Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · United States (federal)
Form 1040: U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Current revision: Tax year 2025 (checked on irs.gov, Oct 15, 2026)
Fill in the IRS's current Form 1040 (tax year 2025) line by line: income, AGI, deductions, tax, payments and refund. Then print, sign by hand and mail.
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Form
1040
- Issued by
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Applies in
- United States (federal)
- Edition
- Tax year 2025
Official source
PDFBetter is not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting for Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We open the form from irs.gov, and you fill it in our editor. Check the issuer's instructions before you file.
What it is
What Form 1040 is for
Form 1040 is the annual federal income tax return for U.S. citizens and residents. The PDF the IRS currently posts is for tax year 2025; the version for 2026 income usually appears around the end of the year. Most people e-file, but the PDF is useful for paper filing, checking a return before you file, or preparing a late 2025 return.
Fill it here
From irs.gov to your filled copy
- 1
Fetched from irs.gov
The agency's own, current PDF — not a retyped copy.
- 2
Opens in the editor
Fillable fields work as they are; on a flat page you type with text boxes.
- 3
Your filled copy
Download, print, sign or send it — the original stays untouched.
Who files it
- U.S. citizens and resident aliens whose income is above the filing threshold
- Anyone due a refund of withheld tax or refundable credits
- Self-employed people with net earnings of $400 or more
- People who received advance premium tax credit payments
- Taxpayers age 65 or older (who may use Form 1040-SR instead)
What you need
- Forms W-2 and any 1099s (NEC, MISC, INT, DIV, R, SSA-1099)
- SSNs or ITINs for you, your spouse and dependents
- Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace coverage
- Records of deductions if itemizing (Schedule A)
- Prior-year AGI and any estimated tax payments made
- Bank routing and account number for a direct-deposit refund
Line by line
How to fill out Form 1040
- 1
Filing status and identity
Check one filing status, then enter names, SSNs and address. Answer the digital-assets question for 2025.
- 2
Dependents
List each dependent with their SSN and relationship and check the credit they qualify for.
- 3
Income — lines 1a–9
Enter wages from W-2s on line 1a, then interest, dividends, IRA and pension distributions, Social Security, capital gains and Schedule 1 income. Line 9 is total income.
- 4
AGI — lines 10–11a
Enter adjustments from Schedule 1 on line 10 and subtract to get adjusted gross income on line 11a.
- 5
Deductions — lines 12a–15
Line 12e is your standard or itemized deduction (for 2025 the standard deduction is $15,750 single, $31,500 married filing jointly, $23,625 head of household). Line 13a is the QBI deduction and 13b is new for 2025 deductions from Schedule 1-A. Line 15 is taxable income.
- 6
Tax and credits — lines 16–24
Figure tax, add Schedule 2 amounts, subtract credits such as the child tax credit from Schedule 8812, and add other taxes like self-employment tax. Line 24 is total tax.
- 7
Payments — lines 25–33
Enter withholding from W-2s and 1099s, estimated payments, and refundable credits such as the earned income credit.
- 8
Refund or amount owed — lines 34–38
Choose direct deposit for a refund, or enter the amount you owe on line 37. Then sign; a joint return needs both spouses' signatures.
Where to send it
E-filing is faster and is how most returns are filed. For a paper return, the mailing address depends on your state and whether you're enclosing a payment; see https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment. 2025 returns were due April 15, 2026, or October 15, 2026 with an extension. A paper return must carry a handwritten signature.
Filing rules change. Confirm the address or portal on irs.gov before you send.
Form 1040: questions people ask
Which year is this Form 1040 for?
The PDF the IRS currently posts is for tax year 2025 (income earned in 2025). Don't use it for 2026 income; wait for the 2026 form.
Can I sign a paper Form 1040 electronically?
No. The IRS instructions say you must handwrite your signature on a paper return; digital, electronic or typed-font signatures aren't valid for a paper Form 1040 or 1040-SR. E-filed returns use a PIN instead.
I missed the deadline. Can I still use this form?
Yes, for a late 2025 return. File as soon as you can — if you are owed a refund there's no failure-to-file penalty, but interest and penalties apply to unpaid tax.
Which schedules do I need?
Schedule 1 for extra income or adjustments, Schedule 2 for extra taxes, Schedule 3 for extra credits and payments, and Schedule 1-A for the new 2025 deductions. The instructions include a guide to which ones apply.
What's the most common paper-return mistake?
Math errors, a missing signature, and an SSN that doesn't match Social Security records. Double-check lines 9, 11a, 15 and 24, and attach W-2s to the front.
Is it safe to fill in my SSN in PDFBetter?
Your return contains your SSN and bank details. Keep it in your account, and if you share it with a preparer, use a password-protected link with an expiry date rather than email.