Tax topics

These tax topics contain general individual and business tax information. If you don't find the answer to your question below, also check Frequently Asked Questions and Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA).

IRS help available

TitleTopic number
IRS Services – Volunteer tax assistance, outreach programs, and identity theftTopic no. 101
Tax assistance for individuals with disabilitiesTopic no. 102
Tax help for small businesses and the self-employedTopic no. 103
Taxpayer Advocate Service – Your voice at the IRSTopic no. 104
Armed Forces tax informationTopic no. 105
Tax relief in disaster situationsTopic no. 107

IRS procedures

TitleTopic number
Your appeal rightsTopic no. 151
Form W-2 and Form 1099-R (What to do if incorrect or not received)Topic no. 154
Obtaining forms and publicationsTopic no. 155
How to get a transcript or copy of your tax returnTopic no. 156
Change your address – How to notify the IRSTopic no. 157
Paying your taxes and ensuring proper credit of paymentsTopic no. 158
How to get a wage and income transcript or copy of Form W-2Topic no. 159
Returning an erroneous refund – Paper check or direct depositTopic no. 161

Collection

TitleTopic number
The collection processTopic no. 201
Tax payment optionsTopic no. 202
Offers in compromiseTopic no. 204
Dishonored paymentsTopic no. 206

Alternative filing methods

TitleTopic number
Substitute tax formsTopic no. 253
How to choose a tax return preparerTopic no. 254
Signing your return electronicallyTopic no. 255

General information

TitleTopic number
When, how, and where to fileTopic no. 301
Checklist of common errors when preparing your tax returnTopic no. 303
Extensions of time to file your tax returnTopic no. 304
RecordkeepingTopic no. 305
Penalty for underpayment of estimated taxTopic no. 306
Backup withholdingTopic no. 307
Amended returnsTopic no. 308
Roth IRA contributionsTopic no. 309
Coverdell education savings accountsTopic no. 310
Power of attorney informationTopic no. 311
Disclosure authorizationsTopic no. 312
Qualified tuition programs (QTPs)Topic no. 313

Which forms to file

TitleTopic number
DecedentsTopic no. 356

Types of income

TitleTopic number
Wages and salariesTopic no. 401
Interest receivedTopic no. 403
Dividends and other corporate distributionsTopic no. 404
Business incomeTopic no. 407
Capital gains and lossesTopic no. 409
Pensions and annuitiesTopic no. 410
Pensions – The general rule and the simplified methodTopic no. 411
Lump-sum distributionsTopic no. 412
Rollovers from retirement plansTopic no. 413
Rental income and expensesTopic no. 414
Renting residential and vacation propertyTopic no. 415
Farming and fishing incomeTopic no. 416
Earnings for clergyTopic no. 417
Unemployment compensationTopic no. 418
Gambling income and lossesTopic no. 419
Bartering incomeTopic no. 420
Scholarships, fellowship grants, and other grantsTopic no. 421
Social Security and equivalent railroad retirement benefitsTopic no. 423
401(k) plansTopic no. 424
Passive activities – Losses and creditsTopic no. 425
Stock optionsTopic no. 427
Traders in securities (Information for Form 1040 or 1040-SR filers)Topic no. 429
Receipt of stock in a demutualizationTopic no. 430
Canceled debt – Is it taxable or not?Topic no. 431
Form 1099-A (Acquisition or Abandonment of Secured Property) and Form 1099-C (Cancellation of Debt)Topic no. 432

Adjustments to income

TitleTopic number
Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)Topic no. 451
Alimony and separate maintenanceTopic no. 452
Bad debt deductionTopic no. 453
Moving expenses for members of the Armed Forces and the Intelligence CommunityTopic no. 455
Student loan interest deductionTopic no. 456
Educator expense deductionTopic no. 458

Itemized deductions

TitleTopic number
Should I itemize?Topic no. 501
Medical and dental expensesTopic no. 502
Deductible taxesTopic no. 503
Home mortgage pointsTopic no. 504
Interest expenseTopic no. 505
Charitable contributionsTopic no. 506
Business use of homeTopic no. 509
Business use of carTopic no. 510
Business travel expensesTopic no. 511
Work-related education expensesTopic no. 513
Casualty, disaster, and theft lossesTopic no. 515

Tax computation

TitleTopic number
Standard deductionTopic no. 551
Tax and credits figured by the IRSTopic no. 552
Tax on a child's investment and other unearned income (Kiddie tax)Topic no. 553
Self-employment taxTopic no. 554
Alternative minimum taxTopic no. 556
Additional tax on early distributions from traditional and Roth IRAsTopic no. 557
Additional tax on early distributions from retirement plans other than IRAsTopic no. 558
Net investment income taxTopic no. 559
Additional Medicare TaxTopic no. 560

Tax credits

TitleTopic number
Earned income creditTopic no. 601
Child and dependent care creditTopic no. 602
Excess Social Security and RRTA tax withheldTopic no. 608
Retirement savings contributions creditTopic no. 610
The premium tax creditTopic no. 612

IRS notices

TitleTopic number
Notices – What to doTopic no. 651
Notice of underreported income – CP2000Topic no. 652
IRS notices and bills, penalties, and interest chargesTopic no. 653
Understanding your CP75 or CP75A Notice Request for Supporting DocumentationTopic no. 654

Basis of assets, depreciation and sale of assets

TitleTopic number
Sale of your homeTopic no. 701
Basis of assetsTopic no. 703
DepreciationTopic no. 704
Installment salesTopic no. 705

Employer tax information

TitleTopic number
Social Security and Medicare withholding ratesTopic no. 751
Filing Forms W-2 and W-3Topic no. 752
Form W-4 – Employee's Withholding CertificateTopic no. 753
Employment taxes for household employeesTopic no. 756
Forms 941 and 944 – Deposit requirementsTopic no. 757
Form 941 – Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return and Form 944 – Employer's Annual Federal Tax ReturnTopic no. 758
Form 940 – Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return – Filing and deposit requirementsTopic no. 759
Form 943 – Reporting and deposit requirements for agricultural employersTopic no. 760
Tips – Withholding and reportingTopic no. 761
Independent contractor vs. employeeTopic no. 762
The Affordable Care ActTopic no. 763

Electronic media filers – 1099 series and related information returns

TitleTopic number
Who must file information returns electronicallyTopic no. 801
Applying to file information returns electronicallyTopic no. 802
Electronic filing waivers or exemptions and filing extensionsTopic no. 803
FIRE system test files and Combined Federal/State Filing (CF/SF) programTopic no. 804

Tax information for U.S. resident aliens and citizens living abroad

TitleTopic number
Resident and nonresident aliensTopic no. 851
Foreign tax creditTopic no. 856
Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)Topic no. 857
Alien tax clearanceTopic no. 858

Tax information for residents of Puerto Rico

TitleTopic number
Is a person with income from sources within Puerto Rico required to file a U.S. federal income tax return?Topic no. 901
Credits and deductions for taxpayers with Puerto Rican source income exempt from U.S. taxTopic no. 902
U.S. employment tax in Puerto RicoTopic no. 903