How to Navigate to Your Form 1040 on TurboTax: A Comprehensive Guide
So, you're knee-deep in tax season (or maybe just doing some tax planning for next year!), and you're using TurboTax. Excellent choice! It's a fantastic tool for simplifying what can often feel like a daunting process. But inevitably, you'll reach a point where you want to see the grand daddy of all tax forms: Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Perhaps you need to review a specific line, double-check an entry, or simply get a bird's-eye view of your entire federal tax situation.
Ready to dive in and get eyes on that all-important Form 1040? Let's get started!
Step 1: Get Logged In and Into Your Return
This might seem obvious, but it's the crucial first step to unlocking your tax forms.
Sub-heading: Accessing Your TurboTax Account
If you're already in the middle of preparing your current year's taxes: You're probably already signed in. Just ensure you're on the main navigation screen or "Tax Home."
If you're logging in fresh:
Open your web browser and go to the official TurboTax website (turbotax.intuit.com).
Click on the "Sign In" button, usually found in the top right corner of the page.
Enter your User ID and Password for your TurboTax account. Make sure you're using the correct credentials for the account associated with the tax return you want to view. Many people have multiple Intuit accounts, so double-check if you have trouble logging in.
Once successfully logged in, you should land on your "Tax Home" page.
Sub-heading: Ensuring You're in the Right Tax Year
TurboTax allows you to access prior-year returns. If you're looking for your current year's 1040, ensure you're working within that tax year. On your "Tax Home" page, you'll typically see a section labeled "Your tax returns & documents" or similar. Verify that the year displayed is the one you intend to work on. If it's a prior year, you might need to click on "Add a state" or similar to return to the current tax year's online return if you were just viewing a PDF of a past return.
Step 2: Navigating to the "Tax Tools" Section
Once you're in your current tax return, the key to finding your Form 1040 (and other forms) lies within the "Tax Tools" menu.
Look for a left-hand navigation menu on your TurboTax screen.
Locate and click on "Tax Tools." This will typically expand a submenu with various options.
Step 3: Unveiling the "Tools" Option
Within the "Tax Tools" submenu, you'll find another important selection.
From the expanded "Tax Tools" menu, click on "Tools."
Step 4: Selecting "View Tax Summary"
Now you're getting very close! The "Tools Center" (or similar pop-up) will appear.
Within the "Tools Center," you'll see an option like "View Tax Summary" or "Tax Summary." Click on it.
Step 5: Previewing Your Form 1040
This is the moment you've been waiting for!
After clicking "View Tax Summary," you should see an option on the left side of the screen that says "Preview my 1040" (or something similar, like "Preview Form 1040").
Click on this option. Your Form 1040 should now be displayed on your screen!
Sub-heading: Important Notes on Viewing Your Full Return
Preview vs. Full Return: While you can often preview your Form 1040 (and sometimes Schedules 1-3) without paying for TurboTax Online, to view or print your complete tax return (including all schedules and worksheets), you will generally need to pay for your TurboTax online account or register your product if you haven't already. TurboTax will prompt you when you're ready to file.
Desktop Software Users: If you're using the TurboTax CD/Download desktop software, the process is a bit different. You'll typically find a "Forms" button or tab at the top of the program. Clicking this will allow you to see a list of all the forms in your return, and you can then select "Form 1040" to view it. Your files are also saved directly on your computer.
Step 6: Reviewing and Printing Your Form 1040
Once your Form 1040 is displayed, you can carefully review all the lines.
Scroll down to see all pages of the form.
Verify the information for accuracy, including your personal details, income, deductions, and credits.
If you need a physical copy or a PDF for your records, look for a "Print" or "Download" button on the screen. This is often found in a "Print Center" section. You might be given options to include government forms only or also include TurboTax worksheets. It's highly recommended to save or print a PDF copy of your entire return for your records every year!
Step 7: Making Amendments (If Necessary)
What if you find a mistake on your 1040 after you've filed? Don't panic! You'll need to amend your return.
Do NOT try to directly edit your filed 1040. Once filed and accepted, you cannot simply "change" the original return.
You will need to file a Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
Within TurboTax Online:
Go back to your "Tax Home."
Look for an option to "Amend a return that was filed and accepted."
TurboTax will guide you through the process of making the necessary changes, and it will automatically generate Form 1040-X.
You'll enter the corrected information, and TurboTax will populate the "increase or decrease" columns on Form 1040-X, and then the final "correct amount" column.
You'll also need to provide a clear explanation for the changes in Part III of Form 1040-X.
Desktop Software Users: Open your saved tax file for the year you need to amend, and then look for an "Amend a filed return" option within the software.
Remember, for current and two prior tax years, if your original return was e-filed, you can often e-file your Form 1040-X through TurboTax. For older years or if your original was paper-filed, you might need to print and mail it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - How to Get to 1040 on TurboTax
Here are 10 common questions related to accessing and managing your Form 1040 in TurboTax:
How to find my Form 1040 in TurboTax Online after filing? To find your filed 1040, sign in to your TurboTax account, go to "Tax Home," scroll down to "Your tax returns & documents," select the relevant year, and click "Download/print return (PDF)."
How to view my Form 1040 on TurboTax before paying? You can typically preview your Form 1040 and Schedules 1-3 without paying. While in your return, go to "Tax Tools" > "Tools" > "View Tax Summary," then select "Preview my 1040." For the full return, payment is required.
How to get a copy of a prior year's 1040 from TurboTax? Sign in to the TurboTax website with the same User ID you used to file that year. On your "Tax Home," scroll to "Your tax returns & documents," select the desired year, and click "Download/print return (PDF)."
How to print my complete tax return (including Form 1040) from TurboTax Online? After signing in and navigating into your return, go to "Tax Tools" > "Print Center" > "Print, save or preview this year's return." You will need to have paid for your TurboTax product to access and print the full return.
How to know if I'm looking at the correct tax year's 1040 in TurboTax? On your "Tax Home" screen or when you start your return, always check the clearly displayed tax year. If you're unsure, try clicking "Add a state" or look for options to switch tax years within "Your tax returns & documents."
How to fix an error on my Form 1040 after filing with TurboTax? You must file an amended return using Form 1040-X. In TurboTax Online, go to your "Tax Home" and select the option to "Amend a return." Follow the step-by-step guidance provided by the software.
How to download my Form 1040 and other forms as a PDF from TurboTax? After your return is complete (and paid for, if online), go to "Tax Tools" > "Print Center." You should find an option to "Save as PDF" or "Download" your return, typically including all government forms and worksheets.
How to see my Form 1040 if I used TurboTax CD/Download software? If you used the desktop version, open the software and load your tax file. Look for a "Forms" button or tab, which will usually display a list of all the forms, including Form 1040, for you to view directly. Your files are stored on your computer.
How to access my Form 1040 if I forgot my TurboTax User ID or Password? Go to the TurboTax sign-in page and look for "Forgot User ID?" or "Forgot Password?" links. Follow the recovery steps, which usually involve entering your email or phone number associated with the account.
How to get a copy of my Form 1040 directly from the IRS if TurboTax isn't accessible? You can request a free tax transcript from the IRS website (IRS.gov/individuals/get-transcript). For an actual copy of your full tax return (for a fee), you can file Form 4506 with the IRS.
