How to File Your Taxes
Explained Simply and Clearly
This version is for someone who wants more detail than a high-school-level explanation, but without the heavy legal language of a tax attorney.Straightforward, clear, and practical.
Gather All the Documents That Show Your Income
Before you can file, you need the forms that show how much money you earned.
Common forms:
W-2
From a job where you're an employee
1099-NEC
Freelance, gig work, or contract jobs
1099-K
CashApp, Venmo, PayPal payments
1099-INT / 1099-DIV
Bank interest or investment dividends
1099-B
If you sold stocks or crypto
1099-R
Retirement distributions
💡 If money came from somewhere, expect a form.
Choose Your Filing Status
Your filing status affects your tax rate and deduction amounts.
Single
Most individuals
Married Filing Jointly
Best for most married couples
Married Filing Separately
Rare, used for special cases
Head of Household
Single and support a dependent
Choose Between Standard or Itemized Deduction
A deduction reduces the amount of your income the IRS taxes.
Standard Deduction
Most people use this. It's a fixed amount based on your filing status.
Itemized Deduction
You list out specific expenses like:
- •Mortgage interest
- •Property taxes
- •Medical expenses (large ones)
- •Charitable donations
- •Business expenses (if self-employed)
💡 Choose the method that gives you the largest deduction
Enter Your Information Into Tax Software
🎉 Good news: you don't do calculations by hand.
Software options:
TurboTax
H&R Block
Cash App Taxes
Free
IRS Free File
You'll enter:
- ✓Your personal info
- ✓Your income forms
- ✓Any deductions or credits
The software automatically:
- ✓Calculates your taxes
- ✓Checks for errors
- ✓Tells you if you're getting a refund or owe money
Apply Any Credits You Qualify For
Tax credits reduce what you owe dollar for dollar. They're powerful!
Common credits:
Child Tax Credit
For families with qualifying children
Earned Income Credit
For low to moderate income earners
Education Credits
If you or your kids are in college
Premium Tax Credit
For Marketplace health insurance
💡 Answer all questions in the software to make sure you don't miss credits!
See Whether You Owe or Get a Refund
You get a refund if:
Your employer took more taxes out of your paychecks than you actually owed.
You owe money if:
Not enough tax was taken out — common for:
- • Freelancers
- • Side gigs
- • 1099 workers
- • People with multiple jobs
E-File Your Return
E-filing is the fastest and safest option. ✅
When you e-file:
Fast Processing
IRS processes it quickly
Confirmation
You get confirmation
Quick Refunds
Usually 1–3 weeks
💡 Choose direct deposit for the fastest refund!
Important Deadlines
April 15
Taxes are due
You can file for an extension to move the filing deadline to October 15
⚠️ Extensions do NOT extend the time to pay if you owe
🎯Simple Summary
Collect your income forms → choose your filing status → decide on deductions → enter everything into tax software → apply credits → e-file
It's easier than it feels once you have the right documents in front of you.