When does a 1040 tax form apply?

An IRS 1040 Form applies to taxpayers who are filing their annual income tax returns, explains TurboTax. There are three different versions of form 1040: 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

To fill out a 1040 form, the taxpayer enters personal and contact information, income, deductions, and exemptions, reports TurboTax. Each taxpayer can choose between itemized deductions or the standard deduction.

The simplest form is the 1040EZ, but that form can only be used by taxpayers who take the standard deduction and have no income adjustments or tax credits other than the Earned Income Credit, reports the Internal Revenue Service.