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1040A

2009 Instructions

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A Message From the Commissioner(p2)

Dear Taxpayer,

As another tax season begins, the IRS wants to make filing and paying your taxes as quick and easy as possible. We are trying to see things from your perspective so we can improve the quality and kinds of service we provide you. We want to help you successfully navigate a highly complex tax code and pay what you owe under the law—not a penny more, or a penny less.

The American people who play by the rules every day further expect the IRS to vigorously enforce the tax law. Rest assured, we are pursuing those trying to evade paying their taxes.

I also want to take this opportunity to make a pitch for e-file. If you received this 1040A package in the mail, the odds are that you are not enjoying the benefits of e-file. However, filing your taxes online was never easier. E-file is fast, secure, accurate, and taxpayers electing direct deposit can get their refunds in as little as 10 days. Therefore, you might want to give e-file a second look.

For lower-income taxpayers and the elderly who don't have access to a home computer and the Internet, there are thousands of convenient volunteer sites across the nation standing ready to prepare your return for free and e-file it to the IRS. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-829-1040 to find the one nearest to you.

It is also important that taxpayers receive every tax credit for which they are eligible. This could mean extra money in your pocket as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created a number of new credits and expanded some existing ones.

For example, qualifying taxpayers who bought a home in 2009 can claim a credit of up to $8,000 on either their 2008 or 2009 return. And the American Opportunity Tax Credit provides financial assistance of up to $2,500 to help offset tuition costs and other expenses for individuals pursuing a college education.

In addition, the Earned Income Tax Credit was increased for families with three or more children, while the marriage penalty was reduced. Eligibility for the Additional Child Tax Credit also increased, meaning millions more low-income earners can claim it.

If you need any more information or have questions about taxes or tax credits, please visit us online at www.irs.gov, or call us toll-free at 1-800-829-1040. We are here to help you.

Sincerely,

Douglas H. Shulman

The IRS Mission(p2)

Provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all.

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"IRS Customer Service Standards" Text Description

"IRS Customer Service Standards"
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Electronic Filing (e-file) Text Description

Electronic Filing (e-file)
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What's New(p6)

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What's New for 2009(p6)

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Taxable interest and qualified dividends.(p6)

Schedule 1 (Form 1040A) is obsolete. The amounts previously reported on that schedule will now be reported on Schedule B (Form 1040A or 1040).

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Credit for child and dependent care.(p6)

Schedule 2 (Form 1040A) is obsolete. The credit previously figured on that schedule will now be figured on Form 2441.

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Credit for the elderly or disabled.(p6)

Schedule 3 (Form 1040A) is obsolete. The credit previously figured on that schedule will now be figured on Schedule R (Form 1040A or 1040).

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Making work pay credit.(p6)

If you have earned income from work, you may be able to take this credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income but cannot be more than $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). See page 41.

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Government retiree credit.(p6)

You may be able to take this credit if you get a government pension or annuity, but it reduces any making work pay credit. See page 41.

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Economic recovery payment.(p6)

Any economic recovery payment you received is not taxable for federal income tax purposes, but it reduces any making work pay credit or government retiree credit. See page 41.

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Cash for clunkers.(p6)

A $3,500 or $4,500 voucher or payment made for such a voucher under the CARS cash for clunkers program to buy or lease a new fuel-efficient automobile is not taxable for federal income tax purposes.

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Buying U.S. savings bonds with your refund.(p6)

You can now receive up to $5,000 of Series I U.S. savings bonds as part of your income tax refund without setting up a TreasuryDirect® account in advance. For more details, see Form 8888.

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Unemployment compensation.(p6)

You do not have to pay tax on unemployment compensation of up to $2,400 per recipient. Amounts over $2,400 per recipient are still taxable. See page 28.

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American opportunity credit.(p6)

The maximum Hope education credit has increased to $2,500 for most taxpayers. The increased credit is now called the American opportunity credit. Part of the credit is now refundable for most taxpayers. Claim that part on line 43. Claim any other education credits on line 31. See pages 38 and 64.

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Alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amount increased.(p6)

The AMT exemption amount has increased to $46,700 ($70,950 if married filing jointly or a qualifying widow(er); $35,475 if married filing separately). See page 35.

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IRA deduction expanded.(p6)

You may be able to take an IRA deduction if you were covered by a retirement plan and your 2009 modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $65,000 ($109,000 if married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)). If your spouse was covered by a retirement plan, but you were not, you may be able to take an IRA deduction if your 2009 modified AGI is less than $176,000. See page 30.

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Standard deduction increased for certain filers.(p6)

Use Schedule L to figure your standard deduction if you paid real estate taxes, paid taxes on the purchase of a new motor vehicle, or have a net disaster loss (if you claim a net disaster loss, you must file Form 1040).

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Deduction for motor vehicle sales taxes.(p6)

If you bought a new motor vehicle after February 16, 2009, you may be able to deduct any state or local sales or excise taxes on the purchase. In states without a sales tax, you may be able to deduct certain other taxes or fees instead. These taxes increase your standard deduction and are claimed on Schedule L. See instructions for line 24a on page 34.

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Additional child tax credit increased.(p6)

This credit has increased for some people. See Form 8812.

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Earned income credit (EIC).(p6)

The EIC has increased for people with three or more children and for some married couples filing jointly. You may be able to take the EIC if:

Three or more children lived with you and you earned less than $43,279 ($48,279 if married filing jointly),
Two children lived with you and you earned less than $40,295 ($45,295 if married filing jointly),
One child lived with you and you earned less than $35,463 ($40,463 if married filing jointly), or
A child did not live with you and you earned less than $13,440 ($18,440 if married filing jointly).

The maximum AGI you can have and still get the credit also has increased. You may be able to take the credit if your AGI is less than the amount in the above list that applies to you. The maximum investment income you can have and still get the credit has increased to $3,100. See page 42.

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Divorced or separated parents.(p6)

A noncustodial parent claiming an exemption for a child can no longer attach certain pages from a divorce decree or separation agreement instead of Form 8332 if the decree or agreement was executed after 2008. The noncustodial parent must attach Form 8332 or a similar statement signed by the custodial parent and whose only purpose is to release a claim to exemption. See page 21.

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Qualifying child definition revised.(p6)

The following changes to the definition of a qualifying child apply.

To be your qualifying child, a child must be younger than you unless the child is permanently and totally disabled.
A child cannot be your qualifying child if he or she files a joint return, unless the return was filed only as a claim for refund.
If the parents of a child can claim the child as a qualifying child but no parent so claims the child, no one else can claim the child as a qualifying child unless that person's AGI is higher than the highest AGI of any parent of the child.
Your child is a qualifying child for purposes of the child tax credit only if you can and do claim an exemption for him or her.

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Tax on child's investment income.(p6)

The amount of taxable investment income a child can have without it being subject to tax at the parent's rate has increased to $1,900. See Form 8615 on page 35.

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Certain tax benefits for Midwestern disaster areas expired.(p6)

Certain tax benefits for Midwestern disaster areas have expired, including special charitable contribution rules and the election to use your 2007 earned income to figure your 2008 EIC and additional child tax credit. See Pub. 4492-B.

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Recovery rebate credit expired.(p6)

This credit has expired and does not apply for 2009.

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Mailing your return.(p6)

You may be mailing your return to a different address this year because the IRS has changed the filing location for several areas. If you received an envelope with your tax package, please use it. Otherwise, see Where Do You File? on the back cover.

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