aren’t included in your income. These allowances aren’t considered scholarship or fellowship grants. Prizes. Scholarship prizes won in a contest aren’t scholarships or fellowships if you don’t have to use the prizes for educational purposes. You must include these amounts in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8, whether or not you use the amounts for educational purposes. Sharing/gig economy. Generally, if you work in the gig economy or did gig work, you must include all income received from all jobs whether you received a Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions, or not. See the Instructions for Schedule C (Form 1040) and the Instructions for Schedule SE (Form 1040). Stolen property. If you steal property, you must report its fair market value in your income in the year you steal it unless you return it to its rightful owner in the same year. Transporting school children. Don’t include in your income a school board mileage allowance for taking children to and from school if you aren’t in the business of taking children to school. You can’t deduct expenses for providing this transportation. 9. Modified AGI limit for traditional IRA contributions. For 2020, if you are covered by a retirement plan at work, your deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA is reduced (phased out) if your modified AGI is: • More than $104,000 but less than $124,000 for a married couple filing a joint return or a qualifying widow(er), • More than $65,000 but less than $75,000 for a single individual or head of household, or • Less than $10,000 for a married individual filing a separate return. If you either live with your spouse or file a joint return, and your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work but you aren’t, your deduction is phased out if your modified AGI is more than $196,000 but less than $206,000. If your modified AGI is $206,000 or more, you can’t take a deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA. See How Much Can You Deduct, later. Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions. For 2020, your Roth IRA contribution limit is reduced (phased out) in the following situations. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) • Your filing status is married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) and your modified AGI is at least $196,000. You can’t make a Roth IRA contribution if your modified AGI is $206,000 or more. • Your filing status is single, head of house- hold, or married filing separately and you didn’t live with your spouse at any time in 2020 and your modified AGI is at least $124,000. You can’t make a Roth IRA contribution if your modified AGI is $139,000 or more. What’s New Coronavirus distributions. Recent legislation contains new rules that provide for tax-favored withdrawals, income inclusion, and repayments for individuals who were diagnosed with or suffered economic losses as a result of the coronavirus. See Coronavirus Distributions in Pub. 590-B for more information. Contribution deadline extension. The 2019 traditional and Roth IRA contribution deadline was extended to July 15, 2020. Qualified disaster distributions. Special rules provide for tax-favored distributions from and repayments to certain retirement plans for taxpayers who suffered economic losses as a result of certain disasters in tax years 2018, 2019, and 2020. However, these disasters do not include major disasters declared only by reason of COVID-19. For your 2020 return, these qualified disaster distributions are those qualified disaster distributions reported on the 2020 Form 8915-C, Qualified 2018 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments, and described in its instructions; the 2020 Form 8915-D, Qualified Chapter 9 2019 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments, and described in its instructions; the 2020 Form 8915-E, Qualified 2020 Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments (Use for Coronavirus-Related Distributions), and described in its instructions. • Your filing status is married filing sepa- rately, you lived with your spouse at any time during the year, and your modified AGI is more than zero. You can’t make a Roth IRA contribution if your modified AGI is $10,000 or more. See Can You Contribute to a Roth IRA, later. 2021 modified AGI limits. You can find information about the 2021 contribution and AGI limits in Pub. 590-A. Reminders Maximum age for making traditional IRA contributions repealed. For tax years beginning after 2019, there is no age limit on making contributions to your traditional IRA. For more information, see Pub. 590-A. Required minimum distributions (RMDs). For distributions required to be made after tax year 2019, the age for the required beginning date for mandatory distributions is changed to age 72 for taxpayers reaching age 701/2 after 2019. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Page 75 Contributions to both traditional and Roth IRAs. For information on your combined contribution limit if you contribute to both traditional and Roth IRAs, see Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs, later. Extended rollover period for qualified plan loan offsets in 2018 or later. For distributions made in tax years after tax year 2017, you have until the due date (including extensions) for your tax return for the tax year in which the offset occurs to rollover a qualified plan loan offset amount. For more information, see Pub. 590-A. No recharacterizations of conversions made in 2018 or later. A conversion of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, and a rollover from any other eligible retirement plan to a Roth IRA, made after tax year 2017, can’t be recharacterized as having been made to a traditional IRA. For more information, see Pub. 590-A. Statement of required minimum distribution. If a minimum distribution from your IRA is required, the trustee, custodian, or issuer that held the IRA at the end of the preceding year must either report the amount of the required minimum distribution to you, or offer to figure it for you. The report or offer must include the date by which the amount must be distributed. The report is due January 31 of the year in which the minimum distribution is required. It can be provided with the year-end fair market value statement that you normally get each year. No report is required for IRAs of owners who have died. IRA interest. Although interest earned from your IRA is generally not taxed in the year earned, it isn't tax-exempt interest. Tax on your traditional IRA is generally deferred until you take a distribution. Don't report this interest on your tax return as tax-exempt interest. Net investment income tax. For purposes of the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT), net investment income doesn't include distributions from a qualified retirement plan including IRAs (for example, 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, or 457(b) plans). However, these distributions are taken into account when determining the modified AGI threshold. Distributions from a nonqualified retirement plan are included in net investment income. See Form 8960, Net Investment Income Tax—Individuals, Estates, and Trusts, and its instructions for more information. Form 8606. To designate contributions as nondeductible, you must file Form 8606, Nondeductible IRAs. • The Roth IRA, which features nondeducti- ble contributions and tax-free distributions. Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs) and Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees aren't discussed in this chapter. For more information on these plans and employees' SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs that are part of these plans, see Pub. 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business. For information about contributions, deductions, withdrawals, transfers, rollovers, and other transactions, see Pub. 590-A and Pub. 590-B. Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 560 Retirement Plans for Small Business 560 575 Pension and Annuity Income 575 590-A Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) 590-A 590-B Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Form (and Instructions) 5329 Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts 5329 8606 Nondeductible IRAs 8606 For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. Traditional IRAs In this chapter, the original IRA (sometimes called an ordinary or regular IRA) is referred to as a “traditional IRA.” A traditional IRA is any IRA that isn't a Roth IRA or a SIMPLE IRA.Two advantages of a traditional IRA are: • You may be able to deduct some or all of your contributions to it, depending on your circumstances; and • Generally, amounts in your IRA, including earnings and gains, aren't taxed until they are distributed. Who Can Open a Traditional IRA? The term “50 or older” is used several owner who is age 50 or older by the end of the tax year. TIP there is no age limit on making contri- Introduction An IRA is a personal savings plan that gives you tax advantages for setting aside money for your retirement. This chapter discusses the following topics. • The rules for a traditional IRA (any IRA that isn't a Roth or SIMPLE IRA). Page 76 Self-employment income. If you are self-employed (a sole proprietor or a partner), compensation is the net earnings from your trade or business (provided your personal services are a material income-producing factor) reduced by the total of: • The deduction for contributions made on your behalf to retirement plans, and • The deductible part of your self-employment tax. Compensation includes earnings from self-employment even if they aren't subject to self-employment tax because of your religious beliefs. 590-B You can open and make contributions to a traditional IRA if you (or, if you file a joint return, your spouse) received taxable compensation during the year. TIP times in this chapter. It refers to an IRA ment, provided that this amount is reduced by any amount properly shown in box 11 (Nonqualified plans). Scholarship and fellowship payments are compensation for this purpose only if shown in box 1 of Form W-2. Compensation also includes commissions and taxable alimony and separate maintenance payments. For tax years beginning after 2019, butions to your traditional IRA. For more information, see Pub. 590-A. What is compensation? Generally, compensation is what you earn from working. Compensation includes wages, salaries, tips, professional fees, bonuses, and other amounts you receive for providing personal services. The IRS treats as compensation any amount properly shown in box 1 (Wages, tips, other compensation) of Form W-2, Wage and Tax State- Chapter 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Nontaxable combat pay. For IRA purposes, if you were a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, your compensation includes any nontaxable combat pay you receive. What isn't compensation? Compensation doesn't include any of the following items. • Earnings and profits from property, such as rental income, interest income, and dividend income. • Pension or annuity income. • Deferred compensation received (compensation payments postponed from a past year). • Income from a partnership for which you don't provide services that are a material income-producing factor. • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payments reported on Schedule SE (Form 1040), line 1b. • Any amounts (other than combat pay) you exclude from income, such as foreign earned income and housing costs. When and How Can a Traditional IRA Be Opened? You can open a traditional IRA at any time. However, the time for making contributions for any year is limited. See When Can Contributions Be Made, later. You can open different kinds of IRAs with a variety of organizations. You can open an IRA at a bank or other financial institution or with a mutual fund or life insurance company. You can also open an IRA through your stockbroker. Any IRA must meet Internal Revenue Code requirements. Kinds of traditional IRAs. Your traditional IRA can be an individual retirement account or annuity. It can be part of either a SEP or an employer or employee association trust account. How Much Can Be Contributed? There are limits and other rules that affect the amount that can be contributed to a traditional IRA. These limits and other rules are explained below. Community property laws. Except as discussed later under Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA limit, each spouse figures his or her limit separately, using his or her own compensation. This is the rule even in states with community property laws. Brokers' commissions. Brokers' commissions paid in connection with your traditional IRA are subject to the contribution limit. Trustees' fees. Trustees' administrative fees aren't subject to the contribution limit. Qualified reservist repayments. If you are (or were) a member of a reserve component and you were ordered or called to active duty after September 11, 2001, you may be able to contribute (repay) to an IRA amounts equal to any qualified reservist distributions you received. You can make these repayment contributions even if they would cause your total contributions to the IRA to be more than the general limit on contributions. To be eligible to make these repayment contributions, you must have received a qualified reservist distribution from an IRA or from a section 401(k) or 403(b) plan or similar arrangement. For more information, see Qualified reservist repayments under How Much Can Be Contributed? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A. ! CAUTION later.) Contributions on your behalf to a traditional IRA reduce your limit for contributions to a Roth IRA. (See Roth IRAs, General limit. For 2020, the most that can be contributed to your traditional IRA is generally the smaller of the following amounts. • $6,000 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older). • Your taxable compensation (defined earlier) for the year. This is the most that can be contributed regardless of whether the contributions are to one or more traditional IRAs or whether all or part of the contributions are nondeductible. (See Nondeductible Contributions, later.) Qualified reservist repayments don't affect this limit. Example 1. Betty, who is 34 years old and single, earned $24,000 in 2020. Her IRA contributions for 2020 are limited to $6,000. Example 2. John, an unmarried college student working part time, earned $3,500 in 2020. His IRA contributions for 2020 are limited to $3,500, the amount of his compensation. Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA limit. For 2020, if you file a joint return and your taxable compensation is less than that of your spouse, the most that can be contributed for the year to your IRA is the smaller of the following amounts. 1. $6,000 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older). 2. The total compensation includible in the gross income of both you and your spouse for the year, reduced by the following two amounts. a. Your spouse's IRA contribution for the year to a traditional IRA. b. Any contribution for the year to a Roth IRA on behalf of your spouse. This means that the total combined contributions that can be made for the year to your IRA and your spouse's IRA can be as much as $12,000 ($13,000 if only one of you is 50 or older, or $14,000 if both of you are 50 or older). When Can Contributions Be Made? As soon as you open your traditional IRA, contributions can be made to it through your chosen sponsor (trustee or other administrator). Contributions must be in the form of money (cash, check, or money order). Property can't be contributed. Contributions must be made by due date. Contributions can be made to your traditional IRA for a year at any time during the year or by the due date for filing your return for that year, not including extensions. Designating year for which contribution is made. If an amount is contributed to your traditional IRA between January 1 and April 15, you should tell the sponsor which year (the current year or the previous year) the contribution is for. If you don't tell the sponsor which year it is for, the sponsor can assume, and report to the IRS, that the contribution is for the current year (the year the sponsor received it). Filing before a contribution is made. You can file your return claiming a traditional IRA contribution before the contribution is actually made. Generally, the contribution must be made by the due date of your return, not including extensions. Contributions not required. You don't have to contribute to your traditional IRA for every tax year, even if you can. How Much Can You Deduct? Generally, you can deduct the lesser of: • The contributions to your traditional IRA for the year, or • The general limit (or the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA limit, if it applies). However, if you or your spouse were covered by an employer retirement plan, you may not be able to deduct this amount. See Limit if Covered by Employer Plan, later. You may be able to claim a credit for TIP contributions to your traditional IRA. For more information, see chapter 3 of Pub. 590-A. Trustees' fees. Trustees' administrative fees that are billed separately and paid in connection with your traditional IRA aren't deductible as Chapter 9 IRA contributions. You are also not able to deduct these fees as an itemized deduction. Brokers' commissions. Brokers' commissions are part of your IRA contribution and, as such, are deductible subject to the limits. Full deduction. If neither you nor your spouse was covered for any part of the year by an employer retirement plan, you can take a deduction for total contributions to one or more traditional IRAs of up to the lesser of: • $6,000 ($7,000 if you are age 50 or older in 2020), or • 100% of your compensation. This limit is reduced by any contributions made to a 501(c)(18) plan on your behalf. Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA. In the case of a married couple with unequal compensation who file a joint return, the deduction for contributions to the traditional IRA of the spouse with less compensation is limited to the lesser of the following amounts. 1. $6,000 ($7,000 if the spouse with the lower compensation is age 50 or older in 2020). 2. The total compensation includible in the gross income of both spouses for the year reduced by the following three amounts. a. The IRA deduction for the year of the spouse with the greater compensation. b. Any designated nondeductible contribution for the year made on behalf of the spouse with the greater compensation. c. Any contributions for the year to a Roth IRA on behalf of the spouse with the greater compensation. This limit is reduced by any contributions to a 501(c)(18) plan on behalf of the spouse with the lesser compensation. Note. If you were divorced or legally separated (and didn't remarry) before the end of the year, you can't deduct any contributions to your spouse's IRA. After a divorce or legal separation, you can deduct only contributions to your own IRA. Your deductions are subject to the rules for single individuals. Covered by an employer retirement plan. If you or your spouse was covered by an employer retirement plan at any time during the year for which contributions were made, your deduction may be further limited. This is discussed later under Limit if Covered by Employer Plan. Limits on the amount you can deduct don't affect the amount that can be contributed. See Nondeductible Contributions, later. Are You Covered by an Employer Plan? The Form W-2 you receive from your employer has a box used to indicate whether you were covered for the year. The “Retirement plan” box should be checked if you were covered. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Page 77 Table 9-1. Effect of Modified AGI1 on Deduction if You Are Covered by Retirement Plan at Work If you are covered by a retirement plan at work, use this table to determine if your modified AGI affects the amount of your deduction. IF your filing status is... AND your modified AGI is... THEN you can take... Single $65,000 or less a full deduction. or more than $65,000 but less than $75,000 a partial deduction. Head of household $75,000 or more no deduction. Married filing jointly $104,000 or less a full deduction. or more than $104,000 but less than $124,000 a partial deduction. Qualifying widow(er) $124,000 or more no deduction. Married filing separately2 less than $10,000 a partial deduction. $10,000 or more no deduction. 1 Modified AGI (adjusted gross income). See Modified adjusted gross income (AGI), later. 2 If you didn't live with your spouse at any time during the year, your filing status is considered Single for this purpose (therefore, your IRA deduction is determined under the “Single” column). Reservists and volunteer firefighters should also see Situations in Which You Aren’t Covered by an Employer Plan, later. If you aren't certain whether you were covered by your employer's retirement plan, you should ask your employer. Federal judges. For purposes of the IRA deduction, federal judges are covered by an employer retirement plan. For Which Year(s) Are You Covered? Special rules apply to determine the tax years for which you are covered by an employer plan. These rules differ depending on whether the plan is a defined contribution plan or a defined benefit plan. Tax year. Your tax year is the annual accounting period you use to keep records and report income and expenses on your income tax return. For almost all people, the tax year is the calendar year. Defined contribution plan. Generally, you are covered by a defined contribution plan for a tax year if amounts are contributed or allocated to your account for the plan year that ends with or within that tax year. A defined contribution plan is a plan that provides for a separate account for each person covered by the plan. Types of defined contribution plans include profit-sharing plans, stock bonus plans, and money purchase pension plans. For additional information, see Pub. 590-A. Defined benefit plan. If you are eligible to participate in your employer's defined benefit plan for the plan year that ends within your tax year, you are covered by the plan. This rule applies even if you: • Declined to participate in the plan, • Didn't make a required contribution, or • Didn't perform the minimum service re- A defined benefit plan is any plan that isn't a defined contribution plan. In a defined benefit plan, the level of benefits to be provided to each participant is spelled out in the plan. The plan administrator figures the amount needed to provide those benefits and those amounts are contributed to the plan. Defined benefit plans include pension plans and annuity plans. No vested interest. If you accrue a benefit for a plan year, you are covered by that plan even if you have no vested interest in (legal right to) the accrual. Situations in Which You Aren’t Covered Unless you are covered under another employer plan, you aren't covered by an employer plan if you are in one of the situations described below. Social security or railroad retirement. Coverage under social security or railroad retirement isn't coverage under an employer retirement plan. Benefits from a previous employer's plan. If you receive retirement benefits from a previous employer's plan, you aren't covered by that plan. Reservists. If the only reason you participate in a plan is because you are a member of a reserve unit of the U.S. Armed Forces, you may not be covered by the plan. You aren't covered by the plan if both of the following conditions are met. 1. The plan you participate in is established for its employees by: a. The United States, b. A state or political subdivision of a state, or c. An instrumentality of either (a) or (b) above. quired to accrue a benefit for the year. Page 78 Chapter 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) 2. You didn't serve more than 90 days on active duty during the year (not counting duty for training). Volunteer firefighters. If the only reason you participate in a plan is because you are a volunteer firefighter, you may not be covered by the plan. You aren't covered by the plan if both of the following conditions are met. 1. The plan you participate in is established for its employees by: a. The United States, b. A state or political subdivision of a state, or c. An instrumentality of either (a) or (b) above. 2. Your accrued retirement benefits at the beginning of the year won't provide more than $1,800 per year at retirement. Limit if Covered by Employer Plan If either you or your spouse was covered by an employer retirement plan, you may be entitled to only a partial (reduced) deduction or no deduction at all, depending on your income and your filing status. Your deduction begins to decrease (phase out) when your income rises above a certain amount and is eliminated altogether when it reaches a higher amount. These amounts vary depending on your filing status. To determine if your deduction is subject to phaseout, you must determine your modified AGI and your filing status. See Filing status and Modified adjusted gross income (AGI), later. Then use Table 9-1 or Table 9-2 to determine if the phaseout applies. Social security recipients. Instead of using Table 9-1 or Table 9-2, use the worksheets in Appendix B of Pub. 590-A if, for the year, all of the following apply. • You received social security benefits. • You received taxable compensation. • Contributions were made to your traditional IRA. • You or your spouse was covered by an employer retirement plan. Use those worksheets to figure your IRA deduction, your nondeductible contribution, and the taxable portion, if any, of your social security benefits. Deduction phaseout. If you are covered by an employer retirement plan and you didn't receive any social security retirement benefits, your IRA deduction may be reduced or eliminated depending on your filing status and modified AGI as shown in Table 9-1. If your spouse is covered. If you aren't covered by an employer retirement plan, but your spouse is, and you didn't receive any social security benefits, your IRA deduction may be reduced or eliminated entirely depending on your filing status and modified AGI as shown in Table 9-2. Filing status. Your filing status depends primarily on your marital status. For this purpose, you need to know if your filing status is single or Table 9-2. Effect of Modified AGI1 on Deduction if You Aren’t Covered by Retirement Plan at Work If you aren't covered by a retirement plan at work, use this table to determine if your modified AGI affects the amount of your deduction. IF your filing status is... AND your modified AGI is... THEN you can take... Single, Head of household, or Qualifying widow(er) any amount a full deduction. Married filing jointly or separately with a spouse who isn't covered by a plan at work any amount a full deduction. Married filing jointly with a spouse who is covered by a plan at work $196,000 or less a full deduction. more than $196,000 but less than $206,000 a partial deduction. $206,000 or more no deduction. less than $10,000 a partial deduction. $10,000 or more no deduction. Married filing separately with a spouse who is covered by a plan at work2 1 Modified AGI (adjusted gross income). See Modified adjusted gross income (AGI), later. 2 You are entitled to the full deduction if you didn't live with your spouse at any time during the year. head of household, married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er), or married filing separately. If you need more information on filing status, see chapter 2. Don't assume that your modified AGI is the same as your compensation. Your CAUTION modified AGI may include income in addition to your compensation (discussed earlier), such as interest, dividends, and income from IRA distributions. ! When filing Form 1040 or 1040-SR, refigure the AGI amount on line 11 without taking into account any of the following amounts. • • • • • • IRA deduction. Student loan interest deduction. Tuition and fees deduction. Foreign earned income exclusion. Foreign housing exclusion or deduction. Exclusion of qualified savings bond interest shown on Form 8815, Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989. • Exclusion of employer-provided adoption Lived apart from spouse. If you didn't live with your spouse at any time during the year and you file a separate return, your filing status, for this purpose, is single. Chapter 9 Modified adjusted gross income (AGI). You may be able to use Worksheet 9-1 to figure your modified AGI. However, if you made contributions to your IRA for 2020 and received a distribution from your IRA in 2020, see Pub. 590-A. benefits shown on Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses. This is your modified AGI. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Page 79 Worksheet 9-1. Figuring Your Modified AGI Keep for Your Records Use this worksheet to figure your modified adjusted gross income for traditional IRA purposes. 1. Enter your adjusted gross income (AGI) from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 11, figured without taking into account the amount from Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 2. Enter any student loan interest deduction from Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 3. Enter any foreign earned income and/or housing exclusion from Form 2555, line 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. 4. Enter any foreign housing deduction from Form 2555, line 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. 5. Enter any excludable savings bond interest from Form 8815, line 14 ............................ 5. 6. Enter any excluded employer-provided adoption benefits from Form 8839, line 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. 7. Enter any tuition and fees deduction from Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. 8. Add lines 1 through 7. This is your modified AGI for traditional IRA purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Both contributions for 2020 and distributions in 2020. If all three of the following apply, any IRA distributions you received in 2020 may be partly tax free and partly taxable. • You received distributions in 2020 from one or more traditional IRAs. • You made contributions to a traditional IRA for 2020. • Some of those contributions may be nondeductible contributions. If this is your situation, you must figure the taxable part of the traditional IRA distribution before you can figure your modified AGI. To do this, you can use Worksheet 1-1 in Pub. 590-B. If at least one of the above doesn't apply, figure your modified AGI using Worksheet 9-1. How to figure your reduced IRA deduction. You can figure your reduced IRA deduction for Form 1040 or 1040-SR by using the worksheets in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A. Also, the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR include similar worksheets that you may be able to use instead. Reporting Deductible Contributions When filing Form 1040 or 1040-SR, enter your IRA deduction on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 19. Nondeductible Contributions Although your deduction for IRA contributions may be reduced or eliminated, contributions can be made to your IRA up to the general limit or, if it applies, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA limit. The difference between your total permitted contributions and your IRA deduction, if any, is your nondeductible contribution. Example. Mike is 30 years old and single. In 2020, he was covered by a retirement plan at work. His salary was $67,000. His modified AGI was $80,000. Mike made a $6,000 IRA contribution for 2020. Because he was covered by a retirement plan and his modified AGI was over $74,000, he can't deduct his $6,000 IRA contribution. He must designate this contribution as a Page 80 nondeductible contribution by reporting it on Form 8606, as explained next. Inherited IRAs Form 8606. To designate contributions as nondeductible, you must file Form 8606. You don't have to designate a contribution as nondeductible until you file your tax return. When you file, you can even designate otherwise deductible contributions as nondeductible. You must file Form 8606 to report nondeductible contributions even if you don't have to file a tax return for the year. If you inherit a traditional IRA, you are called a beneficiary. A beneficiary can be any person or entity the owner chooses to receive the benefits of the IRA after he or she dies. Beneficiaries of a traditional IRA must include in their gross income any taxable distributions they receive. A Form 8606 isn't used for the year that you make a rollover from a qualified reCAUTION tirement plan to a traditional IRA and the rollover includes nontaxable amounts. In those situations, a Form 8606 is completed for the year you take a distribution from that IRA. See Form 8606 under Distributions Fully or Partly Taxable, later. ! Failure to report nondeductible contributions. If you don't report nondeductible contributions, all of the contributions to your traditional IRA will be treated as deductible contributions when withdrawn. All distributions from your IRA will be taxed unless you can show, with satisfactory evidence, that nondeductible contributions were made. Penalty for overstatement. If you overstate the amount of nondeductible contributions on your Form 8606 for any tax year, you must pay a penalty of $100 for each overstatement, unless it was due to reasonable cause. Penalty for failure to file Form 8606. You will have to pay a $50 penalty if you don't file a required Form 8606, unless you can prove that the failure was due to reasonable cause. Tax on earnings on nondeductible contributions. As long as contributions are within the contribution limits, none of the earnings or gains on contributions (deductible or nondeductible) will be taxed until they are distributed. See When Can You Withdraw or Use IRA Assets, later. Cost basis. You will have a cost basis in your traditional IRA if you made any nondeductible contributions. Your cost basis is the sum of the nondeductible contributions to your IRA minus any withdrawals or distributions of nondeductible contributions. Chapter 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Inherited from spouse. If you inherit a traditional IRA from your spouse, you generally have the following three choices. You can do one of the following. 1. Treat it as your own IRA by designating yourself as the account owner. 2. Treat it as your own by rolling it over into your IRA, or to the extent it is taxable, into a: a. Qualified employer plan, b. Qualified employee annuity plan (section 403(a) plan), c. Tax-sheltered annuity plan (section 403(b) plan), or d. Deferred compensation plan of a state or local government (section 457 plan). 3. Treat yourself as the beneficiary rather than treating the IRA as your own. Treating it as your own. You will be considered to have chosen to treat the IRA as your own if: • Contributions (including rollover contributions) are made to the inherited IRA, or • You don't take the required minimum distribution for a year as a beneficiary of the IRA. You will only be considered to have chosen to treat the IRA as your own if: • You are the sole beneficiary of the IRA, and • You have an unlimited right to withdraw amounts from it. However, if you receive a distribution from your deceased spouse's IRA, you can roll that distribution over into your own IRA within the 60-day time limit, as long as the distribution isn't a required distribution, even if you aren't the sole beneficiary of your deceased spouse's IRA. Inherited from someone other than spouse. If you inherit a traditional IRA from anyone other than your deceased spouse, you can't treat the inherited IRA as your own. This means that you can't make any contributions to the IRA. It also means you can't roll over any amounts into or out of the inherited IRA. However, you can make a trustee-to-trustee transfer as long as the IRA into which amounts are being moved is set up and maintained in the name of the deceased IRA owner for the benefit of you as beneficiary. For more information, see the discussion of Inherited IRAs under Rollover From One IRA Into Another, later. Can You Move Retirement Plan Assets? You can transfer, tax free, assets (money or property) from other retirement plans (including traditional IRAs) to a traditional IRA. You can make the following kinds of transfers. • Transfers from one trustee to another. • Rollovers. • Transfers incident to a divorce. Transfers to Roth IRAs. Under certain conditions, you can move assets from a traditional IRA or from a designated Roth account to a Roth IRA. You can also move assets from a qualified retirement plan to a Roth IRA. See Can You Move Amounts Into a Roth IRA? under Roth IRAs, later. Trustee-to-Trustee Transfer A transfer of funds in your traditional IRA from one trustee directly to another, either at your request or at the trustee's request, isn't a rollover. This includes the situation where the current trustee issues a check to the new trustee, but gives it to you to deposit. Because there is no distribution to you, the transfer is tax free. Because it isn't a rollover, it isn't affected by the 1-year waiting period required between rollovers, discussed later under Rollover From One IRA Into Another. For information about direct transfers to IRAs from retirement plans other than IRAs, see Can You Move Retirement Plan Assets? in chapter 1 and Can You Move Amounts Into a Roth IRA? in chapter 2 of Pub. 590-A. Rollovers Generally, a rollover is a tax-free distribution to you of cash or other assets from one retirement plan that you contribute (roll over) to another retirement plan. The contribution to the second retirement plan is called a “rollover contribution.” Note. An amount rolled over tax free from one retirement plan to another is generally includible in income when it is distributed from the second plan. Kinds of rollovers to a traditional IRA. You can roll over amounts from the following plans into a traditional IRA. • A traditional IRA. • An employer's qualified retirement plan for its employees. • A deferred compensation plan of a state or local government (section 457 plan). • A tax-sheltered annuity plan (section 403(b) plan). Treatment of rollovers. You can't deduct a rollover contribution, but you must report the rollover distribution on your tax return as discussed later under Reporting rollovers from IRAs and Reporting rollovers from employer plans. Rollover notice. A written explanation of rollover treatment must be given to you by the plan (other than an IRA) making the distribution. See Written explanation to recipients in Pub. 590-A. Kinds of rollovers from a traditional IRA. You may be able to roll over, tax free, a distribution from your traditional IRA into a qualified plan. These plans include the federal Thrift Savings Plan (for federal employees), deferred compensation plans of state or local governments (section 457 plans), and tax-sheltered annuity plans (section 403(b) plans). The part of the distribution that you can roll over is the part that would otherwise be taxable (includible in your income). Qualified plans may, but aren't required to, accept such rollovers. Time limit for making a rollover contribution. You must generally make the rollover contribution by the 60th day after the day you receive the distribution from your traditional IRA or your employer's plan. The IRS may waive the 60-day requirement where the failure to do so would be against equity or good conscience, such as in the event of a casualty, disaster, or other event beyond your reasonable control. For more information, see Can You Move Retirement Plan Assets? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A. Extension of rollover period. If an amount distributed to you from a traditional IRA or a qualified employer retirement plan is a frozen deposit at any time during the 60-day period allowed for a rollover, special rules extend the rollover period. For more information, see Can You Move Retirement Plan Assets? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A. Rollover From One IRA Into Another You can withdraw, tax free, all or part of the assets from one traditional IRA if you reinvest them within 60 days in the same or another traditional IRA. Because this is a rollover, you can't deduct the amount that you reinvest in an IRA. Waiting period between rollovers. Generally, if you make a tax-free rollover of any part of a distribution from a traditional IRA, you can't, within a 1-year period, make a tax-free rollover of any later distribution from that same IRA. You also can't make a tax-free rollover of any amount distributed, within the same 1-year period, from the IRA into which you made the tax-free rollover. Chapter 9 The 1-year period begins on the date you receive the IRA distribution, not on the date you roll it over into an IRA. Rules apply to the number of rollovers you can have with your traditional IRAs. See Application of one-rollover limitation next. Application of one-rollover limitation. You can make only one rollover from an IRA to another (or the same) IRA in any 1-year period, regardless of the number of IRAs you own. The limit applies by aggregating all of an individual's IRAs, including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, as well as traditional and Roth IRAs, effectively treating them as one IRA for purposes of the limit. However, trustee-to-trustee transfers between IRAs aren't limited and rollovers from traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs (conversions) aren't limited. Example. John has three traditional IRAs: IRA-1, IRA-2, and IRA-3. John didn't take any distributions from his IRAs in 2020. On January 1, 2021, John took a distribution from IRA-1 and rolled it over into IRA-2 on the same day. For 2021, John can't roll over any other 2020 IRA distribution, including a rollover distribution involving IRA-3. This wouldn’t apply to a trustee-to-trustee transfer or a Roth IRA conversion. Partial rollovers. If you withdraw assets from a traditional IRA, you can roll over part of the withdrawal tax free and keep the rest of it. The amount you keep will generally be taxable (except for the part that is a return of nondeductible contributions). The amount you keep may be subject to the 10% additional tax on early distributions, discussed later under What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes. Required distributions. Amounts that must be distributed during a particular year under the required minimum distribution rules (discussed later) aren't eligible for rollover treatment. Inherited IRAs. If you inherit a traditional IRA from your spouse, you can generally roll it over, or you can choose to make the inherited IRA your own. See Treating it as your own, earlier. Not inherited from spouse. If you inherit a traditional IRA from someone other than your spouse, you can't roll it over or allow it to receive a rollover contribution. You must withdraw the IRA assets within a certain period. For more information, see When Must You Withdraw Assets? (Required Minimum Distributions) in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-B. Reporting rollovers from IRAs. Report any rollover from one traditional IRA to the same or another traditional IRA on Form 1040 or 1040-SR as follows. Enter the total amount of the distribution on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4a. If the total amount on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4a, was rolled over, enter zero on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4b. If the total distribution wasn't rolled over, enter the taxable portion of the part that wasn't rolled over on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4b. Enter “Rollover” next to Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4b. For more information, see the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. If you rolled over the distribution into a qualified plan (other than an IRA) or you make the Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Page 81 rollover in 2021, attach a statement explaining what you did. Rollover From Employer's Plan Into an IRA You can roll over into a traditional IRA all or part of an eligible rollover distribution you receive from your (or your deceased spouse's): • Employer's qualified pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan; • Annuity plan; • Tax-sheltered annuity plan (section 403(b) plan); or • Governmental deferred compensation plan (section 457 plan). A qualified plan is one that meets the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Eligible rollover distribution. Generally, an eligible rollover distribution is any distribution of all or part of the balance to your credit in a qualified retirement plan except the following. 1. A required minimum distribution (explained later under When Must You Withdraw IRA Assets? (Required Minimum Distributions)). 2. A hardship distribution. 3. Any of a series of substantially equal periodic distributions paid at least once a year over: a. Your lifetime or life expectancy, b. The lifetimes or life expectancies of you and your beneficiary, or c. A period of 10 years or more. 4. Corrective distributions of excess contributions or excess deferrals, and any income allocable to the excess, or of excess annual additions and any allocable gains. 5. A loan treated as a distribution because it doesn't satisfy certain requirements either when made or later (such as upon default), unless the participant's accrued benefits are reduced (offset) to repay the loan. For more information, see Plan loan offsets under Time Limit for Making a Rollover Contribution in Pub. 590-A. 6. Dividends on employer securities. 7. The cost of life insurance coverage. Your rollover into a traditional IRA may include both amounts that would be taxable and amounts that wouldn’t be taxable if they were distributed to you, but not rolled over. To the extent the distribution is rolled over into a traditional IRA, it isn’t includible in your income. Any nontaxable amounts that you roll TIP over into your traditional IRA become part of your basis (cost) in your IRAs. To recover your basis when you take distributions from your IRA, you must complete Form 8606 for the year of the distribution. See Form 8606 under Distributions Fully or Partly Taxable, later. Rollover by nonspouse beneficiary. A direct transfer from a deceased employee's qualified pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan; anPage 82 nuity plan; tax-sheltered annuity (section 403(b)) plan; or governmental deferred compensation (section 457) plan to an IRA set up to receive the distribution on your behalf can be treated as an eligible rollover distribution if you are the designated beneficiary of the plan and not the employee's spouse. The IRA is treated as an inherited IRA. For more information about inherited IRAs, see Inherited IRAs, earlier. Reporting rollovers from employer plans. Enter the total distribution (before income tax or other deductions were withheld) on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4a. This amount should be shown in box 1 of Form 1099-R. From this amount, subtract any contributions (usually shown in box 5 of Form 1099-R) that were taxable to you when made. From that result, subtract the amount that was rolled over either directly or within 60 days of receiving the distribution. Enter the remaining amount, even if zero, on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4b. Also, enter "Rollover" next to Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4b. Transfers Incident to Divorce If an interest in a traditional IRA is transferred from your spouse or former spouse to you by a divorce or separate maintenance decree or a written document related to such a decree, the interest in the IRA, starting from the date of the transfer, is treated as your IRA. The transfer is tax free. For detailed information, see Distributions under divorce or similar proceedings (alternate payees) under Rollover From Employer's Plan Into an IRA in Pub. 590-A. Converting From Any Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA Allowable conversions. You can withdraw all or part of the assets from a traditional IRA and reinvest them (within 60 days) in a Roth IRA. The amount that you withdraw and timely contribute (convert) to the Roth IRA is called a conversion contribution. If properly (and timely) rolled over, the 10% additional tax on early distributions won't apply. However, a part or all of the conversion contribution from your traditional IRA is included in your gross income. Required distributions. You can't convert amounts that must be distributed from your traditional IRA for a particular year (including the calendar year in which you reach age 72 under the required minimum distribution rules (discussed later)). Income. You must include in your gross income distributions from a traditional IRA that you would have had to include in income if you hadn't converted them into a Roth IRA. These amounts are normally included in income on your return for the year that you converted them from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You don't include in gross income any part of a distribution from a traditional IRA that is a return of your basis, as discussed later. You must file Form 8606 to report 2020 conversions from traditional, SEP, or SIMPLE IRAs to a Roth IRA in 2020 (unless you recharacterized the entire amount) and to figure the amount to include in income. Chapter 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) If you must include any amount in your gross income, you may have to increase your withholding or make estimated tax payments. See chapter 4. Recharacterizations You may be able to treat a contribution made to one type of IRA as having been made to a different type of IRA. This is called recharacterizing the contribution. See Can You Move Retirement Plan Assets? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A for more detailed information. How to recharacterize a contribution. To recharacterize a contribution, you must generally have the contribution transferred from the first IRA (the one to which it was made) to the second IRA in a trustee-to-trustee transfer. If the transfer is made by the due date (including extensions) for your tax return for the year during which the contribution was made, you can elect to treat the contribution as having been originally made to the second IRA instead of to the first IRA. If you recharacterize your contribution, you must do all three of the following. • Include in the transfer any net income allo- cable to the contribution. If there was a loss, the net income you must transfer may be a negative amount. • Report the recharacterization on your tax return for the year during which the contribution was made. • Treat the contribution as having been made to the second IRA on the date that it was actually made to the first IRA. No recharacterizations of conversions made in 2018 or later. A conversion of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, and a rollover from any other eligible retirement plan to a Roth IRA, made in tax years beginning after tax year 2017, can’t be recharacterized as having been made to a traditional IRA. If you made a conversion in the 2017 tax year, you had until the due date (with extensions) for filing the return for that tax year to recharacterize it. No deduction allowed. You can't deduct the contribution to the first IRA. Any net income you transfer with the recharacterized contribution is treated as earned in the second IRA. How do you recharacterize a contribution? To recharacterize a contribution, you must notify both the trustee of the first IRA (the one to which the contribution was actually made) and the trustee of the second IRA (the one to which the contribution is being moved) that you have elected to treat the contribution as having been made to the second IRA rather than the first. You must make the notifications by the date of the transfer. Only one notification is required if both IRAs are maintained by the same trustee. The notification(s) must include all of the following information. • The type and amount of the contribution to the first IRA that is to be recharacterized. • The date on which the contribution was made to the first IRA and the year for which it was made. • A direction to the trustee of the first IRA to transfer in a trustee-to-trustee transfer the amount of the contribution and any net income (or loss) allocable to the contribution to the trustee of the second IRA. • The name of the trustee of the first IRA and the name of the trustee of the second IRA. • Any additional information needed to make the transfer. Reporting a recharacterization. If you elect to recharacterize a contribution to one IRA as a contribution to another IRA, you must report the recharacterization on your tax return as directed by Form 8606 and its instructions. You must treat the contribution as having been made to the second IRA. When Can You Withdraw or Use IRA Assets? There are rules limiting use of your IRA assets and distributions from it. Violation of the rules generally results in additional taxes in the year of violation. See What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes, later. Contributions returned before the due date of return. If you made IRA contributions in 2020, you can withdraw them tax free by the due date of your return. If you have an extension of time to file your return, you can withdraw them tax free by the extended due date. You can do this if, for each contribution you withdraw, both of the following conditions apply. • You didn't take a deduction for the contribution. • You withdraw any interest or other income earned on the contribution. You can take into account any loss on the contribution while it was in the IRA when figuring the amount that must be withdrawn. If there was a loss, the net income earned on the contribution may be a negative amount. Note. To figure the amount you must withdraw, see Worksheet 1-4 under When Can You Withdraw or Use Assets? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A. Earnings includible in income. You must include in income any earnings on the contributions you withdraw. Include the earnings in income for the year in which you made the contributions, not in the year in which you withdraw them. Generally, except for any part of a withdrawal that is a return of nondeductible CAUTION contributions (basis), any withdrawal of your contributions after the due date (or extended due date) of your return will be treated as a taxable distribution. Excess contributions can also be recovered tax free as discussed under What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes, later. ! Early distributions tax. The 10% additional tax on distributions made before you reach age 591/2 doesn't apply to these tax-free withdrawals of your contributions. However, the distribution of interest or other income must be reported on Form 5329 and, unless the distribution qualifies as an exception to the age 591/2 rule, it will be subject to this tax. See Early Distribu- tions under What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes in Pub. 590-B. When Must You Withdraw IRA Assets? (Required Minimum Distributions) You can't keep funds in a traditional IRA indefinitely. Eventually, they must be distributed. If there are no distributions, or if the distributions aren't large enough, you may have to pay a 50% excise tax on the amount not distributed as required. See Excess Accumulations (Insufficient Distributions), later. The requirements for distributing IRA funds differ depending on whether you are the IRA owner or the beneficiary of a decedent's IRA. Required minimum distribution. The amount that must be distributed each year is referred to as the required minimum distribution. Distributions not eligible for rollover. Amounts that must be distributed (required minimum distributions) during a particular year aren't eligible for rollover treatment. IRA owners. If you are the owner of a traditional IRA, you must generally start receiving distributions from your IRA by April 1 of the year following the year in which you reach age 72. April 1 of the year following the year in which you reach age 72 is referred to as the “required beginning date.” Distributions by the required beginning date. You must receive at least a minimum amount for each year starting with the year you reach age 72. If you don't (or didn't) receive that minimum amount in the year you become age 72, then you must receive distributions for the year you become age 72 by April 1 of the next year. If an IRA owner dies after reaching age 72, but before April 1 of the next year, no minimum distribution is required because death occurred before the required beginning date. Even if you begin receiving distributions before you attain age 72, you CAUTION must begin figuring and receiving required minimum distributions by your required beginning date. ! Distributions after the required beginning date. The required minimum distribution for any year after the year you turn age 72 must be made by December 31 of that later year. Beneficiaries. If you are the beneficiary of a decedent's traditional IRA, the requirements for distributions from that IRA generally depend on whether the IRA owner died before or after the required beginning date for distributions. More information. For more information, including how to figure your minimum required distribution each year and how to figure your required distribution if you are a beneficiary of a decedent's IRA, see When Must You Withdraw Assets? (Required Minimum Distributions) in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-B. Chapter 9 Are Distributions Taxable? In general, distributions from a traditional IRA are taxable in the year you receive them. Exceptions. Exceptions to distributions from traditional IRAs being taxable in the year you receive them are: • Rollovers; • Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), discussed later; • Tax-free withdrawals of contributions, discussed earlier; and • The return of nondeductible contributions, discussed later under Distributions Fully or Partly Taxable. Although a conversion of a traditional IRA is considered a rollover for Roth CAUTION IRA purposes, it isn't an exception to the rule that distributions from a traditional IRA are taxable in the year you receive them. Conversion distributions are includible in your gross income subject to this rule and the special rules for conversions explained in Converting From Any Traditional IRA Into a Roth IRA under Can You Move Retirement Plan Assets? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A. ! Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs). A QCD is generally a nontaxable distribution made directly by the trustee of your IRA to an organization eligible to receive tax deductible contributions. See Qualified Charitable Distributions in Pub. 590-B for more information. A QCD will count towards your mini- TIP mum required distribution. See Quali- fied charitable distributions under Are Distributions Taxable? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-B for more information. Ordinary income. Distributions from traditional IRAs that you include in income are taxed as ordinary income. No special treatment. In figuring your tax, you can't use the 10-year tax option or capital gain treatment that applies to lump-sum distributions from qualified retirement plans. Distributions Fully or Partly Taxable Distributions from your traditional IRA may be fully or partly taxable, depending on whether your IRA includes any nondeductible contributions. Fully taxable. If only deductible contributions were made to your traditional IRA (or IRAs, if you have more than one), you have no basis in your IRA. Because you have no basis in your IRA, any distributions are fully taxable when received. See Reporting taxable distributions on your return, later. Partly taxable. If you made nondeductible contributions or rolled over any after-tax amounts to any of your traditional IRAs, you have a cost basis (investment in the contract) equal to the amount of those contributions. These nondeductible contributions aren't taxed when they are distributed to you. They are a return of your investment in your IRA. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Page 83 Only the part of the distribution that represents nondeductible contributions and rolled over after-tax amounts (your cost basis) is tax free. If nondeductible contributions have been made or after-tax amounts have been rolled over to your IRA, distributions consist partly of nondeductible contributions (basis) and partly of deductible contributions, earnings, and gains (if there are any). Until all of your basis has been distributed, each distribution is partly nontaxable and partly taxable. Form 8606. You must complete Form 8606 and attach it to your return if you receive a distribution from a traditional IRA and have ever made nondeductible contributions or rolled over after-tax amounts to any of your traditional IRAs. Using the form, you will figure the nontaxable distributions for 2020 and your total IRA basis for 2020 and earlier years. Note. If you are required to file Form 8606, but you aren't required to file an income tax return, you must still file Form 8606. Send it to the IRS at the time and place you would otherwise file an income tax return. Distributions reported on Form 1099-R. If you receive a distribution from your traditional IRA, you will receive Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc., or a similar statement. IRA distributions are shown in boxes 1 and 2a of Form 1099-R. The number or letter codes in box 7 tell you what type of distribution you received from your IRA. Withholding. Federal income tax is withheld from distributions from traditional IRAs unless you choose not to have tax withheld. See chapter 4. IRA distributions delivered outside the United States. In general, if you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien and your home address is outside the United States or its possessions, you can't choose exemption from withholding on distributions from your traditional IRA. Reporting taxable distributions on your return. Report fully taxable distributions, including early distributions, on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4b (no entry is required on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4a). If only part of the distribution is taxable, enter the total amount on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4a, and the taxable part on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4b. What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes? The tax advantages of using traditional IRAs for retirement savings can be offset by additional taxes and penalties if you don't follow the rules. There are additions to the regular tax for using your IRA funds in prohibited transactions. There are also additional taxes for the following activities. • Investing in collectibles. • Having unrelated business income; see Pub. 590-B. • Making excess contributions. Page 84 • Taking early distributions. • Allowing excess amounts to accumulate (failing to take required distributions). There are penalties for overstating the amount of nondeductible contributions and for failure to file a Form 8606, if required. Prohibited Transactions Generally, a prohibited transaction is any improper use of your traditional IRA by you, your beneficiary, or any disqualified person. Disqualified persons include your fiduciary and members of your family (spouse, ancestor, lineal descendent, and any spouse of a lineal descendent). The following are examples of prohibited transactions with a traditional IRA. • • • • Borrowing money from it; see Pub. 590-B. Selling property to it. Using it as security for a loan. Buying property for personal use (present or future) with IRA funds. Effect on an IRA account. Generally, if you or your beneficiary engages in a prohibited transaction in connection with your traditional IRA account at any time during the year, the account stops being an IRA as of the first day of that year. Effect on you or your beneficiary. If your account stops being an IRA because you or your beneficiary engaged in a prohibited transaction, the account is treated as distributing all its assets to you at their fair market values on the first day of the year. If the total of those values is more than your basis in the IRA, you will have a taxable gain that is includible in your income. For information on figuring your gain and reporting it in income, see Are Distributions Taxable, earlier. The distribution may be subject to additional taxes or penalties. Taxes on prohibited transactions. If someone other than the owner or beneficiary of a traditional IRA engages in a prohibited transaction, that person may be liable for certain taxes. In general, there is a 15% tax on the amount of the prohibited transaction and a 100% additional tax if the transaction isn't corrected. More information. For more information on prohibited transactions, see What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A. Investment in Collectibles • • • • Stamps, Coins, Alcoholic beverages, and Certain other tangible personal property. Exception. Your IRA can invest in one-, one-half-, one-quarter-, or one-tenth-ounce U.S. gold coins, or one-ounce silver coins minted by the Treasury Department. It can also invest in certain platinum coins and certain gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion. Excess Contributions Generally, an excess contribution is the amount contributed to your traditional IRA(s) for the year that is more than the smaller of: • The maximum deductible amount for the year (for 2020, this is $6,000 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older)); or • Your taxable compensation for the year. An excess contribution could be the result of your contribution, your spouse's contribution, your employer's contribution, or an improper rollover contribution. If your employer makes contributions on your behalf to a SEP IRA, see chapter 2 of Pub. 560. Tax on excess contributions. In general, if the excess contributions for a year aren't withdrawn by the date your return for the year is due (including extensions), you are subject to a 6% tax. You must pay the 6% tax each year on excess amounts that remain in your traditional IRA at the end of your tax year. The tax can't be more than 6% of the combined value of all your IRAs as of the end of your tax year. The additional tax is figured on Form 5329. Excess contributions withdrawn by due date of return. You won't have to pay the 6% tax if you withdraw an excess contribution made during a tax year and you also withdraw interest or other income earned on the excess contribution. You must complete your withdrawal by the date your tax return for that year is due, including extensions. How to treat withdrawn contributions. Don't include in your gross income an excess contribution that you withdraw from your traditional IRA before your tax return is due if both the following conditions are met. • No deduction was allowed for the excess contribution. • You withdraw the interest or other income earned on the excess contribution. If your traditional IRA invests in collectibles, the amount invested is considered distributed to you in the year invested. You may have to pay the 10% additional tax on early distributions, discussed later. You can take into account any loss on the contribution while it was in the IRA when figuring the amount that must be withdrawn. If there was a loss, the net income you must withdraw may be a negative amount. Collectibles. These include: How to treat withdrawn interest or other income. You must include in your gross income the interest or other income that was earned on the excess contribution. Report it on your return for the year in which the excess contribution was made. Your withdrawal of interest or other income may be subject to an additional 10% tax on early distributions, discussed later. • • • • • Artworks, Rugs, Antiques, Metals, Gems, Chapter 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Excess contributions withdrawn after due date of return. In general, you must include all distributions (withdrawals) from your traditional IRA in your gross income. However, if the following conditions are met, you can withdraw excess contributions from your IRA and not include the amount withdrawn in your gross income. • Total contributions (other than rollover contributions) for 2020 to your IRA weren't more than $6,000 ($7,000 if you are age 50 or older). • You didn't take a deduction for the excess contribution being withdrawn. The withdrawal can take place at any time, even after the due date, including extensions, for filing your tax return for the year. Excess contribution deducted in an earlier year. If you deducted an excess contribution in an earlier year for which the total contributions weren't more than the maximum deductible amount for that year (see the following table), you can still remove the excess from your traditional IRA and not include it in your gross income. To do this, file Form 1040-X for that year and don't deduct the excess contribution on the amended return. Generally, you can file an amended return within 3 years after you filed your return, or 2 years from the time the tax was paid, whichever is later. Year(s) 2019 2013 through 2018 2008 through 2012 2006 or 2007 2005 2002 through 2004 1997 through 2001 before 1997 Contribution limit if age 50 or older Contribution at the end of limit the year income. Early distributions are also subject to an additional 10% tax. See the discussion of Form 5329 under Reporting Additional Taxes, later, to figure and report the tax. Early distributions defined. Early distributions are generally amounts distributed from your traditional IRA account or annuity before you are age 591/2. Age 591/2 rule. Generally, if you are under age 591/2, you must pay a 10% additional tax on the distribution of any assets (money or other property) from your traditional IRA. Distributions before you are age 591/2 are called early distributions. The 10% additional tax applies to the part of the distribution that you have to include in gross income. It is in addition to any regular income tax on that amount. After age 591/2 and before age 72. After you reach age 591/2, you can receive distributions without having to pay the 10% additional tax. Even though you can receive distributions after you reach age 591/2, distributions aren't required until you reach age 72. See When Must You Withdraw IRA Assets? (Required Minimum Distributions), earlier. Exceptions. There are several exceptions to the age 591/2 rule. Even if you receive a distribution before you are age 591/2, you may not have to pay the 10% additional tax if you are in one of the following situations. • You have unreimbursed medical expenses that are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. • The distributions aren't more than the cost of your medical insurance due to a period of unemployment. $6,000 $7,000 $5,500 $6,500 $5,000 $6,000 $4,000 $4,000 $5,000 $4,500 • You are receiving distributions in the form $3,000 $3,500 • The distributions aren't more than your $2,000 — $2,250 — Excess due to incorrect rollover information. If an excess contribution in your traditional IRA is the result of a rollover and the excess occurred because the information the plan was required to give you was incorrect, you can withdraw the excess contribution. The limits mentioned above are increased by the amount of the excess that is due to the incorrect information. You will have to amend your return for the year in which the excess occurred to correct the reporting of the rollover amounts in that year. Don't include in your gross income the part of the excess contribution caused by the incorrect information. For more information, see Excess Contributions under What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes? in Pub. 590-A. Early Distributions You must include early distributions of taxable amounts from your traditional IRA in your gross • You are totally and permanently disabled. • You are the beneficiary of a deceased IRA owner. of an annuity. qualified higher education expenses. • You use the distributions to buy, build, or rebuild a first home. • The distribution is due to an IRS levy of the qualified plan. • The distribution is a qualified reservist distribution. Most of these exceptions are explained under Early Distributions in What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-B. Note. Distributions that are timely and properly rolled over, as discussed earlier, aren't subject to either regular income tax or the 10% additional tax. Certain withdrawals of excess contributions after the due date of your return are also tax free and therefore not subject to the 10% additional tax. (See Excess contributions withdrawn after due date of return, earlier.) This also applies to transfers incident to divorce, as discussed earlier. Receivership distributions. Early distributions (with or without your consent) from savings institutions placed in receivership are subject to this tax unless one of the exceptions listed earlier applies. This is true even if the distribution is from a receiver that is a state agency. Additional 10% tax. The additional tax on early distributions is 10% of the amount of the early distribution that you must include in your gross income. This tax is in addition to any regular income tax resulting from including the distribution in income. Nondeductible contributions. The tax on early distributions doesn't apply to the part of a distribution that represents a return of your nondeductible contributions (basis). More information. For more information on early distributions, see What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-B. Excess Accumulations (Insufficient Distributions) You can't keep amounts in your traditional IRA indefinitely. Generally, you must begin receiving distributions by April 1 of the year following the year in which you reach age 72. The required minimum distribution for any year after the year in which you reach age 72 must be made by December 31 of that later year. Tax on excess. If distributions are less than the required minimum distribution for the year, you may have to pay a 50% excise tax for that year on the amount not distributed as required. Request to waive the tax. If the excess accumulation is due to reasonable error, and you have taken, or are taking, steps to remedy the insufficient distribution, you can request that the tax be waived. If you believe you qualify for this relief, attach a statement of explanation and complete Form 5329 as instructed under Waiver of tax for reasonable cause in the Instructions for Form 5329. Exemption from tax. If you are unable to take required distributions because you have a traditional IRA invested in a contract issued by an insurance company that is in state insurer delinquency proceedings, the 50% excise tax doesn't apply if the conditions and requirements of Revenue Procedure 92-10 are satisfied. More information. For more information on excess accumulations, see What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-B. Reporting Additional Taxes Generally, you must use Form 5329 to report the tax on excess contributions, early distributions, and excess accumulations. Filing a tax return. If you must file an individual income tax return, complete Form 5329 and attach it to your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Enter the total additional taxes due on Schedule 2 (Form 1040), line 6. Not filing a tax return. If you don't have to file a tax return but do have to pay one of the Chapter 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Page 85 additional taxes mentioned earlier, file the completed Form 5329 with the IRS at the time and place you would have filed your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Be sure to include your address on page 1 and your signature and date on page 2. Enclose, but don't attach, a check or money order payable to “United States Treasury” for the tax you owe, as shown on Form 5329. Enter your social security number and “2020 Form 5329” on your check or money order. Form 5329 not required. You don't have to use Form 5329 if any of the following situations exists. • Distribution code 1 (early distribution) is correctly shown in box 7 of all your Forms 1099-R. If you don't owe any other additional tax on a distribution, multiply the taxable part of the early distribution by 10% (0.10) and enter the result on Schedule 2 (Form 1040), line 6. Enter “No” to the left of the line to indicate that you don't have to file Form 5329. However, if you owe this tax and also owe any other additional tax on a distribution, don't enter this 10% additional tax directly on your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. You must file Form 5329 to report your additional taxes. • If you rolled over part or all of a distribution from a qualified retirement plan, the part rolled over isn't subject to the tax on early distributions. • If you have a qualified 2018, 2019, or 2020 qualified disaster distribution. See Form 8915-C, Form 8915-D, or Form 8915-E, as applicable, for more details. Roth IRAs Contributions not reported. You don't report Roth IRA contributions on your return. What Is a Roth IRA? A Roth IRA is an individual retirement plan that, except as explained in this chapter, is subject to the rules that apply to a traditional IRA (defined earlier). It can be either an account or an annuity. Individual retirement accounts and annuities are described under How Can a Traditional IRA Be Opened? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-A. To be a Roth IRA, the account or annuity must be designated as a Roth IRA when it is opened. A deemed IRA can be a Roth IRA, but neither a SEP IRA nor a SIMPLE IRA can be designated as a Roth IRA. Unlike a traditional IRA, you can't deduct contributions to a Roth IRA. But, if you satisfy the requirements, qualified distributions (discussed later) are tax free. You can leave amounts in your Roth IRA as long as you live. When Can a Roth IRA Be Opened? You can open a Roth IRA at any time. However, the time for making contributions for any year is limited. See When Can You Make Contributions, later, under Can You Contribute to a Roth IRA. Can You Contribute to a Roth IRA? Generally, you can contribute to a Roth IRA if you have taxable compensation (defined later) Regardless of your age, you may be able to establish and make nondeductible contributions to a retirement plan called a Roth IRA. Page 86 Chapter 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) and your modified AGI (defined later) is less than: • $206,000 for married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er); • $139,000 for single, head of household, or married filing separately and you didn't live with your spouse at any time during the year; or • $10,000 for married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time during the year. You may be eligible to claim a credit for TIP contributions to your Roth IRA. For more information, see chapter 3 of Pub. 590-A. Is there an age limit for contributions? Contributions can be made to your Roth IRA regardless of your age. Can you contribute to a Roth IRA for your spouse? You can contribute to a Roth IRA for your spouse provided the contributions satisfy the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA limit (discussed under How Much Can Be Contributed, earlier, under Traditional IRAs), you file jointly, and your modified AGI is less than $206,000. Compensation. Compensation includes wages, salaries, tips, professional fees, bonuses, and other amounts received for providing personal services. It also includes commissions, self-employment income, nontaxable combat pay, military differential pay, and taxable alimony and separate maintenance payments. Modified AGI. Your modified AGI for Roth IRA purposes is your adjusted gross income (AGI) as shown on your return with some adjustments. Use Worksheet 9-2 below to determine your modified AGI. Keep for Your Records Worksheet 9-2. Modified Adjusted Gross Income for Roth IRA Purposes Use this worksheet to figure your modified adjusted gross income for Roth IRA purposes. 1. Enter your adjusted gross income from Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 2. Enter any income resulting from the conversion of an IRA (other than a Roth IRA) to a Roth IRA (included on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 4b) and a rollover from a qualified retirement plan to a Roth IRA (included on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 5b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 3. Subtract line 2 from line 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. 4. Enter any traditional IRA deduction from Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. 5a. Enter any student loan interest deduction from Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 20 . . . . . . . . . 5a. 5b. Enter any tuition and fees deduction from Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5b. 6. Enter any foreign earned income and/or housing exclusion from Form 2555, line 45 . . . . . . 6. 7. Enter any foreign housing deduction from Form 2555, line 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. 8. Enter any excludable savings bond interest from Form 8815, line 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. 9. Enter any excluded employer-provided adoption benefits from Form 8839, line 28 . . . . . . . 9. 10. Add the amounts on lines 3 through 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. 11. Enter: • $206,000 if married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er), • $10,000 if married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time during the year, or • $139,000 for all others. 11. Is the amount on line 10 more than the amount on line 11? If yes, then see the Note below. If no, then the amount on line 10 is your modified AGI for Roth IRA purposes. Note. If the amount on line 10 is more than the amount on line 11 and you have other income or loss items, such as social security income or passive activity losses, that are subject to AGI-based phaseouts, you can refigure your AGI solely for the purpose of figuring your modified AGI for Roth IRA purposes. (If you receive social security benefits, use Worksheet 1 in Appendix B of Pub. 590-A to refigure your AGI.) Then go to line 3 above in this Worksheet 9-2 to refigure your modified AGI. If you don't have other income or loss items subject to AGI-based phaseouts, your modified AGI for Roth IRA purposes is the amount on line 10. How Much Can Be Contributed? The contribution limit for Roth IRAs generally depends on whether contributions are made only to Roth IRAs or to both traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Roth IRAs only. If contributions are made only to Roth IRAs, your contribution limit is generally the lesser of the following amounts. • $6,000 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older in 2020). • Your taxable compensation. However, if your modified AGI is above a certain amount, your contribution limit may be reduced, as explained later under Contribution limit reduced. Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs. If contributions are made to both Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs established for your benefit, your contribution limit for Roth IRAs is generally the same as your limit would be if contributions were made only to Roth IRAs, but then reduced by all contributions for the year to all IRAs other than Roth IRAs. Employer contributions under a SEP or SIMPLE IRA plan don't affect this limit. This means that your contribution limit is generally the lesser of the following amounts. • $6,000 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older in 2020) minus all contributions (other than employer contributions under a SEP or SIMPLE IRA plan) for the year to all IRAs other than Roth IRAs. Chapter 9 • Your taxable compensation minus all con- tributions (other than employer contributions under a SEP or SIMPLE IRA plan) for the year to all IRAs other than Roth IRAs. However, if your modified AGI is above a certain amount, your contribution limit may be reduced, as explained next under Contribution limit reduced. Contribution limit reduced. If your modified AGI is above a certain amount, your contribution limit is gradually reduced. Use Table 9-3 to determine if this reduction applies to you. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Page 87 Table 9-3. Effect of Modified AGI on Roth IRA Contribution This table shows whether your contribution to a Roth IRA is affected by the amount of your modified adjusted gross income (modified AGI). IF you have taxable compensation and your filing status is... AND your modified AGI is... Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er) less than $196,000 you can contribute up to $6,000 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older in 2020). at least $196,000 but less than $206,000 the amount you can contribute is reduced as explained under Contribution limit reduced in chapter 2 of Pub. 590-A. $206,000 or more you can't contribute to a Roth IRA. zero (-0-) you can contribute up to $6,000 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older in 2020). more than zero (-0-) but less than $10,000 the amount you can contribute is reduced as explained under Contribution limit reduced in chapter 2 of Pub. 590-A. $10,000 or more you can't contribute to a Roth IRA. less than $124,000 you can contribute up to $6,000 ($7,000 if you are 50 or older in 2020). at least $124,000 but less than $139,000 the amount you can contribute is reduced as explained under Contribution limit reduced in chapter 2 of Pub. 590-A. $139,000 or more you can't contribute to a Roth IRA. Married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time during the year Single, Head of household, or Married filing separately and you didn't live with your spouse at any time during the year Figuring the reduction. If the amount you can contribute to your Roth IRA is reduced, see Worksheet 2-2 under Can You Contribute to a Roth IRA? in chapter 2 of Pub. 590-A for how to figure the reduction. When Can You Make Contributions? You can make contributions to a Roth IRA for a year at any time during the year or by the due date of your return for that year (not including extensions). You can make contributions for 2020 TIP by the due date (not including extensions) for filing your 2020 tax return. What if You Contribute Too Much? A 6% excise tax applies to any excess contribution to a Roth IRA. Excess contributions. These are the contributions to your Roth IRAs for a year that equal the total of: 1. Amounts contributed for the tax year to your Roth IRAs (other than amounts properly and timely rolled over from a Roth IRA or properly converted from a traditional IRA or rolled over from a qualified retirement plan, as described later) that are more than your contribution limit for the year; plus 2. Any excess contributions for the preceding year, reduced by the total of: a. Any distributions out of your Roth IRAs for the year, plus b. Your contribution limit for the year minus your contributions to all your IRAs for the year. Page 88 THEN... Withdrawal of excess contributions. For purposes of determining excess contributions, any contribution that is withdrawn on or before the due date (including extensions) for filing your tax return for the year is treated as an amount not contributed. This treatment applies only if any earnings on the contributions are also withdrawn. The earnings are considered to have been earned and received in the year the excess contribution was made. Applying excess contributions. If contributions to your Roth IRA for a year were more than the limit, you can apply the excess contribution in one year to a later year if the contributions for that later year are less than the maximum allowed for that year. Can You Move Amounts Into a Roth IRA? You may be able to convert amounts from either a traditional, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA into a Roth IRA. You may be able to roll amounts over from a qualified retirement plan to a Roth IRA. You may be able to recharacterize contributions made to one IRA as having been made directly to a different IRA. You can roll amounts over from a designated Roth account or from one Roth IRA to another Roth IRA. Conversions You can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The conversion is treated as a rollover, regardless of the conversion method used. Most of the rules for rollovers, described earlier under Rollover From One IRA Into Another under Traditional IRAs, apply to these rollovers. However, the 1-year waiting period doesn't apply. Chapter 9 Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Conversion methods. You can convert amounts from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA in any of the following ways. • Rollover. You can receive a distribution from a traditional IRA and roll it over (contribute it) to a Roth IRA within 60 days after the distribution. • Trustee-to-trustee transfer. You can di- rect the trustee of the traditional IRA to transfer an amount from the traditional IRA to the trustee of the Roth IRA. • Same trustee transfer. If the trustee of the traditional IRA also maintains the Roth IRA, you can direct the trustee to transfer an amount from the traditional IRA to the Roth IRA. Same trustee. Conversions made with the same trustee can be made by redesignating the traditional IRA as a Roth IRA, rather than opening a new account or issuing a new contract. Rollover from a qualified retirement plan into a Roth IRA. You can roll over into a Roth IRA all or part of an eligible rollover distribution you receive from your (or your deceased spouse's): • Employer's qualified pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan; • Annuity plan; • Tax-sheltered annuity plan (section 403(b) plan); or • Governmental deferred compensation plan (section 457 plan). Any amount rolled over is subject to the same rules as those for converting a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. Also, the rollover contribution must meet the rollover requirements that apply to the specific type of retirement plan. Income. You must include in your gross income distributions from a qualified retirement plan that you would have had to include in income if you hadn't rolled them over into a Roth IRA. You don't include in gross income any part of a distribution from a qualified retirement plan that is a return of basis (after-tax contributions) to the plan that were taxable to you when paid. These amounts are normally included in income on your return for the year of the rollover from the qualified employer plan to a Roth IRA. If you must include any amount in your gross income, you may have to inCAUTION crease your withholding or make estimated tax payments. See Pub. 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax. ! For more information, see Rollover From Employer's Plan Into a Roth IRA in chapter 2 of Pub. 590-A. Converting from a SIMPLE IRA. Generally, you can convert an amount in your SIMPLE IRA to a Roth IRA under the same rules explained earlier under Converting From Any Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA under Traditional IRAs. However, you can't convert any amount distributed from the SIMPLE IRA during the 2-year period beginning on the date you first participated in any SIMPLE IRA plan maintained by your employer. More information. For more detailed information on conversions, see Can You Move Amounts Into a Roth IRA? in chapter 2 in Pub. 590-A. Rollover From a Roth IRA You can withdraw, tax free, all or part of the assets from one Roth IRA if you contribute them within 60 days to another Roth IRA. Most of the rules for rollovers, explained earlier under Rollover From One IRA Into Another under Traditional IRAs, apply to these rollovers. Rollover from designated Roth account. A rollover from a designated Roth account can only be made to another designated Roth account or to a Roth IRA. For more information about designated Roth accounts, see Designated Roth accounts under Rollovers in Pub. 575. Are Distributions Taxable? You don't include in your gross income qualified distributions or distributions that are a return of your regular contributions from your Roth IRA(s). You also don't include distributions from your Roth IRA that you roll over tax free into another Roth IRA. You may have to include part of other distributions in your income. See Ordering rules for distributions, later. What are qualified distributions? A qualified distribution is any payment or distribution from your Roth IRA that meets the following requirements. 1. It is made after the 5-year period beginning with the first tax year for which a contribution was made to a Roth IRA set up for your benefit. 2. The payment or distribution is: a. Made on or after the date you reach age 591/2, b. Made because you are disabled, c. Made to a beneficiary or to your estate after your death, or d. To pay up to $10,000 (lifetime limit) of certain qualified first-time homebuyer amounts. See First home under What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes? in chapter 1 of Pub. 590-B for more information. Additional tax on distributions of conversion and certain rollover contributions within 5-year period. If, within the 5-year period starting with the first day of your tax year in which you convert an amount from a traditional IRA or roll over an amount from a qualified retirement plan to a Roth IRA, you take a distribu- Chapter 9 tion from a Roth IRA, you may have to pay the 10% additional tax on early distributions. You must generally pay the 10% additional tax on any amount attributable to the part of the amount converted or rolled over (the conversion or rollover contribution) that you had to include in income. A separate 5-year period applies to each conversion and rollover. See Ordering rules for distributions, later, to determine the amount, if any, of the distribution that is attributable to the part of the conversion or rollover contribution that you had to include in income. Additional tax on other early distributions. Unless an exception applies, you must pay the 10% additional tax on the taxable part of any distributions that aren't qualified distributions. See Pub. 590-B for more information. Ordering rules for distributions. If you receive a distribution from your Roth IRA that isn't a qualified distribution, part of it may be taxable. There is a set order in which contributions (including conversion contributions and rollover contributions from qualified retirement plans) and earnings are considered to be distributed from your Roth IRA. Regular contributions are distributed first. See Ordering Rules for Distributions under Are Distributions Taxable? in chapter 2 of Pub. 590-B for more information. Must you withdraw or use Roth IRA assets? You aren't required to take distributions from your Roth IRA at any age. The minimum distribution rules that apply to traditional IRAs don't apply to Roth IRAs while the owner is alive. However, after the death of a Roth IRA owner, certain minimum distribution rules that apply to traditional IRAs also apply to Roth IRAs. More information. For more detailed information on Roth IRAs, see chapter 2 of Pub. 590-A and Pub. 590-B. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Page 89 Part Three. Standard Deduction, Itemized Deductions, and Other Deductions After you have figured your adjusted gross income, you are ready to subtract the deductions used to figure taxable income. You can subtract either the standard deduction or itemized deductions, and, if you qualify, the qualified business income deduction. Itemized deductions are deductions for certain expenses that are listed on Schedule A (Form 1040). The three chapters in this part discuss the standard deduction and each itemized deduction. See chapter 10 for the factors to consider when deciding whether to take the standard deduction or itemized deductions. The Form 1040 and 1040-SR schedules that are discussed in these chapters are: • Schedule 1, Additional Income and Adjustments to Income; • Schedule 2 (Part II), Other Taxes; and • Schedule 3 (Part I), Nonrefundable Credits. Schedule A (Form 1040). The standard deduction is higher for taxpayers who: 10. • Are 65 or older, or • Are blind. Standard Deduction What's New Standard deduction increased. The standard deduction for taxpayers who don't itemize their deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) has increased. The amount of your standard deduction depends on your filing status and other factors. Use the 2020 Standard Deduction Tables near the end of this chapter to figure your standard deduction. In 2020, you are allowed a charitable TIP contribution deduction of up to $300 if you don't itemize your deductions. For more information, see Line 10b in the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. Introduction This chapter discusses the following topics. • How to figure the amount of your standard deduction. • The standard deduction for dependents. • Who should itemize deductions. Most taxpayers have a choice of either taking a standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. If you have a choice, you can use the method that gives you the lower tax. The standard deduction is a dollar amount that reduces your taxable income. It is a benefit that eliminates the need for many taxpayers to itemize actual deductions, such as medical expenses, charitable contributions, and taxes, on Chapter 10 Standard Deduction 530 547 Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts 547 550 Investment Income and Expenses 550 970 Tax Benefits for Education 970 You benefit from the standard deducTIP tion if your standard deduction is more than the total of your allowable itemized deductions. Persons not eligible for the standard deduction. Your standard deduction is zero and you should itemize any deductions you have if: • Your filing status is married filing sepa- rately, and your spouse itemizes deductions on their return; • You are filing a tax return for a short tax year because of a change in your annual accounting period; or • You are a nonresident or dual-status alien during the year. You are considered a dual-status alien if you were both a nonresident and resident alien during the year. 936 Home Mortgage Interest Deduction 936 Form (and Instructions) Schedule A (Form 1040) Itemized Deductions Schedule A (Form 1040) Standard Deduction Amount The standard deduction amount depends on your filing status, whether you are 65 or older or blind, and whether another taxpayer can claim you as a dependent. Generally, the standard deduction amounts are adjusted each year for inflation. The standard deduction amounts for most people are shown in Table 10-1. If you are a nonresident alien who is married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien at the end of the year, you can choose to be treated as a U.S. resident. (See Pub. 519.) If you make this choice, you can take the standard deduction. Decedent's final return. The standard deduction for a decedent's final tax return is the same as it would have been had the decedent continued to live. However, if the decedent wasn't 65 or older at the time of death, the higher standard deduction for age can't be claimed. If you can be claimed as a dependent on another person’s return (such as CAUTION your parents’ return), your standard deduction may be limited. See Standard Deduction for Dependents, later. Higher Standard Deduction for Age (65 or Older) ! Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 501 Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information 501 502 Medical and Dental Expenses 502 526 Charitable Contributions 526 Page 90 530 Tax Information for Homeowners If you are age 65 or older on the last day of the year and don't itemize deductions, you are entitled to a higher standard deduction. You are considered 65 on the day before your 65th birthday. Therefore, you can take a higher standard deduction for 2020 if you were born before January 2, 1956. Use Table 10-2 to figure the standard deduction amount. Death of a taxpayer. If you are preparing a return for someone who died in 2020, read this before using Table 10-2 or Table 10-3. Consider the taxpayer to be 65 or older at the end of 2020 only if they were 65 or older at the time of death. Even if the taxpayer was born before January 2, 1956, they are not considered 65 or older at the end of 2020 unless they were 65 or older at the time of death. A person is considered to reach age 65 on the day before their 65th birthday. Higher Standard Deduction for Blindness If you are blind on the last day of the year and you don't itemize deductions, you are entitled to a higher standard deduction. Not totally blind. If you aren't totally blind, you must get a certified statement from an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) that: • You can't see better than 20/200 in the better eye with glasses or contact lenses, or • Your field of vision is 20 degrees or less. If your eye condition isn't likely to improve beyond these limits, the statement should include this fact. Keep the statement in your records. If your vision can be corrected beyond these limits only by contact lenses that you can wear only briefly because of pain, infection, or ulcers, you can take the higher standard deduction for blindness if you otherwise qualify. Spouse 65 or Older or Blind You can take the higher standard deduction if your spouse is age 65 or older or blind and: • You file a joint return, or • You file a separate return and your spouse had no gross income and can't be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer. Death of a spouse. If your spouse died in 2020 before reaching age 65, you can't take a higher standard deduction because of your spouse. Even if your spouse was born before January 2, 1956, he or she isn't considered 65 or older at the end of 2020 unless he or she was 65 or older at the time of death. A person is considered to reach age 65 on the day before their 65th birthday. Example. Your spouse was born on February 14, 1955, and died on February 13, 2020. Your spouse is considered age 65 at the time of death. However, if your spouse died on February 12, 2020, your spouse isn't considered age 65 at the time of death and isn't 65 or older at the end of 2020. ! CAUTION You can't claim the higher standard deduction for an individual other than yourself and your spouse. Higher Standard Deduction for Net Disaster Loss Your standard deduction may be increased by any net qualified disaster loss. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR, and the Instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040) for more information on how to figure your increased standard deduction and how to report it on Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Examples The following examples illustrate how to determine your standard deduction using Tables 10-1 and 10-2. Example 1. Larry, 46, and Donna, 33, are filing a joint return for 2020. Neither is blind, and neither can be claimed as a dependent. They decide not to itemize their deductions. They use Table 10-1. Their standard deduction is $24,800. Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that Larry is blind at the end of 2020. Larry and Donna use Table 10-2. Their standard deduction is $26,100. Example 3. Bill and Lisa are filing a joint return for 2020. Both are over age 65. Neither is blind, and neither can be claimed as a dependent. If they don't itemize deductions, they use Table 10-2. Their standard deduction is $27,400. Standard Deduction for Dependents The standard deduction for an individual who can be claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return is generally limited to the greater of: • $1,100, or • The individual's earned income for the year plus $350 (but not more than the regular standard deduction amount, generally $12,400). However, if the individual is 65 or older or blind, the standard deduction may be higher. If you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, use Table 10-3 to determine your standard deduction. Earned income defined. Earned income is salaries, wages, tips, professional fees, and other amounts received as pay for work you actually perform. For purposes of the standard deduction, earned income also includes any part of a taxable scholarship or fellowship grant. See chapter 1 of Pub. 970, Tax Benefits for Education, for more information on what qualifies as a scholarship or fellowship grant. Example 1. Michael is 16 years old and single. His parents can claim him as a dependent on their 2020 tax return. He has interest income of $780 and wages of $150. He has no itemized deductions. Michael uses Table 10-3 to find his standard deduction. He enters $150 (his earned income) on line 1, $500 ($150 + $350) on line 3, $1,100 (the larger of $500 and $1,100) on line 5, and $12,400 on line 6. His standard deduction, on line 7a, is $1,100 (the smaller of $1,100 and $12,400). Example 2. Joe, a 22-year-old college student, can be claimed as a dependent on his parents' 2020 tax return. Joe is married and files a separate return. His wife doesn't itemize deductions on her separate return. Joe has $1,500 in interest income and wages of $3,800. He has no itemized deductions. Joe finds his standard deduction by using Table 10-3. He enters his earned income, $3,800, on line 1. He adds lines 1 and 2 and enters $4,150 ($3,800 + $350) on line 3. On line 5, he enters $4,150, the larger of lines 3 and 4. Because Joe is married filing a separate return, he enters $12,400 on line 6. On line 7a, he enters $4,150 as his standard deduction because it is smaller than $12,400, the amount on line 6. Example 3. Amy, who is single, can be claimed as a dependent on her parents' 2020 tax return. She is 18 years old and blind. She has interest income of $1,300 and wages of $2,900. She has no itemized deductions. Amy uses Table 10-3 to find her standard deduction. She enters her wages of $2,900 on line 1. She adds lines 1 and 2 and enters $3,250 ($2,900 + $350) on line 3. On line 5, she enters $3,250, the larger of lines 3 and 4. Because she is single, Amy enters $12,400 on line 6. She enters $3,250 on line 7a. This is the smaller of the amounts on lines 5 and 6. Because she checked the box in the top part of the worksheet, indicating she is blind, she enters $1,650 on line 7b. She then adds the amounts on lines 7a and 7b and enters her standard deduction of $4,900 ($3,250 + $1,650) on line 7c. Example 4. Ed is 18 years old and single. His parents can claim him as a dependent on their 2020 tax return. He has wages of $7,000, interest income of $500, and a business loss of $3,000. He has no itemized deductions. Ed uses Table 10-3 to figure his standard deduction. He enters $4,000 ($7,000 - $3,000) on line 1. He adds lines 1 and 2 and enters $4,350 ($4,000 + $350) on line 3. On line 5, he enters $4,350, the larger of lines 3 and 4. Because he is single, Ed enters $12,400 on line 6. On line 7a, he enters $4,350 as his standard deduction because it is smaller than $12,400, the amount on line 6. Who Should Itemize You should itemize deductions if your total deductions are more than your standard deduction amount. Also, you should itemize if you don't qualify for the standard deduction, as discussed earlier under Persons not eligible for the standard deduction. You should first figure your itemized deductions and compare that amount to your standard deduction to make sure you are using the method that gives you the greater benefit. Chapter 10 Standard Deduction Page 91 When to itemize. You may benefit from itemizing your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) if you: • Don't qualify for the standard deduction, • Had large uninsured medical and dental expenses during the year, • Paid interest and taxes on your home, • Had large uninsured casualty or theft losses, • Made large contributions to qualified charities, or • Have total itemized deductions that are more than the standard deduction to which you are otherwise entitled. These deductions are explained in chapter 11 (Taxes) and in the publications listed under Useful Items, earlier. If you decide to itemize your deductions, complete Schedule A and attach it to your Form Page 92 Chapter 10 Standard Deduction 1040 or 1040-SR. Enter the amount from Schedule A, line 17, on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, line 12. Electing to itemize for state tax or other purposes. Even if your itemized deductions are less than your standard deduction, you can elect to itemize deductions on your federal return rather than take the standard deduction. You may want to do this if, for example, the tax benefit of itemizing your deductions on your state tax return is greater than the tax benefit you lose on your federal return by not taking the standard deduction. To make this election, you must check the box on line 18 of Schedule A. Changing your mind. If you don't itemize your deductions and later find that you should have itemized—or if you itemize your deductions and later find you shouldn't have—you can change your return by filing Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. See Amen- ded Returns and Claims for Refund in chapter 1 for more information on amended returns. Married persons who filed separate returns. You can change methods of taking deductions only if you and your spouse both make the same changes. Both of you must file a consent to assessment for any additional tax either one may owe as a result of the change. You and your spouse can use the method that gives you the lower total tax, even though one of you may pay more tax than you would have paid by using the other method. You both must use the same method of claiming deductions. If one itemizes deductions, the other should itemize because they won't qualify for the standard deduction. See Persons not eligible for the standard deduction, earlier. 2020 Standard Deduction Tables If you are married filing a separate return and your spouse itemizes deductions, or if you are a dual-status alien, you can't take the standard deduction even if you were born before January 2, 1956, or are blind. ! CAUTION Table 10-1. Standard Deduction Chart for Most People* IF your filing status is... THEN your standard deduction is... Single or Married filing separately $12,400 Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er) 24,800 Head of household 18,650 *Don't use this chart if you were born before January 2, 1956, are blind, or if someone else can claim you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) as a dependent. Use Table 10-2 or 10-3 instead. Table 10-2. Standard Deduction Chart for People Born Before January 2, 1956, or Who Are Blind* Check the correct number of boxes below. Then go to the chart. You: Born before January 2, 1956 Your spouse: Born before January 2, 1956 Blind Blind Total number of boxes checked IF your filing status is... AND the number in the box above is... THEN your standard deduction is... Single 1 2 $14,050 15,700 Married filing jointly 1 2 $26,100 27,400 3 4 28,700 30,000 Qualifying widow(er) 1 2 $26,100 27,400 Married filing separately** 1 2 3 4 $13,700 15,000 16,300 17,600 Head of household 1 2 $20,300 21,950 *If someone else can claim you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) as a dependent, use Table 10-3 instead. **You can check the boxes for Your Spouse if your filing status is married filing separately and your spouse had no income, isn’t filing a return, and can’t be claimed as a dependent on another person’s return. Table 10-3. Standard Deduction Worksheet for Dependents Use this worksheet only if someone else can claim you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) as a dependent. Check the correct number of boxes below. Then go to the worksheet. You: Your spouse: Born before January 2, 1956 Born before January 2, 1956 Blind Blind Total number of boxes checked 1. Enter your earned income (defined below). If none, enter -0-. 1. 2. Additional amount. 2. 3. Add lines 1 and 2. 3. 4. Minimum standard deduction. 4. 5. Enter the larger of line 3 or line 4. 5. 6. Enter the amount shown below for your filing status. • Single or Married filing separately— $12,400 • Married filing jointly— $24,800 • Head of household— $18,650 6. 7. Standard deduction. a. Enter the smaller of line 5 or line 6. If born after January 1, 1956, and not blind, stop here. This is your standard deduction. Otherwise, go on to line 7b. b. If born before January 2, 1956, or blind, multiply $1,650 ($1,300 if married) by the number in the box above. c. Add lines 7a and 7b. This is your standard deduction for 2020. $350 $1,100 7a. 7b. 7c. Earned income includes wages, salaries, tips, professional fees, and other compensation received for personal services you performed. It also includes any taxable scholarship or fellowship grant. Chapter 10 Standard Deduction Page 93 Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 502 Medical and Dental Expenses 11. 502 503 Child and Dependent Care Expenses 503 504 Divorced or Separated individuals 504 Taxes 514 Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income 525 530 Form (and Instructions) Schedule A (Form 1040) Itemized Deductions Schedule A (Form 1040) Limitation on deduction for state and local taxes. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provided for a temporary limitation on the deduction for state and local taxes. See Limitation on deduction for state and local taxes, later. No deduction for foreign taxes paid for real estate. You can no longer deduct foreign taxes you paid on real estate. Introduction This chapter discusses which taxes you can deduct if you itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040). It also explains which taxes you can deduct on other schedules or forms and which taxes you can’t deduct. This chapter covers the following topics. • Income taxes (federal, state, local, and foreign). • General sales taxes (state and local). • Real estate taxes (state, local, and foreign). • Personal property taxes (state and local). • Taxes and fees you can’t deduct. Use Table 11-1 as a guide to determine which taxes you can deduct. The end of the chapter contains a section that explains which forms you use to deduct different types of taxes. Business taxes. You can deduct certain taxes only if they are ordinary and necessary expenses of your trade or business or of producing income. For information on these taxes, see Pub. 535, Business Expenses. State or local taxes. These are taxes imposed by the 50 states, U.S. possessions, or any of their political subdivisions (such as a county or city), or by the District of Columbia. Indian tribal government. An Indian tribal government recognized by the Secretary of the Treasury as performing substantial government functions will be treated as a state for purposes of claiming a deduction for taxes. Income taxes, real estate taxes, and personal property taxes imposed by that Indian tribal government (or by any of its subdivisions that are treated as political subdivisions of a state) are deductible. General sales taxes. These are taxes imposed at one rate on retail sales of a broad range of classes of items. Foreign taxes. These are taxes imposed by a foreign country or any of its political subdivisions. Page 94 Chapter 11 Taxes What To Deduct 514 530 Tax Information for Homeowners Reminders Exception. You can’t deduct state and local income taxes you pay on income that is exempt from federal income tax, unless the exempt income is interest income. For example, you can’t deduct the part of a state's income tax that is on a cost-of-living allowance exempt from federal income tax. Schedule E (Form 1040) Supplemental Income and Loss Schedule E (Form 1040) 1116 Foreign Tax Credit 1116 For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. Tests To Deduct Any Tax The following two tests must be met for you to deduct any tax. • The tax must be imposed on you. • You must pay the tax during your tax year. The tax must be imposed on you. In general, you can deduct only taxes imposed on you. Generally, you can deduct property taxes only if you are an owner of the property. If your spouse owns the property and pays the real estate taxes, the taxes are deductible on your spouse's separate return or on your joint return. You must pay the tax during your tax year. If you are a cash basis taxpayer, you can deduct only those taxes you actually paid during your tax year. If you pay your taxes by check and the check is honored by your financial institution, the day you mail or deliver the check is the date of payment. If you use a pay-by-phone account (such as a credit card or electronic funds withdrawal), the date reported on the statement of the financial institution showing when payment was made is the date of payment. If you contest a tax liability and are a cash basis taxpayer, you can deduct the tax only in the year you actually pay it (or transfer money or other property to provide for satisfaction of the contested liability). See Pub. 538, Accounting Periods and Methods, for details. If you use an accrual method of accounting, see Pub. 538 for more information. Income Taxes This section discusses the deductibility of state and local income taxes (including employee contributions to state benefit funds) and foreign income taxes. State and Local Income Taxes You can deduct state and local income taxes. Your deduction may be for withheld taxes, estimated tax payments, or other tax payments as follows. Withheld taxes. You can deduct state and local income taxes withheld from your salary in the year they are withheld. Your Form(s) W-2 will show these amounts. Forms W-2G, 1099-B, 1099-DIV, 1099-G, 1099-K, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, 1099-OID, and 1099-R may also show state and local income taxes withheld. Estimated tax payments. You can deduct estimated tax payments you made during the year to a state or local government. However, you must have a reasonable basis for making the estimated tax payments. Any estimated state or local tax payments that aren’t made in good faith at the time of payment aren’t deductible. Example. You made an estimated state income tax payment. However, the estimate of your state tax liability shows that you will get a refund of the full amount of your estimated payment. You had no reasonable basis to believe you had any additional liability for state income taxes and you can’t deduct the estimated tax payment. Refund applied to taxes. You can deduct any part of a refund of prior-year state or local income taxes that you chose to have credited to your 2020 estimated state or local income taxes. Don’t reduce your deduction by either of the following items. • Any state or local income tax refund (or credit) you expect to receive for 2020. • Any refund of (or credit for) prior-year state and local income taxes you actually received in 2020. However, part or all of this refund (or credit) may be taxable. See Refund (or credit) of state or local income taxes, later. Separate federal returns. If you and your spouse file separate state, local, and federal income tax returns, each of you can deduct on your federal return only the amount of your own state and local income tax that you paid during the tax year. Joint state and local returns. If you and your spouse file joint state and local returns and separate federal returns, each of you can deduct on your separate federal return a part of the state and local income taxes paid during the tax year. You can deduct only the amount of the total taxes that is proportionate to your gross income compared to the combined gross income of you and your spouse. However, you can’t deduct more than the amount you actually paid during the year. You can avoid this calculation if you and your spouse are jointly and individually liable for the full amount of the state and local income taxes. If so, you and your spouse can deduct on your separate federal returns the amount you each actually paid. Joint federal return. If you file a joint federal return, you can deduct the state and local income taxes both of you paid. Contributions to state benefit funds. As an employee, you can deduct mandatory contributions to state benefit funds withheld from your wages that provide protection against loss of wages. For example, certain states require employees to make contributions to state funds providing disability or unemployment insurance benefits. Mandatory payments made to the following state benefit funds are deductible as state income taxes on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5a. • Alaska Unemployment Compensation Fund. • California Nonoccupational Disability Benefit Fund. • New Jersey Nonoccupational Disability Benefit Fund. • New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Fund. • New York Nonoccupational Disability Benefit Fund. • Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Fund. • Rhode Island Temporary Disability Benefit Fund. State and Local General Sales Taxes You can elect to deduct state and local general sales taxes, instead of state and local income taxes, as an itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5a. You can use either your actual expenses or the state and local sales tax tables to figure your sales tax deduction. Actual expenses. Generally, you can deduct the actual state and local general sales taxes (including compensating use taxes) if the tax rate was the same as the general sales tax rate. Food, clothing, and medical supplies. Sales taxes on food, clothing, and medical supplies are deductible as a general sales tax even if the tax rate was less than the general sales tax rate. Motor vehicles. Sales taxes on motor vehicles are deductible as a general sales tax even if the tax rate was less than the general sales tax rate. However, if you paid sales tax on a motor vehicle at a rate higher than the general sales tax, you can deduct only the amount of the tax that you would have paid at the general sales tax rate on that vehicle. Include any state and local general sales taxes paid for a leased motor vehicle. For purposes of this section, motor vehicles include cars, motorcycles, motor homes, recreational vehicles, sport utility vehicles, trucks, vans, and off-road vehicles. • Washington State Supplemental Work- ! men's Compensation Fund. ! CAUTION Employee contributions to private or voluntary disability plans aren’t deductible. Refund (or credit) of state or local income taxes. If you receive a refund of (or credit for) state or local income taxes in a year after the year in which you paid them, you may have to include the refund in income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 1, in the year you receive it. This includes refunds resulting from taxes that were overwithheld, applied from a prior-year return, not figured correctly, or figured again because of an amended return. If you didn’t itemize your deductions in the previous year, don’t include the refund in income. If you deducted the taxes in the previous year, include all or part of the refund on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 1, in the year you receive the refund. For a discussion of how much to include, see Recoveries in Pub. 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income, for more information. Foreign Income Taxes Generally, you can take either a deduction or a credit for income taxes imposed on you by a foreign country or a U.S. possession. However, you can’t take a deduction or credit for foreign income taxes paid on income that is exempt from U.S. tax under the foreign earned income exclusion or the foreign housing exclusion. For information on these exclusions, see Pub. 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad. For information on the foreign tax credit, see Pub. 514. CAUTION If you use the actual expenses method, you must have receipts to show the general sales taxes paid. Trade or business items. Don't include sales taxes paid on items used in your trade or business on Schedule A (Form 1040). Instead, go to the instructions for the form you are using to report business income and expenses to see if you can deduct these taxes. Optional sales tax tables. Instead of using your actual expenses, you can figure your state and local general sales tax deduction using the state and local sales tax tables in the Instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040). You may also be able to add the state and local general sales taxes paid on certain specified items. Your applicable table amount is based on the state where you live, your income, and your family size. Your income is your adjusted gross income plus any nontaxable items such as the following. • • • • • Tax-exempt interest. Veterans’ benefits. Nontaxable combat pay. Workers’ compensation. Nontaxable part of social security and railroad retirement benefits. • Nontaxable part of IRA, pension, or annuity instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5a, for details. State and Local Real Estate Taxes Deductible real estate taxes are any state and local taxes on real property levied for the general public welfare. You can deduct these taxes only if they are assessed uniformly against all property under the jurisdiction of the taxing authority. The proceeds must be for general community or governmental purposes and not be a payment for a special privilege granted or service rendered to you. Deductible real estate taxes generally don’t include taxes charged for local benefits and improvements that increase the value of the property. They also don’t include itemized charges for services (such as trash collection) assessed against specific property or certain people, even if the charge is paid to the taxing authority. For more information about taxes and charges that aren’t deductible, see Real Estate-Related Items You Can’t Deduct, later. Tenant-shareholders in a cooperative housing corporation. Generally, if you are a tenant-stockholder in a cooperative housing corporation, you can deduct the amount paid to the corporation that represents your share of the real estate taxes the corporation paid or incurred for your dwelling unit. The corporation should provide you with a statement showing your share of the taxes. For more information, see Special Rules for Cooperatives in Pub. 530. Division of real estate taxes between buyers and sellers. If you bought or sold real estate during the year, the real estate taxes must be divided between the buyer and the seller. The buyer and the seller must divide the real estate taxes according to the number of days in the real property tax year (the period to which the tax is imposed relates) that each owned the property. The seller is treated as paying the taxes up to, but not including, the date of sale. The buyer is treated as paying the taxes beginning with the date of sale. This applies regardless of the lien dates under local law. Generally, this information is included on the settlement statement provided at the closing. If you (the seller) can’t deduct taxes until they are paid because you use the cash method of accounting, and the buyer of your property is personally liable for the tax, you are considered to have paid your part of the tax at the time of the sale. This lets you deduct the part of the tax to the date of sale even though you didn’t actually pay it. However, you must also include the amount of that tax in the selling price of the property. The buyer must include the same amount in his or her cost of the property. You figure your deduction for taxes on each property bought or sold during the real property tax year as follows. distributions, excluding rollovers. • Public assistance payments. If you lived in different states during the same tax year, you must prorate your applicable table amount for each state based on the days you lived in each state. See the Chapter 11 Taxes Page 95 (May 3 to December 31, including their date of purchase). They figure their deduction for taxes on their new home as follows. Worksheet 11-1. Figuring Your State and Local Real Estate Tax Deduction Keep for Your Records 1. Enter the total state and local real estate taxes for the real property tax year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Enter the number of days in the real property tax year that you owned the property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Divide line 2 by 365 (for leap years, divide line 2 by 366) . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Multiply line 1 by line 3. This is your deduction. Enter it on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Worksheet 11-1. Figuring Your State and Local Real Estate Tax Deduction — Taxes on New Home 1. Enter the total state and local real estate taxes for the real property tax year . . . 2. Enter the number of days in the real property tax year that you owned the property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Note. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for each property you bought or sold during the real property tax year. Your total deduction is the sum of the line 4 amounts for all of the properties. Real estate taxes for prior years. Don’t divide delinquent taxes between the buyer and seller if the taxes are for any real property tax year before the one in which the property is sold. Even if the buyer agrees to pay the delinquent taxes, the buyer can’t deduct them. The buyer must add them to the cost of the property. The seller can deduct these taxes paid by the buyer. However, the seller must include them in the selling price. 4. Divide line 2 by 365 (for leap years, divide line 2 by 366) . . . . . . . . . . $732 243 . . 0.6639 Multiply line 1 by line 3. This is your deduction. Enter it on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5b . . . . . . . . . . . . . $486 Since Dennis and Beth paid all of the taxes on the new home, they add $246 ($732 paid less $486 deduction) to their cost of the new home. (The sellers add this $246 to their selling price and deduct the $246 as a real estate tax.) Dennis and Beth's real estate tax deduction for their old and new homes is the sum of $215 and $486, or $701. They will enter this amount on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5b. Example 1. Dennis and Beth White's real property tax year for both their old home and their new home is the calendar year, with payment due August 1. The tax on their old home, sold on May 7, was $620. The tax on their new home, bought on May 3, was $732. Dennis and Beth are considered to have paid a proportionate share of the real estate taxes on the old home even though they didn’t actually pay them to the taxing authority. On the other hand, they can claim only a proportionate share of the taxes they paid on their new property even though they paid the entire amount. Dennis and Beth owned their old home during the real property tax year for 127 days (January 1 to May 6, the day before the sale). They figure their deduction for taxes on their old home as follows. Example 2. George and Helen Brown bought a new home on May 3, 2020. Their real property tax year for the new home is the calendar year. Real estate taxes for 2019 were assessed in their state on January 1, 2020. The taxes became due on May 31, 2020, and October 31, 2020. The Browns agreed to pay all taxes due after the date of purchase. Real estate taxes for 2019 were $680. They paid $340 on May 31, 2020, and $340 on October 31, 2020. These taxes were for the 2019 real property tax year. The Browns can’t deduct them since they didn’t own the property until 2020. Instead, they must add $680 to the cost of their new home. In January 2021, the Browns receive their 2020 property tax statement for $752, which they will pay in 2021. The Browns owned their new home during the 2020 real property tax year for 243 days (May 3 to December 31). They will figure their 2021 deduction for taxes as follows. Worksheet 11-1. Figuring Your State and Local Real Estate Tax Deduction — Taxes on Old Home Worksheet 11-1. Figuring Your State and Local Real Estate Tax Deduction — Taxes on New Home Examples. The following examples illustrate how real estate taxes are divided between buyer and seller. 1. Enter the total state and local real estate taxes for the real property tax year . . . 2. Enter the number of days in the real property tax year that you owned the property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. 4. Divide line 2 by 365 (for leap years, divide line 2 by 366) . . . . . . . . . . . . Multiply line 1 by line 3. This is your deduction. Enter it on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5b . . . . . . . . . . . . . $620 Chapter 11 Taxes Enter the total state and local real estate taxes for the real property tax year . . . 2. Enter the number of days in the real property tax year that you owned the property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Divide line 2 by 365 (for leap years, divide line 2 by 366) . . . . . . . . . . Multiply line 1 by line 3. This is your deduction. Claim it on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5b . . . . . . . . . . 127 0.3470 4. $215 Since the buyers of their old home paid all of the taxes, Dennis and Beth also include the $215 in the selling price of the old home. (The buyers add the $215 to their cost of the home.) Dennis and Beth owned their new home during the real property tax year for 243 days Page 96 1. . . $752 243 0.6639 $499 The remaining $253 ($752 paid less $499 deduction) of taxes paid in 2021, along with the $680 paid in 2020, is added to the cost of their new home. Because the taxes up to the date of sale are considered paid by the seller on the date of sale, the seller is entitled to a 2020 tax deduction of $933. This is the sum of the $680 for 2019 and the $253 for the 123 days the seller owned the home in 2020. The seller must also include the $933 in the selling price when he or she figures the gain or loss on the sale. The seller should contact the Browns in January 2021 to find out how much real estate tax is due for 2020. Form 1099-S. For certain sales or exchanges of real estate, the person responsible for closing the sale (generally, the settlement agent) prepares Form 1099-S, Proceeds From Real Estate Transactions, to report certain information to the IRS and to the seller of the property. Box 2 of Form 1099-S is for the gross proceeds from the sale and should include the portion of the seller's real estate tax liability that the buyer will pay after the date of sale. The buyer includes these taxes in the cost basis of the property, and the seller both deducts this amount as a tax paid and includes it in the sales price of the property. For a real estate transaction that involves a home, any real estate tax the seller paid in advance but that is the liability of the buyer appears on Form 1099-S, box 6. The buyer deducts this amount as a real estate tax, and the seller reduces his or her real estate tax deduction (or includes it in income) by the same amount. See Refund (or rebate), later. Taxes placed in escrow. If your monthly mortgage payment includes an amount placed in escrow (put in the care of a third party) for real estate taxes, you may not be able to deduct the total amount placed in escrow. You can deduct only the real estate tax that the third party actually paid to the taxing authority. If the third party doesn’t notify you of the amount of real estate tax that was paid for you, contact the third party or the taxing authority to find the proper amount to show on your return. Tenants by the entirety. If you and your spouse held property as tenants by the entirety and you file separate federal returns, each of you can deduct only the taxes each of you paid on the property. Divorced individuals. If your divorce or separation agreement states that you must pay the real estate taxes for a home owned by you and your spouse, part of your payments may be deductible as alimony and part as real estate taxes. See Payments to a third party in Pub. 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals, for more information. Ministers’ and military housing allowances. If you are a minister or a member of the uniformed services and receive a housing allowance that you can exclude from income, you still can deduct all of the real estate taxes you pay on your home. Refund (or rebate). If you received a refund or rebate in 2020 of real estate taxes you paid in 2020, you must reduce your deduction by the amount refunded to you. If you received a refund or rebate in 2020 of real estate taxes you deducted in an earlier year, you generally must include the refund or rebate in income in the year you receive it. However, the amount you include in income is limited to the amount of the deduction that reduced your tax in the earlier Table 11-1. Which Taxes Can You Deduct? Type of Tax You Can Deduct You Can’t Deduct Fees and Charges Fees and charges that are expenses of your trade or business or of producing income. Fees and charges that aren’t expenses of your trade or business or of producing income, such as fees for driver's licenses, car inspections, parking, or charges for water bills (see Taxes and Fees You Can’t Deduct). Income Taxes State and local income taxes. Federal income taxes. Foreign income taxes. Employee contributions to private or voluntary disability plans. Employee contributions to state funds listed under Contributions to state benefit funds. State and local general sales taxes if you choose to deduct state and local income taxes. General Sales Taxes State and local general sales taxes, including compensating use taxes. State and local income taxes if you choose to deduct state and local general sales taxes. Other Taxes Taxes that are expenses of your trade or business. Federal excise taxes, such as tax on gasoline, that aren’t expenses of your trade or business or of producing income. Taxes on property producing rent or royalty income. Per capita taxes. Fines and penalties. One-half of self-employment tax paid. Personal Property Taxes State and local personal property taxes. Customs duties that aren’t expenses of your trade or business or of producing income. Real Estate Taxes State and local real estate taxes. Real estate taxes that are treated as imposed on someone else (see Division of real estate taxes between buyers and sellers). Tenant's share of real estate taxes paid by cooperative housing corporation. Foreign real estate taxes. Taxes for local benefits (with exceptions). See Real Estate-Related Items You Can’t Deduct. Trash and garbage pickup fees (with exceptions). See Real Estate-Related Items You Can’t Deduct. Rent increase due to higher real estate taxes. Homeowners' association charges. year. For more information, see Recoveries in Pub. 525. Real Estate-Related Items You Can’t Deduct Payments for the following items generally aren’t deductible as real estate taxes. • Taxes for local benefits. • Itemized charges for services (such as trash and garbage pickup fees). • Transfer taxes (or stamp taxes). • Rent increases due to higher real estate taxes. • Homeowners' association charges. Taxes for local benefits. Deductible real estate taxes generally don’t include taxes charged for local benefits and improvements tending to increase the value of your property. These include assessments for streets, sidewalks, water mains, sewer lines, public parking facilities, and similar improvements. You should increase the basis of your property by the amount of the assessment. Local benefit taxes are deductible only if they are for maintenance, repair, or interest charges related to those benefits. If only a part of the taxes is for maintenance, repair, or interest, you must be able to show the amount of that part to claim the deduction. If you can’t determine what part of the tax is for maintenance, repair, or interest, none of it is deductible. • A periodic charge for a residential service (such as a $20 per month or $240 annual fee charged to each homeowner for trash collection), or • A flat fee charged for a single service pro- vided by your government (such as a $30 charge for mowing your lawn because it was allowed to grow higher than permitted under your local ordinance). Taxes for local benefits may be included in your real estate tax bill. If your CAUTION taxing authority (or mortgage lender) doesn’t furnish you a copy of your real estate tax bill, ask for it. You should use the rules above to determine if the local benefit tax is deductible. Contact the taxing authority if you need additional information about a specific charge on your real estate tax bill. You must look at your real estate tax bill to determine if any nondeductible CAUTION itemized charges, such as those listed above, are included in the bill. If your taxing authority (or mortgage lender) doesn’t furnish you a copy of your real estate tax bill, ask for it. Itemized charges for services. An itemized charge for services assessed against specific property or certain people isn’t a tax, even if the charge is paid to the taxing authority. For example, you can’t deduct the charge as a real estate tax if it is: • The fees or charges are imposed at a like ! • A unit fee for the delivery of a service (such as a $5 fee charged for every 1,000 gallons of water you use), ! Exception. Service charges used to maintain or improve services (such as trash collection or police and fire protection) are deductible as real estate taxes if: rate against all property in the taxing jurisdiction; • The funds collected aren’t earmarked; instead, they are commingled with general revenue funds; and Chapter 11 Taxes Page 97 • Funds used to maintain or improve serv- and other employment taxes you pay on the wages of a household worker may be included in medical expenses that you can deduct, or childcare expenses that allow you to claim the child and dependent care credit. For more information, see Pub. 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, and Pub. 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. ices aren’t limited to or determined by the amount of these fees or charges collected. Transfer taxes (or stamp taxes). Transfer taxes and similar taxes and charges on the sale of a personal home aren’t deductible. If they are paid by the seller, they are expenses of the sale and reduce the amount realized on the sale. If paid by the buyer, they are included in the cost basis of the property. • Estate, inheritance, legacy, or succes- sion taxes. You can deduct the estate tax attributable to income in respect of a decedent if you, as a beneficiary, must include that income in your gross income. In that case, deduct the estate tax on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16. For more information, see Pub. 559, Survivors, Executors, and Administrators. Rent increase due to higher real estate taxes. If your landlord increases your rent in the form of a tax surcharge because of increased real estate taxes, you can’t deduct the increase as taxes. Homeowners' association charges. These charges aren’t deductible because they are imposed by the homeowners' association, rather than the state or local government. • Federal income taxes. This includes income taxes withheld from your pay. Personal Property Taxes • Fines and penalties. You can’t deduct Personal property tax is deductible if it is a state or local tax that is: • Foreign personal or real property • Charged on personal property; • Based only on the value of the personal property; and • Charged on a yearly basis, even if it is col- fines and penalties paid to a government for violation of any law, including related amounts forfeited as collateral deposits. • Gift taxes. • License fees. You can’t deduct license fees for personal purposes (such as marriage, driver's, and pet license fees). • Per capita taxes. You can’t deduct state A tax that meets the above requirements can be considered charged on personal property even if it is for the exercise of a privilege. For example, a yearly tax based on value qualifies as a personal property tax even if it is called a registration fee and is for the privilege of registering motor vehicles or using them on the highways. Many taxes and fees other than those listed above are also nondeductible, unless they are ordinary and necessary expenses of a business or income-producing activity. For other nondeductible items, see Real Estate-Related Items You Can’t Deduct, earlier. Example. Your state charges a yearly motor vehicle registration tax of 1% of value plus 50 cents per hundredweight. You paid $32 based on the value ($1,500) and weight (3,400 lbs.) of your car. You can deduct $15 (1% × $1,500) as a personal property tax because it is based on the value. The remaining $17 ($0.50 × 34), based on the weight, isn’t deductible. Taxes and Fees You Can’t Deduct Many federal, state, and local government taxes aren’t deductible because they don’t fall within the categories discussed earlier. Other taxes and fees, such as federal income taxes, aren’t deductible because the tax law specifically prohibits a deduction for them. See Table 11-1. Taxes and fees that are generally not deductible include the following items. • Employment taxes. This includes social security, Medicare, and railroad retirement taxes withheld from your pay. However, one-half of self-employment tax you pay is deductible. In addition, the social security Page 98 Real estate taxes and personal property taxes. Real estate and personal property taxes are deducted on Schedule A (Form 1040), lines 5b and 5c, respectively, unless they are paid on property used in your business, in which case they are deducted on Schedule C (Form 1040) or Schedule F (Form 1040). Taxes on property that produces rent or royalty income are deducted on Schedule E (Form 1040). Self-employment tax. Deduct one-half of your self-employment tax on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 14. Other taxes. All other deductible taxes are deducted on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 6. taxes. lected more or less than once a year. If the tax is partly based on value and partly based on other criteria, it may qualify in part. Foreign income taxes. Generally, income taxes you pay to a foreign country or U.S. possession can be claimed as an itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 6, or as a credit against your U.S. income tax on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 1. To claim the credit, you may have to complete and attach Form 1116. For more information, see the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR, or Pub. 514. or local per capita taxes. Where To Deduct You deduct taxes on the following schedules. State and local income taxes. These taxes are deducted on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5a, even if your only source of income is from business, rents, or royalties. Limitation on deduction for state and local taxes. The deduction for state and local taxes is limited to $10,000 ($5,000 if married filing married separately). State and local taxes are the taxes that you include on Schedule A (Form 1040), lines 5a, 5b, and 5c. Include taxes imposed by a U.S. possession with your state and local taxes on Schedule A (Form 1040), lines 5a, 5b, and 5c. However, don't include any U.S. possession taxes you paid that are allocable to excluded income. You may want to take a credit for U.S. TIP possession tax instead of a deduction. See the instructions for Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 1, for details. General sales taxes. Sales taxes are deducted on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5a. You must check the box on line 5a. If you elect to deduct sales taxes, you can’t deduct state and local income taxes on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 5a. Chapter 12 Other Itemized Deductions 12. Other Itemized Deductions What's New Standard mileage rate. The 2020 rate for business use of a vehicle is 57.5 cents a mile. Educator expenses. Educator expenses include amounts paid or incurred after March 12, 2020, for personal protective equipment, disinfectant, and other supplies used for the prevention of the spread of coronavirus. For more information, see the instructions for Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 10 and Educator Expenses in Pub. 529, Miscellaneous Deductions. Reminders No miscellaneous itemized deductions allowed. You can no longer claim any miscellaneous itemized deductions. Miscellaneous itemized deductions are those deductions that would have been subject to the 2%-of-adjusted-gross-income (AGI) limitation. See Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions, later. Fines and penalties. Rules regarding deducting fines and penalties have changed. See Fines and Penalties, later. Introduction This chapter explains that you can no longer claim any miscellaneous itemized deductions, unless you fall into one of the qualified categories of employment claiming a deduction relating to unreimbursed employee expenses. Miscellaneous itemized deductions are those deductions that would have been subject to the 2%-of-AGI limitation. You can still claim certain expenses as itemized deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040), Schedule A (1040-NR), or as an adjustment to income on Form 1040 or 1040-SR. This chapter covers the following topics. • • • • Miscellaneous itemized deductions. Expenses you can't deduct. Unreimbursed Employee Expenses • Armed Forces reservists. • Qualified performing artists. • Fee-basis state or local government offi- You can deduct only unreimbursed employee expenses that are paid or incurred during your tax year, for carrying on your trade or business of being an employee, and ordinary and necessary. An expense is ordinary if it's common and accepted in your trade, business, or profession. An expense is necessary if it's appropriate and helpful to your business. An expense doesn't have to be required to be considered necessary. • Employees with impairment-related work Educator Expenses You can no longer claim a deduction for unreimbursed employee expenses unless you fall into one of the following categories of employment. cials. expenses. Expenses you can deduct. How to report your deductions. You must keep records to verify your deductions. You should keep receipts, RECORDS canceled checks, substitute checks, financial account statements, and other documentary evidence. For more information on recordkeeping, see What Records Should I Keep? in chapter 1. Useful Items You may want to see: Publication 463 Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses 463 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income 525 529 Miscellaneous Deductions 529 535 Business Expenses 535 547 Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts 547 575 Pension and Annuity Income 575 587 Business Use of Your Home 587 946 How To Depreciate Property 946 Form (and Instructions) Schedule A (Form 1040) Itemized Deductions Schedule A (Form 1040) 2106 Employee Business Expenses 2106 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses 8839 Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) Beneficiary's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc. Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions You can no longer claim any miscellaneous itemized deductions that are subject to the 2%-of-AGI limitation, including unreimbursed employee expenses. However, you may be able to deduct certain unreimbursed employee business expenses if you fall into one of the following categories of employment listed under Unreimbursed Employee Expenses next. Categories of Employment You can deduct unreimbursed employee expenses only if you qualify as an Armed Forces reservist, a qualified performing artist, a fee-basis state or local government official, or an employee with impairment-related work expenses. Armed Forces reservist (member of a reserve component). You are a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States if you are in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard Reserve; the Army National Guard of the United States; or the Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. Qualified performing artist. qualified performing artist if you: You are a 1. Performed services in the performing arts as an employee for at least two employers during the tax year, 2. Received from at least two of the employers wages of $200 or more per employer, 3. Had allowable business expenses attributable to the performing arts of more than 10% of gross income from the performing arts, and 4. Had AGI of $16,000 or less before deducting expenses as a performing artist. Fee-basis state or local government official. You are a qualifying fee-basis official if you are employed by a state or political subdivision of a state and are compensated, in whole or in part, on a fee basis. Employee with impairment-related work expenses. Impairment-related work expenses are the allowable expenses of an individual with physical or mental disabilities for attendant care at his or her place of employment. They also include other expenses in connection with the place of employment that enable the employee to work. See Pub. 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses, for more details. Allowable unreimbursed employee expenses. If you qualify as an employee in one of the categories mentioned above, you may be able to deduct the following items as unreimbursed employee expenses. Unreimbursed employee expenses for individuals in these categories of employment are deducted as adjustments to gross income. Qualified employees listed in one of the categories above must complete Form 2106 to take the deduction. If you were an eligible educator in 2020, you can deduct up to $250 of qualified expenses you paid in 2020 as an adjustment to gross income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 10, rather than as a miscellaneous itemized deduction. If you and your spouse are filing jointly and both of you were eligible educators, the maximum deduction is $500. However, neither spouse can deduct more than $250 of his or her qualified expenses. For additional information, see Educator Expenses in Pub. 529, Miscellaneous Deductions. Educator expenses include amounts TIP paid or incurred after March 12, 2020, for personal protective equipment, disinfectant, and other supplies used for the prevention of the spread of coronavirus. For more information, see the instructions for Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 10 and Educator Expenses in Pub. 529, Miscellaneous Deductions. Expenses You Can’t Deduct Because of the suspension of miscellaneous itemized deductions, there are two categories of expenses you can't deduct: miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the 2%-of-AGI limitation, and those expenses that are traditionally nondeductible under the Internal Revenue Code. Both categories of deduction are discussed next. Miscellaneous Deductions Subject to 2% AGI Unless you fall into one of the qualified categories of employment under Unreimbursed Employee Expenses, earlier, miscellaneous itemized deductions that are subject to the 2%-of-AGI limitation can no longer be claimed. For expenses not related to unreimbursed employee expenses, you generally can't deduct the following expenses, even if you fall into one of the qualified categories of employment listed earlier. Appraisal Fees Appraisal fees you pay to figure a casualty loss or the fair market value of donated property are miscellaneous itemized deductions and can no longer be deducted. Chapter 12 Other Itemized Deductions Page 99 Casualty and Theft Losses Investment Fees and Expenses Damaged or stolen property used in performing services as an employee is a miscellaneous deduction and can no longer be deducted. For other casualty and theft losses, see Pub. 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts. Investment fees, custodial fees, trust administration fees, and other expenses you paid for managing your investments that produce taxable income are miscellaneous itemized deductions and are no longer deductible. Clerical Help and Office Rent Legal Expenses Office expenses, such as rent and clerical help, you pay in connection with your investments and collecting taxable income on those investments are miscellaneous itemized deductions and are no longer deductible. You can usually deduct legal expenses that you incur in attempting to produce or collect taxable income or that you pay in connection with the determination, collection, or refund of any tax. Legal expenses that you incur in attempting to produce or collect taxable income, or that you pay in connection with the determination, collection, or refund of any tax are miscellaneous itemized deductions and are no longer deductible. You can deduct expenses of resolving tax issues relating to profit or loss from business reported on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business (Sole Proprietorship), from rentals or royalties reported on Schedule E (Form 1040), Supplemental In-come and Loss, or from farm income and expenses reported on Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming, on that schedule. Expenses for resolving nonbusiness tax issues are miscellaneous itemized deductions and are no longer deductible. Credit or Debit Card Convenience Fees The convenience fee charged by the card processor for paying your income tax (including estimated tax payments) by credit or debit card is a miscellaneous itemized deduction and is no longer deductible. Depreciation on Home Computer If you use your home computer to produce income (for example, to manage your investments that produce taxable income), the depreciation of the computer for that part of the usage of the computer is a miscellaneous itemized deduction and is no longer deductible. Fees To Collect Interest and Dividends Fees you pay to a broker, bank, trustee, or similar agent to collect your taxable bond interest or dividends on shares of stock are miscellaneous itemized deductions and can no longer be deducted. Hobby Expenses A hobby isn't a business because it isn't carried on to make a profit. Hobby expenses are miscellaneous itemized deductions and can no longer be deducted. See Not-for-Profit Activities in chapter 1 of Pub. 535, Business Expenses. Indirect Deductions of Pass-Through Entities Pass-through entities include partnerships, S corporations, and mutual funds that aren't publicly offered. Deductions of pass-through entities are passed through to the partners or shareholders. The partner’s or shareholder’s share of passed-through deductions for investment expenses are miscellaneous itemized deductions and can no longer be deducted. Nonpublicly offered mutual funds. These funds will send you a Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions, or a substitute form, showing your share of gross income and investment expenses. The investment expenses reported on Form 1099-DIV are a miscellaneous itemized deduction and are no longer deductible. Loss on Deposits For information on whether, and if so, how, you may deduct a loss on your deposit in a qualified financial institution, see Loss on Deposits in Pub. 547. Repayments of Income Generally, repayments of amounts that you included in income in an earlier year is a miscellaneous itemized deduction and can no longer be deducted. If you had to repay more than $3,000 that you included in your income in an earlier year, you may be able to deduct the amount. See Repayments Under Claim of Right, later. Repayments of Social Security Benefits For information on how to deduct your repayments of certain social security benefits, see Repayments More Than Gross Benefits in chapter 7. Safe Deposit Box Rent Rent you pay for a safe deposit box you use to store taxable income-producing stocks, bonds, or investment-related papers is a miscellaneous itemized deduction and can no longer be de-ducted. You also can't deduct the rent if you use the box for jewelry, other personal items, or tax-exempt securities. Service Charges on Dividend Reinvestment Plans Service charges you pay as a subscriber in a dividend reinvestment plan are a miscellaneous Page 100 Chapter 12 Other Itemized Deductions itemized deduction and can no longer be deducted. These service charges include payments for: • Holding shares acquired through a plan, • Collecting and reinvesting cash dividends, and • Keeping individual records and providing detailed statements of accounts. Tax Preparation Fees Tax preparation fees on the return for the year in which you pay them are a miscellaneous itemized deduction and can no longer be deducted. These fees include the cost of tax preparation software programs and tax publications. They also include any fee you paid for electronic filing of your return. Trustee's Administrative Fees for IRA Trustee's administrative fees that are billed separately and paid by you in connection with your IRA are a miscellaneous itemized deduction and can no longer be deducted. For more information about IRAs, see chapter 9. Nondeductible Expenses In addition to the miscellaneous itemized deductions discussed earlier, you can't deduct the following expenses. List of Nondeductible Expenses • Adoption expenses. • Broker's commissions. • Burial or funeral expenses, including the cost of a cemetery lot. • • • • • • Campaign expenses. Capital expenses. Check-writing fees. Club dues. Commuting expenses. Fees and licenses, such as car licenses, marriage licenses, and dog tags. • Fines or penalties. • Health spa expenses. • Hobby losses, but see Hobby Expenses, earlier. • Home repairs, insurance, and rent. • Home security system. • Illegal bribes and kickbacks. See Bribes and kickbacks in chapter 11 of Pub. 535. • Investment-related seminars. • Life insurance premiums paid by the insured. • Lobbying expenses. • Losses from the sale of your home, furniture, personal car, etc. • • • • • • • • • • Lost or misplaced cash or property. Lunches with co-workers. Meals while working late. Medical expenses as business expenses other than medical examinations required by your employer. • Provide members or their guests with access to entertainment facilities. Dues paid to airline, hotel, and luncheon clubs aren't deductible. Commuting Expenses Professional accreditation fees. You can't deduct commuting expenses (the cost of transportation between your home and your main or regular place of work). If you haul tools, instruments, or other items in your car to and from work, you can deduct only the additional cost of hauling the items such as the rent on a trailer to carry the items. Professional reputation improvement expense. Fines and Penalties Personal disability insurance premiums. Personal legal expenses. Personal, living, or family expenses. Political contributions. • Relief fund contributions. • Residential telephone line. • Stockholders’ meeting attendance expenses. • Tax-exempt income earning/collecting expenses. • The value of wages never received or lost vacation time. • Travel expenses for another individual. • Voluntary unemployment benefit fund contributions. • Wristwatches. Adoption Expenses You can't deduct the expenses of adopting a child, but you may be able to take a credit for those expenses, see the Instructions for Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses, for more information. Campaign Expenses You can't deduct campaign expenses of a candidate for any office, even if the candidate is running for reelection to the office. These include qualification and registration fees for primary elections. Legal fees. You can't deduct legal fees paid to defend charges that arise from participation in a political campaign. Check-Writing Fees on Personal Account If you have a personal checking account, you can't deduct fees charged by the bank for the privilege of writing checks, even if the account pays interest. Club Dues Generally, you can't deduct the cost of membership in any club organized for business, pleasure, recreation, or other social purpose. This includes business, social, athletic, luncheon, sporting, airline, hotel, golf, and country clubs. You can't deduct dues paid to an organization if one of its main purposes is to: • Conduct entertainment activities for mem- Generally, no deduction is allowed for fines and penalties paid to a government or specified nongovernmental entity for the violation of any law except in the following situations. • Amounts that constitute restitution. • Amounts paid to come into compliance Life Insurance Premiums You can't deduct premiums you pay on your life insurance. You may be able to deduct, as alimony, premiums you pay on life insurance policies assigned to your former spouse. See Pub. 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals, for information on alimony. Lobbying Expenses You generally can't deduct amounts paid or incurred for lobbying expenses. These include expenses to: • Influence legislation; • Participate or intervene in any political campaign for, or against, any candidate for public office; • Attempt to influence the general public, or segments of the public, about elections, legislative matters, or referendums; or • Communicate directly with covered executive branch officials in any attempt to influence the official actions or positions of those officials. with the law. • Amounts paid or incurred as the result of certain court orders in which no government or specified nongovernmental agency is a party. • Amounts paid or incurred for taxes due. Nondeductible amounts include an amount paid in settlement of your actual or potential liability for a fine or penalty (civil or criminal). Fines or penalties include amounts paid such as parking tickets, tax penalties, and penalties deducted from teachers' paychecks after an illegal strike. Beginning on December 22, 2017, no deduction is allowed for the restitution amount or amount paid to come into compliance with the law unless the amounts are specifically identified in the settlement agreement or court order. Also, any amount paid or incurred as reimbursement to the government for the costs of any investigation or litigation are not eligible for the exceptions and are nondeductible. Health Spa Expenses Lobbying expenses also include any amounts paid or incurred for research, preparation, planning, or coordination of any of these activities. Dues used for lobbying. If a tax-exempt organization notifies you that part of the dues or other amounts you pay to the organization are used to pay nondeductible lobbying expenses, you can't deduct that part. See Lobbying Expenses in Pub. 529 for information on exceptions. Lost or Mislaid Cash or Property You can't deduct a loss based on the mere disappearance of money or property. However, an accidental loss or disappearance of property can qualify as a casualty if it results from an identifiable event that is sudden, unexpected, or unusual. See Pub. 547 for more information. Lunches With Co-Workers You can't deduct health spa expenses, even if there is a job requirement to stay in excellent physical condition, such as might be required of a law enforcement officer. You can't deduct the expenses of lunches with co-workers, except while traveling away from home on business. See Pub. 463 for information on deductible expenses while traveling away from home. Home Security System Meals While Working Late You can't deduct the cost of a home security system as a miscellaneous deduction. However, you may be able to claim a deduction for a home security system as a business expense if you have a home office. See Security system under Figuring the Deduction in Pub. 587. You can't deduct the cost of meals while working late. However, you may be able to claim a deduction if the cost of meals is a deductible entertainment expense, or if you're traveling away from home. See Pub. 463 for information on deductible entertainment expenses and expenses while traveling away from home. Investment-Related Seminars You can't deduct any expenses for attending a convention, seminar, or similar meeting for investment purposes. Personal Legal Expenses You can't deduct personal legal expenses such as those for the following. • Custody of children. • Breach of promise to marry suit. bers or their guests, or Chapter 12 Other Itemized Deductions Page 101 • Civil or criminal charges resulting from a personal relationship. • Damages for personal injury, except for certain unlawful discrimination and whistle-blower claims. • Preparation of a title (or defense or perfection of a title). • Preparation of a will. • Property claims or property settlement in a divorce. You can't deduct these expenses even if a result of the legal proceeding is the loss of income-producing property. Political Contributions You can't deduct contributions made to a political candidate, a campaign committee, or a newsletter fund. Advertisements in convention bulletins and admissions to dinners or programs that benefit a political party or political candidate aren't deductible. Professional Accreditation Fees You can't deduct professional accreditation fees such as the following. • Accounting certificate fees paid for the initial right to practice accounting. • Bar exam fees and incidental expenses in securing initial admission to the bar. • Medical and dental license fees paid to get initial licensing. Professional Reputation If you have expenses to produce both taxable and tax-exempt income, but you can't identify the expenses that produce each type of income, you must divide the expenses based on the amount of each type of income to determine the amount that you can deduct. Travel Expenses for Another Individual You generally can't deduct travel expenses you pay or incur for a spouse, dependent, or other individual who accompanies you (or your employee) on business or personal travel unless the spouse, dependent, or other individual is an employee of the taxpayer, the travel is for a bona fide business purpose, and such expenses would otherwise be deductible by the spouse, dependent, or other individual. See Pub. 463 for more information on deductible travel expenses. Voluntary Unemployment Benefit Fund Contributions You can't deduct voluntary unemployment benefit fund contributions you make to a union fund or a private fund. However, you can deduct contributions as taxes if state law requires you to make them to a state unemployment fund that covers you for the loss of wages from unemployment caused by business conditions. Wristwatches You can't deduct the cost of a wristwatch, even if there is a job requirement that you know the correct time to properly perform your duties. You can't deduct expenses of radio and TV appearances to increase your personal prestige or establish your professional reputation. Expenses You Can Deduct Relief Fund Contributions You can deduct the items listed below as itemized deductions. Report these items on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16, or Schedule A (Form 1040-NR), line 7. You can't deduct contributions paid to a private plan that pays benefits to any covered employee who can't work because of any injury or illness not related to the job. Residential Telephone Service You can't deduct any charge (including taxes) for basic local telephone service for the first telephone line to your residence, even if it's used in a trade or business. Stockholders' Meetings You can't deduct transportation and other expenses you pay to attend stockholders' meetings of companies in which you own stock but have no other interest. You can't deduct these expenses even if you're attending the meeting to get information that would be useful in making further investments. List of Deductions Each of the following items is discussed in detail after the list (except where indicated). • Amortizable premium on taxable bonds. • Casualty and theft losses from incomeproducing property. • Excess deductions of an estate or trust. • Federal estate tax on income in respect of a decedent. • Gambling losses up to the amount of gambling winnings. • Impairment-related work expenses of persons with disabilities. • Losses from Ponzi-type investment schemes (see Pub. 547 for more information). Tax-Exempt Income Expenses You can't deduct expenses to produce tax-exempt income. You can't deduct interest on a debt incurred or continued to buy or carry tax-exempt securities. Page 102 Chapter 12 • Repayments of more than $3,000 under a claim of right. • Unlawful discrimination claims. • Unrecovered investment in an annuity. Other Itemized Deductions Amortizable Premium on Taxable Bonds In general, if the amount you pay for a bond is greater than its stated principal amount, the excess is bond premium. You can elect to amortize the premium on taxable bonds. The amortization of the premium is generally an offset to interest income on the bond rather than a separate deduction item. Part of the premium on some bonds may be an itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040). For more information, see Amortizable Premium on Taxable Bonds in Pub. 529, and Bond Premium Amortization in chapter 3 of Pub. 550, Investment Income and Expenses. Casualty and Theft Losses of Income-Producing Property You can deduct a casualty or theft loss as an itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16, if the damaged or stolen property was income-producing property (property held for investment, such as stocks, notes, bonds, gold, silver, vacant lots, and works of art). First, report the loss in Form 4684, Section B. You may also have to include the loss on Form 4797 if you're otherwise required to file that form. To figure your deduction, add all casualty or theft losses from this type of property included on Form 4684, lines 32 and 38b, or Form 4797, line 18a. For more information on casualty and theft losses, see Pub. 547. Excess Deductions of an Estate or Trust Generally, if an estate or trust has an excess deduction resulting from total deductions being greater than its gross income, in the estate’s or trust's last tax year, a beneficiary can deduct the excess deductions, depending on its character. The excess deductions retain their character as an adjustment to arrive at adjusted gross income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), as a non-miscellaneous itemized deduction reported on Schedule A (Form 1040), or as a miscellaneous itemized deduction. For more information on excess deductions of an estate or trust, see the Instructions for Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) for a Beneficiary Filing Form 1040. Federal Estate Tax on Income in Respect of a Decedent You can deduct the federal estate tax attributable to income in respect of a decedent that you as a beneficiary include in your gross income. Income in respect of the decedent is gross income that the decedent would have received had death not occurred and that wasn't properly includible in the decedent's final income tax return. See Pub. 559, Survivors, Executors, and Administrators, for more information. Gambling Losses up to the Amount of Gambling Winnings You must report the full amount of your gambling winnings for the year on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8. You deduct your gambling losses for the year on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 16. You can't deduct gambling losses that are more than your winnings. You can't reduce your gambling winnings by your gambling losses and reCAUTION port the difference. You must report the full amount of your winnings as income and claim your losses (up to the amount of winnings) as an itemized deduction. Therefore, your records should show your winnings separately from your losses. ! RECORDS Diary of winnings and losses. You must keep an accurate diary or similar record of your losses and winnings. Your diary should contain at least the following information. • The date and type of your specific wager or wagering activity. • The name and address or location of the gambling establishment. • The names of other persons present with you at the gambling establishment. • The amount(s) you won or lost. See Pub. 529 for more information. Impairment-Related Work Expenses If you have a physical or mental disability that limits your being employed, or substantially limits one or more of your major life activities, such as performing manual tasks, walking, speaking, breathing, learning, and working, you can deduct your impairment-related work expenses. Impairment-related work expenses are ordinary and necessary business expenses for attendant care services at your place of work and for other expenses in connection with your place of work that are necessary for you to be able to work. Self-employed. If you're self-employed, enter your impairment-related work expenses on the appropriate form (Schedule C (Form 1040), Schedule E (Form 1040), or Schedule F (Form 1040)) used to report your business income and expenses. Repayments Under Claim of Right If you had to repay more than $3,000 that you included in your income in an earlier year because at the time you thought you had an unrestricted right to it, you may be able to deduct the amount you repaid or take a credit against your tax. See Repayments in chapter 8 for more information. the U.S. Government, or a claim made under section 1862(b)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act. However, the amount you can deduct on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 22, is limited to the amount of the judgment or settlement you are including in income for the tax year. See Pub. 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income, for more information. Unrecovered Investment in Annuity A retiree who contributed to the cost of an annuity can exclude from income a part of each payment received as a tax-free return of the retiree's investment. If the retiree dies before the entire investment is recovered tax free, any unrecovered investment can be deducted on the retiree's final income tax return. See Pub. 575, Pension and Annuity Income, for more information about the tax treatment of pensions and annuities. Unlawful Discrimination Claims You may be able to deduct, as an adjustment to income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 22, attorney fees and court costs for actions settled or decided after October 22, 2004, involving a claim of unlawful discrimination, a claim against Chapter 12 Other Itemized Deductions Page 103 Part Four. Figuring Your Taxes, and Refundable and Nonrefundable Credits The two chapters in this part explain how to figure your tax. They also discuss tax credits that, unlike deductions, are subtracted directly from your tax and reduce your tax dollar for dollar. The Form 1040 and 1040-SR schedules that are discussed in these chapters are: • Schedule 1, Additional Income and Adjustments to Income; • Schedule 2, Additional Taxes; and • Schedule 3, Additional Credits and Payments. 972 Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents 972 13. 974 Premium Tax Credit (PTC) 974 How To Figure Your Tax Form (and Instructions) W-2 Wage and Tax Statement W-2 Schedule SE (Form 1040) Self Employment Tax tax, • An additional tax you may have to pay called the alternative minimum tax (AMT), and • The conditions you must meet if you want the IRS to figure your tax. 1116 Foreign Tax Credit 4136 Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels 4136 4970 Tax on Accumulation Distribution of Trusts 4970 5329 Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts 5329 5405 Repayment of the First-Time Homebuyer Credit 5405 5695 Residential Energy Credit 5695 5884 Work Opportunity Credit 5884 Useful Items 8396 Mortgage Interest Credit 8396 You may want to see: 8801 Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax—Individuals, Estates, and Trusts 8801 Publication 503 Child and Dependent Care Expenses 503 505 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax 8835 Renewable, Electricity, Refined Coal, and Indian Coal Production Credit 8835 525 531 Reporting Tip Income 531 550 Investment Income and Expenses 550 560 Retirement Plans for Small Business 8853 Archer MSAs and Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts 8853 596 Earned Income Credit (EIC) 8885 Health Coverage Tax Credit 926 Household Employer’s Tax Guide 8889 Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) 929 Tax Rules for Children and Dependents 8910 Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit 596 926 929 969 Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans 969 8880 8885 8889 8910 8912 Credit to Holders of Tax Credit Bonds 8912 8936 Qualified Plug-In Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit 8936 970 Tax Benefits for Education 970 Page 104 Chapter 13 How To Figure Your Tax Tax. Most taxpayers use either the Tax Table or the Tax Computation Worksheet to figure their income tax. However, there are special methods if your income includes any of the following items. • A net capital gain. See Pub. 550. • Qualified dividends taxed at the same rates as a net capital gain. See Pub. 550. • Lump-sum distributions. See Pub. 575. • Farming or fishing income. See Schedule J (Form 1040). • Parent's election to report child's interest and dividends. See Pub. 929. 8846 8880 Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions 575 This section provides a general outline of how to figure your tax. You can find step-by-step directions in the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. 8846 Credit for Employer Social Security and Medicare Taxes Paid on Certain Employee Tips 575 Pension and Annuity Income 560 Your income tax is based on your taxable income. After you figure your income tax and AMT, if any, subtract your tax credits and add any other taxes you may owe. The result is your total tax. Compare your total tax with your total payments to determine whether you are entitled to a refund or must make a payment. • Tax for certain children who have un- 8839 524 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income Figuring Your Tax 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses 505 524 Credit for the Elderly or Disabled 8960 Schedule SE (Form 1040) 3800 • The general steps you take to figure your 8960 Net Investment Tax—Individuals, Estates, and Trusts 8962 3800 General Business Credit After you have figured your income and deductions your next step is to figure your tax. This chapter discusses: 8959 8962 Premium Tax Credit (PTC) 1116 Introduction 8959 Additional Medicare Tax earned income. See Pub. 929. • Foreign earned income exclusion or the housing exclusion. (See Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income, and the Foreign Earned Income Tax Worksheet in the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR.) Credits. After you figure your income tax and any AMT (discussed later), determine if you are eligible for any tax credits. Eligibility information for these tax credits is discussed in other publications and your form instructions. The following items are some of the credits you may be able to subtract from your tax and shows where you can find more information on each credit. • Adoption credit. See Form 8839. • Alternative motor vehicle credit. See Form 8910. • Child and dependent care credit. See Pub. 503. • Child tax credit. See Pub. 972. • Credit for employer social security and Medicare taxes paid on certain employee tips. See Form 8846. • Credit to holders of tax credit bonds. See Form 8912. • • • • • • Education credit. See Pub. 970. Elderly or disabled credit. See Pub. 524. Foreign tax credit. See Form 1116. General business credit. See Form 3800. Mortgage interest credit. See Form 8396. Plug-in electric drive motor credit. See Form 8936. • Premium tax credit. See Pub. 974. • Prior year minimum tax credit. See Form 8801. • Renewable electricity, refined coal, and Indian coal production credit. See Form 8835. • Residential energy credit. See Form 5695. • Retirement savings contribution credit. See Form 8880. • Work opportunity credit. See Form 5884. Some credits (such as the earned income credit) aren’t listed because they are treated as payments. See Payments, later. Other taxes. After you subtract your tax credits, determine whether there are any other taxes you must pay. This chapter doesn’t explain these other taxes. You can find that information in other publications and your form instructions. See the following list for other taxes you may need to add to your income tax. • Additional Medicare tax. See Form 8959. • Additional tax on ABLE accounts. See Pub. 969. • Additional tax on Archer MSAs and long-term care insurance contracts. See Form 8853. • Additional tax on Coverdell ESAs. See Form 5329. • Additional tax on HSAs. See Form 8889. • Additional tax on income you received from a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that fails to meet certain requirements. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Additional tax on qualified plans and other tax-favored accounts. See Form 5329. • Additional tax on qualified retirement plans and IRAs. See Form 5329. • Additional tax on qualified tuition programs. See Pub. 970. • Excise tax on insider stock compensation from an expatriated corporation. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Household employment taxes. See Pub. 926. • Interest on the deferred tax on gain from • Net premium tax credit. See the Instruc- certain installment sales with a sales price over $150,000. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. tions for Form 8962 or the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Qualified sick and family leave credits. See • Interest on the tax due on installment in- the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. come from the sale of certain residential lots and timeshares. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Recovery rebate credit. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Net investment income tax. See Form • Tax paid with extension. See the Instruc- 8960. tions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Recapture of an education credit. See Refund or balance due. To determine whether you are entitled to a refund or whether you must make a payment, compare your total payments with your total tax. If you are entitled to a refund, see your form instructions for information on having it directly deposited into one or more of your accounts (including a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or a SEP-IRA), or to purchase U.S. savings bonds instead of receiving a paper check. Pub. 970. • Recapture taxes. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Repayment of first-time homebuyer credit. See Form 5405. • Section 72(m)(5) excess benefits tax. See Pub. 560. • Self-employment tax. See the Schedule SE (Form 1040). Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) • Social security and Medicare tax on tips. See Pub. 531. • Social security and Medicare tax on wages. See Pub. 525. This section briefly discusses an additional tax you may have to pay. • Tax on accumulation distribution of trusts. See Form 4970. The tax law gives special treatment to some kinds of income and allows special deductions and credits for some kinds of expenses. Taxpayers who benefit from this special treatment may have to pay at least a minimum amount of tax through an additional tax called AMT. • Tax on golden parachute payments. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Uncollected social security and Medicare tax on group-term life insurance. See Form W-2. • Uncollected social security and Medicare tax on tips. See Pub. 531. You may also have to pay AMT (discussed later in this chapter). Payments. After you determine your total tax, figure the total payments you have already made for the year. Include credits that are treated as payments. This chapter doesn’t explain these payments and credits. You can find that information in other publications and your form instructions. See the following list of payments and credits that you may be able to include in your total payments. • American opportunity credit. See Pub. 970. • Child tax credit (additional). See Pub. 972. • Credit for federal tax on fuels. See Form 4136. • Deferral for certain Schedule H or SE filers. held. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Federal income tax withheld. See Pub. 505. • Health coverage tax credit. See Form 8885. • Addition of the standard deduction (if claimed); • Addition of itemized deductions claimed for state and local taxes and certain interest; • Subtraction of any refund of state and local taxes included in gross income; • Changes to accelerated depreciation of certain property; sale of property reported for regular tax purposes and AMT purposes; See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. • Earned income credit. See Pub. 596. • Estimated tax paid. See Pub. 505. • Excess social security and RRTA tax with- Adjustments and tax preference items. The more common adjustments and tax preference items include: • Difference between gain or loss on the • Credit for tax on undistributed capital gain. See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. You may have to pay the AMT if your taxable income for regular tax purposes, combined with certain adjustments and tax preference items, is more than a certain amount. See Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax—Individuals. • Addition of certain income from incentive stock options; • Change in certain passive activity loss deductions; • Addition of certain depletion that is more than the adjusted basis of the property; • Addition of part of the deduction for certain intangible drilling costs; and • Addition of tax-exempt interest on certain private activity bonds. More information. For more information about the AMT, see the Instructions for Form 6251. Chapter 13 How To Figure Your Tax Page 105 Tax Figured by IRS If you file by the due date of your return (not counting extensions) — April 15, 2021, for most people — you can have the IRS figure your tax for you on Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If the IRS figures your tax and you paid too much, you will receive a refund. If you didn’t pay enough, you will receive a bill for the balance. To avoid interest or the penalty for late payment, you must pay the bill within 30 days of the date of the bill or by the due date for your return, whichever is later. The IRS can also figure the credit for the elderly or the disabled and the earned income credit for you. When the IRS cannot figure your tax. The IRS can’t figure your tax for you if any of the following apply. 1. You want your refund directly deposited into your checking or savings account. 2. You want any part of your refund applied to your 2021 estimated tax. 3. You had income for the year from sources other than wages, salaries, tips, interest, dividends, taxable social security benefits, unemployment compensation, IRA distributions, pensions, and annuities. 4. Your taxable income is $100,000 or more. 5. You itemize deductions. 6. You file any of the following forms. a. Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income. b. Form 4137, Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income. c. Form 4970, Tax on Accumulation Distribution of Trusts. d. Form 4972, Tax on Lump-Sum Distributions. e. Form 6198, At-Risk Limitations. f. Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax—Individuals. g. Form 8606, Nondeductible IRAs. h. Form 8615, Tax for Certain Children Who Have Unearned Income. i. Form 8814, Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends. j. Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses. k. Form 8853, Archer MSAs and Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts. l. Form 8889, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). m. Form 8919, Uncollected Social Security and Medicare Tax on Wages. Filing the Return After you complete the line entries for the tax form you are filing, fill in your name and address. Enter your social security number in the space provided. If you are married, enter the social security numbers of you and your Page 106 Chapter 14 spouse, even if you file separately. Sign and date your return and enter your occupation(s). If you are filing a joint return, both you and your spouse must sign it. Enter your daytime phone number in the space provided. This may help speed the processing of your return if we have a question that can be answered over the phone. If you are filing a joint return, you may enter either your or your spouse's daytime phone number. If you want to allow a friend, family member, or any other person you choose to discuss your 2020 tax return with the IRS, check the box in the “Third party designee” area on your return. Also, enter the designee's name, phone number, and any five digits the designee chooses as his or her personal identification number (PIN). If you check the “Yes” box, you, and your spouse if filing a joint return, are authorizing the IRS to call the designee to answer any questions that may arise during the processing of your return. Fill in and attach any schedules and forms asked for on the lines you completed to your paper return. Attach a copy of each of your Forms W-2 to your paper return. Also, attach to your paper return any Form 1099-R you received that has withholding tax in box 4. Mail your return to the Internal Revenue Service Center for the area where you live. A list of Service Center addresses is in the instructions for your tax return. amount of the credit on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 8. The IRS will not figure this credit. Credit for the elderly or the disabled. If you can take this credit, the IRS can figure it for you. Enter “CFE” on the line next to Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 6, box “c” and attach Schedule R (Form 1040) to your paper return. On Schedule R (Form 1040), check the box in Part I for your filing status and age. Complete Parts II and III, lines 11 and 13, if they apply. Earned income credit. If you can take this credit, the IRS can figure it for you. Enter “EIC” on the dotted line on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 27. If you elect to use your nontaxable combat pay in figuring your EIC, enter “NCP” and the amount on the dotted line on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 27. If you have a qualifying child, you must fill in Schedule EIC (Form 1040), Earned Income Credit, and attach it to your paper return. If you don’t provide the child's social security number on Schedule EIC, line 2, the credit will be reduced or disallowed unless the child was born and died in 2020. If your credit for any year after 1996 was reduced or disallowed by the IRS, you may also have to file Form 8862 with your return. For details, see the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. Form 1040 or 1040-SR Line Entries If you want the IRS to figure your tax. Read Form 1040 or 1040-SR, lines 1 through 15, and Schedule 1 (Form 1040), if applicable. Fill in the lines that apply to you and attach Schedule 1 (Form 1040), if applicable. Don’t complete Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 16 or 17. If you are filing a joint return, use the space on the dotted line next to the words “Adjusted Gross Income” on the first page of your return to separately show your taxable income and your spouse's taxable income. Read Form 1040 or 1040-SR, lines 19 through 33, and Schedules 2 and 3 (Form 1040), if applicable. Fill in the lines that apply to you and attach Schedules 2 and 3 (Form 1040), if applicable. Don’t fill in Form 1040 or 1040-SR, lines 22, 24, 33, or 34 through 38. Don’t fill in Schedule 2 (Form 1040), line 1 or 3. Also, don’t complete Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 6, box “c” if you are completing Schedule R (Form 1040), or Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 27, if you want the IRS to figure the credits shown on those lines. Payments. Enter any federal income tax withheld that is shown on Form W-2, box 2, or Form 1099, box 4, on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 25. Enter any estimated tax payments you made on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 26. Credit for child and dependent care expenses. If you can take this credit, complete Form 2441 and attach it to your paper return. Enter the amount of the credit on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 2. The IRS will not figure this credit. Net premium tax credit. If you take this credit, complete Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PTC), and attach it to your return. Enter the Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents 14. Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents What’s New Disaster tax relief. Recent legislation extended to 2020 (and retroactively to 2019) an election to use prior year earned income when figuring the additional child tax credit if you were impacted by certain federally declared disasters. For more information on this election, see the Instructions for Schedule 8812. Reminders Abbreviations used throughout this chapter. The following abbreviations will be used in this chapter when appropriate. • ACTC means additional child tax credit. • ATIN means adoption taxpayer identification number. • CTC means child tax credit. • ITIN means individual taxpayer identification number. • ODC means credit for other dependents. • SSN means social security number. • TIN means taxpayer identification number. Other abbreviations may be used in this chapter and will be defined as needed. Delayed refund for returns claiming the EIC or ACTC. The IRS can’t issue refunds before mid-February 2021 for returns that properly claim the earned income credit (EIC) or the ACTC. This time frame applies to the entire refund, not just the portion associated with these credits. Introduction The CTC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $2,000 for each child who qualifies you for the credit. See Limits on the CTC and ODC, later. The ACTC is a credit you may be able to take if you are not able to claim the full amount of the CTC. The ODC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $500 for each eligible dependent. The CTC and the ACTC shouldn’t be confused with the child and dependent CAUTION care credit discussed in Pub. 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. ! If you have no tax. Credits, such as the CTC, the ODC, or the child and dependent care credit, reduce your tax. If your tax on line 18 of your Form 1040 or 1040-SR is zero, you can't claim the child tax credit because there is no tax to reduce. However, you may qualify for the ACTC on line 28 of your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Useful Items You may want to see: and the IRS issues you an ITIN as a result of the application, the IRS will consider your ITIN as issued on or before the due date of your return. Qualifying Child for the CTC Each qualifying child you use for CTC or ACTC must have the required SSN. If you have a qualifying child who doesn’t have the required SSN, you can’t use the child to claim the CTC or ACTC on either your original or amended 2020 tax return. The required SSN is one that is valid for employment and is issued before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions). If your qualifying child doesn’t have the required SSN but has another type of TIN issued on or before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions), you may be able to claim the ODC for that child. See Credit for Other Dependents (ODC), later. A child qualifies you for the CTC if the child meets all of the following conditions. Each dependent you use for the ODC must have a TIN by the due date of your return. If you have a dependent who doesn’t have an SSN, ITIN, or ATIN issued on or before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions), you can’t use that dependent to claim the ODC on either your original or amended 2020 tax return. If you apply for an ITIN or ATIN for the dependent on or before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions) and the IRS issues the ITIN or ATIN as a result of the application, the IRS will consider the ITIN or ATIN as issued on or before the due date of your return. Improper Claims If you erroneously claim the CTC, ODC, or ACTC, even though you are not eligible for the credit and it is later determined that your error was due to reckless or intentional disregard of the CTC, ODC, or ACTC rules, you will not be allowed to claim any of these credits for 2 years. If it is determined that your error was due to fraud, you will not be allowed to claim any of these credits for 10 years. You may also have to pay penalties. Schedule 8812 (Form 1040) Additional Child Tax Credit Form 8862 may be required. If your CTC, ODC, or ACTC for a year after 2015 was denied or reduced for any reason other than a math or clerical error, you must attach Form 8862 to your tax return to claim the CTC, ACTC, or ODC, unless an exception applies. See Form 8862 and its instructions for more information, including whether an exception applies. 8862 Information To Claim Certain Credits After Disallowance Child Tax Credit (CTC) Publication 972 Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents 972 Form (and Instructions) Schedule 8812 (Form 1040) 8862 For these and other useful items, go to IRS.gov/ Forms. Taxpayer Identification Number Requirements You must have a TIN by the due date of your return. If you, or your spouse if filing jointly, don’t have an SSN or ITIN issued on or before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions), you can’t claim the CTC, ODC, or ACTC on either your original or amended 2020 tax return. If you apply for an ITIN on or before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions) The CTC is for individuals who claim a child as a dependent if the child meets additional conditions (described later). Note. This credit is different from and in addition to the credit for child and dependent care expenses and the earned income credit that you may also be eligible to claim. The maximum amount you can claim for the credit is $2,000 for each child who qualifies you for the CTC. But, see Limits on the CTC and ODC, later. For more information about claiming the CTC, see Claiming the CTC and ODC, later. Chapter 14 1. The child is your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild, niece, or nephew). 2. The child was under age 17 at the end of 2020. 3. The child didn’t provide over half of his or her own support for 2020. 4. The child lived with you for more than half of 2020 (see Exceptions to time lived with you, later). 5. The child is claimed as a dependent on your return. See chapter 3 for more information about claiming someone as a dependent. 6. The child doesn’t file a joint return for the year (or files it only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid). 7. The child was a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien. For more information, see Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. If the child was adopted, see Adopted child, later. Example. Your son turned 17 on December 30, 2020. He is a citizen of the United States and you claimed him as a dependent on your return. You can't use him to claim the CTC because he was not under age 17 at the end of 2020. If your child is age 17 or older at the TIP end of 2020, see Credit for Other Dependents (ODC), later. Adopted child. An adopted child is always treated as your own child. An adopted child includes a child lawfully placed with you for legal adoption. If you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. national and your adopted child lived with you all year as a member of your household in 2020, that child meets condition (7), earlier, to be a qualifying child for the child tax credit (or condition (3), later, to be a qualifying person for the ODC). Exceptions to time lived with you. A child is considered to have lived with you for more than half of 2020 if the child was born or died in 2020 and your home was this child's home for more than half the time he or she was alive. Temporary absences by you or the child for special circumstances, such as school, vacation, business, medical care, military service, or detention in a juvenile facility, count as time the child lived with you. There are also exceptions for kidnapped children and children of divorced or separated parents. For details, see Residency Test in chapter 3. Qualifying child of more than one person. A special rule applies if your qualifying child is the qualifying child of more than one person. Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents Page 107 For details, see Qualifying Child of More Than One Person in chapter 3. Required SSN If your qualifying child does not have TIP the required SSN, see Credit for Other Dependents (ODC), later. If your child was a U.S. citizen when the child received the SSN, the SSN is valid for employment. If “Not Valid for Employment” is printed on your child’s social security card and your child’s immigration status has changed so that your child is now a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, ask the SSA for a new social security card without the legend. However, if “Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization” is printed on your child’s social security card, your child has the required SSN only as long as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authorization is valid. If your child doesn’t have the required SSN, you can't use the child to claim the CTC (or ACTC) on either your original or amended 2020 tax return. Credit for Other Dependents (ODC) This credit is for individuals with a dependent who meets additional conditions (described later). Note. This credit is different from and in addition to the credit for child and dependent care expenses that you may also be eligible to claim. The maximum amount you can claim for this credit is $500 for each qualifying dependent. See Limits on the CTC and ODC, later. For more information about claiming the ODC, see Claiming the CTC and ODC, later. Qualifying Person for the ODC A person qualifies you for the ODC if the person meets all of the following conditions. 1. The person is claimed as a dependent on your return. See chapter 3 for more information about claiming someone as a dependent. 2. The person can’t be used by you to claim the CTC or ACTC. See Child Tax Credit (CTC), earlier. 3. The person was a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien. For more information, see Pub. 519. If the person is your adopted child, see Adopted child, earlier. Example. Your 10-year-old nephew lives in Mexico and qualifies as your dependent. He is Chapter 14 • You must file Form 8862, if applicable. See You can’t use the same child to claim both the CTC (or ACTC) and the ODC. • You must enter a timely issued TIN on your ! In addition to being a qualifying child for the CTC, your child must have the required SSN. The required SSN is one that is valid for employment and that is issued by the Social Security Administration before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions). Page 108 not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien. You can’t use him to claim the ODC. Improper Claims, earlier. tax return for you and your spouse (if filing jointly). See Taxpayer Identification Number Requirements, earlier. CAUTION Timely Issued TIN In addition to being a qualifying person for the ODC, the person must have an SSN, ITIN, or ATIN issued to the dependent on or before the due date of your 2020 return (including extensions). If the person has not been issued an SSN, ITIN, or ATIN by that date, you can’t use the person to claim the ODC. For more information, see Taxpayer Identification Number Requirements, earlier. • For each qualifying child under 17 for whom you are claiming the CTC, you must enter the required SSN for the child in column (2) of the Dependents section of your tax return and check the Child tax credit box in column (4). See Child Tax Credit (CTC), earlier. • For each dependent for whom you are claiming the ODC, you must enter the timely issued TIN for the dependent in column (2) of the Dependents section of your tax return and check the Credit for other dependents box in column (4). See Credit for Other Dependents (ODC), earlier. Limits on the CTC and ODC The maximum credit amount of your CTC or ODC may be reduced if either (1) or (2) applies. 1. The amount on line 18 of your Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR is less than the total of both credits. If this amount is zero, you can't take either credit because there is no tax to reduce. But you may be able to take the ACTC if you are claiming the CTC (you can’t take ACTC if you are claiming only the ODC). See Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), later. 2. Your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than the amount shown below for your filing status. a. Married filing jointly — $400,000. b. All other filing statuses — $200,000. Modified AGI. For purposes of the CTC and ODC, your modified AGI is your AGI plus the following amounts that may apply to you. • Any amount excluded from income be- cause of the exclusion of income from Puerto Rico. On the dotted line next to Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 11, enter the amount excluded and identify it as “EPRI.” Also attach a copy of any Form(s) 499R-2/W-2PR to your return. • Any amount on line 45 or line 50 of Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income. • Any amount on line 15 of Form 4563, Ex- clusion of Income for Bona Fide Residents of American Samoa. If you don't have any of the above, your modified AGI is the same as your AGI. AGI. Your AGI is the amount on line 11 of your Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR. Claiming the CTC and ODC To claim the CTC or ODC, be sure you meet the following requirements. • You must file Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR and include the name and TIN of each dependent for whom you are claiming the CTC or ODC. Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents ! CAUTION Don't check both the Child tax credit box and the Credit for other dependents box for the same person. Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) This credit is for certain individuals who get less than the full amount of the CTC. The ACTC may give you a refund even if you don't owe any tax. The ODC can’t be used to figure the ACTC. Only your CTC can be used to CAUTION figure your ACTC. If you are claiming the ODC but not the CTC, you can’t claim the ACTC. ! Foreign earned income. If you file Form 2555 (relating to foreign earned income), you can’t claim the ACTC. Election to use your prior year earned income. You may be able to use your 2019 earned income to figure your ACTC if your 2019 earned income is more than your 2020 earned income. See the Instructions for Form 8812 for more information. How to claim the ACTC. To claim the additional child tax credit, follow the steps below. 1. Be sure you figured the amount, if any, of your CTC and your ODC using the appropriate Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents Worksheet. 2. If you answered “Yes” on line 11 or line 12 of the Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents Worksheet in your tax return instructions or line 16 of the Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents Worksheet in Pub. 972, and line 1 of that worksheet is more than zero, use Schedule 8812 to see if you can claim the ACTC. 3. If you have an ACTC on line 15 of Schedule 8812, carry it to line 28 of your Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR. 4. For each qualifying child under 17 for whom you are claiming the ACTC, be sure to enter the required SSN for the child in column (2) of the Dependents section of your tax return and check the Child tax credit box in column (4). If the amount on line 1 of your Child TIP Tax Credit and Credit for Other De- pendents Worksheet is zero, your ACTC is also zero. You don’t need to complete Schedule 8812. Chapter 14 Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents Page 109 2020 Tax Table See the instructions for line 16 to see if you must use the Tax Table below to figure your tax. ! CAUTION Example. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are filing a joint return. Their taxable income on Form 1040, line 15, is $25,300. First, they find the $25,300–25,350 taxable income line. Next, they find the column for married filing jointly and read down the column. The amount shown where the taxable income line and filing status column meet is $2,644. This is the tax amount they should enter in the entry space on Form 1040, line 16. If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— But less than Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 0 5 15 25 50 5 15 25 50 75 0 1 2 4 6 0 1 2 4 6 0 1 2 4 6 0 1 2 4 6 75 100 125 150 175 100 125 150 175 200 9 11 14 16 19 9 11 14 16 19 9 11 14 16 19 9 11 14 16 19 200 225 250 275 300 225 250 275 300 325 21 24 26 29 31 21 24 26 29 31 21 24 26 29 31 21 24 26 29 31 325 350 375 400 425 350 375 400 425 450 34 36 39 41 44 34 36 39 41 44 34 36 39 41 44 34 36 39 41 44 450 475 500 525 550 475 500 525 550 575 46 49 51 54 56 46 49 51 54 56 46 49 51 54 56 46 49 51 54 56 575 600 625 650 675 600 625 650 675 700 59 61 64 66 69 59 61 64 66 69 59 61 64 66 69 59 61 64 66 69 700 725 750 775 800 725 750 775 800 825 71 74 76 79 81 71 74 76 79 81 71 74 76 79 81 71 74 76 79 81 825 850 875 900 925 850 875 900 925 950 84 86 89 91 94 84 86 89 91 94 84 86 89 91 94 84 86 89 91 94 950 975 975 1,000 96 99 96 99 96 99 96 99 At least But less than 1,000 1,025 1,050 1,075 1,100 1,125 1,150 1,175 1,200 1,225 1,250 1,275 1,300 1,325 1,350 1,375 1,400 1,425 1,450 1,475 1,500 1,525 1,550 1,575 1,600 1,625 1,650 1,675 1,700 1,725 1,750 1,775 1,800 1,825 1,850 1,875 1,900 1,925 1,950 1,975 1,025 1,050 1,075 1,100 1,125 1,150 1,175 1,200 1,225 1,250 1,275 1,300 1,325 1,350 1,375 1,400 1,425 1,450 1,475 1,500 1,525 1,550 1,575 1,600 1,625 1,650 1,675 1,700 1,725 1,750 1,775 1,800 1,825 1,850 1,875 1,900 1,925 1,950 1,975 2,000 Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 1,000 101 104 106 109 111 114 116 119 121 124 126 129 131 134 136 139 141 144 146 149 151 154 156 159 161 164 166 169 171 174 176 179 181 184 186 189 191 194 196 199 101 104 106 109 111 114 116 119 121 124 126 129 131 134 136 139 141 144 146 149 151 154 156 159 161 164 166 169 171 174 176 179 181 184 186 189 191 194 196 199 101 104 106 109 111 114 116 119 121 124 126 129 131 134 136 139 141 144 146 149 151 154 156 159 161 164 166 169 171 174 176 179 181 184 186 189 191 194 196 199 At But Least Less Than Single 25,200 25,250 25,300 25,350 2,830 2,836 2,842 2,848 25,250 25,300 25,350 25,400 Married Married Head of a filing filing housejointly* sepahold rately Your tax is— 2,632 2,830 2,638 2,836 2,644 2,842 2,650 2,848 If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Sample Table At least But less than And you are— Single 2,000 2,025 2,050 2,075 2,100 2,125 2,150 2,175 2,200 2,225 2,250 2,275 2,300 2,325 2,350 2,375 2,400 2,425 2,450 2,475 2,500 2,525 2,550 2,575 2,600 2,625 2,650 2,675 2,700 2,725 2,750 2,775 2,800 2,825 2,850 2,875 2,900 2,925 2,950 2,975 2,025 2,050 2,075 2,100 2,125 2,150 2,175 2,200 2,225 2,250 2,275 2,300 2,325 2,350 2,375 2,400 2,425 2,450 2,475 2,500 2,525 2,550 2,575 2,600 2,625 2,650 2,675 2,700 2,725 2,750 2,775 2,800 2,825 2,850 2,875 2,900 2,925 2,950 2,975 3,000 Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 2,000 101 104 106 109 111 114 116 119 121 124 126 129 131 134 136 139 141 144 146 149 151 154 156 159 161 164 166 169 171 174 176 179 181 184 186 189 191 194 196 199 2,745 2,751 2,757 2,763 201 204 206 209 211 214 216 219 221 224 226 229 231 234 236 239 241 244 246 249 251 254 256 259 261 264 266 269 271 274 276 279 281 284 286 289 291 294 296 299 201 204 206 209 211 214 216 219 221 224 226 229 231 234 236 239 241 244 246 249 251 254 256 259 261 264 266 269 271 274 276 279 281 284 286 289 291 294 296 299 201 204 206 209 211 214 216 219 221 224 226 229 231 234 236 239 241 244 246 249 251 254 256 259 261 264 266 269 271 274 276 279 281 284 286 289 291 294 296 299 201 204 206 209 211 214 216 219 221 224 226 229 231 234 236 239 241 244 246 249 251 254 256 259 261 264 266 269 271 274 276 279 281 284 286 289 291 294 296 299 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 110 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 3,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 6,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 9,000 3,000 3,050 3,100 3,150 3,200 3,250 3,300 3,350 3,400 3,450 3,500 3,550 3,600 3,650 3,700 3,750 3,800 3,850 3,900 3,950 3,050 3,100 3,150 3,200 3,250 3,300 3,350 3,400 3,450 3,500 3,550 3,600 3,650 3,700 3,750 3,800 3,850 3,900 3,950 4,000 303 308 313 318 323 328 333 338 343 348 353 358 363 368 373 378 383 388 393 398 303 308 313 318 323 328 333 338 343 348 353 358 363 368 373 378 383 388 393 398 303 308 313 318 323 328 333 338 343 348 353 358 363 368 373 378 383 388 393 398 303 308 313 318 323 328 333 338 343 348 353 358 363 368 373 378 383 388 393 398 6,000 6,050 6,100 6,150 6,200 6,250 6,300 6,350 6,400 6,450 6,500 6,550 6,600 6,650 6,700 6,750 6,800 6,850 6,900 6,950 6,050 6,100 6,150 6,200 6,250 6,300 6,350 6,400 6,450 6,500 6,550 6,600 6,650 6,700 6,750 6,800 6,850 6,900 6,950 7,000 603 608 613 618 623 628 633 638 643 648 653 658 663 668 673 678 683 688 693 698 603 608 613 618 623 628 633 638 643 648 653 658 663 668 673 678 683 688 693 698 603 608 613 618 623 628 633 638 643 648 653 658 663 668 673 678 683 688 693 698 603 608 613 618 623 628 633 638 643 648 653 658 663 668 673 678 683 688 693 698 9,000 9,050 9,100 9,150 9,200 9,250 9,300 9,350 9,400 9,450 9,500 9,550 9,600 9,650 9,700 9,750 9,800 9,850 9,900 9,950 9,050 9,100 9,150 9,200 9,250 9,300 9,350 9,400 9,450 9,500 9,550 9,600 9,650 9,700 9,750 9,800 9,850 9,900 9,950 10,000 903 908 913 918 923 928 933 938 943 948 953 958 963 968 973 978 983 988 994 1,000 903 908 913 918 923 928 933 938 943 948 953 958 963 968 973 978 983 988 993 998 903 908 913 918 923 928 933 938 943 948 953 958 963 968 973 978 983 988 994 1,000 903 908 913 918 923 928 933 938 943 948 953 958 963 968 973 978 983 988 993 998 4,000 4,050 4,100 4,150 4,200 4,250 4,300 4,350 4,400 4,450 4,500 4,550 4,600 4,650 4,700 4,750 4,800 4,850 4,900 4,950 4,050 4,100 4,150 4,200 4,250 4,300 4,350 4,400 4,450 4,500 4,550 4,600 4,650 4,700 4,750 4,800 4,850 4,900 4,950 5,000 403 408 413 418 423 428 433 438 443 448 453 458 463 468 473 478 483 488 493 498 403 408 413 418 423 428 433 438 443 448 453 458 463 468 473 478 483 488 493 498 403 408 413 418 423 428 433 438 443 448 453 458 463 468 473 478 483 488 493 498 403 408 413 418 423 428 433 438 443 448 453 458 463 468 473 478 483 488 493 498 7,000 7,050 7,100 7,150 7,200 7,250 7,300 7,350 7,400 7,450 7,500 7,550 7,600 7,650 7,700 7,750 7,800 7,850 7,900 7,950 7,050 7,100 7,150 7,200 7,250 7,300 7,350 7,400 7,450 7,500 7,550 7,600 7,650 7,700 7,750 7,800 7,850 7,900 7,950 8,000 703 708 713 718 723 728 733 738 743 748 753 758 763 768 773 778 783 788 793 798 703 708 713 718 723 728 733 738 743 748 753 758 763 768 773 778 783 788 793 798 703 708 713 718 723 728 733 738 743 748 753 758 763 768 773 778 783 788 793 798 703 708 713 718 723 728 733 738 743 748 753 758 763 768 773 778 783 788 793 798 10,000 10,050 10,100 10,150 10,200 10,250 10,300 10,350 10,400 10,450 10,500 10,550 10,600 10,650 10,700 10,750 10,800 10,850 10,900 10,950 10,050 10,100 10,150 10,200 10,250 10,300 10,350 10,400 10,450 10,500 10,550 10,600 10,650 10,700 10,750 10,800 10,850 10,900 10,950 11,000 1,006 1,012 1,018 1,024 1,030 1,036 1,042 1,048 1,054 1,060 1,066 1,072 1,078 1,084 1,090 1,096 1,102 1,108 1,114 1,120 1,003 1,008 1,013 1,018 1,023 1,028 1,033 1,038 1,043 1,048 1,053 1,058 1,063 1,068 1,073 1,078 1,083 1,088 1,093 1,098 1,006 1,012 1,018 1,024 1,030 1,036 1,042 1,048 1,054 1,060 1,066 1,072 1,078 1,084 1,090 1,096 1,102 1,108 1,114 1,120 1,003 1,008 1,013 1,018 1,023 1,028 1,033 1,038 1,043 1,048 1,053 1,058 1,063 1,068 1,073 1,078 1,083 1,088 1,093 1,098 5,000 5,050 5,100 5,150 5,200 5,250 5,300 5,350 5,400 5,450 5,500 5,550 5,600 5,650 5,700 5,750 5,800 5,850 5,900 5,950 5,050 5,100 5,150 5,200 5,250 5,300 5,350 5,400 5,450 5,500 5,550 5,600 5,650 5,700 5,750 5,800 5,850 5,900 5,950 6,000 503 508 513 518 523 528 533 538 543 548 553 558 563 568 573 578 583 588 593 598 503 508 513 518 523 528 533 538 543 548 553 558 563 568 573 578 583 588 593 598 503 508 513 518 523 528 533 538 543 548 553 558 563 568 573 578 583 588 593 598 503 508 513 518 523 528 533 538 543 548 553 558 563 568 573 578 583 588 593 598 8,000 8,050 8,100 8,150 8,200 8,250 8,300 8,350 8,400 8,450 8,500 8,550 8,600 8,650 8,700 8,750 8,800 8,850 8,900 8,950 8,050 8,100 8,150 8,200 8,250 8,300 8,350 8,400 8,450 8,500 8,550 8,600 8,650 8,700 8,750 8,800 8,850 8,900 8,950 9,000 803 808 813 818 823 828 833 838 843 848 853 858 863 868 873 878 883 888 893 898 803 808 813 818 823 828 833 838 843 848 853 858 863 868 873 878 883 888 893 898 803 808 813 818 823 828 833 838 843 848 853 858 863 868 873 878 883 888 893 898 803 808 813 818 823 828 833 838 843 848 853 858 863 868 873 878 883 888 893 898 11,000 11,050 11,100 11,150 11,200 11,250 11,300 11,350 11,400 11,450 11,500 11,550 11,600 11,650 11,700 11,750 11,800 11,850 11,900 11,950 11,050 11,100 11,150 11,200 11,250 11,300 11,350 11,400 11,450 11,500 11,550 11,600 11,650 11,700 11,750 11,800 11,850 11,900 11,950 12,000 1,126 1,132 1,138 1,144 1,150 1,156 1,162 1,168 1,174 1,180 1,186 1,192 1,198 1,204 1,210 1,216 1,222 1,228 1,234 1,240 1,103 1,108 1,113 1,118 1,123 1,128 1,133 1,138 1,143 1,148 1,153 1,158 1,163 1,168 1,173 1,178 1,183 1,188 1,193 1,198 1,126 1,132 1,138 1,144 1,150 1,156 1,162 1,168 1,174 1,180 1,186 1,192 1,198 1,204 1,210 1,216 1,222 1,228 1,234 1,240 1,103 1,108 1,113 1,118 1,123 1,128 1,133 1,138 1,143 1,148 1,153 1,158 1,163 1,168 1,173 1,178 1,183 1,188 1,193 1,198 4,000 5,000 7,000 8,000 10,000 11,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 111 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 12,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 15,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 18,000 12,000 12,050 12,100 12,150 12,200 12,250 12,300 12,350 12,400 12,450 12,500 12,550 12,600 12,650 12,700 12,750 12,800 12,850 12,900 12,950 12,050 12,100 12,150 12,200 12,250 12,300 12,350 12,400 12,450 12,500 12,550 12,600 12,650 12,700 12,750 12,800 12,850 12,900 12,950 13,000 1,246 1,252 1,258 1,264 1,270 1,276 1,282 1,288 1,294 1,300 1,306 1,312 1,318 1,324 1,330 1,336 1,342 1,348 1,354 1,360 1,203 1,208 1,213 1,218 1,223 1,228 1,233 1,238 1,243 1,248 1,253 1,258 1,263 1,268 1,273 1,278 1,283 1,288 1,293 1,298 1,246 1,252 1,258 1,264 1,270 1,276 1,282 1,288 1,294 1,300 1,306 1,312 1,318 1,324 1,330 1,336 1,342 1,348 1,354 1,360 1,203 1,208 1,213 1,218 1,223 1,228 1,233 1,238 1,243 1,248 1,253 1,258 1,263 1,268 1,273 1,278 1,283 1,288 1,293 1,298 15,000 15,050 15,100 15,150 15,200 15,250 15,300 15,350 15,400 15,450 15,500 15,550 15,600 15,650 15,700 15,750 15,800 15,850 15,900 15,950 15,050 15,100 15,150 15,200 15,250 15,300 15,350 15,400 15,450 15,500 15,550 15,600 15,650 15,700 15,750 15,800 15,850 15,900 15,950 16,000 1,606 1,612 1,618 1,624 1,630 1,636 1,642 1,648 1,654 1,660 1,666 1,672 1,678 1,684 1,690 1,696 1,702 1,708 1,714 1,720 1,503 1,508 1,513 1,518 1,523 1,528 1,533 1,538 1,543 1,548 1,553 1,558 1,563 1,568 1,573 1,578 1,583 1,588 1,593 1,598 1,606 1,612 1,618 1,624 1,630 1,636 1,642 1,648 1,654 1,660 1,666 1,672 1,678 1,684 1,690 1,696 1,702 1,708 1,714 1,720 1,521 1,527 1,533 1,539 1,545 1,551 1,557 1,563 1,569 1,575 1,581 1,587 1,593 1,599 1,605 1,611 1,617 1,623 1,629 1,635 18,000 18,050 18,100 18,150 18,200 18,250 18,300 18,350 18,400 18,450 18,500 18,550 18,600 18,650 18,700 18,750 18,800 18,850 18,900 18,950 18,050 18,100 18,150 18,200 18,250 18,300 18,350 18,400 18,450 18,500 18,550 18,600 18,650 18,700 18,750 18,800 18,850 18,900 18,950 19,000 1,966 1,972 1,978 1,984 1,990 1,996 2,002 2,008 2,014 2,020 2,026 2,032 2,038 2,044 2,050 2,056 2,062 2,068 2,074 2,080 1,803 1,808 1,813 1,818 1,823 1,828 1,833 1,838 1,843 1,848 1,853 1,858 1,863 1,868 1,873 1,878 1,883 1,888 1,893 1,898 1,966 1,972 1,978 1,984 1,990 1,996 2,002 2,008 2,014 2,020 2,026 2,032 2,038 2,044 2,050 2,056 2,062 2,068 2,074 2,080 1,881 1,887 1,893 1,899 1,905 1,911 1,917 1,923 1,929 1,935 1,941 1,947 1,953 1,959 1,965 1,971 1,977 1,983 1,989 1,995 13,000 13,050 13,100 13,150 13,200 13,250 13,300 13,350 13,400 13,450 13,500 13,550 13,600 13,650 13,700 13,750 13,800 13,850 13,900 13,950 13,050 13,100 13,150 13,200 13,250 13,300 13,350 13,400 13,450 13,500 13,550 13,600 13,650 13,700 13,750 13,800 13,850 13,900 13,950 14,000 1,366 1,372 1,378 1,384 1,390 1,396 1,402 1,408 1,414 1,420 1,426 1,432 1,438 1,444 1,450 1,456 1,462 1,468 1,474 1,480 1,303 1,308 1,313 1,318 1,323 1,328 1,333 1,338 1,343 1,348 1,353 1,358 1,363 1,368 1,373 1,378 1,383 1,388 1,393 1,398 1,366 1,372 1,378 1,384 1,390 1,396 1,402 1,408 1,414 1,420 1,426 1,432 1,438 1,444 1,450 1,456 1,462 1,468 1,474 1,480 1,303 1,308 1,313 1,318 1,323 1,328 1,333 1,338 1,343 1,348 1,353 1,358 1,363 1,368 1,373 1,378 1,383 1,388 1,393 1,398 16,000 16,050 16,100 16,150 16,200 16,250 16,300 16,350 16,400 16,450 16,500 16,550 16,600 16,650 16,700 16,750 16,800 16,850 16,900 16,950 16,050 16,100 16,150 16,200 16,250 16,300 16,350 16,400 16,450 16,500 16,550 16,600 16,650 16,700 16,750 16,800 16,850 16,900 16,950 17,000 1,726 1,732 1,738 1,744 1,750 1,756 1,762 1,768 1,774 1,780 1,786 1,792 1,798 1,804 1,810 1,816 1,822 1,828 1,834 1,840 1,603 1,608 1,613 1,618 1,623 1,628 1,633 1,638 1,643 1,648 1,653 1,658 1,663 1,668 1,673 1,678 1,683 1,688 1,693 1,698 1,726 1,732 1,738 1,744 1,750 1,756 1,762 1,768 1,774 1,780 1,786 1,792 1,798 1,804 1,810 1,816 1,822 1,828 1,834 1,840 1,641 1,647 1,653 1,659 1,665 1,671 1,677 1,683 1,689 1,695 1,701 1,707 1,713 1,719 1,725 1,731 1,737 1,743 1,749 1,755 19,000 19,050 19,100 19,150 19,200 19,250 19,300 19,350 19,400 19,450 19,500 19,550 19,600 19,650 19,700 19,750 19,800 19,850 19,900 19,950 19,050 19,100 19,150 19,200 19,250 19,300 19,350 19,400 19,450 19,500 19,550 19,600 19,650 19,700 19,750 19,800 19,850 19,900 19,950 20,000 2,086 2,092 2,098 2,104 2,110 2,116 2,122 2,128 2,134 2,140 2,146 2,152 2,158 2,164 2,170 2,176 2,182 2,188 2,194 2,200 1,903 1,908 1,913 1,918 1,923 1,928 1,933 1,938 1,943 1,948 1,953 1,958 1,963 1,968 1,973 1,978 1,984 1,990 1,996 2,002 2,086 2,092 2,098 2,104 2,110 2,116 2,122 2,128 2,134 2,140 2,146 2,152 2,158 2,164 2,170 2,176 2,182 2,188 2,194 2,200 2,001 2,007 2,013 2,019 2,025 2,031 2,037 2,043 2,049 2,055 2,061 2,067 2,073 2,079 2,085 2,091 2,097 2,103 2,109 2,115 14,000 14,050 14,100 14,150 14,200 14,250 14,300 14,350 14,400 14,450 14,500 14,550 14,600 14,650 14,700 14,750 14,800 14,850 14,900 14,950 14,050 14,100 14,150 14,200 14,250 14,300 14,350 14,400 14,450 14,500 14,550 14,600 14,650 14,700 14,750 14,800 14,850 14,900 14,950 15,000 1,486 1,492 1,498 1,504 1,510 1,516 1,522 1,528 1,534 1,540 1,546 1,552 1,558 1,564 1,570 1,576 1,582 1,588 1,594 1,600 1,403 1,408 1,413 1,418 1,423 1,428 1,433 1,438 1,443 1,448 1,453 1,458 1,463 1,468 1,473 1,478 1,483 1,488 1,493 1,498 1,486 1,492 1,498 1,504 1,510 1,516 1,522 1,528 1,534 1,540 1,546 1,552 1,558 1,564 1,570 1,576 1,582 1,588 1,594 1,600 1,403 1,408 1,413 1,419 1,425 1,431 1,437 1,443 1,449 1,455 1,461 1,467 1,473 1,479 1,485 1,491 1,497 1,503 1,509 1,515 17,000 17,050 17,100 17,150 17,200 17,250 17,300 17,350 17,400 17,450 17,500 17,550 17,600 17,650 17,700 17,750 17,800 17,850 17,900 17,950 17,050 17,100 17,150 17,200 17,250 17,300 17,350 17,400 17,450 17,500 17,550 17,600 17,650 17,700 17,750 17,800 17,850 17,900 17,950 18,000 1,846 1,852 1,858 1,864 1,870 1,876 1,882 1,888 1,894 1,900 1,906 1,912 1,918 1,924 1,930 1,936 1,942 1,948 1,954 1,960 1,703 1,708 1,713 1,718 1,723 1,728 1,733 1,738 1,743 1,748 1,753 1,758 1,763 1,768 1,773 1,778 1,783 1,788 1,793 1,798 1,846 1,852 1,858 1,864 1,870 1,876 1,882 1,888 1,894 1,900 1,906 1,912 1,918 1,924 1,930 1,936 1,942 1,948 1,954 1,960 1,761 1,767 1,773 1,779 1,785 1,791 1,797 1,803 1,809 1,815 1,821 1,827 1,833 1,839 1,845 1,851 1,857 1,863 1,869 1,875 20,000 20,050 20,100 20,150 20,200 20,250 20,300 20,350 20,400 20,450 20,500 20,550 20,600 20,650 20,700 20,750 20,800 20,850 20,900 20,950 20,050 20,100 20,150 20,200 20,250 20,300 20,350 20,400 20,450 20,500 20,550 20,600 20,650 20,700 20,750 20,800 20,850 20,900 20,950 21,000 2,206 2,212 2,218 2,224 2,230 2,236 2,242 2,248 2,254 2,260 2,266 2,272 2,278 2,284 2,290 2,296 2,302 2,308 2,314 2,320 2,008 2,014 2,020 2,026 2,032 2,038 2,044 2,050 2,056 2,062 2,068 2,074 2,080 2,086 2,092 2,098 2,104 2,110 2,116 2,122 2,206 2,212 2,218 2,224 2,230 2,236 2,242 2,248 2,254 2,260 2,266 2,272 2,278 2,284 2,290 2,296 2,302 2,308 2,314 2,320 2,121 2,127 2,133 2,139 2,145 2,151 2,157 2,163 2,169 2,175 2,181 2,187 2,193 2,199 2,205 2,211 2,217 2,223 2,229 2,235 13,000 14,000 16,000 17,000 19,000 20,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 112 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 21,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 24,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 27,000 21,000 21,050 21,100 21,150 21,200 21,250 21,300 21,350 21,400 21,450 21,500 21,550 21,600 21,650 21,700 21,750 21,800 21,850 21,900 21,950 21,050 21,100 21,150 21,200 21,250 21,300 21,350 21,400 21,450 21,500 21,550 21,600 21,650 21,700 21,750 21,800 21,850 21,900 21,950 22,000 2,326 2,332 2,338 2,344 2,350 2,356 2,362 2,368 2,374 2,380 2,386 2,392 2,398 2,404 2,410 2,416 2,422 2,428 2,434 2,440 2,128 2,134 2,140 2,146 2,152 2,158 2,164 2,170 2,176 2,182 2,188 2,194 2,200 2,206 2,212 2,218 2,224 2,230 2,236 2,242 2,326 2,332 2,338 2,344 2,350 2,356 2,362 2,368 2,374 2,380 2,386 2,392 2,398 2,404 2,410 2,416 2,422 2,428 2,434 2,440 2,241 2,247 2,253 2,259 2,265 2,271 2,277 2,283 2,289 2,295 2,301 2,307 2,313 2,319 2,325 2,331 2,337 2,343 2,349 2,355 24,000 24,050 24,100 24,150 24,200 24,250 24,300 24,350 24,400 24,450 24,500 24,550 24,600 24,650 24,700 24,750 24,800 24,850 24,900 24,950 24,050 24,100 24,150 24,200 24,250 24,300 24,350 24,400 24,450 24,500 24,550 24,600 24,650 24,700 24,750 24,800 24,850 24,900 24,950 25,000 2,686 2,692 2,698 2,704 2,710 2,716 2,722 2,728 2,734 2,740 2,746 2,752 2,758 2,764 2,770 2,776 2,782 2,788 2,794 2,800 2,488 2,494 2,500 2,506 2,512 2,518 2,524 2,530 2,536 2,542 2,548 2,554 2,560 2,566 2,572 2,578 2,584 2,590 2,596 2,602 2,686 2,692 2,698 2,704 2,710 2,716 2,722 2,728 2,734 2,740 2,746 2,752 2,758 2,764 2,770 2,776 2,782 2,788 2,794 2,800 2,601 2,607 2,613 2,619 2,625 2,631 2,637 2,643 2,649 2,655 2,661 2,667 2,673 2,679 2,685 2,691 2,697 2,703 2,709 2,715 27,000 27,050 27,100 27,150 27,200 27,250 27,300 27,350 27,400 27,450 27,500 27,550 27,600 27,650 27,700 27,750 27,800 27,850 27,900 27,950 27,050 27,100 27,150 27,200 27,250 27,300 27,350 27,400 27,450 27,500 27,550 27,600 27,650 27,700 27,750 27,800 27,850 27,900 27,950 28,000 3,046 3,052 3,058 3,064 3,070 3,076 3,082 3,088 3,094 3,100 3,106 3,112 3,118 3,124 3,130 3,136 3,142 3,148 3,154 3,160 2,848 2,854 2,860 2,866 2,872 2,878 2,884 2,890 2,896 2,902 2,908 2,914 2,920 2,926 2,932 2,938 2,944 2,950 2,956 2,962 3,046 3,052 3,058 3,064 3,070 3,076 3,082 3,088 3,094 3,100 3,106 3,112 3,118 3,124 3,130 3,136 3,142 3,148 3,154 3,160 2,961 2,967 2,973 2,979 2,985 2,991 2,997 3,003 3,009 3,015 3,021 3,027 3,033 3,039 3,045 3,051 3,057 3,063 3,069 3,075 22,000 22,050 22,100 22,150 22,200 22,250 22,300 22,350 22,400 22,450 22,500 22,550 22,600 22,650 22,700 22,750 22,800 22,850 22,900 22,950 22,050 22,100 22,150 22,200 22,250 22,300 22,350 22,400 22,450 22,500 22,550 22,600 22,650 22,700 22,750 22,800 22,850 22,900 22,950 23,000 2,446 2,452 2,458 2,464 2,470 2,476 2,482 2,488 2,494 2,500 2,506 2,512 2,518 2,524 2,530 2,536 2,542 2,548 2,554 2,560 2,248 2,254 2,260 2,266 2,272 2,278 2,284 2,290 2,296 2,302 2,308 2,314 2,320 2,326 2,332 2,338 2,344 2,350 2,356 2,362 2,446 2,452 2,458 2,464 2,470 2,476 2,482 2,488 2,494 2,500 2,506 2,512 2,518 2,524 2,530 2,536 2,542 2,548 2,554 2,560 2,361 2,367 2,373 2,379 2,385 2,391 2,397 2,403 2,409 2,415 2,421 2,427 2,433 2,439 2,445 2,451 2,457 2,463 2,469 2,475 25,000 25,050 25,100 25,150 25,200 25,250 25,300 25,350 25,400 25,450 25,500 25,550 25,600 25,650 25,700 25,750 25,800 25,850 25,900 25,950 25,050 25,100 25,150 25,200 25,250 25,300 25,350 25,400 25,450 25,500 25,550 25,600 25,650 25,700 25,750 25,800 25,850 25,900 25,950 26,000 2,806 2,812 2,818 2,824 2,830 2,836 2,842 2,848 2,854 2,860 2,866 2,872 2,878 2,884 2,890 2,896 2,902 2,908 2,914 2,920 2,608 2,614 2,620 2,626 2,632 2,638 2,644 2,650 2,656 2,662 2,668 2,674 2,680 2,686 2,692 2,698 2,704 2,710 2,716 2,722 2,806 2,812 2,818 2,824 2,830 2,836 2,842 2,848 2,854 2,860 2,866 2,872 2,878 2,884 2,890 2,896 2,902 2,908 2,914 2,920 2,721 2,727 2,733 2,739 2,745 2,751 2,757 2,763 2,769 2,775 2,781 2,787 2,793 2,799 2,805 2,811 2,817 2,823 2,829 2,835 28,000 28,050 28,100 28,150 28,200 28,250 28,300 28,350 28,400 28,450 28,500 28,550 28,600 28,650 28,700 28,750 28,800 28,850 28,900 28,950 28,050 28,100 28,150 28,200 28,250 28,300 28,350 28,400 28,450 28,500 28,550 28,600 28,650 28,700 28,750 28,800 28,850 28,900 28,950 29,000 3,166 3,172 3,178 3,184 3,190 3,196 3,202 3,208 3,214 3,220 3,226 3,232 3,238 3,244 3,250 3,256 3,262 3,268 3,274 3,280 2,968 2,974 2,980 2,986 2,992 2,998 3,004 3,010 3,016 3,022 3,028 3,034 3,040 3,046 3,052 3,058 3,064 3,070 3,076 3,082 3,166 3,172 3,178 3,184 3,190 3,196 3,202 3,208 3,214 3,220 3,226 3,232 3,238 3,244 3,250 3,256 3,262 3,268 3,274 3,280 3,081 3,087 3,093 3,099 3,105 3,111 3,117 3,123 3,129 3,135 3,141 3,147 3,153 3,159 3,165 3,171 3,177 3,183 3,189 3,195 23,000 23,050 23,100 23,150 23,200 23,250 23,300 23,350 23,400 23,450 23,500 23,550 23,600 23,650 23,700 23,750 23,800 23,850 23,900 23,950 23,050 23,100 23,150 23,200 23,250 23,300 23,350 23,400 23,450 23,500 23,550 23,600 23,650 23,700 23,750 23,800 23,850 23,900 23,950 24,000 2,566 2,572 2,578 2,584 2,590 2,596 2,602 2,608 2,614 2,620 2,626 2,632 2,638 2,644 2,650 2,656 2,662 2,668 2,674 2,680 2,368 2,374 2,380 2,386 2,392 2,398 2,404 2,410 2,416 2,422 2,428 2,434 2,440 2,446 2,452 2,458 2,464 2,470 2,476 2,482 2,566 2,572 2,578 2,584 2,590 2,596 2,602 2,608 2,614 2,620 2,626 2,632 2,638 2,644 2,650 2,656 2,662 2,668 2,674 2,680 2,481 2,487 2,493 2,499 2,505 2,511 2,517 2,523 2,529 2,535 2,541 2,547 2,553 2,559 2,565 2,571 2,577 2,583 2,589 2,595 26,000 26,050 26,100 26,150 26,200 26,250 26,300 26,350 26,400 26,450 26,500 26,550 26,600 26,650 26,700 26,750 26,800 26,850 26,900 26,950 26,050 26,100 26,150 26,200 26,250 26,300 26,350 26,400 26,450 26,500 26,550 26,600 26,650 26,700 26,750 26,800 26,850 26,900 26,950 27,000 2,926 2,932 2,938 2,944 2,950 2,956 2,962 2,968 2,974 2,980 2,986 2,992 2,998 3,004 3,010 3,016 3,022 3,028 3,034 3,040 2,728 2,734 2,740 2,746 2,752 2,758 2,764 2,770 2,776 2,782 2,788 2,794 2,800 2,806 2,812 2,818 2,824 2,830 2,836 2,842 2,926 2,932 2,938 2,944 2,950 2,956 2,962 2,968 2,974 2,980 2,986 2,992 2,998 3,004 3,010 3,016 3,022 3,028 3,034 3,040 2,841 2,847 2,853 2,859 2,865 2,871 2,877 2,883 2,889 2,895 2,901 2,907 2,913 2,919 2,925 2,931 2,937 2,943 2,949 2,955 29,000 29,050 29,100 29,150 29,200 29,250 29,300 29,350 29,400 29,450 29,500 29,550 29,600 29,650 29,700 29,750 29,800 29,850 29,900 29,950 29,050 29,100 29,150 29,200 29,250 29,300 29,350 29,400 29,450 29,500 29,550 29,600 29,650 29,700 29,750 29,800 29,850 29,900 29,950 30,000 3,286 3,292 3,298 3,304 3,310 3,316 3,322 3,328 3,334 3,340 3,346 3,352 3,358 3,364 3,370 3,376 3,382 3,388 3,394 3,400 3,088 3,094 3,100 3,106 3,112 3,118 3,124 3,130 3,136 3,142 3,148 3,154 3,160 3,166 3,172 3,178 3,184 3,190 3,196 3,202 3,286 3,292 3,298 3,304 3,310 3,316 3,322 3,328 3,334 3,340 3,346 3,352 3,358 3,364 3,370 3,376 3,382 3,388 3,394 3,400 3,201 3,207 3,213 3,219 3,225 3,231 3,237 3,243 3,249 3,255 3,261 3,267 3,273 3,279 3,285 3,291 3,297 3,303 3,309 3,315 22,000 23,000 25,000 26,000 28,000 29,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 113 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 30,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 33,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 36,000 30,000 30,050 30,100 30,150 30,200 30,250 30,300 30,350 30,400 30,450 30,500 30,550 30,600 30,650 30,700 30,750 30,800 30,850 30,900 30,950 30,050 30,100 30,150 30,200 30,250 30,300 30,350 30,400 30,450 30,500 30,550 30,600 30,650 30,700 30,750 30,800 30,850 30,900 30,950 31,000 3,406 3,412 3,418 3,424 3,430 3,436 3,442 3,448 3,454 3,460 3,466 3,472 3,478 3,484 3,490 3,496 3,502 3,508 3,514 3,520 3,208 3,214 3,220 3,226 3,232 3,238 3,244 3,250 3,256 3,262 3,268 3,274 3,280 3,286 3,292 3,298 3,304 3,310 3,316 3,322 3,406 3,412 3,418 3,424 3,430 3,436 3,442 3,448 3,454 3,460 3,466 3,472 3,478 3,484 3,490 3,496 3,502 3,508 3,514 3,520 3,321 3,327 3,333 3,339 3,345 3,351 3,357 3,363 3,369 3,375 3,381 3,387 3,393 3,399 3,405 3,411 3,417 3,423 3,429 3,435 33,000 33,050 33,100 33,150 33,200 33,250 33,300 33,350 33,400 33,450 33,500 33,550 33,600 33,650 33,700 33,750 33,800 33,850 33,900 33,950 33,050 33,100 33,150 33,200 33,250 33,300 33,350 33,400 33,450 33,500 33,550 33,600 33,650 33,700 33,750 33,800 33,850 33,900 33,950 34,000 3,766 3,772 3,778 3,784 3,790 3,796 3,802 3,808 3,814 3,820 3,826 3,832 3,838 3,844 3,850 3,856 3,862 3,868 3,874 3,880 3,568 3,574 3,580 3,586 3,592 3,598 3,604 3,610 3,616 3,622 3,628 3,634 3,640 3,646 3,652 3,658 3,664 3,670 3,676 3,682 3,766 3,772 3,778 3,784 3,790 3,796 3,802 3,808 3,814 3,820 3,826 3,832 3,838 3,844 3,850 3,856 3,862 3,868 3,874 3,880 3,681 3,687 3,693 3,699 3,705 3,711 3,717 3,723 3,729 3,735 3,741 3,747 3,753 3,759 3,765 3,771 3,777 3,783 3,789 3,795 36,000 36,050 36,100 36,150 36,200 36,250 36,300 36,350 36,400 36,450 36,500 36,550 36,600 36,650 36,700 36,750 36,800 36,850 36,900 36,950 36,050 36,100 36,150 36,200 36,250 36,300 36,350 36,400 36,450 36,500 36,550 36,600 36,650 36,700 36,750 36,800 36,850 36,900 36,950 37,000 4,126 4,132 4,138 4,144 4,150 4,156 4,162 4,168 4,174 4,180 4,186 4,192 4,198 4,204 4,210 4,216 4,222 4,228 4,234 4,240 3,928 3,934 3,940 3,946 3,952 3,958 3,964 3,970 3,976 3,982 3,988 3,994 4,000 4,006 4,012 4,018 4,024 4,030 4,036 4,042 4,126 4,132 4,138 4,144 4,150 4,156 4,162 4,168 4,174 4,180 4,186 4,192 4,198 4,204 4,210 4,216 4,222 4,228 4,234 4,240 4,041 4,047 4,053 4,059 4,065 4,071 4,077 4,083 4,089 4,095 4,101 4,107 4,113 4,119 4,125 4,131 4,137 4,143 4,149 4,155 31,000 31,050 31,100 31,150 31,200 31,250 31,300 31,350 31,400 31,450 31,500 31,550 31,600 31,650 31,700 31,750 31,800 31,850 31,900 31,950 31,050 31,100 31,150 31,200 31,250 31,300 31,350 31,400 31,450 31,500 31,550 31,600 31,650 31,700 31,750 31,800 31,850 31,900 31,950 32,000 3,526 3,532 3,538 3,544 3,550 3,556 3,562 3,568 3,574 3,580 3,586 3,592 3,598 3,604 3,610 3,616 3,622 3,628 3,634 3,640 3,328 3,334 3,340 3,346 3,352 3,358 3,364 3,370 3,376 3,382 3,388 3,394 3,400 3,406 3,412 3,418 3,424 3,430 3,436 3,442 3,526 3,532 3,538 3,544 3,550 3,556 3,562 3,568 3,574 3,580 3,586 3,592 3,598 3,604 3,610 3,616 3,622 3,628 3,634 3,640 3,441 3,447 3,453 3,459 3,465 3,471 3,477 3,483 3,489 3,495 3,501 3,507 3,513 3,519 3,525 3,531 3,537 3,543 3,549 3,555 34,000 34,050 34,100 34,150 34,200 34,250 34,300 34,350 34,400 34,450 34,500 34,550 34,600 34,650 34,700 34,750 34,800 34,850 34,900 34,950 34,050 34,100 34,150 34,200 34,250 34,300 34,350 34,400 34,450 34,500 34,550 34,600 34,650 34,700 34,750 34,800 34,850 34,900 34,950 35,000 3,886 3,892 3,898 3,904 3,910 3,916 3,922 3,928 3,934 3,940 3,946 3,952 3,958 3,964 3,970 3,976 3,982 3,988 3,994 4,000 3,688 3,694 3,700 3,706 3,712 3,718 3,724 3,730 3,736 3,742 3,748 3,754 3,760 3,766 3,772 3,778 3,784 3,790 3,796 3,802 3,886 3,892 3,898 3,904 3,910 3,916 3,922 3,928 3,934 3,940 3,946 3,952 3,958 3,964 3,970 3,976 3,982 3,988 3,994 4,000 3,801 3,807 3,813 3,819 3,825 3,831 3,837 3,843 3,849 3,855 3,861 3,867 3,873 3,879 3,885 3,891 3,897 3,903 3,909 3,915 37,000 37,050 37,100 37,150 37,200 37,250 37,300 37,350 37,400 37,450 37,500 37,550 37,600 37,650 37,700 37,750 37,800 37,850 37,900 37,950 37,050 37,100 37,150 37,200 37,250 37,300 37,350 37,400 37,450 37,500 37,550 37,600 37,650 37,700 37,750 37,800 37,850 37,900 37,950 38,000 4,246 4,252 4,258 4,264 4,270 4,276 4,282 4,288 4,294 4,300 4,306 4,312 4,318 4,324 4,330 4,336 4,342 4,348 4,354 4,360 4,048 4,054 4,060 4,066 4,072 4,078 4,084 4,090 4,096 4,102 4,108 4,114 4,120 4,126 4,132 4,138 4,144 4,150 4,156 4,162 4,246 4,252 4,258 4,264 4,270 4,276 4,282 4,288 4,294 4,300 4,306 4,312 4,318 4,324 4,330 4,336 4,342 4,348 4,354 4,360 4,161 4,167 4,173 4,179 4,185 4,191 4,197 4,203 4,209 4,215 4,221 4,227 4,233 4,239 4,245 4,251 4,257 4,263 4,269 4,275 32,000 32,050 32,100 32,150 32,200 32,250 32,300 32,350 32,400 32,450 32,500 32,550 32,600 32,650 32,700 32,750 32,800 32,850 32,900 32,950 32,050 32,100 32,150 32,200 32,250 32,300 32,350 32,400 32,450 32,500 32,550 32,600 32,650 32,700 32,750 32,800 32,850 32,900 32,950 33,000 3,646 3,652 3,658 3,664 3,670 3,676 3,682 3,688 3,694 3,700 3,706 3,712 3,718 3,724 3,730 3,736 3,742 3,748 3,754 3,760 3,448 3,454 3,460 3,466 3,472 3,478 3,484 3,490 3,496 3,502 3,508 3,514 3,520 3,526 3,532 3,538 3,544 3,550 3,556 3,562 3,646 3,652 3,658 3,664 3,670 3,676 3,682 3,688 3,694 3,700 3,706 3,712 3,718 3,724 3,730 3,736 3,742 3,748 3,754 3,760 3,561 3,567 3,573 3,579 3,585 3,591 3,597 3,603 3,609 3,615 3,621 3,627 3,633 3,639 3,645 3,651 3,657 3,663 3,669 3,675 35,000 35,050 35,100 35,150 35,200 35,250 35,300 35,350 35,400 35,450 35,500 35,550 35,600 35,650 35,700 35,750 35,800 35,850 35,900 35,950 35,050 35,100 35,150 35,200 35,250 35,300 35,350 35,400 35,450 35,500 35,550 35,600 35,650 35,700 35,750 35,800 35,850 35,900 35,950 36,000 4,006 4,012 4,018 4,024 4,030 4,036 4,042 4,048 4,054 4,060 4,066 4,072 4,078 4,084 4,090 4,096 4,102 4,108 4,114 4,120 3,808 3,814 3,820 3,826 3,832 3,838 3,844 3,850 3,856 3,862 3,868 3,874 3,880 3,886 3,892 3,898 3,904 3,910 3,916 3,922 4,006 4,012 4,018 4,024 4,030 4,036 4,042 4,048 4,054 4,060 4,066 4,072 4,078 4,084 4,090 4,096 4,102 4,108 4,114 4,120 3,921 3,927 3,933 3,939 3,945 3,951 3,957 3,963 3,969 3,975 3,981 3,987 3,993 3,999 4,005 4,011 4,017 4,023 4,029 4,035 38,000 38,050 38,100 38,150 38,200 38,250 38,300 38,350 38,400 38,450 38,500 38,550 38,600 38,650 38,700 38,750 38,800 38,850 38,900 38,950 38,050 38,100 38,150 38,200 38,250 38,300 38,350 38,400 38,450 38,500 38,550 38,600 38,650 38,700 38,750 38,800 38,850 38,900 38,950 39,000 4,366 4,372 4,378 4,384 4,390 4,396 4,402 4,408 4,414 4,420 4,426 4,432 4,438 4,444 4,450 4,456 4,462 4,468 4,474 4,480 4,168 4,174 4,180 4,186 4,192 4,198 4,204 4,210 4,216 4,222 4,228 4,234 4,240 4,246 4,252 4,258 4,264 4,270 4,276 4,282 4,366 4,372 4,378 4,384 4,390 4,396 4,402 4,408 4,414 4,420 4,426 4,432 4,438 4,444 4,450 4,456 4,462 4,468 4,474 4,480 4,281 4,287 4,293 4,299 4,305 4,311 4,317 4,323 4,329 4,335 4,341 4,347 4,353 4,359 4,365 4,371 4,377 4,383 4,389 4,395 31,000 32,000 34,000 35,000 37,000 38,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 114 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 39,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 42,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 45,000 39,000 39,050 39,100 39,150 39,200 39,250 39,300 39,350 39,400 39,450 39,500 39,550 39,600 39,650 39,700 39,750 39,800 39,850 39,900 39,950 39,050 39,100 39,150 39,200 39,250 39,300 39,350 39,400 39,450 39,500 39,550 39,600 39,650 39,700 39,750 39,800 39,850 39,900 39,950 40,000 4,486 4,492 4,498 4,504 4,510 4,516 4,522 4,528 4,534 4,540 4,546 4,552 4,558 4,564 4,570 4,576 4,582 4,588 4,594 4,600 4,288 4,294 4,300 4,306 4,312 4,318 4,324 4,330 4,336 4,342 4,348 4,354 4,360 4,366 4,372 4,378 4,384 4,390 4,396 4,402 4,486 4,492 4,498 4,504 4,510 4,516 4,522 4,528 4,534 4,540 4,546 4,552 4,558 4,564 4,570 4,576 4,582 4,588 4,594 4,600 4,401 4,407 4,413 4,419 4,425 4,431 4,437 4,443 4,449 4,455 4,461 4,467 4,473 4,479 4,485 4,491 4,497 4,503 4,509 4,515 42,000 42,050 42,100 42,150 42,200 42,250 42,300 42,350 42,400 42,450 42,500 42,550 42,600 42,650 42,700 42,750 42,800 42,850 42,900 42,950 42,050 42,100 42,150 42,200 42,250 42,300 42,350 42,400 42,450 42,500 42,550 42,600 42,650 42,700 42,750 42,800 42,850 42,900 42,950 43,000 5,036 5,047 5,058 5,069 5,080 5,091 5,102 5,113 5,124 5,135 5,146 5,157 5,168 5,179 5,190 5,201 5,212 5,223 5,234 5,245 4,648 4,654 4,660 4,666 4,672 4,678 4,684 4,690 4,696 4,702 4,708 4,714 4,720 4,726 4,732 4,738 4,744 4,750 4,756 4,762 5,036 5,047 5,058 5,069 5,080 5,091 5,102 5,113 5,124 5,135 5,146 5,157 5,168 5,179 5,190 5,201 5,212 5,223 5,234 5,245 4,761 4,767 4,773 4,779 4,785 4,791 4,797 4,803 4,809 4,815 4,821 4,827 4,833 4,839 4,845 4,851 4,857 4,863 4,869 4,875 45,000 45,050 45,100 45,150 45,200 45,250 45,300 45,350 45,400 45,450 45,500 45,550 45,600 45,650 45,700 45,750 45,800 45,850 45,900 45,950 45,050 45,100 45,150 45,200 45,250 45,300 45,350 45,400 45,450 45,500 45,550 45,600 45,650 45,700 45,750 45,800 45,850 45,900 45,950 46,000 5,696 5,707 5,718 5,729 5,740 5,751 5,762 5,773 5,784 5,795 5,806 5,817 5,828 5,839 5,850 5,861 5,872 5,883 5,894 5,905 5,008 5,014 5,020 5,026 5,032 5,038 5,044 5,050 5,056 5,062 5,068 5,074 5,080 5,086 5,092 5,098 5,104 5,110 5,116 5,122 5,696 5,707 5,718 5,729 5,740 5,751 5,762 5,773 5,784 5,795 5,806 5,817 5,828 5,839 5,850 5,861 5,872 5,883 5,894 5,905 5,121 5,127 5,133 5,139 5,145 5,151 5,157 5,163 5,169 5,175 5,181 5,187 5,193 5,199 5,205 5,211 5,217 5,223 5,229 5,235 40,000 40,050 40,100 40,150 40,200 40,250 40,300 40,350 40,400 40,450 40,500 40,550 40,600 40,650 40,700 40,750 40,800 40,850 40,900 40,950 40,050 40,100 40,150 40,200 40,250 40,300 40,350 40,400 40,450 40,500 40,550 40,600 40,650 40,700 40,750 40,800 40,850 40,900 40,950 41,000 4,606 4,612 4,618 4,629 4,640 4,651 4,662 4,673 4,684 4,695 4,706 4,717 4,728 4,739 4,750 4,761 4,772 4,783 4,794 4,805 4,408 4,414 4,420 4,426 4,432 4,438 4,444 4,450 4,456 4,462 4,468 4,474 4,480 4,486 4,492 4,498 4,504 4,510 4,516 4,522 4,606 4,612 4,618 4,629 4,640 4,651 4,662 4,673 4,684 4,695 4,706 4,717 4,728 4,739 4,750 4,761 4,772 4,783 4,794 4,805 4,521 4,527 4,533 4,539 4,545 4,551 4,557 4,563 4,569 4,575 4,581 4,587 4,593 4,599 4,605 4,611 4,617 4,623 4,629 4,635 43,000 43,050 43,100 43,150 43,200 43,250 43,300 43,350 43,400 43,450 43,500 43,550 43,600 43,650 43,700 43,750 43,800 43,850 43,900 43,950 43,050 43,100 43,150 43,200 43,250 43,300 43,350 43,400 43,450 43,500 43,550 43,600 43,650 43,700 43,750 43,800 43,850 43,900 43,950 44,000 5,256 5,267 5,278 5,289 5,300 5,311 5,322 5,333 5,344 5,355 5,366 5,377 5,388 5,399 5,410 5,421 5,432 5,443 5,454 5,465 4,768 4,774 4,780 4,786 4,792 4,798 4,804 4,810 4,816 4,822 4,828 4,834 4,840 4,846 4,852 4,858 4,864 4,870 4,876 4,882 5,256 5,267 5,278 5,289 5,300 5,311 5,322 5,333 5,344 5,355 5,366 5,377 5,388 5,399 5,410 5,421 5,432 5,443 5,454 5,465 4,881 4,887 4,893 4,899 4,905 4,911 4,917 4,923 4,929 4,935 4,941 4,947 4,953 4,959 4,965 4,971 4,977 4,983 4,989 4,995 46,000 46,050 46,100 46,150 46,200 46,250 46,300 46,350 46,400 46,450 46,500 46,550 46,600 46,650 46,700 46,750 46,800 46,850 46,900 46,950 46,050 46,100 46,150 46,200 46,250 46,300 46,350 46,400 46,450 46,500 46,550 46,600 46,650 46,700 46,750 46,800 46,850 46,900 46,950 47,000 5,916 5,927 5,938 5,949 5,960 5,971 5,982 5,993 6,004 6,015 6,026 6,037 6,048 6,059 6,070 6,081 6,092 6,103 6,114 6,125 5,128 5,134 5,140 5,146 5,152 5,158 5,164 5,170 5,176 5,182 5,188 5,194 5,200 5,206 5,212 5,218 5,224 5,230 5,236 5,242 5,916 5,927 5,938 5,949 5,960 5,971 5,982 5,993 6,004 6,015 6,026 6,037 6,048 6,059 6,070 6,081 6,092 6,103 6,114 6,125 5,241 5,247 5,253 5,259 5,265 5,271 5,277 5,283 5,289 5,295 5,301 5,307 5,313 5,319 5,325 5,331 5,337 5,343 5,349 5,355 41,000 41,050 41,100 41,150 41,200 41,250 41,300 41,350 41,400 41,450 41,500 41,550 41,600 41,650 41,700 41,750 41,800 41,850 41,900 41,950 41,050 41,100 41,150 41,200 41,250 41,300 41,350 41,400 41,450 41,500 41,550 41,600 41,650 41,700 41,750 41,800 41,850 41,900 41,950 42,000 4,816 4,827 4,838 4,849 4,860 4,871 4,882 4,893 4,904 4,915 4,926 4,937 4,948 4,959 4,970 4,981 4,992 5,003 5,014 5,025 4,528 4,534 4,540 4,546 4,552 4,558 4,564 4,570 4,576 4,582 4,588 4,594 4,600 4,606 4,612 4,618 4,624 4,630 4,636 4,642 4,816 4,827 4,838 4,849 4,860 4,871 4,882 4,893 4,904 4,915 4,926 4,937 4,948 4,959 4,970 4,981 4,992 5,003 5,014 5,025 4,641 4,647 4,653 4,659 4,665 4,671 4,677 4,683 4,689 4,695 4,701 4,707 4,713 4,719 4,725 4,731 4,737 4,743 4,749 4,755 44,000 44,050 44,100 44,150 44,200 44,250 44,300 44,350 44,400 44,450 44,500 44,550 44,600 44,650 44,700 44,750 44,800 44,850 44,900 44,950 44,050 44,100 44,150 44,200 44,250 44,300 44,350 44,400 44,450 44,500 44,550 44,600 44,650 44,700 44,750 44,800 44,850 44,900 44,950 45,000 5,476 5,487 5,498 5,509 5,520 5,531 5,542 5,553 5,564 5,575 5,586 5,597 5,608 5,619 5,630 5,641 5,652 5,663 5,674 5,685 4,888 4,894 4,900 4,906 4,912 4,918 4,924 4,930 4,936 4,942 4,948 4,954 4,960 4,966 4,972 4,978 4,984 4,990 4,996 5,002 5,476 5,487 5,498 5,509 5,520 5,531 5,542 5,553 5,564 5,575 5,586 5,597 5,608 5,619 5,630 5,641 5,652 5,663 5,674 5,685 5,001 5,007 5,013 5,019 5,025 5,031 5,037 5,043 5,049 5,055 5,061 5,067 5,073 5,079 5,085 5,091 5,097 5,103 5,109 5,115 47,000 47,050 47,100 47,150 47,200 47,250 47,300 47,350 47,400 47,450 47,500 47,550 47,600 47,650 47,700 47,750 47,800 47,850 47,900 47,950 47,050 47,100 47,150 47,200 47,250 47,300 47,350 47,400 47,450 47,500 47,550 47,600 47,650 47,700 47,750 47,800 47,850 47,900 47,950 48,000 6,136 6,147 6,158 6,169 6,180 6,191 6,202 6,213 6,224 6,235 6,246 6,257 6,268 6,279 6,290 6,301 6,312 6,323 6,334 6,345 5,248 5,254 5,260 5,266 5,272 5,278 5,284 5,290 5,296 5,302 5,308 5,314 5,320 5,326 5,332 5,338 5,344 5,350 5,356 5,362 6,136 6,147 6,158 6,169 6,180 6,191 6,202 6,213 6,224 6,235 6,246 6,257 6,268 6,279 6,290 6,301 6,312 6,323 6,334 6,345 5,361 5,367 5,373 5,379 5,385 5,391 5,397 5,403 5,409 5,415 5,421 5,427 5,433 5,439 5,445 5,451 5,457 5,463 5,469 5,475 40,000 41,000 43,000 44,000 46,000 47,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 115 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 48,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 51,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 54,000 48,000 48,050 48,100 48,150 48,200 48,250 48,300 48,350 48,400 48,450 48,500 48,550 48,600 48,650 48,700 48,750 48,800 48,850 48,900 48,950 48,050 48,100 48,150 48,200 48,250 48,300 48,350 48,400 48,450 48,500 48,550 48,600 48,650 48,700 48,750 48,800 48,850 48,900 48,950 49,000 6,356 6,367 6,378 6,389 6,400 6,411 6,422 6,433 6,444 6,455 6,466 6,477 6,488 6,499 6,510 6,521 6,532 6,543 6,554 6,565 5,368 5,374 5,380 5,386 5,392 5,398 5,404 5,410 5,416 5,422 5,428 5,434 5,440 5,446 5,452 5,458 5,464 5,470 5,476 5,482 6,356 6,367 6,378 6,389 6,400 6,411 6,422 6,433 6,444 6,455 6,466 6,477 6,488 6,499 6,510 6,521 6,532 6,543 6,554 6,565 5,481 5,487 5,493 5,499 5,505 5,511 5,517 5,523 5,529 5,535 5,541 5,547 5,553 5,559 5,565 5,571 5,577 5,583 5,589 5,595 51,000 51,050 51,100 51,150 51,200 51,250 51,300 51,350 51,400 51,450 51,500 51,550 51,600 51,650 51,700 51,750 51,800 51,850 51,900 51,950 51,050 51,100 51,150 51,200 51,250 51,300 51,350 51,400 51,450 51,500 51,550 51,600 51,650 51,700 51,750 51,800 51,850 51,900 51,950 52,000 7,016 7,027 7,038 7,049 7,060 7,071 7,082 7,093 7,104 7,115 7,126 7,137 7,148 7,159 7,170 7,181 7,192 7,203 7,214 7,225 5,728 5,734 5,740 5,746 5,752 5,758 5,764 5,770 5,776 5,782 5,788 5,794 5,800 5,806 5,812 5,818 5,824 5,830 5,836 5,842 7,016 7,027 7,038 7,049 7,060 7,071 7,082 7,093 7,104 7,115 7,126 7,137 7,148 7,159 7,170 7,181 7,192 7,203 7,214 7,225 5,841 5,847 5,853 5,859 5,865 5,871 5,877 5,883 5,889 5,895 5,901 5,907 5,913 5,919 5,925 5,931 5,937 5,943 5,949 5,955 54,000 54,050 54,100 54,150 54,200 54,250 54,300 54,350 54,400 54,450 54,500 54,550 54,600 54,650 54,700 54,750 54,800 54,850 54,900 54,950 54,050 54,100 54,150 54,200 54,250 54,300 54,350 54,400 54,450 54,500 54,550 54,600 54,650 54,700 54,750 54,800 54,850 54,900 54,950 55,000 7,676 7,687 7,698 7,709 7,720 7,731 7,742 7,753 7,764 7,775 7,786 7,797 7,808 7,819 7,830 7,841 7,852 7,863 7,874 7,885 6,088 6,094 6,100 6,106 6,112 6,118 6,124 6,130 6,136 6,142 6,148 6,154 6,160 6,166 6,172 6,178 6,184 6,190 6,196 6,202 7,676 7,687 7,698 7,709 7,720 7,731 7,742 7,753 7,764 7,775 7,786 7,797 7,808 7,819 7,830 7,841 7,852 7,863 7,874 7,885 6,234 6,245 6,256 6,267 6,278 6,289 6,300 6,311 6,322 6,333 6,344 6,355 6,366 6,377 6,388 6,399 6,410 6,421 6,432 6,443 49,000 49,050 49,100 49,150 49,200 49,250 49,300 49,350 49,400 49,450 49,500 49,550 49,600 49,650 49,700 49,750 49,800 49,850 49,900 49,950 49,050 49,100 49,150 49,200 49,250 49,300 49,350 49,400 49,450 49,500 49,550 49,600 49,650 49,700 49,750 49,800 49,850 49,900 49,950 50,000 6,576 6,587 6,598 6,609 6,620 6,631 6,642 6,653 6,664 6,675 6,686 6,697 6,708 6,719 6,730 6,741 6,752 6,763 6,774 6,785 5,488 5,494 5,500 5,506 5,512 5,518 5,524 5,530 5,536 5,542 5,548 5,554 5,560 5,566 5,572 5,578 5,584 5,590 5,596 5,602 6,576 6,587 6,598 6,609 6,620 6,631 6,642 6,653 6,664 6,675 6,686 6,697 6,708 6,719 6,730 6,741 6,752 6,763 6,774 6,785 5,601 5,607 5,613 5,619 5,625 5,631 5,637 5,643 5,649 5,655 5,661 5,667 5,673 5,679 5,685 5,691 5,697 5,703 5,709 5,715 52,000 52,050 52,100 52,150 52,200 52,250 52,300 52,350 52,400 52,450 52,500 52,550 52,600 52,650 52,700 52,750 52,800 52,850 52,900 52,950 52,050 52,100 52,150 52,200 52,250 52,300 52,350 52,400 52,450 52,500 52,550 52,600 52,650 52,700 52,750 52,800 52,850 52,900 52,950 53,000 7,236 7,247 7,258 7,269 7,280 7,291 7,302 7,313 7,324 7,335 7,346 7,357 7,368 7,379 7,390 7,401 7,412 7,423 7,434 7,445 5,848 5,854 5,860 5,866 5,872 5,878 5,884 5,890 5,896 5,902 5,908 5,914 5,920 5,926 5,932 5,938 5,944 5,950 5,956 5,962 7,236 7,247 7,258 7,269 7,280 7,291 7,302 7,313 7,324 7,335 7,346 7,357 7,368 7,379 7,390 7,401 7,412 7,423 7,434 7,445 5,961 5,967 5,973 5,979 5,985 5,991 5,997 6,003 6,009 6,015 6,021 6,027 6,033 6,039 6,045 6,051 6,057 6,063 6,069 6,075 55,000 55,050 55,100 55,150 55,200 55,250 55,300 55,350 55,400 55,450 55,500 55,550 55,600 55,650 55,700 55,750 55,800 55,850 55,900 55,950 55,050 55,100 55,150 55,200 55,250 55,300 55,350 55,400 55,450 55,500 55,550 55,600 55,650 55,700 55,750 55,800 55,850 55,900 55,950 56,000 7,896 7,907 7,918 7,929 7,940 7,951 7,962 7,973 7,984 7,995 8,006 8,017 8,028 8,039 8,050 8,061 8,072 8,083 8,094 8,105 6,208 6,214 6,220 6,226 6,232 6,238 6,244 6,250 6,256 6,262 6,268 6,274 6,280 6,286 6,292 6,298 6,304 6,310 6,316 6,322 7,896 7,907 7,918 7,929 7,940 7,951 7,962 7,973 7,984 7,995 8,006 8,017 8,028 8,039 8,050 8,061 8,072 8,083 8,094 8,105 6,454 6,465 6,476 6,487 6,498 6,509 6,520 6,531 6,542 6,553 6,564 6,575 6,586 6,597 6,608 6,619 6,630 6,641 6,652 6,663 50,000 50,050 50,100 50,150 50,200 50,250 50,300 50,350 50,400 50,450 50,500 50,550 50,600 50,650 50,700 50,750 50,800 50,850 50,900 50,950 50,050 50,100 50,150 50,200 50,250 50,300 50,350 50,400 50,450 50,500 50,550 50,600 50,650 50,700 50,750 50,800 50,850 50,900 50,950 51,000 6,796 6,807 6,818 6,829 6,840 6,851 6,862 6,873 6,884 6,895 6,906 6,917 6,928 6,939 6,950 6,961 6,972 6,983 6,994 7,005 5,608 5,614 5,620 5,626 5,632 5,638 5,644 5,650 5,656 5,662 5,668 5,674 5,680 5,686 5,692 5,698 5,704 5,710 5,716 5,722 6,796 6,807 6,818 6,829 6,840 6,851 6,862 6,873 6,884 6,895 6,906 6,917 6,928 6,939 6,950 6,961 6,972 6,983 6,994 7,005 5,721 5,727 5,733 5,739 5,745 5,751 5,757 5,763 5,769 5,775 5,781 5,787 5,793 5,799 5,805 5,811 5,817 5,823 5,829 5,835 53,000 53,050 53,100 53,150 53,200 53,250 53,300 53,350 53,400 53,450 53,500 53,550 53,600 53,650 53,700 53,750 53,800 53,850 53,900 53,950 53,050 53,100 53,150 53,200 53,250 53,300 53,350 53,400 53,450 53,500 53,550 53,600 53,650 53,700 53,750 53,800 53,850 53,900 53,950 54,000 7,456 7,467 7,478 7,489 7,500 7,511 7,522 7,533 7,544 7,555 7,566 7,577 7,588 7,599 7,610 7,621 7,632 7,643 7,654 7,665 5,968 5,974 5,980 5,986 5,992 5,998 6,004 6,010 6,016 6,022 6,028 6,034 6,040 6,046 6,052 6,058 6,064 6,070 6,076 6,082 7,456 7,467 7,478 7,489 7,500 7,511 7,522 7,533 7,544 7,555 7,566 7,577 7,588 7,599 7,610 7,621 7,632 7,643 7,654 7,665 6,081 6,087 6,093 6,099 6,105 6,111 6,117 6,123 6,129 6,135 6,141 6,147 6,153 6,159 6,168 6,179 6,190 6,201 6,212 6,223 56,000 56,050 56,100 56,150 56,200 56,250 56,300 56,350 56,400 56,450 56,500 56,550 56,600 56,650 56,700 56,750 56,800 56,850 56,900 56,950 56,050 56,100 56,150 56,200 56,250 56,300 56,350 56,400 56,450 56,500 56,550 56,600 56,650 56,700 56,750 56,800 56,850 56,900 56,950 57,000 8,116 8,127 8,138 8,149 8,160 8,171 8,182 8,193 8,204 8,215 8,226 8,237 8,248 8,259 8,270 8,281 8,292 8,303 8,314 8,325 6,328 6,334 6,340 6,346 6,352 6,358 6,364 6,370 6,376 6,382 6,388 6,394 6,400 6,406 6,412 6,418 6,424 6,430 6,436 6,442 8,116 8,127 8,138 8,149 8,160 8,171 8,182 8,193 8,204 8,215 8,226 8,237 8,248 8,259 8,270 8,281 8,292 8,303 8,314 8,325 6,674 6,685 6,696 6,707 6,718 6,729 6,740 6,751 6,762 6,773 6,784 6,795 6,806 6,817 6,828 6,839 6,850 6,861 6,872 6,883 49,000 50,000 52,000 53,000 55,000 56,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 116 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 57,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 60,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 63,000 57,000 57,050 57,100 57,150 57,200 57,250 57,300 57,350 57,400 57,450 57,500 57,550 57,600 57,650 57,700 57,750 57,800 57,850 57,900 57,950 57,050 57,100 57,150 57,200 57,250 57,300 57,350 57,400 57,450 57,500 57,550 57,600 57,650 57,700 57,750 57,800 57,850 57,900 57,950 58,000 8,336 8,347 8,358 8,369 8,380 8,391 8,402 8,413 8,424 8,435 8,446 8,457 8,468 8,479 8,490 8,501 8,512 8,523 8,534 8,545 6,448 6,454 6,460 6,466 6,472 6,478 6,484 6,490 6,496 6,502 6,508 6,514 6,520 6,526 6,532 6,538 6,544 6,550 6,556 6,562 8,336 8,347 8,358 8,369 8,380 8,391 8,402 8,413 8,424 8,435 8,446 8,457 8,468 8,479 8,490 8,501 8,512 8,523 8,534 8,545 6,894 6,905 6,916 6,927 6,938 6,949 6,960 6,971 6,982 6,993 7,004 7,015 7,026 7,037 7,048 7,059 7,070 7,081 7,092 7,103 60,000 60,050 60,100 60,150 60,200 60,250 60,300 60,350 60,400 60,450 60,500 60,550 60,600 60,650 60,700 60,750 60,800 60,850 60,900 60,950 60,050 60,100 60,150 60,200 60,250 60,300 60,350 60,400 60,450 60,500 60,550 60,600 60,650 60,700 60,750 60,800 60,850 60,900 60,950 61,000 8,996 9,007 9,018 9,029 9,040 9,051 9,062 9,073 9,084 9,095 9,106 9,117 9,128 9,139 9,150 9,161 9,172 9,183 9,194 9,205 6,808 6,814 6,820 6,826 6,832 6,838 6,844 6,850 6,856 6,862 6,868 6,874 6,880 6,886 6,892 6,898 6,904 6,910 6,916 6,922 8,996 9,007 9,018 9,029 9,040 9,051 9,062 9,073 9,084 9,095 9,106 9,117 9,128 9,139 9,150 9,161 9,172 9,183 9,194 9,205 7,554 7,565 7,576 7,587 7,598 7,609 7,620 7,631 7,642 7,653 7,664 7,675 7,686 7,697 7,708 7,719 7,730 7,741 7,752 7,763 63,000 63,050 63,100 63,150 63,200 63,250 63,300 63,350 63,400 63,450 63,500 63,550 63,600 63,650 63,700 63,750 63,800 63,850 63,900 63,950 63,050 63,100 63,150 63,200 63,250 63,300 63,350 63,400 63,450 63,500 63,550 63,600 63,650 63,700 63,750 63,800 63,850 63,900 63,950 64,000 9,656 9,667 9,678 9,689 9,700 9,711 9,722 9,733 9,744 9,755 9,766 9,777 9,788 9,799 9,810 9,821 9,832 9,843 9,854 9,865 7,168 7,174 7,180 7,186 7,192 7,198 7,204 7,210 7,216 7,222 7,228 7,234 7,240 7,246 7,252 7,258 7,264 7,270 7,276 7,282 9,656 9,667 9,678 9,689 9,700 9,711 9,722 9,733 9,744 9,755 9,766 9,777 9,788 9,799 9,810 9,821 9,832 9,843 9,854 9,865 8,214 8,225 8,236 8,247 8,258 8,269 8,280 8,291 8,302 8,313 8,324 8,335 8,346 8,357 8,368 8,379 8,390 8,401 8,412 8,423 58,000 58,050 58,100 58,150 58,200 58,250 58,300 58,350 58,400 58,450 58,500 58,550 58,600 58,650 58,700 58,750 58,800 58,850 58,900 58,950 58,050 58,100 58,150 58,200 58,250 58,300 58,350 58,400 58,450 58,500 58,550 58,600 58,650 58,700 58,750 58,800 58,850 58,900 58,950 59,000 8,556 8,567 8,578 8,589 8,600 8,611 8,622 8,633 8,644 8,655 8,666 8,677 8,688 8,699 8,710 8,721 8,732 8,743 8,754 8,765 6,568 6,574 6,580 6,586 6,592 6,598 6,604 6,610 6,616 6,622 6,628 6,634 6,640 6,646 6,652 6,658 6,664 6,670 6,676 6,682 8,556 8,567 8,578 8,589 8,600 8,611 8,622 8,633 8,644 8,655 8,666 8,677 8,688 8,699 8,710 8,721 8,732 8,743 8,754 8,765 7,114 7,125 7,136 7,147 7,158 7,169 7,180 7,191 7,202 7,213 7,224 7,235 7,246 7,257 7,268 7,279 7,290 7,301 7,312 7,323 61,000 61,050 61,100 61,150 61,200 61,250 61,300 61,350 61,400 61,450 61,500 61,550 61,600 61,650 61,700 61,750 61,800 61,850 61,900 61,950 61,050 61,100 61,150 61,200 61,250 61,300 61,350 61,400 61,450 61,500 61,550 61,600 61,650 61,700 61,750 61,800 61,850 61,900 61,950 62,000 9,216 9,227 9,238 9,249 9,260 9,271 9,282 9,293 9,304 9,315 9,326 9,337 9,348 9,359 9,370 9,381 9,392 9,403 9,414 9,425 6,928 6,934 6,940 6,946 6,952 6,958 6,964 6,970 6,976 6,982 6,988 6,994 7,000 7,006 7,012 7,018 7,024 7,030 7,036 7,042 9,216 9,227 9,238 9,249 9,260 9,271 9,282 9,293 9,304 9,315 9,326 9,337 9,348 9,359 9,370 9,381 9,392 9,403 9,414 9,425 7,774 7,785 7,796 7,807 7,818 7,829 7,840 7,851 7,862 7,873 7,884 7,895 7,906 7,917 7,928 7,939 7,950 7,961 7,972 7,983 64,000 64,050 64,100 64,150 64,200 64,250 64,300 64,350 64,400 64,450 64,500 64,550 64,600 64,650 64,700 64,750 64,800 64,850 64,900 64,950 64,050 64,100 64,150 64,200 64,250 64,300 64,350 64,400 64,450 64,500 64,550 64,600 64,650 64,700 64,750 64,800 64,850 64,900 64,950 65,000 9,876 9,887 9,898 9,909 9,920 9,931 9,942 9,953 9,964 9,975 9,986 9,997 10,008 10,019 10,030 10,041 10,052 10,063 10,074 10,085 7,288 7,294 7,300 7,306 7,312 7,318 7,324 7,330 7,336 7,342 7,348 7,354 7,360 7,366 7,372 7,378 7,384 7,390 7,396 7,402 9,876 9,887 9,898 9,909 9,920 9,931 9,942 9,953 9,964 9,975 9,986 9,997 10,008 10,019 10,030 10,041 10,052 10,063 10,074 10,085 8,434 8,445 8,456 8,467 8,478 8,489 8,500 8,511 8,522 8,533 8,544 8,555 8,566 8,577 8,588 8,599 8,610 8,621 8,632 8,643 59,000 59,050 59,100 59,150 59,200 59,250 59,300 59,350 59,400 59,450 59,500 59,550 59,600 59,650 59,700 59,750 59,800 59,850 59,900 59,950 59,050 59,100 59,150 59,200 59,250 59,300 59,350 59,400 59,450 59,500 59,550 59,600 59,650 59,700 59,750 59,800 59,850 59,900 59,950 60,000 8,776 8,787 8,798 8,809 8,820 8,831 8,842 8,853 8,864 8,875 8,886 8,897 8,908 8,919 8,930 8,941 8,952 8,963 8,974 8,985 6,688 6,694 6,700 6,706 6,712 6,718 6,724 6,730 6,736 6,742 6,748 6,754 6,760 6,766 6,772 6,778 6,784 6,790 6,796 6,802 8,776 8,787 8,798 8,809 8,820 8,831 8,842 8,853 8,864 8,875 8,886 8,897 8,908 8,919 8,930 8,941 8,952 8,963 8,974 8,985 7,334 7,345 7,356 7,367 7,378 7,389 7,400 7,411 7,422 7,433 7,444 7,455 7,466 7,477 7,488 7,499 7,510 7,521 7,532 7,543 62,000 62,050 62,100 62,150 62,200 62,250 62,300 62,350 62,400 62,450 62,500 62,550 62,600 62,650 62,700 62,750 62,800 62,850 62,900 62,950 62,050 62,100 62,150 62,200 62,250 62,300 62,350 62,400 62,450 62,500 62,550 62,600 62,650 62,700 62,750 62,800 62,850 62,900 62,950 63,000 9,436 9,447 9,458 9,469 9,480 9,491 9,502 9,513 9,524 9,535 9,546 9,557 9,568 9,579 9,590 9,601 9,612 9,623 9,634 9,645 7,048 7,054 7,060 7,066 7,072 7,078 7,084 7,090 7,096 7,102 7,108 7,114 7,120 7,126 7,132 7,138 7,144 7,150 7,156 7,162 9,436 9,447 9,458 9,469 9,480 9,491 9,502 9,513 9,524 9,535 9,546 9,557 9,568 9,579 9,590 9,601 9,612 9,623 9,634 9,645 7,994 8,005 8,016 8,027 8,038 8,049 8,060 8,071 8,082 8,093 8,104 8,115 8,126 8,137 8,148 8,159 8,170 8,181 8,192 8,203 65,000 65,050 65,100 65,150 65,200 65,250 65,300 65,350 65,400 65,450 65,500 65,550 65,600 65,650 65,700 65,750 65,800 65,850 65,900 65,950 65,050 65,100 65,150 65,200 65,250 65,300 65,350 65,400 65,450 65,500 65,550 65,600 65,650 65,700 65,750 65,800 65,850 65,900 65,950 66,000 10,096 10,107 10,118 10,129 10,140 10,151 10,162 10,173 10,184 10,195 10,206 10,217 10,228 10,239 10,250 10,261 10,272 10,283 10,294 10,305 7,408 7,414 7,420 7,426 7,432 7,438 7,444 7,450 7,456 7,462 7,468 7,474 7,480 7,486 7,492 7,498 7,504 7,510 7,516 7,522 10,096 10,107 10,118 10,129 10,140 10,151 10,162 10,173 10,184 10,195 10,206 10,217 10,228 10,239 10,250 10,261 10,272 10,283 10,294 10,305 8,654 8,665 8,676 8,687 8,698 8,709 8,720 8,731 8,742 8,753 8,764 8,775 8,786 8,797 8,808 8,819 8,830 8,841 8,852 8,863 58,000 59,000 61,000 62,000 64,000 65,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 117 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 66,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 69,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 72,000 66,000 66,050 66,100 66,150 66,200 66,250 66,300 66,350 66,400 66,450 66,500 66,550 66,600 66,650 66,700 66,750 66,800 66,850 66,900 66,950 66,050 66,100 66,150 66,200 66,250 66,300 66,350 66,400 66,450 66,500 66,550 66,600 66,650 66,700 66,750 66,800 66,850 66,900 66,950 67,000 10,316 10,327 10,338 10,349 10,360 10,371 10,382 10,393 10,404 10,415 10,426 10,437 10,448 10,459 10,470 10,481 10,492 10,503 10,514 10,525 7,528 7,534 7,540 7,546 7,552 7,558 7,564 7,570 7,576 7,582 7,588 7,594 7,600 7,606 7,612 7,618 7,624 7,630 7,636 7,642 10,316 10,327 10,338 10,349 10,360 10,371 10,382 10,393 10,404 10,415 10,426 10,437 10,448 10,459 10,470 10,481 10,492 10,503 10,514 10,525 8,874 8,885 8,896 8,907 8,918 8,929 8,940 8,951 8,962 8,973 8,984 8,995 9,006 9,017 9,028 9,039 9,050 9,061 9,072 9,083 69,000 69,050 69,100 69,150 69,200 69,250 69,300 69,350 69,400 69,450 69,500 69,550 69,600 69,650 69,700 69,750 69,800 69,850 69,900 69,950 69,050 69,100 69,150 69,200 69,250 69,300 69,350 69,400 69,450 69,500 69,550 69,600 69,650 69,700 69,750 69,800 69,850 69,900 69,950 70,000 10,976 10,987 10,998 11,009 11,020 11,031 11,042 11,053 11,064 11,075 11,086 11,097 11,108 11,119 11,130 11,141 11,152 11,163 11,174 11,185 7,888 7,894 7,900 7,906 7,912 7,918 7,924 7,930 7,936 7,942 7,948 7,954 7,960 7,966 7,972 7,978 7,984 7,990 7,996 8,002 10,976 10,987 10,998 11,009 11,020 11,031 11,042 11,053 11,064 11,075 11,086 11,097 11,108 11,119 11,130 11,141 11,152 11,163 11,174 11,185 9,534 9,545 9,556 9,567 9,578 9,589 9,600 9,611 9,622 9,633 9,644 9,655 9,666 9,677 9,688 9,699 9,710 9,721 9,732 9,743 72,000 72,050 72,100 72,150 72,200 72,250 72,300 72,350 72,400 72,450 72,500 72,550 72,600 72,650 72,700 72,750 72,800 72,850 72,900 72,950 72,050 72,100 72,150 72,200 72,250 72,300 72,350 72,400 72,450 72,500 72,550 72,600 72,650 72,700 72,750 72,800 72,850 72,900 72,950 73,000 11,636 11,647 11,658 11,669 11,680 11,691 11,702 11,713 11,724 11,735 11,746 11,757 11,768 11,779 11,790 11,801 11,812 11,823 11,834 11,845 8,248 8,254 8,260 8,266 8,272 8,278 8,284 8,290 8,296 8,302 8,308 8,314 8,320 8,326 8,332 8,338 8,344 8,350 8,356 8,362 11,636 11,647 11,658 11,669 11,680 11,691 11,702 11,713 11,724 11,735 11,746 11,757 11,768 11,779 11,790 11,801 11,812 11,823 11,834 11,845 10,194 10,205 10,216 10,227 10,238 10,249 10,260 10,271 10,282 10,293 10,304 10,315 10,326 10,337 10,348 10,359 10,370 10,381 10,392 10,403 67,000 67,050 67,100 67,150 67,200 67,250 67,300 67,350 67,400 67,450 67,500 67,550 67,600 67,650 67,700 67,750 67,800 67,850 67,900 67,950 67,050 67,100 67,150 67,200 67,250 67,300 67,350 67,400 67,450 67,500 67,550 67,600 67,650 67,700 67,750 67,800 67,850 67,900 67,950 68,000 10,536 10,547 10,558 10,569 10,580 10,591 10,602 10,613 10,624 10,635 10,646 10,657 10,668 10,679 10,690 10,701 10,712 10,723 10,734 10,745 7,648 7,654 7,660 7,666 7,672 7,678 7,684 7,690 7,696 7,702 7,708 7,714 7,720 7,726 7,732 7,738 7,744 7,750 7,756 7,762 10,536 10,547 10,558 10,569 10,580 10,591 10,602 10,613 10,624 10,635 10,646 10,657 10,668 10,679 10,690 10,701 10,712 10,723 10,734 10,745 9,094 9,105 9,116 9,127 9,138 9,149 9,160 9,171 9,182 9,193 9,204 9,215 9,226 9,237 9,248 9,259 9,270 9,281 9,292 9,303 70,000 70,050 70,100 70,150 70,200 70,250 70,300 70,350 70,400 70,450 70,500 70,550 70,600 70,650 70,700 70,750 70,800 70,850 70,900 70,950 70,050 70,100 70,150 70,200 70,250 70,300 70,350 70,400 70,450 70,500 70,550 70,600 70,650 70,700 70,750 70,800 70,850 70,900 70,950 71,000 11,196 11,207 11,218 11,229 11,240 11,251 11,262 11,273 11,284 11,295 11,306 11,317 11,328 11,339 11,350 11,361 11,372 11,383 11,394 11,405 8,008 8,014 8,020 8,026 8,032 8,038 8,044 8,050 8,056 8,062 8,068 8,074 8,080 8,086 8,092 8,098 8,104 8,110 8,116 8,122 11,196 11,207 11,218 11,229 11,240 11,251 11,262 11,273 11,284 11,295 11,306 11,317 11,328 11,339 11,350 11,361 11,372 11,383 11,394 11,405 9,754 9,765 9,776 9,787 9,798 9,809 9,820 9,831 9,842 9,853 9,864 9,875 9,886 9,897 9,908 9,919 9,930 9,941 9,952 9,963 73,000 73,050 73,100 73,150 73,200 73,250 73,300 73,350 73,400 73,450 73,500 73,550 73,600 73,650 73,700 73,750 73,800 73,850 73,900 73,950 73,050 73,100 73,150 73,200 73,250 73,300 73,350 73,400 73,450 73,500 73,550 73,600 73,650 73,700 73,750 73,800 73,850 73,900 73,950 74,000 11,856 11,867 11,878 11,889 11,900 11,911 11,922 11,933 11,944 11,955 11,966 11,977 11,988 11,999 12,010 12,021 12,032 12,043 12,054 12,065 8,368 8,374 8,380 8,386 8,392 8,398 8,404 8,410 8,416 8,422 8,428 8,434 8,440 8,446 8,452 8,458 8,464 8,470 8,476 8,482 11,856 11,867 11,878 11,889 11,900 11,911 11,922 11,933 11,944 11,955 11,966 11,977 11,988 11,999 12,010 12,021 12,032 12,043 12,054 12,065 10,414 10,425 10,436 10,447 10,458 10,469 10,480 10,491 10,502 10,513 10,524 10,535 10,546 10,557 10,568 10,579 10,590 10,601 10,612 10,623 68,000 68,050 68,100 68,150 68,200 68,250 68,300 68,350 68,400 68,450 68,500 68,550 68,600 68,650 68,700 68,750 68,800 68,850 68,900 68,950 68,050 68,100 68,150 68,200 68,250 68,300 68,350 68,400 68,450 68,500 68,550 68,600 68,650 68,700 68,750 68,800 68,850 68,900 68,950 69,000 10,756 10,767 10,778 10,789 10,800 10,811 10,822 10,833 10,844 10,855 10,866 10,877 10,888 10,899 10,910 10,921 10,932 10,943 10,954 10,965 7,768 7,774 7,780 7,786 7,792 7,798 7,804 7,810 7,816 7,822 7,828 7,834 7,840 7,846 7,852 7,858 7,864 7,870 7,876 7,882 10,756 10,767 10,778 10,789 10,800 10,811 10,822 10,833 10,844 10,855 10,866 10,877 10,888 10,899 10,910 10,921 10,932 10,943 10,954 10,965 9,314 9,325 9,336 9,347 9,358 9,369 9,380 9,391 9,402 9,413 9,424 9,435 9,446 9,457 9,468 9,479 9,490 9,501 9,512 9,523 71,000 71,050 71,100 71,150 71,200 71,250 71,300 71,350 71,400 71,450 71,500 71,550 71,600 71,650 71,700 71,750 71,800 71,850 71,900 71,950 71,050 71,100 71,150 71,200 71,250 71,300 71,350 71,400 71,450 71,500 71,550 71,600 71,650 71,700 71,750 71,800 71,850 71,900 71,950 72,000 11,416 11,427 11,438 11,449 11,460 11,471 11,482 11,493 11,504 11,515 11,526 11,537 11,548 11,559 11,570 11,581 11,592 11,603 11,614 11,625 8,128 8,134 8,140 8,146 8,152 8,158 8,164 8,170 8,176 8,182 8,188 8,194 8,200 8,206 8,212 8,218 8,224 8,230 8,236 8,242 11,416 11,427 11,438 11,449 11,460 11,471 11,482 11,493 11,504 11,515 11,526 11,537 11,548 11,559 11,570 11,581 11,592 11,603 11,614 11,625 9,974 9,985 9,996 10,007 10,018 10,029 10,040 10,051 10,062 10,073 10,084 10,095 10,106 10,117 10,128 10,139 10,150 10,161 10,172 10,183 74,000 74,050 74,100 74,150 74,200 74,250 74,300 74,350 74,400 74,450 74,500 74,550 74,600 74,650 74,700 74,750 74,800 74,850 74,900 74,950 74,050 74,100 74,150 74,200 74,250 74,300 74,350 74,400 74,450 74,500 74,550 74,600 74,650 74,700 74,750 74,800 74,850 74,900 74,950 75,000 12,076 12,087 12,098 12,109 12,120 12,131 12,142 12,153 12,164 12,175 12,186 12,197 12,208 12,219 12,230 12,241 12,252 12,263 12,274 12,285 8,488 8,494 8,500 8,506 8,512 8,518 8,524 8,530 8,536 8,542 8,548 8,554 8,560 8,566 8,572 8,578 8,584 8,590 8,596 8,602 12,076 12,087 12,098 12,109 12,120 12,131 12,142 12,153 12,164 12,175 12,186 12,197 12,208 12,219 12,230 12,241 12,252 12,263 12,274 12,285 10,634 10,645 10,656 10,667 10,678 10,689 10,700 10,711 10,722 10,733 10,744 10,755 10,766 10,777 10,788 10,799 10,810 10,821 10,832 10,843 67,000 68,000 70,000 71,000 73,000 74,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 118 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 75,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 78,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 81,000 75,000 75,050 75,100 75,150 75,200 75,250 75,300 75,350 75,400 75,450 75,500 75,550 75,600 75,650 75,700 75,750 75,800 75,850 75,900 75,950 75,050 75,100 75,150 75,200 75,250 75,300 75,350 75,400 75,450 75,500 75,550 75,600 75,650 75,700 75,750 75,800 75,850 75,900 75,950 76,000 12,296 12,307 12,318 12,329 12,340 12,351 12,362 12,373 12,384 12,395 12,406 12,417 12,428 12,439 12,450 12,461 12,472 12,483 12,494 12,505 8,608 8,614 8,620 8,626 8,632 8,638 8,644 8,650 8,656 8,662 8,668 8,674 8,680 8,686 8,692 8,698 8,704 8,710 8,716 8,722 12,296 12,307 12,318 12,329 12,340 12,351 12,362 12,373 12,384 12,395 12,406 12,417 12,428 12,439 12,450 12,461 12,472 12,483 12,494 12,505 10,854 10,865 10,876 10,887 10,898 10,909 10,920 10,931 10,942 10,953 10,964 10,975 10,986 10,997 11,008 11,019 11,030 11,041 11,052 11,063 78,000 78,050 78,100 78,150 78,200 78,250 78,300 78,350 78,400 78,450 78,500 78,550 78,600 78,650 78,700 78,750 78,800 78,850 78,900 78,950 78,050 78,100 78,150 78,200 78,250 78,300 78,350 78,400 78,450 78,500 78,550 78,600 78,650 78,700 78,750 78,800 78,850 78,900 78,950 79,000 12,956 12,967 12,978 12,989 13,000 13,011 13,022 13,033 13,044 13,055 13,066 13,077 13,088 13,099 13,110 13,121 13,132 13,143 13,154 13,165 8,968 8,974 8,980 8,986 8,992 8,998 9,004 9,010 9,016 9,022 9,028 9,034 9,040 9,046 9,052 9,058 9,064 9,070 9,076 9,082 12,956 12,967 12,978 12,989 13,000 13,011 13,022 13,033 13,044 13,055 13,066 13,077 13,088 13,099 13,110 13,121 13,132 13,143 13,154 13,165 11,514 11,525 11,536 11,547 11,558 11,569 11,580 11,591 11,602 11,613 11,624 11,635 11,646 11,657 11,668 11,679 11,690 11,701 11,712 11,723 81,000 81,050 81,100 81,150 81,200 81,250 81,300 81,350 81,400 81,450 81,500 81,550 81,600 81,650 81,700 81,750 81,800 81,850 81,900 81,950 81,050 81,100 81,150 81,200 81,250 81,300 81,350 81,400 81,450 81,500 81,550 81,600 81,650 81,700 81,750 81,800 81,850 81,900 81,950 82,000 13,616 13,627 13,638 13,649 13,660 13,671 13,682 13,693 13,704 13,715 13,726 13,737 13,748 13,759 13,770 13,781 13,792 13,803 13,814 13,825 9,406 9,417 9,428 9,439 9,450 9,461 9,472 9,483 9,494 9,505 9,516 9,527 9,538 9,549 9,560 9,571 9,582 9,593 9,604 9,615 13,616 13,627 13,638 13,649 13,660 13,671 13,682 13,693 13,704 13,715 13,726 13,737 13,748 13,759 13,770 13,781 13,792 13,803 13,814 13,825 12,174 12,185 12,196 12,207 12,218 12,229 12,240 12,251 12,262 12,273 12,284 12,295 12,306 12,317 12,328 12,339 12,350 12,361 12,372 12,383 76,000 76,050 76,100 76,150 76,200 76,250 76,300 76,350 76,400 76,450 76,500 76,550 76,600 76,650 76,700 76,750 76,800 76,850 76,900 76,950 76,050 76,100 76,150 76,200 76,250 76,300 76,350 76,400 76,450 76,500 76,550 76,600 76,650 76,700 76,750 76,800 76,850 76,900 76,950 77,000 12,516 12,527 12,538 12,549 12,560 12,571 12,582 12,593 12,604 12,615 12,626 12,637 12,648 12,659 12,670 12,681 12,692 12,703 12,714 12,725 8,728 8,734 8,740 8,746 8,752 8,758 8,764 8,770 8,776 8,782 8,788 8,794 8,800 8,806 8,812 8,818 8,824 8,830 8,836 8,842 12,516 12,527 12,538 12,549 12,560 12,571 12,582 12,593 12,604 12,615 12,626 12,637 12,648 12,659 12,670 12,681 12,692 12,703 12,714 12,725 11,074 11,085 11,096 11,107 11,118 11,129 11,140 11,151 11,162 11,173 11,184 11,195 11,206 11,217 11,228 11,239 11,250 11,261 11,272 11,283 79,000 79,050 79,100 79,150 79,200 79,250 79,300 79,350 79,400 79,450 79,500 79,550 79,600 79,650 79,700 79,750 79,800 79,850 79,900 79,950 79,050 79,100 79,150 79,200 79,250 79,300 79,350 79,400 79,450 79,500 79,550 79,600 79,650 79,700 79,750 79,800 79,850 79,900 79,950 80,000 13,176 13,187 13,198 13,209 13,220 13,231 13,242 13,253 13,264 13,275 13,286 13,297 13,308 13,319 13,330 13,341 13,352 13,363 13,374 13,385 9,088 9,094 9,100 9,106 9,112 9,118 9,124 9,130 9,136 9,142 9,148 9,154 9,160 9,166 9,172 9,178 9,184 9,190 9,196 9,202 13,176 13,187 13,198 13,209 13,220 13,231 13,242 13,253 13,264 13,275 13,286 13,297 13,308 13,319 13,330 13,341 13,352 13,363 13,374 13,385 11,734 11,745 11,756 11,767 11,778 11,789 11,800 11,811 11,822 11,833 11,844 11,855 11,866 11,877 11,888 11,899 11,910 11,921 11,932 11,943 82,000 82,050 82,100 82,150 82,200 82,250 82,300 82,350 82,400 82,450 82,500 82,550 82,600 82,650 82,700 82,750 82,800 82,850 82,900 82,950 82,050 82,100 82,150 82,200 82,250 82,300 82,350 82,400 82,450 82,500 82,550 82,600 82,650 82,700 82,750 82,800 82,850 82,900 82,950 83,000 13,836 13,847 13,858 13,869 13,880 13,891 13,902 13,913 13,924 13,935 13,946 13,957 13,968 13,979 13,990 14,001 14,012 14,023 14,034 14,045 9,626 9,637 9,648 9,659 9,670 9,681 9,692 9,703 9,714 9,725 9,736 9,747 9,758 9,769 9,780 9,791 9,802 9,813 9,824 9,835 13,836 13,847 13,858 13,869 13,880 13,891 13,902 13,913 13,924 13,935 13,946 13,957 13,968 13,979 13,990 14,001 14,012 14,023 14,034 14,045 12,394 12,405 12,416 12,427 12,438 12,449 12,460 12,471 12,482 12,493 12,504 12,515 12,526 12,537 12,548 12,559 12,570 12,581 12,592 12,603 77,000 77,050 77,100 77,150 77,200 77,250 77,300 77,350 77,400 77,450 77,500 77,550 77,600 77,650 77,700 77,750 77,800 77,850 77,900 77,950 77,050 77,100 77,150 77,200 77,250 77,300 77,350 77,400 77,450 77,500 77,550 77,600 77,650 77,700 77,750 77,800 77,850 77,900 77,950 78,000 12,736 12,747 12,758 12,769 12,780 12,791 12,802 12,813 12,824 12,835 12,846 12,857 12,868 12,879 12,890 12,901 12,912 12,923 12,934 12,945 8,848 8,854 8,860 8,866 8,872 8,878 8,884 8,890 8,896 8,902 8,908 8,914 8,920 8,926 8,932 8,938 8,944 8,950 8,956 8,962 12,736 12,747 12,758 12,769 12,780 12,791 12,802 12,813 12,824 12,835 12,846 12,857 12,868 12,879 12,890 12,901 12,912 12,923 12,934 12,945 11,294 11,305 11,316 11,327 11,338 11,349 11,360 11,371 11,382 11,393 11,404 11,415 11,426 11,437 11,448 11,459 11,470 11,481 11,492 11,503 80,000 80,050 80,100 80,150 80,200 80,250 80,300 80,350 80,400 80,450 80,500 80,550 80,600 80,650 80,700 80,750 80,800 80,850 80,900 80,950 80,050 80,100 80,150 80,200 80,250 80,300 80,350 80,400 80,450 80,500 80,550 80,600 80,650 80,700 80,750 80,800 80,850 80,900 80,950 81,000 13,396 13,407 13,418 13,429 13,440 13,451 13,462 13,473 13,484 13,495 13,506 13,517 13,528 13,539 13,550 13,561 13,572 13,583 13,594 13,605 9,208 9,214 9,220 9,226 9,232 9,241 9,252 9,263 9,274 9,285 9,296 9,307 9,318 9,329 9,340 9,351 9,362 9,373 9,384 9,395 13,396 13,407 13,418 13,429 13,440 13,451 13,462 13,473 13,484 13,495 13,506 13,517 13,528 13,539 13,550 13,561 13,572 13,583 13,594 13,605 11,954 11,965 11,976 11,987 11,998 12,009 12,020 12,031 12,042 12,053 12,064 12,075 12,086 12,097 12,108 12,119 12,130 12,141 12,152 12,163 83,000 83,050 83,100 83,150 83,200 83,250 83,300 83,350 83,400 83,450 83,500 83,550 83,600 83,650 83,700 83,750 83,800 83,850 83,900 83,950 83,050 83,100 83,150 83,200 83,250 83,300 83,350 83,400 83,450 83,500 83,550 83,600 83,650 83,700 83,750 83,800 83,850 83,900 83,950 84,000 14,056 14,067 14,078 14,089 14,100 14,111 14,122 14,133 14,144 14,155 14,166 14,177 14,188 14,199 14,210 14,221 14,232 14,243 14,254 14,265 9,846 9,857 9,868 9,879 9,890 9,901 9,912 9,923 9,934 9,945 9,956 9,967 9,978 9,989 10,000 10,011 10,022 10,033 10,044 10,055 14,056 14,067 14,078 14,089 14,100 14,111 14,122 14,133 14,144 14,155 14,166 14,177 14,188 14,199 14,210 14,221 14,232 14,243 14,254 14,265 12,614 12,625 12,636 12,647 12,658 12,669 12,680 12,691 12,702 12,713 12,724 12,735 12,746 12,757 12,768 12,779 12,790 12,801 12,812 12,823 76,000 77,000 79,000 80,000 82,000 83,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 119 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 84,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 87,000 At least But less than And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 90,000 84,000 84,050 84,100 84,150 84,200 84,250 84,300 84,350 84,400 84,450 84,500 84,550 84,600 84,650 84,700 84,750 84,800 84,850 84,900 84,950 84,050 84,100 84,150 84,200 84,250 84,300 84,350 84,400 84,450 84,500 84,550 84,600 84,650 84,700 84,750 84,800 84,850 84,900 84,950 85,000 14,276 14,287 14,298 14,309 14,320 14,331 14,342 14,353 14,364 14,375 14,386 14,397 14,408 14,419 14,430 14,441 14,452 14,463 14,474 14,485 10,066 10,077 10,088 10,099 10,110 10,121 10,132 10,143 10,154 10,165 10,176 10,187 10,198 10,209 10,220 10,231 10,242 10,253 10,264 10,275 14,276 14,287 14,298 14,309 14,320 14,331 14,342 14,353 14,364 14,375 14,386 14,397 14,408 14,419 14,430 14,441 14,452 14,463 14,474 14,485 12,834 12,845 12,856 12,867 12,878 12,889 12,900 12,911 12,922 12,933 12,944 12,955 12,966 12,977 12,988 12,999 13,010 13,021 13,032 13,043 87,000 87,050 87,100 87,150 87,200 87,250 87,300 87,350 87,400 87,450 87,500 87,550 87,600 87,650 87,700 87,750 87,800 87,850 87,900 87,950 87,050 87,100 87,150 87,200 87,250 87,300 87,350 87,400 87,450 87,500 87,550 87,600 87,650 87,700 87,750 87,800 87,850 87,900 87,950 88,000 14,966 14,978 14,990 15,002 15,014 15,026 15,038 15,050 15,062 15,074 15,086 15,098 15,110 15,122 15,134 15,146 15,158 15,170 15,182 15,194 10,726 10,737 10,748 10,759 10,770 10,781 10,792 10,803 10,814 10,825 10,836 10,847 10,858 10,869 10,880 10,891 10,902 10,913 10,924 10,935 14,966 14,978 14,990 15,002 15,014 15,026 15,038 15,050 15,062 15,074 15,086 15,098 15,110 15,122 15,134 15,146 15,158 15,170 15,182 15,194 13,524 13,536 13,548 13,560 13,572 13,584 13,596 13,608 13,620 13,632 13,644 13,656 13,668 13,680 13,692 13,704 13,716 13,728 13,740 13,752 90,000 90,050 90,100 90,150 90,200 90,250 90,300 90,350 90,400 90,450 90,500 90,550 90,600 90,650 90,700 90,750 90,800 90,850 90,900 90,950 90,050 90,100 90,150 90,200 90,250 90,300 90,350 90,400 90,450 90,500 90,550 90,600 90,650 90,700 90,750 90,800 90,850 90,900 90,950 91,000 15,686 15,698 15,710 15,722 15,734 15,746 15,758 15,770 15,782 15,794 15,806 15,818 15,830 15,842 15,854 15,866 15,878 15,890 15,902 15,914 11,386 11,397 11,408 11,419 11,430 11,441 11,452 11,463 11,474 11,485 11,496 11,507 11,518 11,529 11,540 11,551 11,562 11,573 11,584 11,595 15,686 15,698 15,710 15,722 15,734 15,746 15,758 15,770 15,782 15,794 15,806 15,818 15,830 15,842 15,854 15,866 15,878 15,890 15,902 15,914 14,244 14,256 14,268 14,280 14,292 14,304 14,316 14,328 14,340 14,352 14,364 14,376 14,388 14,400 14,412 14,424 14,436 14,448 14,460 14,472 85,000 85,050 85,100 85,150 85,200 85,250 85,300 85,350 85,400 85,450 85,500 85,550 85,600 85,650 85,700 85,750 85,800 85,850 85,900 85,950 85,050 85,100 85,150 85,200 85,250 85,300 85,350 85,400 85,450 85,500 85,550 85,600 85,650 85,700 85,750 85,800 85,850 85,900 85,950 86,000 14,496 14,507 14,518 14,529 14,540 14,551 14,562 14,573 14,584 14,595 14,606 14,618 14,630 14,642 14,654 14,666 14,678 14,690 14,702 14,714 10,286 10,297 10,308 10,319 10,330 10,341 10,352 10,363 10,374 10,385 10,396 10,407 10,418 10,429 10,440 10,451 10,462 10,473 10,484 10,495 14,496 14,507 14,518 14,529 14,540 14,551 14,562 14,573 14,584 14,595 14,606 14,618 14,630 14,642 14,654 14,666 14,678 14,690 14,702 14,714 13,054 13,065 13,076 13,087 13,098 13,109 13,120 13,131 13,142 13,153 13,164 13,176 13,188 13,200 13,212 13,224 13,236 13,248 13,260 13,272 88,000 88,050 88,100 88,150 88,200 88,250 88,300 88,350 88,400 88,450 88,500 88,550 88,600 88,650 88,700 88,750 88,800 88,850 88,900 88,950 88,050 88,100 88,150 88,200 88,250 88,300 88,350 88,400 88,450 88,500 88,550 88,600 88,650 88,700 88,750 88,800 88,850 88,900 88,950 89,000 15,206 15,218 15,230 15,242 15,254 15,266 15,278 15,290 15,302 15,314 15,326 15,338 15,350 15,362 15,374 15,386 15,398 15,410 15,422 15,434 10,946 10,957 10,968 10,979 10,990 11,001 11,012 11,023 11,034 11,045 11,056 11,067 11,078 11,089 11,100 11,111 11,122 11,133 11,144 11,155 15,206 15,218 15,230 15,242 15,254 15,266 15,278 15,290 15,302 15,314 15,326 15,338 15,350 15,362 15,374 15,386 15,398 15,410 15,422 15,434 13,764 13,776 13,788 13,800 13,812 13,824 13,836 13,848 13,860 13,872 13,884 13,896 13,908 13,920 13,932 13,944 13,956 13,968 13,980 13,992 91,000 91,050 91,100 91,150 91,200 91,250 91,300 91,350 91,400 91,450 91,500 91,550 91,600 91,650 91,700 91,750 91,800 91,850 91,900 91,950 91,050 91,100 91,150 91,200 91,250 91,300 91,350 91,400 91,450 91,500 91,550 91,600 91,650 91,700 91,750 91,800 91,850 91,900 91,950 92,000 15,926 15,938 15,950 15,962 15,974 15,986 15,998 16,010 16,022 16,034 16,046 16,058 16,070 16,082 16,094 16,106 16,118 16,130 16,142 16,154 11,606 11,617 11,628 11,639 11,650 11,661 11,672 11,683 11,694 11,705 11,716 11,727 11,738 11,749 11,760 11,771 11,782 11,793 11,804 11,815 15,926 15,938 15,950 15,962 15,974 15,986 15,998 16,010 16,022 16,034 16,046 16,058 16,070 16,082 16,094 16,106 16,118 16,130 16,142 16,154 14,484 14,496 14,508 14,520 14,532 14,544 14,556 14,568 14,580 14,592 14,604 14,616 14,628 14,640 14,652 14,664 14,676 14,688 14,700 14,712 86,000 86,050 86,100 86,150 86,200 86,250 86,300 86,350 86,400 86,450 86,500 86,550 86,600 86,650 86,700 86,750 86,800 86,850 86,900 86,950 86,050 86,100 86,150 86,200 86,250 86,300 86,350 86,400 86,450 86,500 86,550 86,600 86,650 86,700 86,750 86,800 86,850 86,900 86,950 87,000 14,726 14,738 14,750 14,762 14,774 14,786 14,798 14,810 14,822 14,834 14,846 14,858 14,870 14,882 14,894 14,906 14,918 14,930 14,942 14,954 10,506 10,517 10,528 10,539 10,550 10,561 10,572 10,583 10,594 10,605 10,616 10,627 10,638 10,649 10,660 10,671 10,682 10,693 10,704 10,715 14,726 14,738 14,750 14,762 14,774 14,786 14,798 14,810 14,822 14,834 14,846 14,858 14,870 14,882 14,894 14,906 14,918 14,930 14,942 14,954 13,284 13,296 13,308 13,320 13,332 13,344 13,356 13,368 13,380 13,392 13,404 13,416 13,428 13,440 13,452 13,464 13,476 13,488 13,500 13,512 89,000 89,050 89,100 89,150 89,200 89,250 89,300 89,350 89,400 89,450 89,500 89,550 89,600 89,650 89,700 89,750 89,800 89,850 89,900 89,950 89,050 89,100 89,150 89,200 89,250 89,300 89,350 89,400 89,450 89,500 89,550 89,600 89,650 89,700 89,750 89,800 89,850 89,900 89,950 90,000 15,446 15,458 15,470 15,482 15,494 15,506 15,518 15,530 15,542 15,554 15,566 15,578 15,590 15,602 15,614 15,626 15,638 15,650 15,662 15,674 11,166 11,177 11,188 11,199 11,210 11,221 11,232 11,243 11,254 11,265 11,276 11,287 11,298 11,309 11,320 11,331 11,342 11,353 11,364 11,375 15,446 15,458 15,470 15,482 15,494 15,506 15,518 15,530 15,542 15,554 15,566 15,578 15,590 15,602 15,614 15,626 15,638 15,650 15,662 15,674 14,004 14,016 14,028 14,040 14,052 14,064 14,076 14,088 14,100 14,112 14,124 14,136 14,148 14,160 14,172 14,184 14,196 14,208 14,220 14,232 92,000 92,050 92,100 92,150 92,200 92,250 92,300 92,350 92,400 92,450 92,500 92,550 92,600 92,650 92,700 92,750 92,800 92,850 92,900 92,950 92,050 92,100 92,150 92,200 92,250 92,300 92,350 92,400 92,450 92,500 92,550 92,600 92,650 92,700 92,750 92,800 92,850 92,900 92,950 93,000 16,166 16,178 16,190 16,202 16,214 16,226 16,238 16,250 16,262 16,274 16,286 16,298 16,310 16,322 16,334 16,346 16,358 16,370 16,382 16,394 11,826 11,837 11,848 11,859 11,870 11,881 11,892 11,903 11,914 11,925 11,936 11,947 11,958 11,969 11,980 11,991 12,002 12,013 12,024 12,035 16,166 16,178 16,190 16,202 16,214 16,226 16,238 16,250 16,262 16,274 16,286 16,298 16,310 16,322 16,334 16,346 16,358 16,370 16,382 16,394 14,724 14,736 14,748 14,760 14,772 14,784 14,796 14,808 14,820 14,832 14,844 14,856 14,868 14,880 14,892 14,904 14,916 14,928 14,940 14,952 85,000 86,000 88,000 89,000 91,000 92,000 (Continued) * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 120 - 2020 Tax Table — Continued If line 15 (taxable income) is— At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 93,000 At least But less than If line 15 (taxable income) is— And you are— Single Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 96,000 93,050 93,100 93,150 93,200 93,250 93,300 93,350 93,400 93,450 93,500 93,550 93,600 93,650 93,700 93,750 93,800 93,850 93,900 93,950 94,000 16,406 16,418 16,430 16,442 16,454 16,466 16,478 16,490 16,502 16,514 16,526 16,538 16,550 16,562 16,574 16,586 16,598 16,610 16,622 16,634 12,046 12,057 12,068 12,079 12,090 12,101 12,112 12,123 12,134 12,145 12,156 12,167 12,178 12,189 12,200 12,211 12,222 12,233 12,244 12,255 16,406 16,418 16,430 16,442 16,454 16,466 16,478 16,490 16,502 16,514 16,526 16,538 16,550 16,562 16,574 16,586 16,598 16,610 16,622 16,634 14,964 14,976 14,988 15,000 15,012 15,024 15,036 15,048 15,060 15,072 15,084 15,096 15,108 15,120 15,132 15,144 15,156 15,168 15,180 15,192 96,000 96,050 96,100 96,150 96,200 96,250 96,300 96,350 96,400 96,450 96,500 96,550 96,600 96,650 96,700 96,750 96,800 96,850 96,900 96,950 96,050 96,100 96,150 96,200 96,250 96,300 96,350 96,400 96,450 96,500 96,550 96,600 96,650 96,700 96,750 96,800 96,850 96,900 96,950 97,000 17,126 17,138 17,150 17,162 17,174 17,186 17,198 17,210 17,222 17,234 17,246 17,258 17,270 17,282 17,294 17,306 17,318 17,330 17,342 17,354 12,706 12,717 12,728 12,739 12,750 12,761 12,772 12,783 12,794 12,805 12,816 12,827 12,838 12,849 12,860 12,871 12,882 12,893 12,904 12,915 17,126 17,138 17,150 17,162 17,174 17,186 17,198 17,210 17,222 17,234 17,246 17,258 17,270 17,282 17,294 17,306 17,318 17,330 17,342 17,354 15,684 15,696 15,708 15,720 15,732 15,744 15,756 15,768 15,780 15,792 15,804 15,816 15,828 15,840 15,852 15,864 15,876 15,888 15,900 15,912 94,000 94,050 94,100 94,150 94,200 94,250 94,300 94,350 94,400 94,450 94,500 94,550 94,600 94,650 94,700 94,750 94,800 94,850 94,900 94,950 94,050 94,100 94,150 94,200 94,250 94,300 94,350 94,400 94,450 94,500 94,550 94,600 94,650 94,700 94,750 94,800 94,850 94,900 94,950 95,000 16,646 16,658 16,670 16,682 16,694 16,706 16,718 16,730 16,742 16,754 16,766 16,778 16,790 16,802 16,814 16,826 16,838 16,850 16,862 16,874 12,266 12,277 12,288 12,299 12,310 12,321 12,332 12,343 12,354 12,365 12,376 12,387 12,398 12,409 12,420 12,431 12,442 12,453 12,464 12,475 16,646 16,658 16,670 16,682 16,694 16,706 16,718 16,730 16,742 16,754 16,766 16,778 16,790 16,802 16,814 16,826 16,838 16,850 16,862 16,874 15,204 15,216 15,228 15,240 15,252 15,264 15,276 15,288 15,300 15,312 15,324 15,336 15,348 15,360 15,372 15,384 15,396 15,408 15,420 15,432 97,000 97,050 97,100 97,150 97,200 97,250 97,300 97,350 97,400 97,450 97,500 97,550 97,600 97,650 97,700 97,750 97,800 97,850 97,900 97,950 97,050 97,100 97,150 97,200 97,250 97,300 97,350 97,400 97,450 97,500 97,550 97,600 97,650 97,700 97,750 97,800 97,850 97,900 97,950 98,000 17,366 17,378 17,390 17,402 17,414 17,426 17,438 17,450 17,462 17,474 17,486 17,498 17,510 17,522 17,534 17,546 17,558 17,570 17,582 17,594 12,926 12,937 12,948 12,959 12,970 12,981 12,992 13,003 13,014 13,025 13,036 13,047 13,058 13,069 13,080 13,091 13,102 13,113 13,124 13,135 17,366 17,378 17,390 17,402 17,414 17,426 17,438 17,450 17,462 17,474 17,486 17,498 17,510 17,522 17,534 17,546 17,558 17,570 17,582 17,594 15,924 15,936 15,948 15,960 15,972 15,984 15,996 16,008 16,020 16,032 16,044 16,056 16,068 16,080 16,092 16,104 16,116 16,128 16,140 16,152 95,000 95,050 95,100 95,150 95,200 95,250 95,300 95,350 95,400 95,450 95,500 95,550 95,600 95,650 95,700 95,750 95,800 95,850 95,900 95,950 95,050 95,100 95,150 95,200 95,250 95,300 95,350 95,400 95,450 95,500 95,550 95,600 95,650 95,700 95,750 95,800 95,850 95,900 95,950 96,000 16,886 16,898 16,910 16,922 16,934 16,946 16,958 16,970 16,982 16,994 17,006 17,018 17,030 17,042 17,054 17,066 17,078 17,090 17,102 17,114 12,486 12,497 12,508 12,519 12,530 12,541 12,552 12,563 12,574 12,585 12,596 12,607 12,618 12,629 12,640 12,651 12,662 12,673 12,684 12,695 16,886 16,898 16,910 16,922 16,934 16,946 16,958 16,970 16,982 16,994 17,006 17,018 17,030 17,042 17,054 17,066 17,078 17,090 17,102 17,114 15,444 15,456 15,468 15,480 15,492 15,504 15,516 15,528 15,540 15,552 15,564 15,576 15,588 15,600 15,612 15,624 15,636 15,648 15,660 15,672 98,000 98,050 98,100 98,150 98,200 98,250 98,300 98,350 98,400 98,450 98,500 98,550 98,600 98,650 98,700 98,750 98,800 98,850 98,900 98,950 98,050 98,100 98,150 98,200 98,250 98,300 98,350 98,400 98,450 98,500 98,550 98,600 98,650 98,700 98,750 98,800 98,850 98,900 98,950 99,000 17,606 17,618 17,630 17,642 17,654 17,666 17,678 17,690 17,702 17,714 17,726 17,738 17,750 17,762 17,774 17,786 17,798 17,810 17,822 17,834 13,146 13,157 13,168 13,179 13,190 13,201 13,212 13,223 13,234 13,245 13,256 13,267 13,278 13,289 13,300 13,311 13,322 13,333 13,344 13,355 17,606 17,618 17,630 17,642 17,654 17,666 17,678 17,690 17,702 17,714 17,726 17,738 17,750 17,762 17,774 17,786 17,798 17,810 17,822 17,834 16,164 16,176 16,188 16,200 16,212 16,224 16,236 16,248 16,260 16,272 16,284 16,296 16,308 16,320 16,332 16,344 16,356 16,368 16,380 16,392 95,000 97,000 98,000 * This column must also be used by a qualifying widow(er). - 121 - But less than Single 99,000 99,050 99,050 99,100 99,100 99,150 99,150 99,200 99,200 99,250 99,250 99,300 99,300 99,350 99,350 99,400 99,400 99,450 99,450 99,500 99,500 99,550 99,550 99,600 99,600 99,650 99,650 99,700 99,700 99,750 99,750 99,800 99,800 99,850 99,850 99,900 99,900 99,950 99,950 100,000 Married Married Head of filing filing housejointly * sepahold rately Your tax is— 99,000 93,000 93,050 93,100 93,150 93,200 93,250 93,300 93,350 93,400 93,450 93,500 93,550 93,600 93,650 93,700 93,750 93,800 93,850 93,900 93,950 94,000 At least And you are— 17,846 17,858 17,870 17,882 17,894 17,906 17,918 17,930 17,942 17,954 17,966 17,978 17,990 18,002 18,014 18,026 18,038 18,050 18,062 18,074 13,366 13,377 13,388 13,399 13,410 13,421 13,432 13,443 13,454 13,465 13,476 13,487 13,498 13,509 13,520 13,531 13,542 13,553 13,564 13,575 $100,000 or over use the Tax Computation Worksheet 17,846 17,858 17,870 17,882 17,894 17,906 17,918 17,930 17,942 17,954 17,966 17,978 17,990 18,002 18,014 18,026 18,038 18,050 18,062 18,074 16,404 16,416 16,428 16,440 16,452 16,464 16,476 16,488 16,500 16,512 16,524 16,536 16,548 16,560 16,572 16,584 16,596 16,608 16,620 16,632 2020 Tax Computation Worksheet—Line 16 ! See Line 16 in the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR to see if you must use the worksheet below to figure your tax. CAUTION Note. If you’re required to use this worksheet to figure the tax on an amount from another form or worksheet, such as the Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain Tax Worksheet, the Schedule D Tax Worksheet, Schedule J, Form 8615, or the Foreign Earned Income Tax Worksheet, enter the amount from that form or worksheet in column (a) of the row that applies to the amount you’re looking up. Enter the result on the appropriate line of the form or worksheet that you’re completing. Section A—Use if your filing status is Single. Complete the row below that applies to you. (a) Enter the amount from line 15 (b) Multiplication amount At least $100,000 but not over $163,300 $ × 24% (0.24) $ $ 5,920.50 $ Over $163,300 but not over $207,350 $ × 32% (0.32) $ $ 18,984.50 $ Over $207,350 but not over $518,400 $ × 35% (0.35) $ $ 25,205.00 $ Over $518,400 $ × 37% (0.37) $ $ 35,573.00 $ Taxable income. If line 15 is— (c) Multiply (a) by (b) Tax. Subtract (d) from (c). Enter the result here and (d) on Form 1040 or Subtraction amount 1040-SR, line 16 Section B—Use if your filing status is Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er). Complete the row below that applies to you. (a) Enter the amount from line 15 Taxable income. If line 15 is— (b) Multiplication amount (c) Multiply (a) by (b) At least $100,000 but not over $171,050 $ × 22% (0.22) $ Over $171,050 but not over $326,600 $ × 24% (0.24) Over $326,600 but not over $414,700 $ × 32% (0.32) Over $414,700 but not over $622,050 $ Over $622,050 $ (d) Subtraction amount Tax. Subtract (d) from (c). Enter the result here and on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 16 $ 8,420.00 $ $ $ 11,841.00 $ $ $ 37,969.00 $ × 35% (0.35) $ $ 50,410.00 $ × 37% (0.37) $ $ 62,851.00 $ Section C—Use if your filing status is Married filing separately. Complete the row below that applies to you. (a) Enter the amount from line 15 (b) Multiplication amount At least $100,000 but not over $163,300 $ × 24% (0.24) $ $ 5,920.50 $ Over $163,300 but not over $207,350 $ × 32% (0.32) $ $ 18,984.50 $ Over $207,350 but not over $311,025 $ × 35% (0.35) $ $ 25,205.00 $ Over $311,025 $ × 37% (0.37) $ $ 31,425.50 $ Taxable income. If line 15 is— (c) Multiply (a) by (b) Tax. Subtract (d) from (c). Enter the result here and on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 16 (d) Subtraction amount Section D—Use if your filing status is Head of household. Complete the row below that applies to you. (a) Enter the amount from line 15 Taxable income. If line 15 is— (c) Multiply (a) by (b) (b) Multiplication amount (d) Subtraction amount Tax. Subtract (d) from (c). Enter the result here and on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 16 At least $100,000 but not over $163,300 $ × 24% (0.24) $ $ 7,362.00 $ Over $163,300 but not over $207,350 $ × 32% (0.32) $ $ 20,426.00 $ Over $207,350 but not over $518,400 $ × 35% (0.35) $ $ 26,646.50 $ Over $518,400 $ × 37% (0.37) $ $ 37,014.50 $ Page 122 Publication 17 (2020) . 2020 Tax Rate Schedules ! The Tax Rate Schedules are shown so you can see the tax rate that applies to all levels of taxable income. Don’t use them to figure your tax. Instead, see chapter 13. CAUTION Schedule X—If your filing status is Single If your taxable income is: Over— The tax is: of the amount over— But not over— $0 $9,875 10% $0 9,875 40,125 $987.50 + 12% 9,875 40,125 40,125 85,525 4,617.50 + 22% 85,525 163,300 14,605.50 + 24% 85,525 163,300 207,350 33,271.50 + 32% 163,300 207,350 518,400 47,367.50 + 35% 207,350 156,235.00 + 37% 518,400 518,400 Schedule Y-1—If your filing status is Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er) If your taxable income is: Over— The tax is: of the amount over— But not over— $0 $19,750 10% $0 19,750 80,250 $1,975.00 + 12% 19,750 80,250 171,050 9,235.00 + 22% 80,250 171,050 326,600 29,211.00 + 24% 171,050 326,600 414,700 66,543.00 + 32% 326,600 414,700 622,050 94,735.00 + 35% 414,700 167,307.50 + 37% 622,050 622,050 Schedule Y-2—If your filing status is Married filing separately If your taxable income is: Over— The tax is: of the amount over— But not over— $0 $9,875 10% $0 9,875 40,125 $987.50 + 12% 9,875 40,125 40,125 85,525 4,617.50 + 22% 85,525 163,300 14,605.50 + 24% 85,525 163,300 207,350 33,271.50 + 32% 163,300 207,350 311,025 47,367.50 + 35% 207,350 83,653.75 + 37% 311,025 311,025 Schedule Z—If your filing status is Head of household If your taxable income is: Over— The tax is: of the amount over— But not over— $0 $14,100 10% $0 14,100 53,700 $1,410.00 + 12% 14,100 53,700 53,700 85,500 6,162.00 + 22% 85,500 163,300 13,158.00 + 24% 85,500 163,300 207,350 31,830.00 + 32% 163,300 207,350 518,400 45,926.00 + 35% 207,350 154,793.50 + 37% 518,400 518,400 Publication 17 (2020) Page 123 Your Rights as a Taxpayer This section explains your rights as a taxpayer and the processes for examination, appeal, collection, and refunds. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights 1. The Right to Be Informed. Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws. They are entitled to clear explanations of the laws and IRS procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices, and correspondence. They have the right to be informed of IRS decisions about their tax accounts and to receive clear explanations of the outcomes. 2. The Right to Quality Service. Taxpayers have the right to receive prompt, courteous, and professional assistance in their dealings with the IRS, to be spoken to in a way they can easily understand, to receive clear and easily understandable communications from the IRS, and to speak to a supervisor about inadequate service. 3. The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax. Taxpayers have the right to pay only the amount of tax legally due, including interest and penalties, and to have the IRS apply all tax payments properly. 4. The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard. Taxpayers have the right to raise objections and provide additional documentation in response to formal IRS actions or proposed actions, to expect that the IRS will consider their timely objections and documentation promptly and fairly, and to receive a response if the IRS does not agree with their position. 5. The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum. Taxpayers are entitled to a fair and impartial administrative appeal of most IRS decisions, including many penalties, and have the right to receive a written response regarding the Office of Appeals' decision. Taxpayers generally have the right to take their cases to court. 6. The Right to Finality. Taxpayers have the right to know the maximum amount of time they have to challenge the IRS’s position as well as the maximum amount of time the IRS has to audit a particular tax year or collect a tax debt. TaxpayPage 124 ers have the right to know when the IRS has finished an audit. 7. The Right to Privacy. Taxpayers have the right to expect that any IRS inquiry, examination, or enforcement action will comply with the law and be no more intrusive than necessary, and will respect all due process rights, including search and seizure protections, and will provide, where applicable, a collection due process hearing. 8. The Right to Confidentiality. Taxpayers have the right to expect that any information they provide to the IRS will not be disclosed unless authorized by the taxpayer or by law. Taxpayers have the right to expect appropriate action will be taken against employees, return preparers, and others who wrongfully use or disclose taxpayer return information. 9. The Right to Retain Representation. Taxpayers have the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent them in their dealings with the IRS. Taxpayers have the right to seek assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic if they cannot afford representation. 10. The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System. Taxpayers have the right to expect the tax system to consider facts and circumstances that might affect their underlying liabilities, ability to pay, or ability to provide information timely. Taxpayers have the right to receive assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service if they are experiencing financial difficulty or if the IRS has not resolved their tax issues properly and timely through its normal channels. Examinations (Audits) We accept most taxpayers’ returns as filed. If we inquire about your return or select it for examination, it does not suggest that you are dishonest. The inquiry or examination may or may not result in more tax. We may close your case without change; or, you may receive a refund. The process of selecting a return for examination usually begins in one of two ways. First, we use computer programs to identify returns that may have incorrect amounts. These programs may be based on information returns, such as Forms 1099 and W-2, on studies of past examinations, or on certain issues identified by compliance projects. Second, we use information from outside sources that indicates that a return may have incorrect amounts. These sources may include newspapers, public records, and individuals. If we determine that the information is accurate and reliable, we may use it to select a return for examination. Publication 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, and Claims for Refund, explains the rules and procedures that we follow in examinations. The following sections give an overview of how we conduct examinations. By mail. We handle many examinations and inquiries by mail. We will send you a letter with either a request for more information or a reason why we believe a change to your return may be needed. You can respond by mail or you can request a personal interview with an examiner. If you mail us the requested information or provide an explanation, we may or may not agree with you, and we will explain the reasons for any changes. Please do not hesitate to write to us about anything you do not understand. By interview. If we notify you that we will conduct your examination through a personal interview, or you request such an interview, you have the right to ask that the examination take place at a reasonable time and place that is convenient for both you and the IRS. If our examiner proposes any changes to your return, he or she will explain the reasons for the changes. If you do not agree with these changes, you can meet with the examiner's supervisor. Repeat examinations. If we examined your return for the same items in either of the 2 previous years and proposed no change to your tax liability, please contact us as soon as possible so we can see if we should discontinue the examination. Appeals If you do not agree with the examiner's proposed changes, you can appeal them to the Appeals Office of the IRS. Most differences can be settled without expensive and time-consuming court trials. Your appeal rights are explained in detail in both Publication 5, Your Appeal Rights and How To Prepare a Protest If You Don't Agree, and Publication 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, and Claims for Refund. If you do not wish to use the Appeals Office or disagree with its findings, you may be able to take your case to the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, or the U.S. District Court where you live. If you take your case to court, the IRS will have the burden of proving certain facts if you kept adequate records to show your tax liability, cooperated with the IRS, and meet certain other conditions. If the court agrees with you on most issues in your case and finds that our position was largely unjustified, you may be able to recover some of your administrative and litigation costs. You will not be eligible to recover these costs unless you tried to resolve your case administratively, including going through the appeals system, and you gave us the information necessary to resolve the case. Collections Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process, explains your rights and responsibilities regarding payment of federal taxes. It describes: • What to do when you owe taxes. It describes what to do if you get a tax bill and what to do if you think your bill is wrong. It also covers making installment payments, delaying collection action, and submitting an offer in compromise. • IRS collection actions. It cov- ers liens, releasing a lien, levies, releasing a levy, seizures and sales, and release of property. • IRS certification to the State Department of a seriously delinquent tax debt, which will generally result in denial of a passport application and may lead to revocation of a passport. Your collection appeal rights are explained in detail in Publication 1660, Collection Appeal Rights. Innocent spouse relief. Generally, both you and your spouse are each responsible for paying the full amount of tax, interest, and Publication 17 (2020) penalties due on your joint return. However, if you qualify for innocent spouse relief, you may be relieved of part or all of the joint liability. To request relief, you must file Form 8857, Request for Innocent Spouse Relief. For more information on innocent spouse relief, see Publication 971, Innocent Spouse Relief, and Form 8857. continue as long as there is activity in your case. If we do contact other persons, you have a right to request a list of those contacted. Your request can be made by telephone, in writing, or during a personal interview. Potential third party contacts. Generally, the IRS will deal directly with you or your duly authorized representative. However, we sometimes talk with other persons if we need information that you have been unable to provide, or to verify information we have received. If we do contact other persons, such as a neighbor, bank, employer, or employees, we will generally need to tell them limited information, such as your name. The law prohibits us from disclosing any more information than is necessary to obtain or verify the information we are seeking. Our need to contact other persons may You may file a claim for refund if you think you paid too much tax. You must generally file the claim within 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. The law generally provides for interest on your refund if it is not paid within 45 days of the date you filed your return or claim for refund. Publication 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, and Claims for Refund, has more information on refunds. If you were due a refund but you did not file a return, you generally must file your return within 3 years from the date the return was Refunds due (including extensions) to get that refund. Taxpayer Advocate Service TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that can help protect your taxpayer rights. We can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a hardship, or you've tried but haven't been able to resolve your problem with the IRS. If you qualify for our assistance, which is always free, we will do everything possible to help you. Visit TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov or call 1-877-777-4778. Tax Information The IRS provides the following sources for forms, publications, and additional information. IRS.gov/help/tax-lawquestions and How To Get Tax Help. • Forms and Publications: IRS.gov/Forms and IRS.gov/OrderForms. • Small Business Ombudsman: A small business entity can participate in the regulatory process and comment on enforcement actions of the IRS by calling 1-888-REG-FAIR. • Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration: You can confidentially report misconduct, waste, fraud, or abuse by an IRS employee by calling 1-800-366-4484. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and who have access to TTY/TDD equipment can call 1-800-877-8339. You can remain anonymous. • Internet: IRS.gov. • Tax Questions: How To Get Tax Help If you have questions about a tax issue, need help preparing your tax return, or want to download free publications, forms, or instructions, go to IRS.gov and find resources that can help you right away. Preparing and filing your tax return. After receiving all your wage and earnings statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, etc.); unemployment compensation statements (by mail or in a digital format) or other government payment statements (Form 1099-G); and interest, dividend, and retirement statements from banks and investment firms (Forms 1099), you have several options to choose from to prepare and file your tax return. You can prepare the tax return yourself, see if you qualify for free tax preparation, or hire a tax professional to prepare your return. Free options for tax preparation. Go to IRS.gov to see your options for preparing and filing your return online or in your local community, if you qualify, which include the following. • Free File. This program lets you prepare and file your federal individual income tax return for free using brand-name tax-preparation-and-filing software or Free File fillable forms. However, state tax preparation may not be Publication 17 (2020) available through Free File. Go to IRS.gov/FreeFile to see if you qualify for free online federal tax preparation, e-filing, and direct deposit or payment options. • VITA. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people with low-to-moderate incomes, persons with disabilities, and limited-English-speaking taxpayers who need help preparing their own tax returns. Go to IRS.gov/ VITA, download the free IRS2Go app, or call 800-906-9887 for information on free tax return preparation. • TCE. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 years of age and older. TCE volunteers specialize in answering questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors. Go to IRS.gov/TCE, download the free IRS2Go app, or call 888-227-7669 for information on free tax return preparation. • MilTax. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and qualified veterans may use MilTax, a free tax service offered by the Department of Defense through Military OneSource. Also, the IRS offers Free Fillable Forms, which can be completed online and then filed electronically regardless of income. Using online tools to help prepare your return. Go to IRS.gov/ Tools for the following. • The Earned Income Tax Credit Assistant (IRS.gov/ EITCAssistant) determines if you’re eligible for the earned income credit (EIC). • The Online EIN Application (IRS.gov/EIN) helps you get an employer identification number (EIN). • The Tax Withholding Estimator (IRS.gov/W4App) makes it easier for everyone to pay the correct amount of tax during the year. The tool is a convenient, online way to check and tailor your withholding. It’s more user-friendly for taxpayers, including retirees and self-employed individuals. The features include the following. – Easy to understand language. – The ability to switch be- tween screens, correct previous entries, and skip screens that don’t apply. – Tips and links to help you determine if you qualify for tax credits and deductions. – A progress tracker. – A self-employment tax feature. – Automatic calculation of taxable social security benefits. • The First Time Homebuyer Credit Account Look-up (IRS.gov/HomeBuyer) tool provides information on your repayments and account balance. • The Sales Tax Deduction Calculator (IRS.gov/SalesTax) figures the amount you can claim if you itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040). Getting answers to your tax questions. On IRS.gov, you can get up-to-date information on current events and changes in tax law. • IRS.gov/Help: A variety of tools to help you get answers to some of the most common tax questions. • IRS.gov/ITA: The Interactive Tax Assistant, a tool that will ask you questions on a number of tax law topics and provide answers. Page 125 • IRS.gov/Forms: Find forms, instructions, and publications. You will find details on 2020 tax changes and hundreds of interactive links to help you find answers to your questions. • You may also be able to ac- cess tax law information in your electronic filing software. Need someone to prepare your tax return? There are various types of tax return preparers, including tax preparers, enrolled agents, certified public accountants (CPAs), attorneys, and many others who don’t have professional credentials. If you choose to have someone prepare your tax return, choose that preparer wisely. A paid tax preparer is: • Primarily responsible for the overall substantive accuracy of your return, • Required to sign the return, and • Required to include their pre- parer tax identification number (PTIN). Although the tax preparer always signs the return, you're ultimately responsible for providing all the information required for the preparer to accurately prepare your return. Anyone paid to prepare tax returns for others should have a thorough understanding of tax matters. For more information on how to choose a tax preparer, go to Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer on IRS.gov. Coronavirus. Go to IRS.gov/ Coronavirus for links to information on the impact of the coronavirus, as well as tax relief available for individuals and families, small and large businesses, and tax-exempt organizations. Tax reform. Tax reform legislation affects individuals, businesses, and tax-exempt and government entities. Go to IRS.gov/TaxReform for information and updates on how this legislation affects your taxes. Employers can register to use Business Services Online. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers online service at SSA.gov/employer for fast, free, and secure online W-2 filing options to CPAs, accountants, enrolled agents, and individuals who process Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement. IRS social media. Go to IRS.gov/ SocialMedia to see the various soPage 126 cial media tools the IRS uses to share the latest information on tax changes, scam alerts, initiatives, products, and services. At the IRS, privacy and security are paramount. We use these tools to share public information with you. Don’t post your SSN or other confidential information on social media sites. Always protect your identity when using any social networking site. The following IRS YouTube channels provide short, informative videos on various tax-related topics in English, Spanish, and ASL. • Youtube.com/irsvideos. • Youtube.com/ irsvideosmultilingua. • Youtube.com/irsvideosASL. Watching IRS videos. The IRS Video portal (IRSVideos.gov) contains video and audio presentations for individuals, small businesses, and tax professionals. Online tax information in other languages. You can find information on IRS.gov/MyLanguage if English isn’t your native language. Free interpreter service. Multilingual assistance, provided by the IRS, is available at Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) and other IRS offices. Over-the-phone interpreter service is accessible in more than 350 languages. Getting tax forms and publications. Go to IRS.gov/Forms to view, download, or print all of the forms, instructions, and publications you may need. You can also download and view popular tax publications and instructions (including the Instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR) on mobile devices as an eBook at IRS.gov/ eBooks. Or you can go to IRS.gov/ OrderForms to place an order. Access your online account (individual taxpayers only). Go to IRS.gov/Account to securely access information about your federal tax account. • View the amount you owe, pay online, or set up an online payment agreement. • Access your tax records online. • Review your payment history. • Go to IRS.gov/SecureAccess to review the required identity authentication process. Using direct deposit. The fastest way to receive a tax refund is to file electronically and choose direct deposit, which securely and electronically transfers your refund directly into your financial account. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that your check could be lost, stolen, or returned undeliverable to the IRS. Eight in 10 taxpayers use direct deposit to receive their refunds. The IRS issues more than 90% of refunds in less than 21 days. Getting a transcript of your return. The quickest way to get a copy of your tax transcript is to go to IRS.gov/Transcripts. Click on either “Get Transcript Online” or “Get Transcript by Mail” to order a free copy of your transcript. If you prefer, you can order your transcript by calling 800-908-9946. Reporting and resolving your tax-related identity theft issues. • Tax-related identity theft hap- pens when someone steals your personal information to commit tax fraud. Your taxes can be affected if your SSN is used to file a fraudulent return or to claim a refund or credit. • The IRS doesn’t initiate con- tact with taxpayers by email, text messages, telephone calls, or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords, or similar information for credit cards, banks, or other financial accounts. • Go to IRS.gov/IdentityTheft, the IRS Identity Theft Central webpage, for information on identity theft and data security protection for taxpayers, tax professionals, and businesses. If your SSN has been lost or stolen or you suspect you’re a victim of tax-related identity theft, you can learn what steps you should take. • Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). IP PINs are six-digit numbers assigned to eligible taxpayers to help prevent the misuse of their SSNs on fraudulent federal income tax returns. When you have an IP PIN, it prevents someone else from filing a tax return with your SSN. To learn more, go to IRS.gov/IPPIN. Checking on the status of your refund. • Go to IRS.gov/Refunds. • The IRS can’t issue refunds before mid-February 2021 for returns that claimed the EIC or the additional child tax credit (ACTC). This applies to the entire refund, not just the portion associated with these credits. • Download the official IRS2Go app to your mobile device to check your refund status. • Call the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954. Making a tax payment. The IRS uses the latest encryption technology to ensure your electronic payments are safe and secure. You can make electronic payments online, by phone, and from a mobile device using the IRS2Go app. Paying electronically is quick, easy, and faster than mailing in a check or money order. Go to IRS.gov/ Payments for information on how to make a payment using any of the following options. • IRS Direct Pay: Pay your individual tax bill or estimated tax payment directly from your checking or savings account at no cost to you. • Debit or Credit Card: Choose an approved payment processor to pay online, by phone, or by mobile device. • Electronic Funds Withdrawal: Offered only when filing your federal taxes using tax return preparation software or through a tax professional. • Electronic Federal Tax Payment System: Best option for businesses. Enrollment is required. • Check or Money Order: Mail your payment to the address listed on the notice or instructions. • Cash: You may be able to pay your taxes with cash at a participating retail store. • Same-Day Wire: You may be able to do same-day wire from your financial institution. Contact your financial institution for availability, cost, and cut-off times. What if I can’t pay now? Go to IRS.gov/Payments for more information about your options. • Apply for an online payment agreement (IRS.gov/OPA) to meet your tax obligation in monthly installments if you can’t pay your taxes in full today. Once you complete the online process, you will receive immediate notification of whether your agreement has been approved. • Use the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier to see if you can settle your tax debt for less than the full amount you owe. For more information on the Publication 17 (2020) Offer in Compromise program, go to IRS.gov/OIC. Filing an amended return. You can now file Form 1040-X electronically with tax filing software to amend 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. To do so, you must have e-filed your original 2019 return. Amended returns for all prior years must be mailed. See Tips for taxpayers who need to file an amended tax return and go to IRS.gov/Form1040X for information and updates. Checking the status of your amended return. Go to IRS.gov/ WMAR to track the status of Form 1040-X amended returns. Please note that it can take up to 3 weeks from the date you filed your amended return for it to show up in our system, and processing it can take up to 16 weeks. Understanding an IRS notice or letter you’ve received. Go to IRS.gov/Notices to find additional information about responding to an IRS notice or letter. Contacting your local IRS office. Keep in mind, many questions can be answered on IRS.gov without visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). Go to IRS.gov/LetUsHelp for the topics people ask about most. If you still need help, IRS TACs provide tax help when a tax issue can’t be handled online or by phone. All TACs now provide service by appointment, so you’ll know in advance Index Abroad, citizens traveling or working 7, 51 (See also Foreign employment) Absence, temporary 27, 33 Accelerated death benefits 68 Accidental death benefits 48 Accident insurance 47 Cafeteria plans 52 Long-term care 47, 53 Publication 17 (2020) The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) Is Here To Help You What Is TAS? TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayer rights. Their job is to ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and that you know and understand your rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. How Can You Learn About Your Taxpayer Rights? The Taxpayer Bill of Rights describes 10 basic rights that all taxpayers have when dealing with the IRS. Go to TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov to help you understand what these rights mean to you and how they apply. These are your rights. Know them. Use them. What Can TAS Do For You? broad issues, please report it to them at IRS.gov/SAMS. TAS can help you resolve problems that you can’t resolve with the IRS. And their service is free. If you qualify for their assistance, you will be assigned to one advocate who will work with you throughout the process and will do everything possible to resolve your issue. TAS can help you if: TAS for Tax Professionals • Your problem is causing financial difficulty for you, your family, or your business; • You face (or your business is facing) an immediate threat of adverse action; or • You’ve tried repeatedly to contact the IRS but no one has responded, or the IRS hasn’t responded by the date promised. How Can You Reach TAS? TAS has offices in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Your local advocate’s number is in your local directory and at TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov/ Contact-Us. You can also call them at 877-777-4778. TAS can provide a variety of information for tax professionals, including tax law updates and guidance, TAS programs, and ways to let TAS know about systemic problems you’ve seen in your practice. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) LITCs are independent from the IRS. LITCs represent individuals whose income is below a certain level and need to resolve tax problems with the IRS, such as audits, appeals, and tax collection disputes. In addition, clinics can provide information about taxpayer rights and responsibilities in different languages for individuals who speak English as a second language. Services are offered for free or a small fee for eligible taxpayers. To find a clinic near you, visit TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov/ about/LITC or see IRS Pub. 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List. How Else Does TAS Help Taxpayers? TAS works to resolve large-scale problems that affect many taxpayers. If you know of one of these To help us develop a more useful index, please let us know if you have ideas for index entries. See “Comments and Suggestions” in the “Introduction” for the ways you can reach us. 10% tax for early withdrawal from IRA or retirement plan (See Early withdrawal from deferred interest account, subheading: Tax on) 401(k) plans: Tax treatment of contributions 49 403(b) plans: Rollovers 82, 88 529 plans (See Qualified tuition programs) 59 1/2 rule: Age 59 1/2 rule 85 60-day rule 81 72 rule: Age 72 rule 83 A that you can get the service you need without long wait times. Before you visit, go to IRS.gov/ TACLocator to find the nearest TAC and to check hours, available services, and appointment options. Or, on the IRS2Go app, under the Stay Connected tab, choose the Contact Us option and click on “Local Offices.” Accounting methods 12 Accrual method (See Accrual method taxpayers) Cash method (See Cash method taxpayers) Accounting periods 12 Calendar year 10, 12, 47 Change in, standard deduction not allowed 90 Fiscal year 12, 41 Fringe benefits 47 Accrual method taxpayers 12 Taxes paid during tax year, deduction of 94 Accuracy-related penalties 19 Activities not for profit 72 Address 16 Change of 17 Foreign 16 P.O. box 16 Adjusted gross income (AGI): Modified (See Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)) Retirement savings contribution credit 22 Adjustments 105 Administrators, estate (See Executors and administrators) Adopted child 27, 33, 36 Adoption: ATIN 12 Child tax credit 107 Credits: Married filing separately 22 Employer assistance 48 Taxpayer identification number 12, 36 Age: Children's investments (See Children, subheading: Investment income of child under age 18) Gross income and filing requirements (Table 1-1) 5 IRAs: Distribution prior to age 59 1/2 85 Distribution required at age 72 83, 85 Roth IRAs 86, 89 Standard deduction for age 65 or older 90 Agents: Income paid to 12 Signing return 14 Age test 27 Agricultural workers (See Farmers) Agriculture (See Farming) Alaska Permanent Fund dividends 72 Alaska Unemployment Compensation Fund 95 Alcoholic beverages: IRA prohibited transactions in 84 Aliens: Dual-status (See Dual-status taxpayers) Filing required 7 Nonresident (See Nonresident aliens) Resident (See Resident aliens) Alimony: Reporting of income 72 Alternative filing methods: Electronic (See E-file) Alternative minimum tax (AMT) 105 Ambulance service personnel: Life insurance proceeds when death in line of duty 68 Amended returns 18 (See also Form 1040-X) Itemized deduction, change to standard deduction 92 Standard deduction, change to itemized deductions 92 American citizens abroad 6 (See also Citizens outside U.S.) Employment (See Foreign employment) American Indians (See Indians) American Samoa: Income from 7 Annuities: Decedent's unrecovered investment in 13 IRAs as 76 Page 127 Annuities (Cont.) Unrecovered investment 103 Withholding 13, 39 Annulled marriages: Filing status 21 Anthrax incidents (See Terrorist attacks) Antiques (See Collectibles) Appraisal fees 99 Archer MSAs 74 Contributions 47 Armed Forces: (See also Veterans benefits) Combat zone: Extension to file return 11 Signing return for spouse 22 Dependency allotments 34 Disability pay 51 Disability pensions 52 GI Bill benefits 35 Military quarters allotments 34 Real estate taxes when receiving housing allowance 96 Rehabilitative program payments 51 Retiree's pay withholding 36 Retirees' pay: Taxable income 51 Wages 51 Assistance (See Tax help) Assistance, tax (See Tax help) ATIN (Adoption taxpayer identification number) 12 Attachment of wages 12 Attachments to return 13 Attorney contingency fee: As income 72 Attorney fees, whistleblower awards: As income 72 Attorneys' fees 100, 101 Automatic extension of time to file 10 Form 4868 10 Awards (See Prizes and awards) B Babysitting 46 Back pay, award for 46 Emotional distress damages under title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964 72 Backup withholding 39, 43, 54 Penalties 39 Bad debts: Claim for refund 18 Recovery 68 Balance due 105 Bankruptcy: Canceled debt not deemed to be income 67 Banks: IRAs with 76 Barter income 66 Definition of bartering 66 Form 1099-B 66 Basis: Cost basis: IRAs for nondeductible contributions 80, 83 Beneficiaries 73 (See also Trust beneficiaries) (See also Estate beneficiaries) Bequests 73, 74 (See also Estate beneficiaries) (See also Inheritance) Birth of child 28 Head of household, qualifying person to file as 24 Social security number to be obtained 36 Birth of dependent 33 Blind persons: Exemption from withholding 38 Standard deduction for 90, 91 Bonds: Amortization of premium 102 Issued at discount 59 Original issue discount 59 Sale of 59 Savings 56 Tax-exempt 59 Bonuses 38, 46, 74 Page 128 Bookkeeping (See Recordkeeping requirements) Breach of contract: Damages as income 72 Bribes 72, 100 Brokers: IRAs with 76 Commissions 77 Burial expenses 100 Business expenses: Job search expenses 74 Reimbursements 38, 46 Returning excess business expenses 38 Business tax credits: Claim for refund 19 C Cafeteria plans 52 Calendar year taxpayers: Accounting periods 10, 12, 47 Filing due date 10 California Nonoccupational Disability Benefit Fund 95 Campaign contributions 72 Presidential Election Campaign Fund 13 Campaign expenses 101 Canada: Resident of 27, 32 Cancellation of debt 66 Exceptions to treatment as income 67 Capital assets: Coal and iron ore 70 Capital expenses 35 Capital gains or losses: Hobbies, sales from collections 74 Sale of personal items 74, 75 Car pools 72 Carrybacks: Business tax credit carrybacks 19 Cars 49, 75 (See also Travel and transportation) Personal property taxes on, deduction of 98 Cash: Rebates 72 Cash method taxpayers 12 Real estate transactions, tax allocation 95 Taxes paid during tax year, deduction of 94 Cash rebates 72 Casualty insurance: Reimbursements from 72 Casualty losses 100, 102 Certificates of deposit (CDs) 60, 75 (See also Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)) Change of address 17 Change of name 12, 43 Chaplains: Life insurance proceeds when death in line of duty 68 Charitable contribution deduction: Standard deduction 90 Charitable contributions: Gifts to reduce public debt 16 Charitable distributions, qualified 83 Checks: Constructive receipt of 12 Check-writing fees 101 Child, qualifying 27 Child and dependent care credit: Married filing separately 22 Child born alive 28 Child care: Babysitting 46 Care providers 46 Expenses 35 Child custody 28 Children 48 (See also Adoption) Additional child tax credit 108 Adoption (See Adopted child) Babysitters 46 Birth of child: Head of household, qualifying person to file as 24 Social security number to be obtained 36 Care providers 46 Credit for 7 (See also Child tax credit) Custody of 28 Death of child: Head of household, qualifying person to file as 24 Dividends of (See this heading: Investment income of child under age 18) Earnings of 7 Filing requirements: As dependents (Table 1-2) 6 Gifts to 54 Investment income of child under age 18: Dependent filing requirements (Table 1-2) 6 Interest and dividends 7 Parents' election to report on Form 1040 or 1040-SR 7 Kidnapped 28, 32 Signing return, parent for child 14 Standard deduction for 90, 91 Stillborn 28 Support of (See Child support) Tax credit (See Child tax credit) Transporting school children 75 Unearned income of 54 Child support 72 Child tax credit 7, 25, 106–108 Claiming the credit 108 Limit on credit 108 Limits 22 Married filing separately 22 Chronic illness: Accelerated payment of life insurance proceeds (See Accelerated death benefits) Long-term care (See Long-term care insurance contracts) Citizen or resident test 27 Citizens outside U.S.: Earned income exclusion 3 Employment (See Foreign employment) Extension of time to file 11 Filing requirements 6 Withholding from IRA distributions 84 Civil suits 72 (See also Damages from lawsuits) Civil tax penalties (See Penalties) Clergy 7 Housing 50 Real estate taxes when receiving housing allowance 96 Life insurance proceeds when chaplain died in line of duty 68 Pensions 50 Special income rules 50 Clerical help, deductibility of 100 Coal and iron ore 70 Collectibles: IRA investment in 84 Colleges and universities: Education costs 74 (See also Qualified tuition programs) Combat zone: Extension to file return 11 Signing return for spouse 22 Commissions 38 Advance 46 IRAs with brokers 77 Sharing of (kickbacks) 74 Unearned, deduction for repayment of 46 Common law marriage 21 Community property 6, 57 IRAs 77 Married filing separately 23 Commuting expenses 101 Employer-provided commuter vehicle 49 Compensation 46 (See also Wages and salaries) Defined for IRA purposes 76 Defined for Roth IRA purposes 86 Employee 46 Miscellaneous compensation 46 Nonemployee 73 Unemployment 70 Computation of tax 13 Equal amounts 13 Negative amounts 13 Rounding off dollars 13 Confidential information: Privacy Act and paperwork reduction information 3 Constructive receipt of income 12, 60 Contribution deadline extension 75 Contributions 16, 72 (See also Charitable contributions) (See also Campaign contributions) Nontaxable combat pay 76 Political 102 Reservist repayments 77 Convenience fees 100 Conversion (See specific retirement or IRA plan) Cooperative housing: Real estate taxes, deduction of 95 Taxes that are deductible (Table 11-1) 97 Copyrights: Infringement damages 72 Royalties 70 Coronavirus-related distributions 75 Corporations 68 (See also S corporations) Director fees as self-employment income 73 Corrections (See Errors) Cost basis: IRAs for nondeductible contributions 80, 83 Cost-of-living allowances 47 Coupon bonds 60 Court awards and damages (See Damages from lawsuits) Cousin 33 Credit cards: Benefits, taxability of insurance 72 Payment of taxes 3 Credit for child and dependent care expenses 106 Credit for other dependents 106, 108 Claiming the credit 108 Limit on credit 108 Qualifying person 108 Credit for the elderly or the disabled 106 Credit or debit cards: Payment of taxes 10 Credits 104, 106 American opportunity 22 Child tax (See Child tax credit) Credit for other dependents 106 Earned income (See Earned income credit) Lifetime learning (See Lifetime learning credit) Custodial fees 100 Custody of child 28 D Damages from lawsuits 72 Dating your return 13 Daycare centers 46 (See also Child care) Deadlines (See Due dates) Death (See Decedents) Death benefits: Accelerated 68 Life insurance proceeds (See Life insurance) Publication 17 (2020) Death benefits (Cont.) Public safety officers who died or were killed in line of duty, tax exclusion 68 Death of child 28 Death of dependent 33 Debt instruments (See Bonds or Notes) Debts 18, 68 (See also Bad debts) Canceled (See Cancellation of debt) Nonrecourse 66 Paid by another 12 Public, gifts to reduce 16 Recourse 66 Refund offset against 8, 14 Deceased taxpayers (See Decedents) Decedents 6 (See also Executors and administrators) Deceased spouse 6 Due dates 10 Filing requirements 6 Savings bonds 57 Spouse's death 21 Standard deduction 90 Declaration of rights of taxpayers: IRS request for information 3 Deductions 68, 90 (See also Recovery of amounts previously deducted) Casualty losses 102 Changing claim after filing, need to amend 18 Itemizing (See Itemized deductions) Pass-through entities 100 Repayments 69 Social security and railroad retirement benefits 65 Standard deduction 90, 92 Student loan interest deduction (See Student loans) Theft loss 102 Deferred compensation: Limit 49 Nonqualified plans 47 Delinquent taxes: Real estate transactions, tax allocation 96 Delivery services 10 De minimis benefits 48 Dependents 7, 25 (See also Child tax credit) Birth of 33 Born and died within year 12, 36 Death of 33 Filing requirements: Earned income, unearned income, and gross income levels (Table 1-2) 6 Married, filing joint return 26, 29 Qualifying child 27 Qualifying relative 32 Social security number 12 Adoption taxpayer identification number 12, 36 Alien dependents 36 Standard deduction for 91 Dependents not allowed to claim dependents 26 Dependent taxpayer test 26 Depletion allowance 70 Deposits: Loss on 100 Depreciation: Home computer 100 Differential wage payments 47 Differential wages: Wages for reservists: Military reserves 51 Direct deposit of refunds 14 Directors' fees 73 Disabilities, persons with: Accrued leave payment 52 Armed forces 51 Blind (See Blind persons) Cafeteria plans 52 Credit for (See Elderly or disabled, credit for) Insurance costs 52 Publication 17 (2020) Military and government pensions 52 Public assistance benefits 71 Reporting of disability pension income 52 Retirement, pensions, and profit-sharing plans 52 Signing of return by court-appointed representative 14 Social security and railroad retirement benefits, deductions for 65 Workers' compensation 53 Disabled: Child 27 Dependent 33 Disaster Assistance Act of 1988: Withholding 39 Disaster relief 52, 71 (See also Terrorist attacks) Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: Grants 71 Unemployment assistance 70 Grants or payments 71 Disclosure statement 19 Discount, bonds and notes issued at 59 Distributions: Qualified charitable 83 Required minimum distributions 81, 83 (See also Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)) Dividends: Alaska Permanent Fund (See Alaska Permanent Fund dividends) Fees to collect 100 Stockholder debts when canceled as 67 Divorced parents 28, 32 Divorced taxpayers 72 (See also Alimony) Child custody 28 Estimated tax payments 43 Filing status 21 IRAs 77, 82 Real estate taxes, allocation of 96 Domestic help, can’t be claimed as dependent 25 Domestic help: Withholding 36 Donations (See Charitable contributions) Down payment assistance 72 Dual-status taxpayers 7 Joint returns not available 22 Standard deduction 90 Due dates 9, 10 2020 dates (Table 1-5) 10 Extension (See Extension of time to file) Nonresident aliens' returns 10 Dues: Club 101 Dwelling units: Cooperative (See Cooperative housing) E Early withdrawal from deferred interest account: Higher education expenses, exception from penalty 76 IRAs: Early distributions, defined 85 Penalties 83, 85 Earned income: Defined: For purposes of standard deduction 91 Dependent filing requirements (Table 1-2) 6 Earned income credit 106 Filing claim 7 Married filing separately 22 Education: Savings bond program 58 Educational assistance: Employer-provided 48 Scholarships (See Scholarships and fellowships) Tuition (See Qualified tuition programs) Education credits: Married filing separately 22 Education expenses: Employer-provided (See Educatio nal assistance) Tuition (See Qualified tuition programs) E-file 3, 5, 7 Extensions of time to file 10 On time filing 10 EIC (See Earned income credit) Elderly or disabled, credit for: Married filing separately 22 Elderly persons: Credit for (See Elderly or disabled, credit for) Exemption from withholding 38 Home for the aged 34 Long-term care (See Long-term care insurance contracts) Nutrition Program for the Elderly 72 Standard deduction for age 65 or older 90 Tax Counseling for the Elderly 9 Election precinct officials: Fees, reporting of 73 Elective deferrals: Limits 49 Electronic filing (See E-file) Electronic payment options 3 Electronic reporting: Returns (See E-file) Embezzlement: Reporting embezzled funds 74 Emergency medical service personnel: Life insurance proceeds when death in line of duty 68 Emotional distress damages 72 Employee benefits 47, 48 (See also Fringe benefits) Employee business expenses: Reimbursements 38, 46 Returning excess 38 Employee expenses: Home computer 100 Miscellaneous 99 Employees 38, 47, 48 (See also Fringe benefits) Awards for service 46 Business expenses (See Employee business expenses) Form W-4 to be filled out when starting new job 37 Fringe benefits 38 Jury duty pay 74 Overseas employment (See Foreign employment) Employers: Educational assistance from (See Educational assistance) E-file options 9 Form W-4, having new employees fill out 37 Overseas employment (See Foreign employment) Withholding rules 37 Employment: Agency fees 72 Taxes: FICA withholding 11 (See also Withholding) Employment taxes 36, 37, 42 Endowment proceeds 67 Energy assistance 72 Energy conservation: Measures and modifications 72 Subsidies 72 Utility rebates 75 Equitable relief (See Innocent spouse relief) Errors: Corrected wage and tax statement 43 Discovery after filing, need to amend return 17 Refunds 17 Escrow: Taxes placed in, when deductible 96 Estate beneficiaries: IRAs (See Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)) Losses of estate 73 Receiving income from estate 73 Estates 73 (See also Estate beneficiaries) Income 73 Tax 98, 102 (See also Estate tax) Estate tax: Deduction 98 Estimated: Credit for 43 Payment vouchers 41 Estimated tax 36 Amount to pay to avoid penalty 41 Avoiding 39 Change in estimated tax 41 Credit for 36, 42 Definition 36 Divorced taxpayers 43 Figuring amount of tax 41 First period, no income subject to estimated tax in 41 Fiscal year taxpayers 41 Married taxpayers 40 Name change 43 Not required 39 Overpayment applied to 14 Payments 15, 41 Figuring amount of each payment 41 Schedule 41 When to start 41 Who must make 40 Payment vouchers 42 Penalty for underpayment 36, 41, 43, 44 Saturday, Sunday, holiday rule 41 Separate returns 43 Social security or railroad retirement benefits 63 State and local income taxes, deduction of 94 Unemployment compensation 71 Excise taxes 83 (See also Penalties) Deductibility (Table 11-1) 97 IRAs for failure to take minimum distributions 83 Roth IRAs 88 Exclusions from gross income: Accelerated death benefits 68 Canceled debt 67 Commuting benefits for employees 49 De minimis benefits 48 Disability pensions of federal employees and military 52 Educational assistance from employer 48 Education Savings Bond Program 74 Elective deferrals, limit on exclusion 49 Employee awards 46 Energy conservation subsidies 72, 75 Foreign earned income 3 Frozen deposit interest 74 Group-term life insurance 49 Long-term care insurance contracts 53 Parking fees, employer-provided 49 Public safety officers who died or were killed in line of duty, death benefits 68 Sale of home 74 Scholarships 75 Strike benefits 75 Page 129 Executors and administrators 6 Exempt-interest dividends 54 Exemptions: From withholding 38 Expenses paid by another 73 Extension of time to file 10 Automatic 10 Citizens outside U.S. 11 E-file options 10 Inclusion on return 11 F Failure to comply with tax laws (See Penalties) Fair rental value 34 Family 7, 107 (See also Children) (See also Child tax credit) Farmers: Estimated tax 40 Withholding 36 Farming: Activity not for profit 72 Canceled debt, treatment of 67 Federal employees: Accrued leave payment 47 Cost-of-living allowances 47 Disability pensions 52 Based on years of service 52 Exclusion, conditions for 52 Terrorist attack 52 FECA payments 53 Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) payments 53 Federal government: Employees (See Federal employees) Federal income tax: Not deductible: Deductibility (Table 11-1) 97 Federal judges: Employer retirement plan coverage 78 Fees 73 (See also specific types of deductions and income) Professional license 102 Fellowships (See Scholarships and fellowships) FICA withholding 11, 36, 47 (See also Withholding) (See also Social security and Medicare taxes) Fiduciaries 6, 77 (See also Executors and administrators) (See also Trustees) Fees for services 73 Prohibited transactions 84 Figuring taxes and credits 62, 104 (See also Worksheets) Filing requirements 5–20, 22 (See also Married filing separately) Calendar year filers 10 Citizens outside U.S. 6 Dependents 6, 7 Electronic (See E-file) Extensions 10 Gross income levels (Table 1-1) 5 Individual taxpayers 6 Joint filing 21, 22 (See also Joint returns) Late filing penalties (See Penalties) Most taxpayers (Table 1-1) 5 Unmarried persons (See Single taxpayers) When to file 10 Where to file 16 Who must file 5, 7 Filing status 6, 20–24 Annulled marriages 21 Change to, after time of filing 18 Divorced taxpayers 21 Head of household 21, 23 Qualifying person to file as 23 Joint returns 21 Married filing separately 22 Surviving spouse 21 Page 130 Unmarried persons 6, 21 (See also Single taxpayers) Final return for decedent: Standard deduction 90 Financial institutions 76 (See also Banks) Financially disabled persons 18 Fines 10, 19, 20 (See also Penalties) Deductibility 101 Firefighters: Life insurance proceeds when death in line of duty 68 Volunteer firefighters: IRAs 78 Fiscal year 12, 41 Fishermen: Estimated tax 40 Indian fishing rights 74 Food benefits: Nutrition program for the elderly 72 Food stamps 34 Foreign employment 7, 51 Employment abroad 51 Social security and Medicare taxes 51 U.S. citizen 51 Waiver of alien status 51 Foreign governments, employees of 51 Foreign income: Earned income exclusion 3 Reporting of 3 Foreign income taxes: Deduction of 95 Form 1116 to claim credit 98 Schedule A or Form 1040 or 1040-SR reporting 98 Definition of 94 Foreign nationals (See Resident aliens) Foreign students 27 Forgiveness of debt (See Cancellation of debt) Form 10, 50, 61 1040 25, 106 1040, Schedule A: Unearned commission, deduction for repayment of 46 1040, Schedule C: Barter income 66 Child care providers 46 Corporate director fees 73 Forgiveness of debts 66 Foster-care providers 73 Kickbacks 74 Notary fees 73 Oil, gas, or mineral interest royalties 70 Rental income and expenses 69 1040, Schedule E: Royalties 70 1040, Schedule SE 50 Alien taxpayer identification numbers 36 Armed forces' retirement pay 51 Child care providers 46 Clergy pension 50 Corporate director fees 73 Disability retirement pay 52 FECA benefits 53 Foster-care providers 73 Kickbacks 74 Notary fees 73 Oil, gas, or mineral interest royalties 70 Rental income and expenses 69 Wages and salary reporting 46 Workers' compensation 53 1040-NR: Nonresident alien return 10 1040 or 1040-SR: 1040 or 1040-SR, Schedule A: Charitable contributions 16 1040 or 1040-SR, Schedule SE 7 Address 16 Attachments to 13 IRAs 84, 85 Presidential Election Campaign Fund 13 Railroad retirement benefits, reporting on 63 Social security benefits, reporting on 63 Use of 21, 22 1040-X: Amended individual return 18 Annulled marriages 21 Change of filing status 23 Completing 18 Filing 18 Itemized deduction, change to standard deduction 92 Standard deduction, change to itemized deductions 92 1065: Partnership income 68 1098: Mortgage interest statement 68 1099: Taxable income report 11 1099-B: Barter income 66 1099-C: Cancellation of debt 66 1099-DIV: Dividend income statement 50 1099-G: State tax refunds 68 1099-INT 54, 60 1099-MISC: Nonemployee compensation 73 1099-OID 59 1099-R: IRA distributions 84, 86 Life insurance policy surrendered for cash 67 Retirement plan distributions 13 1120S: S corporation income 68 2555 108 2848: Power of attorney and declaration of representative 14, 22 3115 56 3800: General business credit 19 4506 16 4506-T: Tax return transcript request 16 4868 10, 35 Automatic extension of time to file 10, 35 Filing electronic form 10 Filing paper form 10 5329: Required minimum distributions, failure to take 85, 86 56: Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship 14 6251 105 8275: Disclosure statement 19 8275-R: Regulation disclosure statement 20 8379: Injured spouse claim 14 8606: IRA contributions, Nondeductible 76, 80, 84 IRA contributions, Recharacterization of 83 8615 54 8814 54 8815 58 8818 58 8822: Change of address 17 8839: Qualified adoption expenses 48 8853: Accelerated death benefits 68 Archer MSAs and long-term care insurance contracts 47 8857: Innocent spouse relief 22 8879: Authorization for E-file provider to use self-selected PIN 9 9465: Installment agreement request 16 Form 8919: Uncollected social security and Medicare tax on wages 46 RRB-1042S: Railroad retirement benefits for nonresident aliens 61 RRB-1099: Railroad retirement benefits 61 Schedule 8812: Child tax credit 108 SS-5: Social security number request 12, 35 SSA-1042S: Social security benefits for nonresident aliens 61 SSA-1099: Social security benefits 61 W-2: Election precinct officials' fees 73 Employer-reported income statement 11, 13, 46, 47, 50 Employer retirement plan participation indicated 77 Fringe benefits 47, 48 W-2G: Gambling winnings withholding statement 74 W-4V: Voluntary withholding request 71 W-7: Individual taxpayer identification number request 36 W-7A: Adoption taxpayer identification number request 13, 36 Form(s) 1099 43 Form 1040: Estimated tax payments 43 Gambling winnings 39 Overpayment offset against next year's tax 42 Form 1040-ES: Estimated tax 41, 42 Form 1040 or 1040-SR: Foreign income taxes, deduction of 98 Schedule A: State and local income taxes, deduction of 98 State benefit funds, mandatory contributions to 95 Taxes, deduction of 98 Schedule C: Real estate or personal property taxes on property used in business, deduction of 98 Schedule E: Real estate or personal property taxes on rental property, deduction of 98 Schedule F: Real estate or personal property taxes on property used in business, deduction of 98 Self-employment tax, deduction of 98 Publication 17 (2020) Form 1099-K: Payment card and third-party network transactions 75 Form 1099-MISC: Withheld state and local taxes 94 Form 1099-NEC: Withheld state and local taxes 94 Form 1099-R: Withheld state and local taxes shown on 94 Form 1099-S: Real estate transactions proceeds 96 Form 1116: Foreign tax credit 98 Form 8332: Release of exemption to noncustodial parent 28 Form W-2: Employer-reported income statement 42 Filing with return 42 Separate form from each employer 43 Withheld state and local taxes 94 Form W-2c: Corrected wage and tax statement 43 Form W-2G: Gambling winnings withholding statement 39, 43 Withheld state and local taxes shown on 94 Form W-4: Employee withholding allowance certificate 37, 39 Form W-4S: Sick pay withholding request 38 Form W-4V 39 Unemployment compensation, voluntary withholding request 39 Foster care: Care providers' payments 73 Child tax credit 107 Difficulty-of-care payments 73 Emergency foster care, maintaining space in home for 73 Foster care payments and expenses 29, 34 Foster child 27, 29, 33, 34 Foster Grandparent Program 51 Found property 73 Fraud: Penalties 19, 38 Reporting anonymously to IRS 3 Fringe benefits: Accident and health insurance 47 Accounting period 47 Adoption, employer assistance 48 Archer MSA contributions 47 De minimis benefits 48 Education assistance 48 Form W-2 47 Group-term life insurance premiums 48 Holiday gifts 48 Retirement planning services 49 Taxable income 47 Transportation 49 Withholding 38 Frozen deposits: Interest on 74 IRA rollover period extension 81 Funeral expenses 35 Funerals: Clergy, payment for 50 Expenses 100 G Gains and losses 22 (See also Losses) Claim for refund for loss 19 Gambling (See Gambling winnings and losses) Hobby losses 74 Publication 17 (2020) Passive activity 23 (See also Passive activity) Gambling winnings and losses 73, 102 Withholding 39, 43 Garbage pickup: Deductibility (Table 11-1) 97 Garnishment and attachment 12 Gas royalties 70 Gems: IRA prohibited transactions in 84 General due dates, estimated tax 41 GI Bill benefits 35 Gifts: Holiday gifts 48 Not taxed 74 To reduce the public debt 16 Gift taxes: Not deductible 98 Gold and silver: IRA investments in 84 Government employees: Federal (See Federal employees) Grants, disaster relief 71 Gratuities (See Tip income) Gross income: Age, higher filing threshold after 65 6 Defined: Filing requirements (Table 1-1) 5 Dependent filing requirements (Table 1-2) 6 Gross income test 33 Group-term life insurance: Accidental death benefits 48 Definition 48 Exclusion from income: Limitation on 48 Permanent benefits 48 Taxable cost, calculation of 48 Guam: Income from 7 H HAMP: Home affordable modification: Pay-for-performance 71 Handicapped persons (See Disabilities, persons with) Head of household 21, 23 Health: Flexible spending arrangement 47 Health insurance 47 (See also Accident insurance) Reimbursement arrangement 48 Savings account 48 Health coverage tax credit 7 Health insurance premiums 35 Health Spa 101 Help (See Tax help) High income taxpayers: Estimated tax 40 Hobbies 100 Activity not for profit 72 Losses 74 Holiday, deadline falling on 41 Holiday gifts 48 Home: Aged, home for 34 Cost of keeping up 23 Worksheet 24 Security system 101 Homeowners' associations: Charges: Deductibility (Table 11-1) 97 Hope credit: Married filing separately 22 Host or hostess 67 Household furnishings: Antiques (See Collectibles) Household members 21 (See also Head of household) Household workers (See Domestic help) Household workers, can’t claim as dependent 25 Housing 23 (See also Home) Clergy 50 Cooperative (See Cooperative housing) I Icons, use of 3, 4 Identity theft 3, 20 Illegal activities: Reporting of 74 Income 46, 66, 72 (See also Wages and salaries) (See also Alimony) Bartering 66 Canceled debts 66 Constructive receipt of 12, 60 Gross 33 Illegal activities 75 Interest 53 Jury duty pay 74 Life insurance proceeds 67 Nonemployee compensation 73 Paid to agent 12 Paid to third party 12 Partnership 68 Prepaid 12 Recovery 68 Royalties 70 S corporation 68 Tax exempt 34 Underreported 18 Income-producing expenses 99 Income taxes: Federal (See Federal income tax) Foreign (See Foreign income taxes) State or local (See State or local income taxes) Indians: Fishing rights 74 Taxes collected by tribal governments, deduction of 94 Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) 75, 76, 81, 86 (See also Rollovers) (See also Roth IRAs) Administrative fees 77, 100 Age 59 1/2 for distribution 85 Exception to rule 85 Age 72: Distributions required at 83, 85 Compensation, defined 76 Contribution limits 77 Age 50 or older, 77 Under age 50, 77 Contributions 22, 23 Designating year for which contribution is made 77 Excess 84 Filing before contribution is made 77 Nondeductible 80 Not required annually 77 Roth IRA contribution for same year 87 Time of 77 Withdrawal before filing due date 83 Cost basis 80, 83 Deduction for 77 Participant covered by employer retirement plan (Table 9-1) 78 Participant not covered by employer retirement plan (Table 9-2) 79 Phaseout 78 Definition of 76 Distributions: At age 59 1/2 85 Required minimum distributions (See this heading: Required distributions) Divorced taxpayers 82 Early distributions (See Early withdrawal from deferred interest account) Employer retirement plan participants 77, 78 Establishing account 76 Time of 76 Where to open account 76 Excess contributions 84 Figuring modified AGI (Worksheet 9-1) 80 Forms to use: Form 1099-R for reporting distributions 84 Form 8606 for nondeductible contributions 76 Inherited IRAs 74, 80, 81 Required distributions 83 Interest on, treatment of 76 Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRAs 77, 78 Married couples (See this heading: Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRAs) Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI): Computation of 79 Effect on deduction if covered by employer retirement plan (Table 9-1) 78 Effect on deduction if not covered by employer retirement plan (Table 9-2) 79 Worksheet 9-1 80 Nondeductible contributions 80 Early withdrawal 85 Tax on earnings on 80 Ordinary income, distributions as 83 Penalties: Early distributions (See Early withdrawal from deferred interest account) Excess contributions 84 Form 8606 not filed for nondeductible contributions 76, 80 Overstatement of nondeductible contributions 80 Prohibited transactions 84 Required distributions, failure to take 83, 85 Prohibited transactions 84 Recharacterization of contribution 82 Reporting of: Distributions 84 Recharacterization of contributions 83 Required distributions 81, 83 Excess accumulations 85 Retirement savings contribution credit 22 Self-employed persons 76 Taxability: Distributions 83 Time of taxation 76 Transfers permitted 81 To Roth IRAs 81, 82 Trustee administrative fees 100 Trustee-to-trustee transfers 81 IRA to Roth IRA 88 Types of 76 Withdrawals: Early (See Early withdrawal from deferred interest account) Required (See this heading: Required distributions) Withholding 13, 39, 84 Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) 13, 36 Individual taxpayers (See Single taxpayers) Information returns 11, 13, 46, 47, 50 (See also Form W-2) (See also Form 1099) Partnerships to provide 68 Inheritance 73 (See also Estate beneficiaries) IRAs (See Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)) Not taxed 74 Inheritance tax: Deductibility of 98 Deduction 98 Page 131 Injured spouse 14 Claim for refund 14 Innocent spouse relief: Form 8857 22 Joint returns 22 Insolvency: Canceled debt not deemed to be income 67 Installment agreements 15 Insurance: Accident (See Accident insurance) Life 39, 48 (See also Life insurance) (See also Group-term life insurance) Reimbursements: From casualty insurance 72 Insurance companies: State delinquency proceedings, IRA distributions not made due to 85 Insurance premiums: Life 35, 101 Medical 35 Paid in advance 55 Insurance proceeds: Dividends, interest on 55 Installment payments 59 Life 59 Interest: Fees to collect 100 Frozen deposits 55 Usurious 55 Interest income 53 Form 1099-INT 11 Frozen deposits, from 74 Recovery of income, on 68 Savings bonds 74 Tax refunds, from 17 Interest payments 68 (See also Mortgages) Canceled debt including 66 Student loans deduction 22 Interference with business operations: Damages as income 72 Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Fraud or misconduct of employee, reporting anonymously 3 Mission of 4 International employment (See Foreign employment) International organizations, employees of 51 Internet: Electronic filing over (See E-file) Investments: Fees 100 Seminars 101 IRAs (See Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)) Itemized deductions: Changing from standard to itemized deduction (or vice versa) 92 Choosing to itemize 91, 92 Form 1040 to be used 69 Married filing separately 22, 92 One spouse has itemized 90 Recovery 69 Standard deduction to be compared with 91 State tax, for 92 ITIN (See Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)) ITINs (See Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)) J Job search: Deduction of expenses for Interviews 74 Joint accounts 54 Joint returns: Accounting period 21 After separate return 23 Deceased spouse 21 Dependents on 33 Divorced taxpayers 21 Page 132 Estimated tax 40 Extension for citizens outside U.S. 11 Filing status 21 Fraud penalty 20 Guardian of spouse, signing as 22 Injured spouse 14 Innocent spouse 22 Nonresident or dual-status alien spouse 22 Responsibility for 21 Separate return after joint 23 Signing 14, 22 Social security and railroad retirement benefits 65 State and local income taxes, deduction of 95 Joint return test 26, 29 Judges, federal: Employer retirement plan coverage 78 Jury duty pay 74 K Kickbacks 74 Kiddie tax (See Children, subheading: Unearned income of) Kidnapped children: Qualifying child 28 Qualifying relative 32 L Labor unions 38 Dues and fees 75 Sick pay withholding under union agreements 38 Strike and lockout benefits 75 Unemployment compensation payments from 71 Late filing 3 Penalties 10, 19 Late payment: Penalties on tax payments 19 Law enforcement officers: Life insurance proceeds when death in line of duty 68 Legal expenses 100, 101 Liability insurance: Reimbursements from 72 License fees: Deductibility of 98 Nondeductibility of 100 Life insurance 48, 68 (See also Group-term life insurance) (See also Accelerated death benefits) Form 1099-R for surrender of policy for cash 67 Premiums 101 Proceeds 59 As income 67 Public safety officers who died or were killed in line of duty, tax exclusion 68 Surrender of policy for cash 67 Withholding 39 Life insurance premiums 35 Lifetime learning credit: Married filing separately 22 Limits: Miscellaneous deductions 99 Loans 18 (See also Debts) Lobbying expenses 101 Local assessments: Deductibility of 97 Local income taxes, itemized deductions 92 Local law violated 33 Lockout benefits 75 Lodging 34 Long-term care insurance contracts 53 Chronically ill individual 53, 68 Exclusion, limit of 53 Qualified services defined 53 Losses 19, 23 (See also Gains and losses) Capital 22 Casualty 100, 102 Gambling (See Gambling winnings and losses) Theft 100, 102 Lost property 101 Lotteries and raffles 73 (See also Gambling winnings and losses) M MAGI (See Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)) Mailing returns (See Tax returns) Married dependents, filing joint return 26, 29 Married filing separately 22 Community property states 23 Credits, treatment of 22 Deductions: Changing method from or to itemized deductions 92 Treatment of 22 Earned income credit 22 How to file 22 Itemized deductions 22, 92 One spouse has itemized so other must as well 90 Joint state and local income taxes filed, but separate federal returns 94 Rollovers 22 Social security and railroad retirement benefits 63 State and local income taxes 94 Tenants by the entirety, allocation of real estate taxes 96 Married taxpayers 21–23 (See also Joint returns) (See also Married filing separately) (See also Tenants by the entirety) Age 65 or older spouse: Standard deduction 91 Blind spouse: Standard deduction 91 Deceased spouse 5, 6, 21 (See also Surviving spouse) Dual-status alien spouse 22 Estimated tax 40 Filing status 5, 6, 21 IRAs 77 Spouse covered by employer plan 77, 78 Living apart 21 Nonresident alien spouse 13, 22 Roth IRAs 86 Signatures when spouse unable to sign 14 Social security or railroad retirement benefits, taxability 61 Mass transit passes, employer-provided 49 Maximum age. The age restriction for contributions to a traditional IRA has been eliminated. : Traditional IRA contributions 75 Medical and dental expenses: Reimbursements, treatment of 53 Medical insurance (See Accident insurance) Medical insurance premiums 35 Medical savings accounts (MSAs) 47, 74 (See also Archer MSAs) Medicare Advantage MSA 74 Medicare 47, 51 (See also Social security and Medicare taxes) Benefits 71 Medicare Advantage MSA (See Medical savings accounts (MSAs)) Medicare taxes, not support 35 Member of household or relationship test 32 Mentally incompetent persons 52 (See also Disabilities, persons with) Signing of return by court-appointed representative 14 Mexico: Resident of 27, 32 Military (See Armed forces) Mineral royalties 70 Ministers (See Clergy) Miscellaneous deductions 98 Missing children: Photographs of, included in IRS publications 3 Mistakes (See Errors) Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI): IRAs, computation for: Effect on deduction if covered by employer retirement plan (Table 9-1) 78, 80 Effect on deduction if not covered by employer retirement plan (Table 9-2) 79 Worksheet 9-1 80 Roth IRAs, computation for: Phaseout (Table 9-3) 86 Worksheet 9-2 85 Money market certificates 55 Mortgage: Relief 66 Mortgages: Assistance payments 71 Discounted mortgage loan 66 Interest: Refund of 68 MSAs (See Medical savings accounts (MSAs)) Multiple support agreement 35 Municipal bonds 59 Mutual funds: Nonpublicly offered 100 N Name change 12, 43 National Housing Act: Mortgage assistance 71 National of the United States 27 Native Americans (See Indians) Negligence penalties 19 Net operating losses: Refund of carryback 19 New Jersey Nonoccupational Disability Benefit Fund 95 New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Fund 95 New York Nonoccupational Disability Benefit Fund 95 Nobel Prize 74 Nominees 54, 59 Nonemployee compensation 73 Nonresident aliens 7 Due dates 10 Estimated tax 40 Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) 13 Spouse 13 Joint returns not available 22 Separated 23 Standard deduction 90 Taxpayer identification number 36 Waiver of alien status 51 Northern Mariana Islands: Income from 7 Notary fees 73 Notes: Discounted 47, 59 Received for services 47 Not-for-profit activities 72 Nursing homes: Insurance for care in (See Long-term care insurance contracts) Nutrition Program for the Elderly 72 O OASDI 72 Occupational taxes: Deduction of: Publication 17 (2020) Occupational taxes (Cont.) Taxes that are deductible (Table 11-1) 97 Office rent, deductibility of 100 Offset against debts 8, 14 Oil, gas, and minerals: Future production sold 70 Royalties from: Schedule C or C-EZ 70 Sale of property interest 70 Options 50 Ordinary gain and loss (See Gains and losses) Original issue discount (OID) 59 Other taxes 105 Outplacement services 47 Overpayment of tax 14 (See also Tax refunds) Overseas work (See Foreign employment) Overtime pay 38 P Paper vs. electronic return (See E-file) Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 3 Parental responsibility (See Children) Parents, divorced or separated 28 Parents who never married 29 Parking fees: Employer-provided fringe benefit: Exclusion from income 49 Partners and partnerships 100 Income 68 Passive activity: Losses 23 Pass-through entities 100 Patents: Infringement damages 72 Royalties 70 Payment of estimated tax 41 By check or money order 41 Credit an overpayment 41 Payment of tax 3, 9, 15, 18, 42 By credit or debit card 10 Delivery services 10 Estimated tax 15 Installment agreements (See Installment agreements) Late payment penalties 19 Payments 105, 106 Disaster relief 71 Payroll deductions 98 Payroll taxes 47 (See also Social security and Medicare taxes) Peace Corps allowances 51 Penalties 41, 43 Accuracy-related 19 Backup withholding 39 Civil penalties 19 Criminal 20 Deductibility 101 Defenses 19 Estimated tax (See this heading: Underpayment of estimated tax) Failure to include social security number 13, 20 Failure to pay tax 19 Form 8606 not filed for nondeductible IRA contributions 76, 80 Fraud 19, 20 Frivolous tax submission 20 Interest on 15 IRAs: Early distributions 85 Excess contributions 84 Form 8606 not filed for nondeductible contributions 76, 80 Overstatement of nondeductible contributions 80 Required distributions, failure to take 83 Late filing 10, 19 Exception 19 Publication 17 (2020) Late payment 19 Negligence 19 Reportable transaction understatements 19 Roth IRAs: Conversion contributions withdrawn in 5-year period 89 Excess contributions 88 Substantial understatement of income tax 19 Tax evasion 20 Underpayment of estimated tax 36, 41, 43 Willful failure to file 20 Withholding 38, 39 Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Fund 95 Pensions 36, 61 (See also Railroad retirement benefits) Clergy 50 Contributions: Retirement savings contribution credit 22 Taxation of 49 Decedent's unrecovered investment in 13 Disability pensions 52 Elective deferral limitation 49 Employer plans: Benefits from previous employer's plan 78 Rollover to IRA 82, 88 Situations in which no coverage 78 Inherited pensions 74 Military (See Armed Forces) Unrecovered investment in 103 Withholding 13, 39 Per capita taxes: Deductibility of 98 Personal exemption 36 Personal injury suits: Damages from 72 Personal property: Rental income from 69 Personal property taxes: Deduction of 98 Schedule A, C, E, or F (Form 1040) 98 Taxes (See Personal property taxes) Personal representatives (See Fiduciarie s) Persons with disabilities (See Disabilities, persons with) Place for filing 16 Political campaign expenses 101, 102 Political contributions (See Campaign contributions) Power of attorney 14, 22 Premature distributions (See Early withdrawal from deferred interest account) Prepaid: Insurance 55 Preparers of tax returns 14 Presidential Election Campaign Fund 13 Price reduced after purchase 67 Principal residence (See Home) Privacy Act and paperwork reduction information 3 Private delivery services 10 Prizes and awards 46, 74 (See also Bonuses) Exclusion from income 46 Pulitzer, Nobel, and similar prizes 74 Scholarship prizes 75 Professional license fees 102 Professional Reputation 102 Profit-sharing plans: Withholding 13, 39 Property: Found 73 Stolen 75 Public assistance benefits 71 Publications (See Tax help) Public debt: Gifts to reduce 16 Public transportation passes, employer-provided 49 Puerto Rico: Residents of 6 Pulitzer Prize 74 Punitive damages: As income 72 Q Qualified opportunity fund 74 Qualified plans 81 (See also Rollovers) Qualified tuition programs 74 Qualifying child 27 Qualifying relative 32 R Raffles 73 Railroad retirement benefits 61–65, 74 Deductions related to 65 Employer retirement plans different from 78 Equivalent tier 1 (social security equivalent benefit (SSEB)) 61, 74 Estimated tax 63 Form RRB-1042S for nonresident aliens 61 Form RRB-1099 61 Joint returns 65 Lump-sum election 63 Married filing separately 22, 63 Repayment of benefits 62 Reporting of 63 Taxability of 61, 63 Withholding 39 Not tax deductible 98 Withholding for 63 Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act 53 Real estate: Canceled business debt, treatment of 67 Division of real estate taxes 95 Form 1099-S to report sale proceeds 96 Itemized charges for services not deductible 97 Real estate-related items not deductible 97 Transfer taxes 98 Real estate taxes: Assessments (See Local assessments) Cooperative housing (See Cooperative housing) deduction of 95 Deduction of: List of deductible taxes (Table 11-1) 97 Schedule A, C, E, or F (Form 1040) 98 Refund, treatment of 96 Rebates (See Refunds) Recharacterization: IRA contributions 82 Recordkeeping: Gambling 103 Savings bonds used for education 58 Recordkeeping requirements 16 Basic records 16 Copies of returns 16 Electronic records 16 Gambling 73 Period of retention 17 Proof of payments 17 Why keep records 16 Recovery of amounts previously deducted 68 Itemized deductions 69 Mortgage interest refund 68 Over multiple years 69 Tax refunds 68 Refunds 105 State tax 68 Taxes (See Tax refunds) Rehabilitative program payments 51 Reimbursement 68 (See also Recovery of amounts previously deducted) Employee business expenses 46 Relationship test 27, 32 Relative, qualifying 32 Relief fund contributions 102 Religious organizations 7, 50 (See also Clergy) Rental income and expenses: Increase due to higher real estate taxes: Deductibility (Table 11-1) 97 Losses from rental real estate activities 23 Personal property rental 69 Repayments 69 Amount previously included in income 103 Railroad retirement benefits 62 Social security benefits 62, 69 Unemployment compensation 70, 71 Reporting: Rollovers 82 Required minimum distributions 81, 83 (See also Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)) Required minimum distributions (RMDs) 75 Rescue squad members: Life insurance proceeds when death in line of duty 68 Reservists: IRAs 78 Repayments 77 Residency: Home outside U.S. (See Citizens outside U.S.) Residency test 27 Resident aliens: Estimated tax 40 IRA distributions, withholding from 84 Social security number (SSN) 12 Spouse treated as 23 Retired Senior Volunteer Program 51 Retirees: Armed forces: Taxable income 51 Retirement planning services 49 Retirement plans 22, 36, 61 (See also Roth IRAs) (See also Railroad retirement benefits) Clergy 50 Contributions: Credit for (See Retirement savings contribution credit) Taxation of 49 Decedent's unrecovered investment in 13 Disability pensions 52 Elective deferral limitation 49 Employer plans: Benefits from previous employer's plan 78 Rollover to IRA 82, 88 Situations in which no coverage 78 Inherited pensions 74 IRAs (See Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)) Military (See Armed Forces) Withholding 13, 39 Retirement savings contribution credit: Adjusted gross income limit 22 Returns, tax (See Tax returns) Rewards 74 Rhode Island Temporary Disability Benefit Fund 95 Rollovers 81 Definition of 81 Excess due to incorrect rollover information 85 From 403 plan to IRA 81 Page 133 Rollovers (Cont.) From employer's plan to IRA 81, 82 From IRA to IRA 81 From IRA to Roth IRA 88 From Roth IRA to Roth IRA 89 From section 457 plan to IRA 81 From SIMPLE IRA to Roth IRA 89 Inherited IRAs 81 Married filing separately 22 Partial rollovers 81 Reporting: From employer's plan to IRA 82 IRA to IRA 81 Taxability 81, 86 Time limits (60-day rule) 81 Treatment of 81 Waiting period between 81 Roth IRAs 86–89 (See also Rollovers) Age: Distributions after age 59 1/2 89 No limit for contributions 86 No required distribution age 89 Compensation, defined 86 Contribution limits 87 Age 50 or older, 87 Under age 50, 87 Contributions: No deduction for 86 Roth IRA only 87 Time to make 88 To traditional IRA for same year 87 Conversion 88 Definition of 86 Distributions: Qualified distributions 89 Effect of modified AGI on contributions (Table 9-3) 86 Establishing account 86 Excess contributions 88 IRA transfer to 81, 82 Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI): Computation (Worksheet 9-2) 85 Phaseout (Table 9-3) 86 Penalties: Conversion contributions withdrawn in 5-year period 89 Excess contributions 88 Recharacterizations 82 Spousal contributions 86 Taxability 89 Withdrawals: Excess contributions 88 Not taxable 89 Rounding off dollars 13 Royalties 70 S Safe deposit box 100 Salaries (See Wages and salaries) Sale of home 74 Division of real estate taxes 95 Sale of property: Personal items 74 Sales and exchanges: Bonds 59 Saturday, deadline falling on 41 Savings: Bonds 56, 61 Bonds used for education 58 Certificate 55, 60 Schedule 16, 46, 50, 53 (See also Form 1040 or 1040-SR) (See also Form 1040) Form 1040, A-F, R, SE (See Form 1040) K-1: K-1, Form 1041 54 Partnership income 68 S corporation income 68 Schedule 8812 108 Schedule A (Form 1040): Itemized deductions 92 Page 134 Schedules A–F, R, SE (Form 1040) (See Form 1040) Scholarships 29, 33, 35 Scholarships and fellowships: Earned income including 91 Exclusion from gross income 75 Teaching or research fellowships 75 S corporations 100 Shareholders 68 Section 457 deferred compensation plans: Rollovers: To IRAs 82, 88 Securities: Claim for refund 19 Options 50 Stock appreciation rights 47 Self-employed persons 98 (See also Self-employment tax) Corporate directors as 73 Definition 7 Foreign government or international organizations, U.S. citizens employed by 7 Gross income 6 IRAs 76 Ministers 7 Nonemployee compensation 73 Self-employment tax: Deduction of: List of deductible taxes (Table 11-1) 97 Seminars: Investment-related 101 Senior Companion Program 51 Separated parents 28, 32 Separated taxpayers 21 Filing status 22, 23 IRAs 77 Nonresident alien spouse 23 Separate returns (See Married filing separately) SEPs (See Simplified employee pensions (SEPs)) Series EE and E savings bonds 56 Series HH and H savings bonds 56 Series I savings bonds 56 Service charges 100 Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) 51 Severance pay 47 Accrued leave payment 47 Outplacement services 47 Short tax year: Change in annual accounting period 90 Sick pay: Collective bargaining agreements 38 FECA payments 53 Income 47 Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act 53 Withholding 38 Signatures 13 Agent, use of 14 Joint returns 22 Mentally incompetent 14 Parent for child 14 Physically disabled 14 Signing your return 8 Silver (See Gold and silver) SIMPLE plans: Rollover to Roth IRA 89 Simplified employee pensions (SEPs): IRAs as 76 Single taxpayers 21 Filing requirements 6 Filing status 6, 21 Gross income filing requirements (Table 1-1) 5 Social security and Medicare taxes: Support, not included in 35 Social security benefits 34, 61, 65 Deductions related to 65 Employer retirement plans different from 78 Estimated tax 63 Foreign employer 51 Form SSA-1042S for nonresident aliens 61 Form SSA-1099 61 IRAs for recipients of benefits 78 Joint returns 65 Lump-sum election 63 Married filing separately 22, 63 Paid by employer 47 Repayment of benefits 62, 69 Repayments 100 Reporting of 63 Taxability of 61, 63 Withholding 39 Withholding for 63 Not deductible 98 Social security number (SSN) 12 Child's 3 Number to be obtained at birth 36 Correspondence with IRS, include SSN 13 Dependents 3, 12 Exception 12 Failure to include penalty 13 Form SS-5 to request number 12 Nonresident alien spouse 13 Resident aliens 12 Spouse 6, 13, 14, 21, 22, 67 (See also Married taxpayers) (See also Surviving spouse) Spouse's death 91 SSN (See Social security number (SSN)) Stamps (See Collectibles) Stamp taxes: Real estate transactions and 98 Standard deduction 90, 92 State: Obligations, interest on 59 State or local governments: Employees: Unemployment compensation 71 State or local income taxes 92 Deduction of 94 List of deductible taxes (Table 11-1) 97 Schedule A (Form 1040) 98 Electronic returns filed with federal 8 Exception to deduction 94 Federal changes, effect on 19 Form W-2 to show withheld taxes 94 Joint state and local returns but federal returns filed separately 94 Married filing separately 94 Refunds, treatment of 94, 95 State or local taxes: Refunds 68 Statute of limitations: Claim for refund 15 Claim for refunds 18 Stillborn child 28 Stock appreciation rights 47 Stock bonus plans 39 Stockholders 19 (See also Securities) Debts 67 Stockholders' meeting expenses 102 Stock options 50 Stocks 19 (See also Securities) Stolen funds: Reporting of 75 Stolen property 75 Strike benefits 75 Student loans: Cancellation of debt 67 Interest deduction: Married filing separately 22 Students: Defined 27 Exemption from withholding 38 Foreign 27 Loans (See Student loans) Scholarships (See Scholarships and fellowships) Tuition programs, qualified (See Qualified tuition programs) Substitute forms 11 Sunday, deadline falling on 41 Supplemental wages 38 Support test: Qualifying child 29 Qualifying relative 33 Surviving spouse: Filing status 21 With dependent child 24 Gross income filing requirements (Table 1-1) 5 Life insurance proceeds paid to 67 Single filing status 21 Tax (See Estate tax) T Tables and figures: Estimated tax, who must make payments (Figure 4-A) 41 Filing requirements: Dependents (Table 1-2) 6 Gross income levels (Table 1-1) 5 Head of household, qualifying person (Table 2-1) 23 Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs): Figuring modified AGI (Worksheet 9-1) 80 Modified AGI, effect on deduction if covered by retirement plan at work (Table 9 -1) 78 Modified AGI, effect on deduction if not covered by retirement plan at work (Table 9-2) 79 Roth IRAs, effect of modified AGI on contributions (Table 9-3) 86 Roth IRAs, modified AGI (Worksheet 9-2) 85 Roth IRA and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) phaseout (Table 9-3) 86 Standard deduction tables 93 Taxes that are deductible (Table 11-1) 97 Tax returns: Due dates (Table 1-5) 10 Steps to prepare (Table 1-6) 11 Tax computation worksheet 122 Tax Counseling for the Elderly 9 Tax credits (See Credits) Taxes, not support 35 Taxes 36, 94–98, 104 Alternative minimum 105 Business taxes, deduction of 94 Deduction of 94 Schedules to use 98 Types of taxes deductible (Table 11-1) 97 Estate (See Estate tax) Excise (See Excise taxes) Federal income taxes, not deductible 98 Foreign taxes 94 Income tax, deduction of 95 Gift taxes 98 How to figure Income taxes, deduction of 94 Indian tribal government taxes, deduction of 94 Inheritance tax 98 Kiddie tax (See Children, subheading: Unearned income of) Not deductible 98 Personal property taxes: Deduction of 98 Real estate taxes (See Real estate taxes) Tax evasion 20 Tax-exempt: Bonds and other obligations 59 Income 102 Interest 59 Tax-exempt income 34 Tax figured by IRS 106 Tax help 4, 9, 125 Tax Counseling for the Elderly 9 Publication 17 (2020) Tax help (Cont.) Volunteer counseling (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program) 9, 51 Taxpayer identification number (TIN): Adoption (ATIN) 12 Individual (ITIN) 13, 36 Social security number (See Social security number (SSN)) Tax preference items 105 Tax rates 21 Married filing separately (Schedule Y-2) 22 Tax refunds: Agreement with IRS extending assessment period, claim based on 19 Bad debts 18 Business tax credit carrybacks 19 Cashing check 14 Check's expiration date 14 Claim for 17–19 Limitations period 18 Litigation 19 Direct deposit 14 Erroneous refunds 17 Federal income tax refunds 68 Financially disabled 18 Foreign tax paid or accrued 19 General rules 8 Inquiries 9 Interest on 17, 19, 55 Late filed returns 3 Limits 18 Exceptions 18 More or less than expected 14 Net operating loss carryback 19 Offset: Against debts 8, 14 Against next year's tax 14 Offset against next year's tax 41 Past-due 9, 17 Real estate taxes, treatment of 96 Reduced 19 State and local income tax refunds 94, 95 State liability, effect on 19 Under $1 14 Withholding 7 Worthless securities 19 Tax returns 10, 13, 21 (See also Due dates) (See also Signatures) (See also Joint Returns) Tax Returns: Aliens 7 Amended 18, 92 Attachments to returns 13 Child 14 Copies of 16 Dating of 13 Filing of 5 (See also Filing requirements) Forms to use 7 Free preparation help 9 How to file 11 Mailing of 16 Paid preparer 14 Payment with 15 Private delivery services 10 Steps to prepare (Table 1-6) 11 Third party designee 13 Transcript of 16 Who must file 5, 7 Tax table 110–121 Tax year 10–12 (See also Accounting periods) Telephones 102 Fraud or misconduct of IRS employee, number for reporting anonymously 3 Temporary absences 27, 33 Tenants: By the entirety 54 In common 54 Tenants by the entirety: Real estate taxes, allocation when filing separately 96 Terminal illness: Accelerated payment of life insurance Publication 17 (2020) proceeds (See Accelerated death benefits) Viatical settlements 68 Terrorist attacks: Disability pensions for federal employees 52 Theft losses 100, 102 Third parties: Designee for IRS to discuss return with 13 Income from taxpayer's property paid to 12 Tiebreaker rules 31 Tip income: Allocated tips 38 Withholding 38 Underwithholding 38 Total support 34 Tour guides: Free tour for organizing tour 73 Trade Act of 1974: Trade readjustment allowances under 70 Traditional IRAs (See Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)) Transfer taxes: Real estate transactions and 98 Transit passes 49 Travel and transportation expenses: Commuting expenses: Employer-provided commuter vehicle 49 Expenses paid for others 102 Fringe benefits 49 Job search expenses 74 Parking fees: Employer-provided fringe benefit 49 School children, transporting of 75 Transit pass 49 Treasury bills, notes, and bonds 58 Treasury Inspector General: Telephone number to report anonymously fraud or misconduct of IRS employee 3 Treasury notes 55 Trust beneficiaries: Losses of trust 73 Receiving income from trust 73, 74 Trustees: Administrative fees 100 IRA 100 IRAs: Fees 77 Transfer from trustee to trustee 81, 88 Trusts 73 (See also Trust beneficiaries) Grantor trusts 73 Income 73 TTY/TDD information 125 Tuition, benefits under GI Bill 35 Tuition: Qualified programs (See Qualified tuition programs) Tuition programs, qualified (See Qualified tuition programs) U U.S. citizen or resident 27 U.S. national 27 U.S. obligations, interest 55, 56 U.S. possessions: Deduction of income tax paid to 95 Income from 7 U.S. savings bonds: Education, used for 22 Interest on 74 U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds 58 U.S. Virgin Islands: Income from 7 Underpayment penalties 36, 41, 43 IRS computation 44 Unearned income: Children 54 Unearned income of child (See Children, subheading: Unearned income of) Unemployment compensation 70 Credit card insurance paying 72 Mandatory contributions to state funds, deduction of 95 Private fund, from 71 Repayment of benefits 70, 71 Reporting on Form 1040 71 Supplemental benefits 71 Voluntary benefit fund contributions 102 Withholding 39, 71 Unions 38, 71, 75 (See also Labor unions) Unmarried persons (See Single taxpayers) Usurious interest 55 Utilities: Energy conservation subsidies 72, 75 Rebates 75 V Veterans' benefits: Educational assistance 75 Veterans benefits 51 Retroactive determination 52 Special statute of limitations. 52 Viatical settlements 68 VISTA volunteers 51 Volunteer firefighters: IRAs 78 Volunteer work 51 Tax counseling (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program) 9, 51 Vouchers for payment of tax 41, 42 W W-2 form (See Form W-2) Wages and salaries 11, 46–53 (See also Form W-2) Accident and health insurance 47 Accrued leave payment 47 Adoption, employer assistance 48 Advance commissions 46 Allowances and reimbursements 38, 46 Archer MSA contributions 47 Awards and prizes 46 Babysitting 46 Back pay awards 46 Bonuses 46 Child care providers 46 Children's earnings 7 Clergy 50 De minimis benefits 48 Elective deferrals 49 Employee achievement award 46 Employee compensation 46 Farmworkers 36 Foreign employer 51 Form W-2 (See Form W-2) Fringe benefits 47 Garnished 12 Government cost-of-living allowances 47 Household workers 36 Long-term care coverage 47 Military retirees 36, 51 Military service 51 Miscellaneous compensation 46 Note for services 47 Outplacement services 47 Religious orders 50 Restricted property 50 Dividends on restricted stock 50 Retirement plan contributions by employer 49 Severance pay 47 Sick pay 47, 53 Social security and Medicare taxes paid by employer 47 Stock appreciation rights 47 Stock options 50 Supplemental 38 Volunteer work 51 Withholding (See Withholding) War zone (See Combat zone) Washington State Supplemental Workmen's Compensation Fund 95 Welfare benefits 34, 71 What's new 1 Where to file 16 Widow/widower (See Surviving spouse) Winter energy payments 72 Withholding 11, 36 (See also Form W-2) Agricultural Act of 1949 payments 39 Changing amount withheld 37 For 2022 37 Checking amount of 37 Claim for refund 7 Commodity credit loans 39 Credit for 36, 42 Cumulative wage method 37 Definition 36 Determining amount to withhold 37 Disaster Assistance Act of 1988 payments 39 Employers, rules for 37 Exemption from 38 Federal income taxes, not deductible 98 Form W-4: Provided by employer 37 Fringe benefits 38 Gambling winnings 39, 43 General rules 36 Highest rate, employer must withhold at if no W-4 37 Incorrect form 43 IRA distributions 84 New job 37 Penalties 36, 38, 39 Pensions and annuities 13, 39 Railroad retirement benefits 39, 63 Repaying withheld tax 37 Salaries and wages 36 Separate returns 43 Sick pay 38 Social security benefits 39, 63 State and local income taxes, deduction for 94 Supplemental wages 38 Tips (See Tip income) Unemployment compensation 39, 71 Workers' compensation 53 Mandatory contributions to state funds, deduction of 95 Return to work 53 Worksheets: Head of household status and cost of keeping up home 24 Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs), modified AGI computation (Worksheet 9-1) 80 Roth IRA modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), computation (Worksheet 9-2) 85 Social security or railroad retirement benefits, to figure taxability 62, 63 Support test 30 Wristwatch 102 Write-offs (See Cancellation of debt) Page 135 Where To File Mail your return to the address shown below that applies to you. If you want to use a private delivery service, see Private delivery services in chapter 1. TIP Envelopes without enough postage will be returned to you by the post office. Your envelope may need additional postage if it contains more than five pages or is oversized (for example, it is over 1/4 inch thick). Also, include your complete return address. THEN send your return to the address below if you are requesting a refund or are NOT enclosing a payment... OR send your return to the address below if you ARE enclosing a payment (check or money order)... Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Kansas City, MO 64999-0002 Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 1214 Charlotte, NC 28201-1214 Alaska, California, Hawaii, Ohio, Washington Use this address if you file from January 1, 2021, through June 18, 2021: IF you live in... Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Fresno, CA 93888-0002 Starting June 19, 2021, use the following address: Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0002 Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 802501 Cincinnati, OH 45280-2501 Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 802501 Cincinnati, OH 45280-2501 Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Kansas City, MO 64999-0002 Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 931000 Louisville, KY 40293-1000 Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0002 Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 931000 Louisville, KY 40293-1000 Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0002 Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 931000 Louisville, KY 40293-1000 Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Austin, TX 73301-0002 Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 1214 Charlotte, NC 28201-1214 A foreign country, U.S. possession or territory,* or use an APO or FPO address, or file Form 2555 or 4563, or are a dual-status alien Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Austin, TX 73301-0215 Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 1303 Charlotte, NC 28201-1303 * If you live in American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, see Pub. 570. Page 136 Publication 17 (2020)
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