Learn as you file
What each form in your packet is, what to show a CPA, and practical filing tips. Educational only — not tax advice.
Your download is one PDF. Form 1040 is first. Extra schedules follow in IRS order when we had numbers to fill them: Schedules 1–2–3, B, C and SE, 8949 and D, A, then a state return. Blank forms are skipped.
Your main federal income tax return. It lists who you are, wages, tax, withholding, and whether you overpaid or still owe.
When we include it. Always included in the packet.
Show your CPA. The filled 1040 plus every original W-2 and income statement.
Typical documents. W-2 from every employer · 1099s · photo ID if they ask
Extra income and adjustments that do not fit on the front of Form 1040 — for example business profit from Schedule C, and half of self-employment tax.
When we include it. Added when there is self-employment or other extra income.
Show your CPA. Schedule C figures and any extra income statements (1099-NEC, 1099-MISC).
Typical documents. 1099-NEC · expense receipts
Extra taxes that sit on top of regular income tax. For most freelancers here, that is self-employment tax from Schedule SE.
When we include it. Added when self-employment tax is computed.
Show your CPA. Schedule SE and your 1099-NEC totals so they can check the Social Security / Medicare tax.
Typical documents. 1099-NEC
Extra credits and some payments that flow to Form 1040. We attach it with the self-employment set so the packet matches IRS order.
When we include it. Added with the Schedule C / SE set.
Show your CPA. The rest of the self-employment packet (C, SE, 1, 2).
Typical documents. 1099-NEC
Interest and ordinary dividends. Banks and brokers send 1099-INT and 1099-DIV for this.
When we include it. Added when interest or dividend figures are in your uploads.
Show your CPA. Every 1099-INT and 1099-DIV, including small ones.
Typical documents. 1099-INT · 1099-DIV
Profit or loss from freelance, gig, or a small business you operate. Gross receipts minus expenses you uploaded.
When we include it. Added from 1099-NEC (or similar) when those figures exist. We skip a blank Schedule C.
Show your CPA. 1099-NEC / 1099-K, a list of business expenses, and receipts. Tell them if expenses are incomplete — a half-filled C does not replace a CPA review.
Typical documents. 1099-NEC · 1099-K · expense receipts
Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) on net freelance profit. Half of that tax is an adjustment on Schedule 1.
When we include it. Added when Schedule C net profit is positive.
Show your CPA. Schedule C net profit and how expenses were counted.
Typical documents. 1099-NEC · expense receipts
Sales of stock, crypto, or other capital assets. You can upload more than one Form 8949 — Coinbase, crypto.com, a broker, and so on. We add them together. If you only have a statement, we fill a summary 8949. We skip a statement only when it is from the same place as an 8949 you already uploaded.
When we include it. Added when capital-gain figures exist, or when you uploaded one or more Form 8949s.
Show your CPA. Every 8949 you downloaded (each exchange/broker), plus any statement for an account that has no 8949.
Typical documents. Form 8949 (one per exchange/broker) · 1099-B · crypto year-end report
Rolls Form 8949 totals into short-term and long-term capital gain or loss, then onto Form 1040.
When we include it. Added with Form 8949 when there is a capital gain or loss.
Show your CPA. The same brokerage / crypto statements as Form 8949.
Typical documents. 1099-B · crypto year-end report
Itemized deductions (mortgage interest, property tax, gifts to charity, medical) when those beat the standard deduction.
When we include it. Added only if itemized totals beat the standard deduction. Otherwise Form 1040 uses the standard deduction and we skip Schedule A.
Show your CPA. Form 1098 (mortgage), property-tax bills, and charity receipts.
Typical documents. 1098 · property tax · charity receipts
Your state income tax return, merged into the same PDF when we have a state and that state taxes income.
When we include it. Added when your profile has a state with income tax. States like FL, TX, and WA are skipped.
Show your CPA. The state pages plus your federal packet, and any state withholding on your W-2s.
Typical documents. W-2 (state box) · state resident info
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