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Frequently Asked Tax Questions And Answers

Welcome to the Internal Revenue Service's general questions and answers section. Each year we update the answers to reflect the latest changes in tax regulations. These questions and answers came from taxpayers like you. We hope you find them helpful and informative.

Please let us know if you encounter any problems or have suggestions. To send a comment, go to our comments and feedback by email page. Please use the word FAQ in your comment.

If you don't find the answer to your general tax question below, also check Tax Topics and Tax Trails. If you still don't find the answer to your question, please call our toll-free tax assistance line at 1-800-829-1040 for individual tax questions or 1-800-829-4933 for business tax questions.


You may select frequently asked questions by:

Select keyword "New Tax Law Changes" in list below for a grouping of frequently asked questions impacted by recent legislative changes.

Frequently Asked Questions by Category

  1. IRS Procedures
  2. Filing Requirements/Status/Dependents/Exemptions
  3. Itemized Deductions/Standard Deductions
  4. Interest/Dividends/Other Types of Income
  5. Pensions/Annuities/Retirement Plans (i.e., 401(k), etc.)
  6. Social Security Income
  7. Child Care Credit/Other Credits
  8. Earned Income Tax Credit
  9. Estimated Tax
  10. Capital Gains, Losses/Sale of Home
  11. Sale or Trade of Business, Depreciation, Rentals
  12. Small Business/Self-Employed/Other Business
  13. Aliens and U.S. Citizens Living Abroad
  14. Electronic Filing (e-file)
  15. Magnetic Media Filers
  16. Other (Alternative Minimum Tax, Estates, Trusts, Tax Shelters, State Tax Inquiries)
  17. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)

Frequently Asked Questions by Subcategory

1.     IRS Procedures

1.1. General Procedural Questions

1.2. Address Changes

1.3. Amended Returns & Form 1040X

1.4. Code, Revenue Procedures, Regulations, Letter Rulings

1.5. Collection Procedural Questions

1.6. Copies & Transcripts

1.7. Extensions

1.8. Forms & Publications

1.9. Injured Spouse

1.10. Name Changes & Social Security Number Matching Issues

1.11. Notices & Letters

1.12. Refund Inquiries

1.13. Reporting Fraud

1.14. Signing the Return

1.15. W–2 - Additional, Incorrect, Lost, Non-receipt, Omitted

1.16. W–4 - Allowances, Excess FICA, Students, Withholding

2.     Filing Requirements/Status/Dependents/Exemptions

2.1. Filing Requirements

2.2. Filing Status

2.3. Dependents & Exemptions

3.     Itemized Deductions/Standard Deductions

3.1. Autos, Computers, Electronic Devices (Listed Property)

3.2. Education & Work-Related Expenses

3.3. Gifts & Charitable Contributions

3.4. Interest, Investment, Money Transactions (Alimony, Bad Debts, Applicable Federal Interest Rate, Gambling, Legal Fees, Loans, etc.)

3.5. 5. Medical, Nursing Home, Special Care Expenses

3.6. 6. Real Estate (Taxes, Mortgage Interest, Points, Other Property Expenses)

3.7. 7. Other Deduction Questions

4.     Interest/Dividends/Other Types of Income

4.1. 1099–DIV Dividend Income

4.2. 1099–INT Interest Income

4.3. 1099–MISC, Independent Contractors, and Self-employed

4.4. 1099 Information Returns (All Other)

4.5. Alimony, Child Support, Court Awards, Damages

4.6. Employee Reimbursements, Form W–2, Wage Inquiries

4.7. Gifts & Inheritances

4.8. Grants, Scholarships, Student Loans, Work Study

4.9. Life Insurance & Disability Insurance Proceeds

4.10. Ministers' Compensation & Housing Allowance

4.11. Savings Bonds

4.12. Tips

5.     Pensions/Annuities/Retirement Plans (i.e., 401(k), etc.)

5.1. General/Taxability Issues including Distributions, Early Withdrawals, 10% Additional Tax, Defaulted Loans

5.2. Rollovers

5.3. Types of Plans

5.4. Plan Operations

5.5. Plan Design

5.6. Correcting Plan Errors

6.     Social Security Income

6.1. Back Payments

6.2. Regular & Disability Benefits

6.3. Survivors' Benefits

7.     Child Care Credit/Other Credits

7.1. Child and Dependent Care Credit & Flexible Benefit Plans

7.2. Child Tax Credit

7.3. Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled

7.4. Hope & Life Time Learning Educational Credits

7.5. Other Credits

8.     Earned Income Tax Credit

8.1. Qualifying Child Rules

8.2. Taxable & Nontaxable Income

8.3. Other EITC Issues

9.     Estimated Tax

9.1. Businesses

9.2. Farmers & Fishermen

9.3. Individuals

9.4. Large Gains, Lump-sum Distributions, etc.

9.5. Penalty Questions

10.     Capital Gains, Losses/Sale of Home

10.1. Property (Basis, Sale of Home, etc.)

10.2. Stocks (Options, Splits, Traders)

10.3. Mutual Funds (Costs, Distributions, etc.)

10.4. Losses (Homes, Stocks, Other Property)

11.     Sale or Trade of Business, Depreciation, Rentals

11.1. Depreciation & Recapture

11.2. Rental Expenses versus Passive Activity Losses (PALs)

11.3. Personal Use of Business Property (Condo, Timeshare, etc.)

11.4. Sales, Trades, Exchanges

12.     Small Business/Self-Employed/Other Business

12.1. Entities: Sole Proprietor, Partnership, Limited Liability Company/Partnership (LLC/LLP), Corporation, Subchapter S Corporation

12.2. Form 1099–MISC & Independent Contractors

12.3. Form W–2, FICA, Medicare, Tips, Employee Benefits

12.4. Form W–4 & Wage Withholding

12.5. Form SS–4 & Employer Identification Number (EIN)

12.6. Forms 941, 940, Employment Taxes

12.7. Income & Expenses

12.8. Schedule C & Schedule SE

12.9. Starting or Ending a Business

13.     Aliens and U.S. Citizens Living Abroad

13.1. Canadian & U.S. Tax Issues

13.2. Exchange Rate

13.3. Foreign Income & Foreign Income Exclusion

13.4. Nonresident Alien - General

13.5. Nonresident Alien - Tax Withholding

13.6. Nonresident Alien - Students

13.7. U.S. Citizens Overseas

13.8. Other

14.     Electronic Filing (e-file)

14.1. Age/Name/SSN Rejects, Errors, Correction Procedures

14.2. Amended Returns

14.3. Due Dates & Extension Dates for e-file

14.4. Forms W–2 & Other Attachments

15.     Magnetic Media Filers

16.     Other (Alternative Minimum Tax, Estates, Trusts, Tax Shelters, State Tax Inquiries)

17.     Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)

17.1. Distributions, Early Withdrawals, 10% Additional Tax

17.2. Rollovers

17.3. Roth IRA

17.4. Traditional IRA

Frequently Asked Questions by Keyword

Numeric A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W

Select the appropriate keyword to get questions and answers across all categories.