Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)

The Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) is a tool that provides answers to several tax law questions specific to your individual circumstances. Based on your input, it can determine if you have to file a tax return, your filing status, if you can claim a dependent, if the type of income you have is taxable, if you're eligible to claim a credit, or if you can deduct expenses.

NOTE: The information you provide is anonymous and will be used for purposes of answering your question. It will not be shared, stored or used in any other way, nor can it be used to identify the individual who enters it. It will be discarded when you exit a topic.

You can find topics using the search feature or by viewing the categories listed below.

Filing Requirement, Form to Use, Due Date 

• Do I Need to File a Tax Return?
• How Do I File a Deceased Person's Tax Return?
• What Is the Simplest Form to Use to File My Taxes?
• What Is the Due Date of My Federal Tax Return or Am I Eligible to Request an Extension?
• Should I File an Amended Return?

Filing Status, Dependents and Exemptions

• Whom May I Claim as a Dependent?
• What Is My Filing Status?
• May I Claim an Exemption for Myself or My Spouse?
• How Much Can I Deduct for Each Exemption I Claim?

Retirement: Pensions, IRAs, Social Security

• Are My Social Security or Railroad Retirement Tier I Benefits Taxable?
• Is My Pension or Annuity Payment Taxable?
• Do I Need to Report the Transfer or Rollover of an IRA or Retirement Plan on My Tax Return?
• Is the Distribution From My Roth Account Taxable?
• Is the Distribution From My Traditional, SEP or SIMPLE IRA Taxable?
• Do I Meet an Exception to the Additional Tax on Early Distributions From IRAs or Retirement Plans?
• How Do I Correct an Excess Salary Deferral to My 401(k)?

Other Income

• Do I Include My Scholarship, Fellowship, or Education Grant as Income on My Tax Return?
• How Do I Claim My Gambling Winnings and/or Losses?
• Do I Have Income Subject to Self-Employment Tax?
• Is My Residential Rental Income Taxable and/or Are My Expenses Deductible?
• Is My Tip Income Taxable?
• Are Payments I Receive for Being Unemployed Taxable?

Deductions

• How Much Is My Standard Deduction?
• Can I Claim a Deduction for Student Loan Interest?
• Can I Deduct My Moving Expenses?
• How Do I Claim My Gambling Winnings and/or Losses?
• Can I Deduct My Medical and Dental Expenses?
• Can I Deduct My Mortgage-Related Expenses?
• Can I Deduct My Charitable Contributions?
• Can I Claim My Expenses as Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions on Schedule A?
• Can I Deduct Personal Taxes That I Pay as an Itemized Deduction on Schedule A?
• Are My Work-Related Education Expenses Deductible?

Credits

• Am I Eligible to Claim an Education Credit?
• Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?  
• Am I Eligible to Claim the Premium Tax Credit?
• Am I Eligible to Claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit?
• Do I Qualify for the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled?
• Do I Qualify for the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit?
• Am I Eligible to Claim a Credit for Adopting a Child or to Exclude Employer-Provided Adoption Benefits From My Employer?
• Am I Eligible to Claim the Foreign Tax Credit?
• Do I Need to Repay the First-Time Homebuyer Credit?

International

• Am I Eligible to Apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number?
• Can I Exclude Income Earned in a Foreign Country?
• Am I Eligible to Claim the Foreign Tax Credit?
• As a U.S. Citizen or Resident Alien Married to a Nonresident Alien, What's My Filing Status?
• Is Federal Income Tax Withholding Required on the Disposition of U.S. Property Interest by a Nonresident Alien?
• Am I Required to File a Nonresident Alien U.S. Individual Tax Return?

Additional Topics

• Am I Eligible to Apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number?
• Can I or My Spouse Claim Part of a Refund Being Applied Toward a Debt Owed by the Other Spouse?
• Do I Have Cancellation of Debt Income on My Personal Residence?
• Am I Required to Make Estimated Tax Payments?
• Do I Need to Pay the Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax?
• Can I Claim Exemption From Withholding on Form W-4?
• Am I Eligible for a Health Insurance Coverage Exemption or Required to Make an Individual Shared Responsibility Payment under the Affordable Care Act?

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