Interactive Tax Forms

This interactive tool tells you a little about what is behind the tax forms. What does each line mean? How many people make an entry? How does it affect revenues and the distribution of tax burdens across income categories?

This year�s version covers the 2015 Form 1040�the most common return�and Schedule A, where taxpayers tally up itemized deductions.

Click on a link to bring up a form. Then hover your cursor over a line to see basic information and click to bring up a box with additional information.

This year, we also offer a new feature that explains in broader brush strokes how the federal income tax works. The new presentation talks about different aspects of filling out your return�who count as dependents, what income do you report and what is left out, what deductions and credits can you claim, and how do taxes affect education, retirement, and health expenses. Check it out here.

Total income subject to tax before exemptions and either the standard or itemized deductions.

Taxpayers who are elderly and/or blind may claim additional standard deductions

A married person filing separately may not claim the standard deduction if her/his spouse itemizes deductions. Dual-status aliens may claim the standard deduction only if they agree to pay tax on their worldwide income.

Taxpayers may either claim the standard deduction or itemize specific deductions.

Adjusted gross income (AGI) net of standard or itemized deductions.

Taxable income is reduced by $3,900 for each taxpayer and qualifying dependent listed on line 6c. Total exemptions are reduced, however, for high-income taxpayers.

Taxable income equals AGI minus exemptions and either the standard or itemized deductions.

Most income is taxed under a progressive schedule of tax rates ranging from 10 percent to 39.6 percent. Capital gains and qualified dividends face lower rates: 0 percent, 15 percent, or 20 percent.

Some taxpayers, particularly those who benefit from specific tax preferences, must pay the alternative minimum tax (AMT), which is calculated using a different measure of income and different tax rates than the regular income tax.

Each tax unit that received too large a premium subsidy to purchase health insurance through a state or federal exchange under the Affordable Care Act must repay some or all of the excess subsidy on its income tax return.

The sum of regular tax and AMT is tax liability before taking account of credits.

Subject to limits, tax liability is reduced by the amount of taxes paid to foreign governments on income earned outside the United States.

Taxpayers who incur childcare expenses for children under age 13 so parents can work or attend school may claim a tax credit of up to $2,100, depending on their income and number of children.

Taxpayers who meet income limits may claim a nonrefundable credit of up to 50 percent of up to $2,000 contributed to qualified retirement plans.

Taxpayers may claim a tax credit of $1,000 for each qualifying child under age 17. The credit phases out for high-income families and is nonrefundable, but taxpayers may claim the additional child tax credit, which is refundable, on line 65.

Taxpayers may claim two tax credits for qualifying energy-saving improvements made to their homes: the Residential Energy Efficient Property credit and the Nonbusiness Energy Property credit.

Taxpayers claim all other credits on this line, including the general business credit, the mortgage interest credit, the adoption credit, and the credit for the elderly or disabled.

Total nonrefundable tax credits. These credits may reduce tax liability to zero but cannot result in payments to taxpayers in excess of tax payments.

Tax liability net of nonrefundable credits. This value cannot be less than zero.

Self-employed people must pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on their income.

Taxpayers with income subject to Social Security or Medicare taxes but on which those taxes were not withheld calculate and pay them on their income tax returns.

Taxpayers who made early withdrawals from retirement accounts, who contributed more to those accounts than allowed, or who failed to take required distributions from those accounts must pay taxes on the amounts involved.

Taxpayers who employ household workers pay Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance taxes on their income tax returns, if applicable.

Taxpayers who received a first-time homeowners credit in 2008 and those who received such a credit after 2008 but did not live in the home for three years must repay some or all of the credit.

Tax units that did not have adequate health insurance coverage for at least nine months during the prior year and that are not otherwise exempt must make an individual responsibility payment on their tax return.

All other taxes, including the Additional Medicare Tax and the Net Investment Income Tax imposed by the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Total tax liability before subtracting refundable tax credits.

Taxes withheld by employers from earnings or by investment managers from investment income.

Taxes paid either through estimated payments during the filing year and in January of the current year, plus any refund from a taxpayer's prior year return that was applied to this year's taxes.

A refundable credit available to low- and moderate-income workers, the amount of which depends on marital status, number of children, earnings, and total income.

Members of the military who received nontaxable combat pay may elect to include that pay in calculating the earned income tax credit.

Taxpayers who owe too little tax to receive the full $1,000 per child value of the child tax credit may claim any excess as a refundable additional child credit of up to 15 percent of their earnings in excess of $3,000.

A taxpayer with too little tax liability to claim his/her full American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) on line 50 may claim the excess (up to 40 percent of his/her total credit) as a refundable credit.

Each tax unit that purchased health insurance through a state or federal exchange under the Affordable Care Act but received too small a premium subsidy may claim the difference as a credit on its income tax return.

Taxpayers who request automatic extension of time to file their tax returns must still pay the full tax due by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.

Social Security tax paid on earnings in excess of $113,700 for workers with more than one employer.

Taxpayers may claim a credit for taxes paid on fuels used for nontaxable purposes, such as off-highway business use.

Taxpayers report all other tax payments on line 73.

Total tax payments and refundable tax credits.

Amount of tax paid in excess of tax owed. The taxpayer may apply some or all of the excess to next year's taxes and receive the remainder as a tax refund.

Amount of excess tax payment that the taxpayer elects to receive as a refund.

Taxpayers may receive refunds either by mailed check or by direct deposit to a bank account.

Taxpayers may elect to apply some or all of any excess tax payments to their next year's estimated taxes.

Amount of tax liability in excess of tax payments; payment to the US Department of Treasury is due by April 15.

Taxpayers whose withheld and estimated taxes are too much less than their tax liability may owe a penalty.