FinMath 1.4 (Filing your Taxes)

To file your tax return, you need all of the following EXCEPT...

• W-2 Forms from all employers

• W-4 Forms from all employers

• 1040 Form

• Social Security Number or Tax ID Number

Which of the following is TRUE about the DIFFERENCE between tax CREDITS and tax DEDUCTIONS?

• Tax CREDITS reduce the amount of taxes you owe, while tax DEDUCTIONS are subtracted from your gross income.

• A tax CREDIT is a dollar amount you have applied to NEXT year's tax return. A tax DEDUCTION applies directly to THIS year's tax return.

• Tax CREDITS are subtracted from your gross income, while tax DEDUCTIONS reduce the amount of taxes you owe.

Jessica worked as a teacher in Missouri up until July of last year. She then moved to New York for her new job as an Assistant Principal and started working in August. Which is TRUE for Jessica?

• Jessica will have to file a state tax return for Missouri only.

• Jessica will have to file a state tax return for New York only.

• Jessica will have to file a state tax return for both Missouri and New York.

• Jessica will have to file her Missouri state tax return THIS year. NEXT year, she will have to file a New York state tax return.

Beth found out that she owes money to the IRS after filing her tax return. What is the most reasonable explanation as to why she owes money in taxes?

• Too much money was withheld from her paychecks.

• Not enough money was withheld from her paychecks.

• The IRS is asking Beth for a future advance on her possible taxes for next year.

• When filing her taxes, Beth accidentally checked “Married filing jointly” instead of “Single”.

The difference between taking the standard deduction and itemizing deductions is that...

• Taking the standard deduction is more work than itemizing your deductions.

• The standard deduction requires written proof while the itemized deductions do not.

• The standard deduction is a fixed dollar amount while itemized deductions can be many smaller amounts added up.

It makes sense to itemize your tax deductions if...

• You want to file your taxes before the April 15th deadline

• Itemizing will lead to a deduction greater than the standard deduction

• You make less than $30,000 per year

• You don't like paperwork

Which individual might benefit the most from itemizing their deductions?

• A middle-aged person with a mortgage and multiple children in college

• A teenager who works 10 hours per week at a convenience store

• A young adult 7 months into their first full-time job as an x-ray technician

• A college student whose parents provide most of their financial support.

If you are an employee at three different companies, for your Federal taxes you will require...

• One W-4, one W-2, and one 1040

• One W-4, three W-2s, and three 1040s

• Three W-4s, three W-2s, and one 1040

• Three W-4s, three W-2s, and three 1040s

If you do contract work for a company where you are not an employee, you may receive which tax form in the mail?

• 1040

• W-2

• 1099

One downside of being self-employed is...

• You pay higher Medicare and Social Security (FICA) taxes

• You have higher marginal income tax rates

• You are ineligible to file the 1040 form

• These careers rarely have as much earnings potential as a more typical job