Video: What Are IRS Forms?

Video transcript:

Hello, I'm Sara from TurboTax, with some information about IRS tax forms. It's unlikely you enjoy filling out tax forms, but if you have to pay income tax every year, you should be glad you don't have to come up with one yourself.

The purpose of IRS forms is to collect tax payer information in a uniform way. By issuing standard forms the IRS is able to operate much more efficiently. The most well known IRS form is probably your personal tax return, usually a 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ but there are many more that you may have to include with your tax return.

Commonly, tax payers also have to provide a little more detail on Schedule Attachments. If you itemize your deductions for example, you may be familiar with the Schedule A Form where you list these deductions. Others include the Schedule B to report certain interest income and the Schedule D to report your stock transactions. If you've ever claimed a tax credit then you are well aware that the IRS creates a separate form for each one.

There are even informational forms like your W2 or 1099. These report all the types of income you receive during the year and are vital for preparing your return.

You can easily obtain all IRS forms on its website at www.irs.gov and remember if you use TurboTax to prepare your return, we'll ask you simple questions, guide you step-by-step and fill in all the right forms for you.