OVERVIEW
For many people, 2022 has been a challenging year for financial and tax planning. Here's everything you need to know to complete your taxes accurately and efficiently this year.
|
Key Takeaways • You can file your taxes using the standard Form 1040 or, if you are age 65 and older, you can use the newer Form 1040-SR, which has a larger font and includes a Standard Deduction table printed right on the form. • If you’re a nonresident alien with a US source income, you can use Form 1040-NR to report different types of income and claim deductions and tax credits. • The Standard Deduction increases to $12,950 for single taxpayers and to $25,900 for married couples filing jointly (tax year 2022). Heads of household can claim a Standard Deduction of $19,400. • Tax year 2022 has seven tax brackets, ranging from 10% to 37%, depending on your income. If your taxable income exceeds the upper limit of one bracket, then the money above that is taxed at the rate of the next bracket, and so on up to the top rate of 37%. |
Tax filing answers
Filing your taxes for the prior year is often top of mind when the new year rolls around. Fortunately, this comprehensive guide can help you get through filing 2022 taxes, whether you file on your own or get help from a tax expert. Here's what you need to know.
Deadline for filing 2022 taxes
One of the first questions most people want an answer to is: When are taxes due?
For 2022 tax returns — those filed in 2023 — the deadline to file your return and pay any tax due has been extended a few days from April 15, 2023 to April 18, 2023 because the 15th falls on a weekend. Individual states typically follow the IRS deadline extensions but if you are unsure then check your state government’s website for more information.
April 18, 2023, is also the deadline for requesting an individual tax return extension and making 2022 IRA contributions.
Filing an extension will postpone your filing deadline until October 16, 2023 which is a day further out than usual since the 15th of October falls on a weekend. Just remember that even if you file an extension to October, any amount of tax that you owe for the year is still due on the earlier April deadline.
If you make estimated quarterly tax payments, the deadline to make your first estimated payment toward 2023 taxes has also been extended to April 18, 2023 due to April 15th falling on a weekend. Even if you wait until the last minute to file your 2022 tax return or file for an extension, you'll still need to calculate your first 2023 quarterly estimate and make a payment by the April deadline.
Form 1040 options
Form 1040 is the federal income tax form that almost all individuals use to report their income to the IRS, claim tax deductions and credits, and calculate their refunds or tax due for the year.
There are two main versions to choose from:
- Form 1040. The standard Form 1040 is the version most taxpayers will use. While Form 1040 is only two pages long, many people need to attach additional forms and schedules to their tax returns to report different types of income and claim deductions and tax credits.
- Form 1040-SR. Form 1040-SR is a newer version of Form 1040 for people age 65 and older. You can use this form whether you itemize or claim the standard deduction. The basic difference between this version and the standard Form 1040 is that Form 1040-SR uses a larger font and includes a standard deduction table printed right on the form.
There is also the less common Form 1040-NR that is used by nonresident aliens who have U.S. source income and Form 1040-X that is used to amend tax returns that you have already filed but need to be corrected.
TurboTax Tip: If you purchased health insurance through the federal exchange in 2022 and qualified for a larger subsidy (so your payments didn’t exceed 8.5% of your income), but didn’t receive the subsidy during the year, you may be able to claim it as a tax credit on your 2022 tax return.
2022 Standard Deductions
The 2022 standard deduction increases to $12,950 for single taxpayers and married taxpayers who file separate returns. Married couples filing jointly can claim an amount twice that size at $25,900. Heads of household can claim a standard deduction of $19,400.
Those that are 65 and older, or blind, or both 65 and older and blind, receive additional standards deductions. For 2022 the addition for married couples filing jointly is $1,400 and $1,750 for those filing as single or head of household. These additional amounts add together so that a married couple filing jointly with both being 65 or older would get a total of $2,800 in additional standard deduction. If both are also blind then the additional amount is $5,600.
2022 tax brackets
Federal income taxes are progressive, meaning people with higher taxable incomes pay a higher percentage of their income to the federal government than people who earn less. One of the ways the tax system achieves this is through tax brackets.
There are seven tax brackets for the 2022 tax year, ranging from 10% to 37%. Your tax bracket, also known as your marginal tax rate, is the tax rate (bracket) that your last taxable dollar falls into and depends on your total taxable income. Here are the 2022 tax brackets for taxes due April 18, 2023:
| Tax Rate | Single | Head of Household | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately |
| 10% | Up to $10,275 | Up to $14,650 | Up to $20,550 | Up to $10,275 |
| 12% | $10,276 - $41,775 | $14,651 - $55,900 | $20,551 - $83,550 | $10,276 - $41,775 |
| 22% | $41,776 - $89,075 | $55,901 - $89,050 | $83,551 - $178,150 | $41,776 - $89,075 |
| 24% | $89,076 - $170,050 | $89,051 - $170,050 | $178,151 - $340,100 | $89,076 - $170,050 |
| 32% | $170,051 - $215,950 | $170,051 - $215,950 | $340,101 - $431,900 | $170,051 - $215,950 |
| 35% | $215,951 - $539,900 | $215,951 - $539,900 | $431,901 - $647,850 | $215,951 - $323,925 |
| 37% | $539,901 and Up | $539,901 and Up | $647,851 and Up | $212,926 and Up |
For example for 2022, if you're a single filer with a taxable income of $60,000 after taking all of your applicable adjustments and deductions, the first $10,275 of your income will be taxed at 10%. From $10,276 to $41,775, you'll be taxed at 12%. On the remaining $18,225, you'll be taxed at 22%.
Use our Tax Bracket Calculator to estimate your taxable income for 2022 and figure out which tax bracket you're in.
Tax breaks included in pandemic relief bills only for tax year 2021
There are several tax breaks available on your 2021 tax returns. Here's a quick overview of some of these tax provisions and links:
- Stimulus payment. Many taxpayers were eligible for three different stimulus checks, also known as Economic Impact Payments. The first two were credits for 2020 tax returns and the third stimulus payment is an advance for the credit for 2021 tax returns. These payments aren't taxable income. When you file your 2021 tax returns, you'll need to provide the amount you received (if any) for the third stimulus payment. If you're eligible for a larger stimulus payment based on your 2021 tax return, you can claim it as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return.
- Tax credits for sick and family leave. Self-employed taxpayers and business owners can take advantage of new tax credits for sick and family leave due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For self-employed taxpayers, the credit is based on their average daily self-employment income. For businesses that provided employees with paid sick or family leave due to the pandemic, the credit is based on wages paid.
- Charitable deductions for non-itemizing taxpayers. Typically, you need to itemize deductions to get a tax break for charitable contributions. For 2021, even if you don't itemize, you can claim up to $300 in charitable cash donations as an "above-the-line" deduction, or up to $600 for those filing joint returns.
Enhanced health insurance subsidies
If you purchase health insurance through the federal exchange, you may be eligible for financial assistance to cover your premiums.
The American Rescue Plan provides higher premium subsidies by ensuring that enrollees pay no more than 8.5% of their income toward the coverage (down from 10%). People earning more than the current cap of 400% of the federal poverty level — roughly $51,000 for an individual or $106,000 for a family of four in 2021 — will become eligible for subsidies for the first time.
If you didn't receive a larger subsidy throughout the year, you may be able to claim the subsidy as a tax credit on your 2022 tax return.
Let an expert do your taxes for you, start to finish with TurboTax Live Full Service. Or you can get your taxes done right, with experts by your side with TurboTax Live Assisted. File your own taxes with confidence using TurboTax. Just answer simple questions, and we’ll guide you through filing your taxes with confidence. Whichever way you choose, get your maximum refund guaranteed.
