Publication 967: The IRS Will Figure Your Tax; Main Contents

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2004 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

Table of Contents

Form 1040EZ

To have the IRS figure your tax, follow these steps if you are filing Form 1040EZ.

1. Place your peel-off label on your return. If you do not have a label, print or type your name and address in the spaces provided.

2. Enter your social security number in the space provided. If you are married, enter the social security numbers of both spouses.

3. Read lines 1 through 8 and complete the lines that apply to you. Do not complete lines 9 through 12. If you are filing a joint return, use the space under the “Note” to the left of line 6 to separately show your taxable income and your spouse's taxable income.

Payments. Enter any federal income tax withheld on line 7. Federal income tax withheld is shown on Form W-2, box 2.

Earned income credit (EIC). If you can take the EIC, the IRS can figure it for you. Enter “EIC” in the space to the left of line 8a.

4. Attach a copy of each of your Forms W-2 to your return.

5. 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.

6. Mail your return to the Internal Revenue Service Center for the area where you live. A list of Service Center addresses is shown in your tax forms package.

Form 1040A

If you are filing Form 1040A and you want the IRS to figure your tax, follow these steps.

1. Place your peel-off label on your return. If you do not have a label, print or type your name and address in the spaces provided.

2. Enter your social security number in the space provided. If you are married, enter the social security numbers of both spouses even if you file separately.

3. Read lines 1 through 27 and complete the lines that apply to you. If you are filing a joint return, use the space to the left of the entry space for line 27 to separately show your taxable income and your spouse's taxable income. The IRS will complete line 28.

4. Read lines 29 through 33, 37, and 39 through 42 and complete the lines that apply to you. But do not complete lines 30 and 41 if you want the IRS to figure the credits on those lines. Also, enter any write-in information that applies to you to the left of the entry space for line 43. Do not complete lines 35, 36, 38, and 43 through 48.

Payments. Enter any federal income tax withheld that is shown on Form W-2, box 2, or the appropriate box of Form 1099, on line 39. Enter any estimated tax payments you made on line 40.

Credits. The IRS will also figure the credit for the elderly or the disabled and the earned income credit.

Credit for the elderly or the disabled. If you can take this credit, the IRS will figure it for you. Attach Schedule 3, Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled for Form 1040A Filers, to your return and enter “CFE” in the space to the left of line 30 on Form 1040A. Check the appropriate box on Schedule 3, Part I, for your filing status and age. Complete Part II and Part III, lines 11 and 13, if they apply.
Earned income credit. If you can take this credit, the IRS will figure it for you. Enter “EIC” to the left of the entry space for line 41a. If you have a qualifying child, you must fill in Schedule EIC, Earned Income Credit, and attach it to your return. If you do not 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 2004.

5. Fill in and attach any schedules and forms asked for on the lines you completed.

6. Attach a copy of each of your Forms W-2 to your return. Also attach any Form 1099-R you received that has withholding tax in box 4.

7. 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 in the signature area. 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.

8. Mail your return to the Internal Revenue Service Center for the area where you live. A list of Service Center addresses is shown in your tax forms package.

Form 1040

To have IRS figure your tax, follow these steps if you are filing Form 1040.

1. Place your peel-off label on your return. If you do not have a label, print or type your name and address in the spaces provided.

2. Enter your social security number in the space provided. If you are married, enter the social security numbers of you and your spouse even if you file separately.

3. Read lines 1 through 42 and complete the lines that apply to you. If you are filing a joint return, use the space under the words Adjusted Gross Income on the front of your return to separately show your taxable income and your spouse's taxable income. The IRS will complete line 43.

4. Read lines 44 through 69 and complete the lines that apply to you, but do not fill in the Total lines. Also, do not complete lines 56 and 70 through 75. Do not complete lines 47 and 65 if you want the IRS to figure the credits on those lines.

Payments. Enter any federal income tax withheld that is shown on Form W-2, box 2, or the appropriate box of Form 1099, on line 63. Enter any estimated tax payments you made on line 64.

Credits. The IRS will also figure the credit for the elderly or the disabled and the earned income credit.

Credit for the elderly or the disabled. If you can take this credit, the IRS will figure it for you. Attach Schedule R, Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled, to your return and enter “CFE” on the dotted line next to Form 1040, line 47. Check the appropriate box on Schedule R, Part I, for your filing status and age. Complete Part II and Part III, lines 11 and 13, if they apply.
Earned income credit. If you can take this credit, the IRS will figure it for you. Enter “EIC” on the dotted line next to line 65a. If you have a qualifying child, you must fill in Schedule EIC and attach it to your return. If you do not 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 2004.

5. Fill in and attach any schedules or forms asked for on the lines you completed.

6. Attach a copy of each of your Forms W-2 to your return. Also attach any Form 1099-R you received that has withholding tax in box 4.

8. Mail your return to the Internal Revenue Service Center for the area where you live. A list of Service Center addresses is shown in your tax forms package.