Form 1040A Instructions 2014 Checklist
Overview of Form 1040A for Tax Year 2014
Form 1040A for tax year 2014 is a simplified individual income tax return available to taxpayers who meet defined eligibility requirements. The form supports wages, taxable interest, ordinary and qualified dividends, capital gain distributions, IRA distributions, pensions and annuities, unemployment compensation, and Social Security benefits, along with a limited group of adjustments and credits.
Form 1040A does not allow itemized deductions, self-employment income, rental income, or business activity. Taxpayers whose income sources, adjustments, or credits fall outside the permitted scope must file Form 1040 instead. Eligibility depends on income types, taxable income limits, allowable adjustments, and permitted credits, rather than filing status alone.
Affordable Care Act Requirement for 2014 Returns
Beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act individual shared responsibility provision applied to most taxpayers. Form 1040A includes a direct method for reporting health coverage compliance that does not rely on coverage provider forms attached to the return.
Taxpayers must indicate full-year health coverage, claim a coverage exemption, or calculate a shared responsibility payment when applicable. Forms 1095-B and 1095-C are not required for the 2014 filing and are not attached to the return. Coverage reporting is completed on line 38 and, when exemptions apply, by attaching Form 8965.
Ten-Step Checklist for Form 1040A (2014)
Step 1: Gather Required Income Documents
Collect all Forms W-2 for wages; Forms 1099-INT and 1099-OID for interest; Forms 1099-DIV for dividends and capital gain distributions; Forms 1099-R for pensions, annuities, and IRA distributions; and SSA-1099 for Social Security benefits. Retain health coverage records for reference when completing Affordable Care Act reporting.
Step 2: Confirm Eligibility to Use Form 1040A
Verify that all income sources are allowed on Form 1040A and that taxable income is less than
$100,000. Taxpayers with self-employment income, rental income, partnership income, S corporation income, or sales of capital assets requiring Schedule D must file Form 1040.
Step 3: Report Income Using Correct Line Numbers
Report wages on line 7, taxable interest on line 8a, and tax-exempt interest on line 8b. Enter ordinary dividends on line 9a, qualified dividends on line 9b, and capital gain distributions on line
10. Report IRA distributions on lines 11a and 11b, pensions and annuities on lines 12a and 12b, unemployment compensation on line 13, and Social Security benefits on lines 14a and 14b.
Step 4: Use Schedule B When Required
Attach Schedule B if taxable interest or ordinary dividends exceed $1,500, if nominee income was received, or if foreign account reporting questions apply. Filing Schedule B does not disqualify Form 1040A when all other eligibility conditions are satisfied.
Step 5: Calculate Adjusted Gross Income Correctly
Subtract allowable adjustments from total income to calculate Adjusted Gross Income on line
21. Permitted adjustments include educator expenses, deductible IRA contributions, student loan interest, and the tuition and fees deduction using Form 8917 when applicable. The standard deduction is not subtracted when calculating Adjusted Gross Income.
Step 6: Apply the Standard Deduction
Complete the standard deduction section on line 24 using the amount that applies to your filing status and age or blindness. Form 1040A requires the standard deduction and does not permit itemized deductions or the use of Schedule A.
Step 7: Claim Only Permitted Credits
Claim only credits supported by Form 1040A, using required attachments when applicable.
These credits include the child and dependent care credit using Form 2441, education credits using Form 8863, the retirement savings contributions credit using Form 8880, the credit for the elderly or disabled using Schedule R, the child tax credit on line 35 with Schedule 8812 when required, the earned income credit on line 42a with Schedule EIC when applicable, and the additional child tax credit on line 43 using Schedule 8812.
Step 8: Address the Health Coverage Requirement
Complete line 38 to indicate full-year health coverage. When claiming exemptions, attach Form
8965. If coverage or an exemption does not apply for all months, calculate and report the
shared responsibility payment on line 38 using the worksheet provided in the Form 8965 instructions, which is not attached to the return.
Step 9: Report Payments and Refund Calculations
Enter federal income tax withheld on line 40 and estimated tax payments or amounts applied from the prior year on line 41. Add total payments on line 46, then determine any overpayment, refund, or amount owed on lines 47 through 51.
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- Tax relief options if you owe the IRS
Step 10: Assemble, Sign, and File the Return
Attach Form W-2 in the designated area on the front of the return and include any required schedules and forms in the attachment sequence number order. Sign and date the return, noting that both spouses must sign it. Mail the completed return to the address listed in the 2014
Form 1040A instructions based on residence and payment status.
Line Clarifications for Form 1040A (2014)
Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit is claimed on line 35. Schedule 8812 is required only when directed by the worksheet associated with line 35.
Additional Child Tax Credit
The refundable Additional Child Tax Credit is reported on line 43 using Schedule 8812. There is no separate line labeled 26a for this credit on Form 1040A.
Health Coverage Reporting
Line 38 is used to indicate full-year health coverage, claim exemptions using Form 8965, or report a shared responsibility payment when required.
If you’re missing tax documents or want to ensure the numbers you enter match IRS records, we can help.
