Taxes For Dummies

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Ready to File 5

Chapter 1: Understanding the U.S Tax System 7

Chapter 2: Tax Return Preparation Options and Tools 19

Chapter 3: Getting and Staying Organized 31

Chapter 4: What Kind of Taxpayer Are You? 43

Part 2: Tackling the Main Forms 67

Chapter 5: All The Form 1040s: Income Stuff 69

Chapter 6: Form 1040, Schedule 1, Part I: Additional Income 107

Chapter 7: Form 1040, Schedule 1, Part II: Adjustments to Income Stuff 125

Chapter 8: Form 1040, Schedule 2: Additional Taxes 151

Chapter 9: Form 1040, Schedule 3: Adding Up Your Credits and Payments 165

Chapter 10: Finishing Up the 1040 177

Part 3: Filling Out Schedules and Other Forms 195

Chapter 11: Itemized Deductions: Schedule A 197

Chapter 12: Interest and Dividend Income: Form 1040, Schedule B 235

Chapter 13: Business Tax Schedules: C and F 253

Chapter 14: Capital Gains and Losses: Schedule D and Form 8949 295

Chapter 15: Supplemental Income and Loss: Schedule E 327

Chapter 16: Giving Credits Where Credits Are Due 345

Chapter 17: Other Schedules and Forms to File 361

Part 4: Audits and Errors: Dealing with the IRS 381

Chapter 18: Dreaded Envelopes: IRS Notices, Assessments, and Audits 383

Chapter 19: Fixing Mistakes the IRS Makes 405

Chapter 20: Fixing Your Own Mistakes 421

Part 5: Year-Round Tax Planning 445

Chapter 21: Tax-Wise Personal Finance Decisions 447

Chapter 22: Trimming Taxes with Retirement Accounts 457

Chapter 23: Small-Business Tax Planning 477

Chapter 24: Your Investments and Taxes 495

Chapter 25: Real Estate and Taxes 511

Chapter 26: Children and Taxes 529

Chapter 27: Estate Planning 543

Part 6: The Part of Tens 555

Chapter 28: Ten Tips for Reducing Your Chances of Being Audited 557

Chapter 29: Ten Overlooked Opportunities to Trim Your Taxes 563

Chapter 30: Ten (Plus One) Tax Tips for Military Families 569

Chapter 31: Ten Interview Questions for Tax Advisors 575

Appendix: Glossary 581

Index 595