A federal income tax return is made up of a main tax form plus any schedules and supporting forms needed to report your income, deductions, credits, and taxes.
Some forms are generated automatically based on the information you enter, while others appear only when needed.
| Form | What Is It? | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR | Form 1040 is the main federal income tax return. It provides an overview of your income, deductions, credits, taxes, payments, refund, or amount due. Form 1040-SR is available for taxpayers age 65 or older and uses the same tax rules as Form 1040. | Automatically generated |
| Supporting | Supporting forms are used to calculate amounts that flow to Form 1040 or one of its schedules. These forms are created automatically when required based on the information entered in your return. | Automatically generated |
| Schedules | A schedule is an additional form used to report specific types of income, deductions, credits, or taxes. Information from these schedules flows to Form 1040 and becomes part of your federal tax return. | Automatically generated when needed |
Common Federal Tax Schedules
Schedule A
Itemized Deductions
Schedule A is used when you choose to itemize deductions instead of claiming the standard deduction.
Itemized deductions may include:
- Medical and dental expenses
- State and local taxes
- Mortgage interest
- Investment interest
- Charitable contributions
- Casualty and theft losses related to federally declared disasters
- Other eligible itemized deductions
Beginning with tax year 2018, unreimbursed employee business expenses, job-related travel expenses, and most miscellaneous itemized deductions are generally not deductible on Schedule A.
Where to find it:
Federal > Deductions > Itemized Deductions
Schedule B
Interest and Ordinary Dividends
Schedule B is used to report interest and dividend income, including information reported on:
- Form 1099-INT
- Form 1099-DIV
The schedule provides additional details about taxable interest and ordinary dividends received during the year.
Where to find it:
Federal > Income > Interest and Dividend Income
Schedule C
Profit or Loss From Business
Schedule C is used to report income and expenses from self-employment or a sole proprietorship.
You may need Schedule C if you:
- Own a business
- Work as an independent contractor
- Perform freelance or consulting work
- Receive Form 1099-NEC
- Earn self-employment income
Even if you have not formally created a business entity, income earned as a contractor or self-employed individual is generally reported on Schedule C.
Where to find it:
Federal > Income > Profit or Loss From a Business
Schedule D
Capital Gains and Losses
Schedule D is used to report gains and losses from the sale or exchange of capital assets, such as:
- Stocks
- Mutual funds
- Bonds
- Certain investment property
Many taxpayers use information from Form 1099-B when completing Schedule D.
Where to find it:
Federal > Income > Capital Gains and Losses
Schedule E
Supplemental Income and Loss
Schedule E is most commonly used to report rental income and expenses, but it may also be used for income from:
- Royalties
- Partnerships
- S Corporations
- Estates and trusts
For rental properties, Schedule E reports both income received and allowable expenses.
Where to find it:
Federal > Income > Profit or Loss From Rentals and Royalties
Schedule F
Profit or Loss From Farming
Schedule F is used by farmers to report farming income and expenses from a farming business operated as a sole proprietorship.
Examples include:
- Crop sales
- Livestock sales
- Farm expenses
- Agricultural program payments
Where to find it:
Federal > Income > Profit or Loss From Farming
Schedule H
Household Employment Taxes
Schedule H is used by household employers to report employment taxes for household workers, such as:
- Nannies
- Caregivers
- Housekeepers
- Other household employees
This schedule reports the employer's household employment taxes, not the employee's income.
Where to find it:
Federal > Other Taxes > Household Employment Taxes
Numbered Schedules
Schedule 1
Additional Income and Adjustments to Income
Schedule 1 reports certain income and deductions that do not appear directly on Form 1040.
Examples include:
- Business income
- Rental income
- Unemployment compensation
- Student loan interest deduction
- Educator expenses
- Certain self-employed deductions
Where to find it:
Automatically generated
Schedule 2
Additional Taxes
Schedule 2 is used to report additional taxes that are not entered directly on Form 1040.
Examples may include:
- Self-employment tax
- Alternative minimum tax (AMT)
- Household employment taxes
- Additional taxes on retirement accounts
Where to find it:
Automatically generated
Schedule 3
Additional Credits and Payments
Schedule 3 reports certain credits and payments not entered directly on Form 1040.
Examples may include:
- Foreign Tax Credit
- Education credits
- Residential energy credits
- Other eligible credits and payments
Where to find it:
Automatically generated
Why Don't I See Every Schedule in My Return?
Most taxpayers will only see the schedules that apply to their situation.
For example:
- No business income? You likely won't have Schedule C.
- No rental property? You likely won't have Schedule E.
- No investment sales? You may not need Schedule D.
- Taking the standard deduction? You may not have Schedule A.
The software automatically creates the schedules required based on the information entered in your return.
Looking for Information About Other Forms?
For help with common tax documents such as:
- Forms W-2
- Forms 1098
- Forms 1099
- Schedules K-1
- Retirement and Social Security forms
- Education and mortgage forms
Visit the Form-Specific Info and Questions section of the Help Center: