Filing Federal 1040: How exactly does this work for first-time filers?

Hey everyone, I'm completely lost when it comes to filing my taxes this year. This is my first time having to do the Federal 1040 form on my own and I'm kind of freaking out. I worked two different jobs last year - one as a barista and then later at a warehouse. I made about $32,000 total between both jobs. I've been living on my own for the first time and I have no clue if I should be itemizing deductions or just taking the standard deduction? Also, do I need to file separate forms for each job or is it all combined on one 1040? My parents always handled this stuff before and now I'm on my own and totally confused about how the Federal 1040 process works. I tried looking at the IRS website but it's so overwhelming with all the different forms and schedules. Can someone break down the basics for me? Really appreciate any help!

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18 comments

Arjun Kurti

•8M

Deep breath - filing your first Federal 1040 is definitely intimidating, but it's manageable! For your situation with two W-2 jobs and $32,000 in income, you'll only need to file one Form 1040. Both of your jobs will be reported on this single form. Your employers should have provided you with W-2 forms by now (legally required by January 31st), and these contain all the information you'll need to transfer to your tax return. For the standard deduction vs. itemizing question - the standard deduction for single filers for tax year 2024 is $14,600. Unless you have significant deductible expenses like mortgage interest, large medical expenses, or substantial charitable donations, the standard deduction will almost certainly be better for you. Most first-time filers with your income level benefit more from taking the standard deduction. The simplest way to handle this would be using tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, or the free options through IRS Free File. These will walk you through everything step by step and help you maximize your refund.

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Arjun Kurti

•8M

If one job didn't withhold enough taxes, you might end up owing some money when you file. This happens particularly if you worked both jobs simultaneously and each employer calculated withholding as if that was your only job. The system doesn't automatically account for your total income from multiple sources. Regular apartment rent payments aren't tax deductible for most people. However, if you worked from home regularly for either job, you might qualify for a home office deduction, but this typically applies to self-employed individuals rather than W-2 employees.

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Margot Quinn

•8M

After struggling with my first few tax returns, I started using taxr.ai to help me understand my tax documents. I was in a similar situation with multiple W-2s and wasn't sure how to handle everything correctly on my 1040. I uploaded my tax documents to https://taxr.ai and it broke down exactly what information needed to go where on my Federal 1040. The thing I found super helpful was that it explained the implications of each section in plain English rather than tax jargon. It showed me that I'd been missing out on education credits I didn't know I qualified for on previous returns. Definitely made the whole Federal 1040 process less intimidating.

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Margot Quinn

•8M

It doesn't file your taxes for you - it analyzes your tax documents and explains what they mean in simple terms. Think of it as a translator that helps you understand what you're looking at before you use software like TurboTax or H&R Block to actually file. I personally use both - taxr.ai to understand my situation, then regular tax software for the actual filing. They use bank-level encryption for document uploads and don't store your documents after analysis. I was concerned about security too, but they explain their security measures on their site, and you can always delete your documents immediately after getting your analysis.

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Diego Fisher

•8M

Alright, I need to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it with last year's W-2s just to test it out before using it for this year's taxes. Honestly, it explained my tax situation in way clearer terms than any other tool I've used. The Federal 1040 process made SO much more sense after seeing their breakdown. I discovered I'd been incorrectly reporting my moving expenses from when I relocated for work. Now I'm going back to file an amended return to recover about $780 I overpaid last year. Definitely using it for my current filing too.

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Henrietta Beasley

•8M

If you're having trouble understanding the Federal 1040 process, you might want to speak directly with an IRS agent to get official guidance. I was confused about how to handle my multiple income sources too but couldn't get through to the IRS phone lines for weeks. Finally tried https://claimyr.com to get an IRS callback and was shocked when I actually got connected to an agent within a couple hours. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent walked me through exactly how to report everything on my 1040 and explained which credits I qualified for based on my situation. Saved me a ton of stress trying to figure out if I was doing things correctly.

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Henrietta Beasley

•8M

It basically reserves your place in line with the IRS and calls you when an agent is available. It's not that they have special access - they just automate the waiting process so you don't have to stay on hold for hours. When your turn comes up, they connect you directly to the IRS agent. I was skeptical too, but after spending multiple days trying to get through on my own with no success, I decided it was worth trying. I wasted hours listening to that awful hold music before finding this. The IRS is severely understaffed so getting through the normal way can take dozens of attempts.

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Faith Kingston

•8M

Well, I'm eating my words about Claimyr. After dismissing it as a scam, my Federal 1040 questions were getting more complicated and I couldn't figure out how to handle a retirement account withdrawal on my return. After my fifth day of failed attempts to reach the IRS the normal way, I broke down and tried Claimyr. Got a callback from an actual IRS agent in 97 minutes. The agent walked me through the exact forms I needed for my situation and confirmed I was eligible for a savers credit I didn't know about. Already got my refund which was $420 more than I expected. Guess sometimes paying for convenience is actually worth it.

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Emma Johnson

•8M

For a first-time Federal 1040 filer, I highly recommend using the IRS Free File program if your income is under $73,000. It gives you access to guided tax software for free. I've used it for the past three years and it makes filing the 1040 pretty straightforward. The software asks simple questions about your situation and fills out all the correct forms behind the scenes. It'll also tell you whether the standard deduction or itemizing is better based on your answers. The link is on the IRS website under "File Your Taxes for Free.

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Emma Johnson

•8M

The IRS Free File options are genuinely free if you meet the income requirements. They're different from going directly to TurboTax or H&R Block's websites, where they often use the word "free" but then upsell you. You need to start through the IRS Free File portal (search "IRS Free File") rather than going directly to the tax software sites. This ensures you get the truly free version that's part of their agreement with the IRS. I've completed my 1040 filing three years in a row without paying a penny using this method.

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