2012 Form 1040 Schedule A (Itemized Deductions): Tax-Year-Specific Checklist
2012 Uniqueness Statement
Schedule A for 2012 introduces mortgage insurance premium deductibility and reinforces the 7.5% AGI medical expense floor before broader changes in subsequent years. Unlike later forms, the 2012 form requires a separate election between state income tax and sales tax deductions—both cannot be claimed simultaneously. New Schedule 8812 availability expands child tax credit claims for filers of this form.
2012-Specific Programs Applicable to This Form
Schedule 8812 (Child Tax Credit) was introduced for 2012, allowing itemizers to claim additional credits on Schedule A. No stimulus payment reconciliation (EIP1, EIP2, EIP3) or ACA shared-responsibility rules apply to Schedule A in 2012.
Ten-Step Checklist: Schedule A (Form 1040) for 2012
Step 1: Verify Filing Status and Confirm Itemization Threshold
Confirm your 2012 standard deduction amount: Single $5,950; Married filing jointly $11,900; Head of household $8,700; Married filing separately $5,950. Gather all itemized deduction records. If your total itemized deductions exceed your standard deduction for your filing status, proceed.
Step 2: Collect and Calculate Medical and Dental Expenses
List all 2012 medical and dental expenses you paid (yourself, spouse, dependents). On Schedule A, line 1, enter unreimbursed total expenditures. Line 3: Calculate 7.5% of your AGI (Form 1040, line 38).
Line 4: Only amounts exceeding 7.5% of AGI are deductible; if expenses do not exceed this threshold, you cannot deduct any amount.
Step 3: Choose Between State Income Tax OR Sales Tax (Not Both)
Line 5: Check either box 5a (state/local income taxes paid) or box 5b (state/local general sales taxes). You cannot deduct both. If you paid income tax, use receipts and W-2 withholding records. If you choose to use sales tax, please use actual receipts or refer to the 2012 Optional Sales Tax Tables (available in the instructions).
Step 4: Record Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes
Line 6: Enter 2012 real estate taxes paid on your primary and secondary residences.
Line 7: Enter personal property taxes (e.g., vehicle taxes levied annually on property value).
Step 5: Calculate Mortgage Interest and Points
Line 10: Enter home mortgage interest reported on Form 1098. Verify you itemize on Schedule A (required for this deduction). Lines 11–12: If interest or points were not reported on Form 1098, list them separately with lender identification. Line 13: Enter qualified mortgage insurance premiums paid in 2012 (deductible for 2012).
Step 6: Report Investment Interest (If Applicable)
Line 14: If you paid interest on money borrowed for investment property, enter the amount here. You must attach Form 4952 (Investment Interest Expense Deduction). Investment interest is limited to your net investment income; excess carries forward.
Step 7: Document and Record Charitable Contributions
Line 16: Enter cash or check gifts. For any single cash contribution of $250 or more, you must obtain and retain a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity.
Line 17: For noncash donations over $500, attach Form 8283 and get a qualified appraisal if required. Contributions exceeding $5,000 per item require Section B of Form 8283 and appraiser certification.
Step 8: Calculate Casualty and Theft Losses (If Applicable)
Line 20: If you suffered a loss from fire, storm, theft, or other federally declared casualty in 2012, attach Form 4684. Deductible loss equals each loss exceeding $100, with total exceeding 10% of your AGI (Form 1040, line 38). If you do not meet these thresholds, no deduction is available.
Step 9: List Job Expenses and Miscellaneous Deductions (2% AGI Floor)
Lines 21–27: Report unreimbursed employee expenses (job travel, union dues, job education), tax preparation fees, and investment expenses. Calculate 2% of AGI; only amounts exceeding 2% are deductible. Attach Form 2106 or 2106-EZ if claiming job expenses. Subtract (line 26) 2% of AGI from total costs (line 24).
Step 10: Finalize Schedule A and Attach to Form 1040
Line 29: Add all deductible amounts from lines 4, 9, 15, 19, 20, 27, and 28 (Other Miscellaneous Deductions). Enter the total on line 29. Transfer this total to Form 1040, line 40 (Itemized deductions). Attach Schedule A to your Form 1040 before filing. Sign and date both forms. See the IRS Where to File page for the current 2012 1040 filing address for paper returns.
2012 Line Changes and Updates for Schedule A
Line 13 (Mortgage Insurance Premiums): Prior instruction: Not separately itemized in earlier years. 2012 current instruction: Qualified mortgage insurance premiums paid under a mortgage insurance contract issued before the end of 2012 are deductible. Change type: Added.
Line 5 (State/Local Taxes): Prior instruction: General income or sales tax election. 2012 current instruction: Taxpayer must elect either state/local income taxes (5a) OR general sales taxes (5b)—cannot claim both. Change type: Clarified.
Line 3 (Medical Expense Threshold): Prior instruction: Threshold percentage. 2012 current instruction: 7.5% of AGI applies to all taxpayers in 2012. Change type: Reaffirmed.
Line 28 (Other Miscellaneous Deductions): Prior instruction: Miscellaneous items. 2012 current instruction: Only expenses listed in instructions (e.g., gambling losses if gambling income reported, federal estate tax on decedent’s income) allowed. Change type: Clarified.
Final Compliance Rules
Do not claim credits or deductions not listed in the 2012 Schedule A instructions or cited in the 2012 publications. Do not reduce itemized deductions if your spouse itemizes on a separate return—both spouses must then itemize. Nonresident aliens: Use Form 1040NR with Schedule A if you itemize; standard rules for what is deductible apply. Do not deduct federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, FUTA, or railroad retirement taxes. If uncertain about any amount or eligibility, refer to the specific 2012 instructions for that line or the 2012 publication cited in those instructions only.
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This checklist is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Always review official IRS instructions and consult a qualified professional for guidance.
