TABLE OF CONTENTS GETTING STARTED...1 CREATE AN ACCOUNT... 2 STEP 1: FILL OUT YOUR TAX FORMS... 3 Navigating Free File Fillable Forms... 3 Types of Input Areas...4 Tabs, Links, Buttons and Icons...8 Adding and Deleting Forms...11 STEP 2: ADD DOCUMENTS, ENTER WITHHOLDINGS, VERIFY & E-FILE... 12 Section 1: Adding Income Documents (Forms W-2, 1099-R and W2-G)... 12 Section 2: Claiming Federal Withholding...13 Section 3: Verifying Your Identity... 14 Section 4: Signing This Year s Return...15 Section 5: Making a Payment... 16 STEP 3: CHECKING YOUR RETURN... 16 STEP 4: TRANSMITTING (E-filing your return)...17 FILING AN EXTENSION (Form 4868)...17 PRINTING YOUR RETURN... 18 OTHER ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION... 18
FREE FILE REMEMBER: 70 percent of taxpayers are eligible for easy-to-use, brand-name software. Find the right software product for you at irs.gov/freefile. Free File Fillable Forms is best for people comfortable preparing their own tax return with limited assistance. GETTING STARTED (back to TOC) This guide provides instructions about how to use Free File Fillable Forms. Free File Fillable Forms is an electronic version of paper forms, which you can also use to e-file your return. What you need to complete your 1040 How to use free file fillable forms to complete your 1040 How to add the necessary documents to your fillable form How to verify and e-file your return If you are not comfortable with preparing your own tax return, which includes reading, understanding, and following the form instructions, this program is not for you. What You ll Need It is important to have the following on hand before getting started. If you are filing jointly with a spouse, these things will be needed for both people. Social Security Number (for you, as well as your spouse and any dependents if applicable) Birth date Last year s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from last year s federal tax return OR you will need to get an Electronic Filing Pin Valid email address TIP! Double -check that the information, including the AGI, for both you and your spouse is accurate before you e -file. A common mistake is entering the incorrect last name or birth date for a spouse or dependent. This information is provided to the IRS from the Social Security Administration and must be the same. Before starting Free File Fillable Forms, review the information on irs.gov/freefile. If you have any issues using the program, visit the Help Link, from the IRS Free File landing page. 1
CREATE AN ACCOUNT (back to TOC) STEP 1: Select Start Fillable Forms Now from the Free File landing page. Read the disclaimer and select Leave IRS Site. STEP 2: Once at the Free File Fillable Forms landing page, select Start Free File Fillable Forms. Then, select Continue and a sign-in screen will appear. STEP 3: If you have not created an account for the current tax year, you are considered a New User. Select Create Your Account. Everyone is considered a New User each tax year. STEP 4: On the next screen, complete the information and check the Terms of Service box before selecting Continue. TIP! If you forget your login information, you can access your account through the Forgot User Id/Password? option at the bottom of the Sign In box. When creating your account, always enter a valid email address. After your account is created, customer _service @ freefilefillableforms.com will send a confirmation email to the email address you entered. If you do not receive the email, check your spam folder. Free File Fillable Forms will email or send you a text message to your mobile phone with a confirmation code to verify your identify and account information. You will need to enter this code to complete the account confirmation process. 2
STEP 1: FILL OUT YOUR TAX FORMS (back to TOC) Once your account is created, select the start button for the type of 1040 you want to file: Form 1040, 1040-A, or 1040-EZ. If you select the wrong form and need to start over, all your tax information will be erased. Not sure which form to select? Read the form instructions at the bottom of the screen to see which one will best meet your needs. Switching to another main form later on will delete all the tax information you entered For the 1040-EZ, read the checklist in the Form 1040-EZ instructions For the 1040-A, read Who Can Use Form 1040-A in the instructions To file an extension (Form 4868) you must first select a main 1040 form and fill in your name, address and SSN sections NAVIGATING (back to TOC) TIP! Do not use your browser s back or forward buttons to navigate through the program. Using the tab key will ensure you do not skip any required fields. Do not enter unnecessary zeros on lines or in the gray areas. Once you decide which 1040 form is right for you, the selected 1040 form will display for you to complete with your return information. Filling in Blanks Placing your mouse or pointing device over a blank area may display text about what to enter. You can use your mouse to move to different blanks; however, we recommend using the tab key to move from each blank in the form one at a time. Using the tab key prevents you from missing any necessary blanks. To move backward to a previous blank in the form, hold down shift and then push the tab key. Moving Within the Form Use your mouse to select the icons and buttons and scroll through menu items, lists and forms. 3
TYPES OF INPUT AREAS (back to TOC) TIP! Save your form often. Not only does saving your form ensure your work will not be lost, it also allows the form to automatically calculate and populate certain fields based on other information you ve entered. Except for your name and address, most of the remaining information you enter will be numbers placed in the far right column of the forms. Do not enter any foreign characters anywhere on the form. Blank Fields When you select an area to enter information, a blue box will surround it and a vertical line will blink where you can begin entering information. Drop-Down Menu A drop-down menu is restricted to specific information. Entering anything in these areas which is not an expected value will result in a rejected tax return. Calculated Fields When you place the required information in other parts of the return and select Do the Math, these fields will automatically populate with the required figure. A red notification will alert you if you attempt to enter information into these fields. Generally, calculated fields cannot be overridden Calculated field data may always be changed by changing the data used to calculate the field and selecting Do the Math again Blank Fields Drop-Down Menu Calculated Fields 4
TYPES OF INPUT AREAS (back to TOC) Radio Buttons These are small round circles similar to check boxes. Fill in the circle to provide information. When selected for input, the radio button will have a bright blue line surrounding it. To fill in the circle: Use your mouse and place your cursor on the circle and left click Tap the touchpad on your laptop Selecting another radio button for the question will de-select the previous radio button To de-select a radio button, place your pointing device on the radio button and double click TIP! If you select direct deposit for your refund, make sure to select the radio button for the type of account, either checking or savings. Radio Buttons Check Boxes 5
TYPES OF INPUT AREAS (back to TOC) Additional Information Areas There are instances where the form instructions may ask you to enter additional information. This additional information is entered in the gray area(s), on the form lines. The form instructions will tell you what to enter, where to enter it, and the order it is entered. There may be areas for an explanation and/or amount. Do not enter any information into these areas unless instructed to do so. Incorrect data in these areas will cause an XML-error-return rejection Always consult the form instructions before entering any information in these areas Placing your mouse on the gray area may provide instructions on what should be entered Enter information into these areas exactly as shown in the instructions Do not enter zero ( 0 ) in any field unless instructed to do so Additional Information Areas 6
TYPES OF INPUT AREAS (back to TOC) Additional Information Areas (continued) Explanation Area Some of the explanation areas may have a drop-down menu to select from. Most users do not need to enter information in these fields, which generally appear left of the column where you enter in your amount. If you do not recognize any of the drop-downmenu items, leave the area blank. Amount Area Never fill in an amount area and leave a drop-down menu area blank, as this will result in a rejected return. When a drop-down-menu is not available, a white box with a blue perimeter will appear, indicating where you can enter data. Amount Area Explanation Area Example: Here you see line 21, which contains two additional information areas 1 a description area and 2 the amount area. This example also shows a calculated field with the No/Do Not symbol and the notice that line 21 is a calculated field. For line 21 to calculate, the Other income amount must be placed in the amount area. Selecting Do the Math will populate Line 21 with the amount. If you do not enter information in the corresponding explanation area, your return will be rejected. 1 2 This field is automatically calculated for you. 7
TABS, LINKS, BUTTONS, AND ICONS (back to TOC) Tabs (upper left) 1 STEP 1: Fill Out Your Tax Forms The Step 1 page is active from when you start, as indicated by the blue color on the page tab. This is the page you will use when filling out forms or schedules. 2 STEP 2: E-File Your Tax Forms Open this page to add an income document and when you are preparing to e-file (submit) your return. Learn more about Step 2. 1 2 8
TABS, LINKS, BUTTONS, AND ICONS (continued) Links (upper right) 3 4 5 6 HELP Takes you to pages that assist with forms, rejections, and e-file or account issues IRS PUBLICATIONS Takes you to IRS.gov Publications page UPDATE ACCOUNT Takes you to a page where you are able to change the information you used to establish your account SIGN OUT Exit your account 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Top Button/Icons (just below the links) 7 8 9 10 11 12 SAVE Saves the work you have done PRINT RETURN Enables printing ADD/VIEW FORMS Allows you to open forms you have already selected, as well as select additional forms. NOTE: You cannot add a new W-2 s or 1099 from this menu; however, your existing W-2 s or 1099 are available START OVER Deletes all of the information entered on all the forms you have started FILE AN EXTENSION Opens Form 4868 for filing an extension. Note: You must first enter identifying information (name, address, SSN) on your Form 1040, 1040-A, or 1040-EZ before selecting this icon FAQs Opens Frequently Asked Questions for Free File Fillable Forms 9
TABS, LINKS, BUTTONS, AND ICONS (continued) Button/Icons (at bottom of page) 13 14 15 16 17 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS FORM Displays the instructions for the form or schedule you are currently working on DO THE MATH Will perform basic calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) on certain lines in the form you are currently working on. It may also update figures on your 1040 form, even if you are not currently on Form 1040. It also saves your data DELETE THIS FORM Deletes the form you are currently viewing, removes its information from your 1040 and returns you to your main 1040 form. This button is disabled on your main 1040 form PRINT THIS FORM Print the form displayed DONE WITH THIS FORM Select this button to save and close the form you are currently viewing and return to your 1040 form. This button is disabled when you are in your 1040 form 13 14 15 16 17 10
ADDING AND DELETING FORMS (back to TOC) Adding Forms There are two methods of adding forms: 1. ADD/VIEW FORMS ICON: In the upper right of the page, select the Add/View Forms icon, which will open the My Tax Forms box. Select Add a Form from the bottom of the My Tax Forms box Scroll the list to find the form you want and click on it. The form will be added to your list of forms and will display on your screen. NOTE: Some supported forms do not appear in the Add/View list. These forms can only be added from its parent form. Example: You may add Form 4562 only from an associated Schedule C, E or F. 2. ADD BUTTON: Use the Add button that appears on the line of the form you are currently viewing. If no Add button appears, see method 2. TIP! Income documents (W -2, W -2G, and 1099 -R) can be added on the Add Income Documents/Step 2 Tab (see the next section). Once added, you may view and edit using Add/View Forms (method 2). To add the same form more than once, use either method above to select the form. Once added, a box will open showing your previously added form. Select the Add Another Copy button at the bottom. Deleting Forms There are two methods to deleting forms: 1. REMOVE THIS FORM BUTTON: If the form you want to delete is currently displaying on your screen, delete it by selecting the Remove This Form button at the bottom of the page. 2. ADD/VIEW FORMS ICON: If you are not currently viewing the form you want to delete, select the Add/View Forms icon from the top right of your screen, opening the My Tax Forms box. At the bottom of the My Tax Forms box, select Delete a Form bringing up the Delete a Form menu Scroll the list of your forms and click on the form you want to delete A pop-up box will appear asking if you are sure you want to delete the form. Select Yes and the form will be deleted from your return 11
STEP 2: ADD INCOME DOCUMENTS, ENTER WITHHOLDINGS, VERIFY & E-FILE (back to TOC) Step 2 adds income documents and prepares your return to submit to the IRS. It has five sections. At the top is the E-file Now button. The button will remain inactive until you enter all of the mandatory information. Section 1: W-2s, 1099-Rs and W-2Gs Enter the information from your income documents (W-2, W2-G, and 1099-R) here. Make sure to enter the information from these documents exactly as it appears on your paper copy. If you have other income documents, such as SSA-1099, 1099-INT, 1099-G, etc., you will NOT have to add those documents BUT if you have federal withholdings from these documents, you will need to enter the federal withholding amount(s) in Step 2, Section 2, Box B. 12
STEP 2: ADD DOCUMENTS, ENTER WITHHOLDINGS, VERIFY & E-FILE (continued) Section 2: Claiming Federal Withholdings (Boxes D and E Must Match) THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP. You must check your federal withholding to avoid an IRS rejection of your return. There are five boxes on form 1040 (note that forms 1040EZ and 1040A have only four boxes): Box A Put the total amount of all your federal withholding from your W-2 s, W2-G s and 1099-Rs here Box B Total your other federal withholding from all other documents (EXCEPT W-2 s, W2-G s and 1099-R s) and place that amount here. If you do not have any other withholdings, then leave Box B blank Box C If you have a federal withholding from Form 8959 line 24, it will be placed here automatically Box D Select Do the Math and this box will add the amounts entered into boxes A, B and C Box E This box is pre-populated from your entry of total federal withholding on Form 1040 The amounts in boxes D and E must match before you can e-file (submit) your return. If they do not match, check the withholding amounts entered in Boxes A and B. If the amounts in Boxes A and B are correct, then check the withholding amount you entered on Form 1040, Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ. The e-file now button will NOT activate until Boxes D and E match. 8500 400 Since boxes D and E do not match, there must be an entry error in box A, B or E 100 9000 9500 13
STEP 2: ADD DOCUMENTS, ENTER WITHHOLDINGS, VERIFY & E-FILE (continued) NOTE: Section 2 for Forms 1040A and 1040EZ will not have a box for Form 8959 withholding; therefore, it will appear as shown below. For Form 1040A and 1040EZ, Boxes C and D must match. 500. 800. Since Box C does not equal Box D, there must be an erroneous amount entered in Box A and/or Box D. 1300. 500. Section 3: Verifying Your Identity The IRS needs to authenticate who you are. If you are filing a joint return with your spouse, both of you will need to provide either of these: 1. The Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from last year s federal tax return that you originally filed not an amended return or a return adjusted by the IRS 2. If you do not know your AGI, you must get an Electronic Filing Pin from the IRS. Use this link to obtain your pin and do not make up your own 5 digit PIN. It must come from the IRS. http://www.irs.gov/individuals/electronic-filing-pin-request Do not guess your AGI. If you do not TIP! have last year s return, see the directions for getting an Electronic Filing PIN from the IRS (NOTE: an Electronic Filing PIN is not the same as a Signature PIN, which is covered in Step 2 Section 4). If you did not file a return last year, enter zero ( 0 ) for the original Prior Year AGI. 14
STEP 2: ADD DOCUMENTS, ENTER WITHHOLDINGS, VERIFY & E-FILE (continued) Section 4: Signing This Year s Return To sign this year s return, you will need to provide the information below. If you are filing a joint return, both people will need to: Make up any five-digit number to serve as your electronic signature PIN for your tax return. (do not use 00000 or 12345) Provide your birth date (If you are the Primary Taxpayer under age 16 and have never filed a return with the IRS, you must print and mail your Free File Fillable Forms return to the IRS. If you are under 16, you may still e-file by using a tax preparer. Refer to http://www.irs.gov/filing) Make sure that the Provide today s date, which is the date you are signature date e-filing (submitting) your return to the IRS matches the date TIP! you are submitting, Provide your e-mail address which must be otherwise your entered twice (we do not recommend copying return will be rejected. and pasting it) Read the disclosure statement and check the box if you agree After you check the disclosure statement box, the E-file Now button will activate if you have entered all of the mandatory information; however, if you owe a balance on your return, you should review Section 5. 15
STEP 2: ADD DOCUMENTS, ENTER WITHHOLDINGS, VERIFY & E-FILE (continued) Section 5: Making a Payment If you owe taxes, you can use this section to make an electronic payment directly from your financial institution. You will need to: Provide your routing and account number Provide a date of withdrawal Provide your daytime phone number Read the disclosure statement and check the box This section ONLY applies if you are not getting a refund. TIP! STEP 3: CHECKING YOUR RETURN (back to TOC) Prior to selecting the E-file Now button, you should review your return for accuracy. Check to make sure you do not have any errors in the information you entered. Verify all of your forms and schedules will transmit with your 1040 form Select the Print icon at the top of Step 1 or Step 2 The forms that print are the forms that are attached to your return and will be transmitted. Your W-2 s, W2Gs and 1099-Rs will not print, but the information you entered from them will transmit Compare what printed to what appears on your My Tax Forms menu When your return is complete, take this opportunity to print a copy for your records. NOTE: W-2 s and 1099 s will NOT PRINT as part of the return. If you had qualifying TIP! health care coverage all year, remember to check the full year coverage box on your return. When something is missing from your printed return, the likely reason is that the missing form was not completed. To complete the missing form: Select the View/Add icon and select the form that is missing from the printed documents Review the form and enter any missing information Select Do the Math before selecting Done with this form Print and review your return again 16
STEP 4: TRANSMITTING (E-FILING YOUR RETURN) (back to TOC) Once the mandatory information in Step 2 has been entered, the E-file Now button will be activated. When activated, selecting it will submit your return, and you will receive a notification that your return was submitted. This does not mean you have successfully e-filed your return. You will receive 2 emails from customer_service @freefilefillableforms.com. The first email you will receive is a notification that your return was submitted. The second email from customer_service @freefilefillableforms.com will let you know whether your return has been accepted or rejected by the IRS. Check your return status by selecting the Get E -file Status link on this page www.freefilefillableforms.com located in the left hand navigation, under Resources. Enter your Social Security Number and zip code that was on the e - filed return. If the program shows no status, then you have not successfully transmitted your return. For the status of your refund, go to Where s My Refund on IRS.gov. If you do not receive an email regarding the IRS accepting or rejecting your return within 24 hours, check your spam box. If the email is not in your spam box, check all other email addresses you may have used. FILING AN EXTENSION (FORM 4868) (back to TOC) To file an extension, you must first select a main form (1040, 1040A or 1040EZ), and complete the personal information section (Name, Address, and SSN). Next, select the File an Extension icon from the menu bar. Form 4868 will open. Complete the form. The bottom half of this extension is similar to Step 2, Page 12, Sections 3 5. When you are filing an extension, you MUST enter amounts on both lines 6 and 7 of the Form 4868 if you owe a balance and want to make a payment. If you leave line 7 blank and you are paying electronically, no amount will be deducted from your bank account. You may elect to pay using direct debit or other e-payment options such as IRS Direct Pay. You may also file a Form 1040V, Payment Voucher, and mail a check to the IRS for the amount on line 7 payable to the US Treasury. 17
STEP 4: TRANSMITTING (E-FILING YOUR RETURN) (continued) PRINTING YOUR RETURN (back to TOC) Make sure you print a copy of your Return or your Extension for your records. Free File Fillable Forms shuts down each year on October 20 and does not furnish copies of returns. If you forget to print your return after October 20 you will need to get a transcript. OTHER ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION (back to TOC) If you need help resolving your error, select the Help link on the IRS Free File landing page Have tax law questions? Go to Help with Tax Questions Need a copy of your return? Go to IRS.gov Get a Transcript Need to make your payment for free? Go to Payments Free File Fillable Forms does not support the preparation of prior year federal or any state returns. The program only supports federal returns for the current tax year. 18