How to locate my federal tax paid on my 1040 form for 2024 filing

The "federal tax paid" they're asking for is most likely your total federal income tax withheld, which you can find on Line 25d of your Form 1040 for tax year 2024. This represents all federal income tax that was withheld from your paychecks throughout the year. However, if you're filling out something like a financial aid form, they might actually want your total tax liability (Line 24 on Form 1040), which is the total amount you were responsible for paying for the year before withholding was considered. If the form doesn't specify, I'd recommend using Line 25d (federal income tax withheld) since that represents money you actually paid during the tax year. If you made additional payments with your return, you'd add that amount to your withholding.

I was in a similar situation last year trying to figure out which tax number to use on financial aid forms. I spent hours searching online and getting nowhere until I discovered this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that actually scans your tax forms and tells you exactly where to find specific information. I uploaded my 1040 and literally just typed "where is federal tax paid" and it highlighted the exact lines on my form and explained the difference between tax withheld, estimated payments, and total tax. It also explained which number is typically needed for different types of applications, which saved me from using the wrong figure.

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai for my scholarship application question and it was incredibly helpful! I needed to report my "federal tax paid" from 2022 and was confused because the form lines were different back then. The tool immediately showed me exactly where to look and explained which number to use specifically for scholarship applications (in my case, it was my total tax, not just withholding). Saved me from potentially making a $3,000 mistake on my scholarship eligibility! The explanation was much clearer than what I got from calling the financial aid office at my school.

If you're still struggling to figure out the right number to use, you might want to contact the IRS directly to ask. I know, I know - getting through to an actual human at the IRS seems impossible. I spent 3 hours on hold last tax season only to get disconnected. But I recently used this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They have this system that navigates the IRS phone trees and holds your place in line, then calls you when an agent is available. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent was able to tell me exactly which line on my tax return contained the information I needed for my mortgage application, which was different than what I thought.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After seeing it mentioned here, I was super skeptical but decided to try it because I had been trying for WEEKS to get through to the IRS about my missing refund. The service actually worked exactly as described. They navigated the phone system, waited on hold for me (it was over 90 minutes!), and then called me when an actual IRS agent was on the line. The agent confirmed I was speaking directly with the IRS and helped me track down my missing refund. For anyone wondering about the federal tax paid question - the IRS agent I spoke with confirmed it depends on what the form is for, but for most financial aid and loan applications, they want your total income tax withheld (line 25d) plus any estimated payments you made (line 26).

Just to add another perspective, when I filled out the FAFSA last year, what they actually wanted was the total tax liability (line 24) not the amount withheld. Different applications want different "tax paid" numbers. My recommendation is to call whoever is requesting the form and specifically ask which line from your 1040 they want. I've found most places have a specific line number they're looking for, they just don't communicate it clearly on their forms.

Has anyone noticed that the 1040 form changed again this year? I swear they move things around just to confuse us. Last year I used line 25d for a similar application, but now I'm looking at my 2024 form and everything seems shifted. Is the "federal tax paid" still on line 25d for 2024 forms?

I went through this exact same confusion last month! After reading through all these responses, I want to add that the key thing to remember is that "federal tax paid" can mean different things depending on the context of what you're applying for. For most applications (loans, financial aid, etc.), they typically want one of these three numbers from your 2024 Form 1040: - Line 24: Total tax (your actual tax liability for the year) - Line 25d: Federal income tax withheld from paychecks - Line 26: Estimated tax payments (if you're self-employed) Since you mentioned you got a refund, that means your withholding (line 25d) was MORE than your total tax liability (line 24). Most applications are looking for line 24 when they say "federal tax paid" because that's what you were actually required to pay for the tax year. If you're still unsure, I'd recommend calling the organization requesting the information and asking them to specify which line number they need from your 1040. That way you can be 100% certain you're giving them the right figure for your application deadline.

I just went through this exact situation a few weeks ago for a mortgage application! After dealing with the same confusion about which line to use, I learned that the term "federal tax paid" is unfortunately used inconsistently across different applications. Here's what I found works best: If the application doesn't specify a line number, start by using Line 24 (Total Tax) from your 2024 Form 1040. This represents your actual federal tax liability for the year - essentially what you were legally required to pay in federal taxes. Since you mentioned getting a refund, this means your withholding (Line 25d) exceeded your tax liability (Line 24), so the government returned the difference to you. Most financial institutions and government programs consider Line 24 to be your "federal tax paid" because it's your true tax obligation, regardless of how much was withheld or whether you got a refund. However, if you want to be absolutely certain before your deadline, try calling the organization and asking them to specify which line number from Form 1040 they need. Some applications do want withholding amounts instead of tax liability, but Line 24 is the safe bet for most situations. Good luck with your application!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a tax preparer and I see this confusion all the time with my clients. Just to add one more perspective - when applications ask for "federal tax paid," they're almost always looking for your tax liability (Line 24) rather than amounts withheld or estimated payments. The confusion often comes from thinking about "paid" in terms of cash flow (what came out of your paycheck), but from a tax perspective, "federal tax paid" refers to your actual tax obligation for the year. Even if you got a refund, you still "paid" the amount shown on Line 24 - it's just that you prepaid more than that through withholding. One tip I always give clients: if the application specifically mentions FAFSA, student loans, or income-based repayment plans, they almost certainly want Line 24. These programs use your tax liability to calculate your financial situation, not your withholding patterns. For anyone still unsure, most tax software (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.) will show you exactly where these numbers are on your return if you log back into your account. Much easier than trying to decipher the form layout!

This entire thread has been a lifesaver! I was in the exact same boat as the original poster - staring at my 1040 trying to figure out which number represents "federal tax paid" for a rental application. After reading through everyone's explanations, I now understand that Line 24 (Total Tax) is almost always what they're looking for. It makes perfect sense when you think about it - that's your actual federal tax obligation for the year, regardless of how much was withheld from paychecks or whether you got a refund. I really appreciate how this community broke down the difference between tax liability versus withholding amounts. As someone who's relatively new to understanding tax forms, I was definitely overthinking it and getting confused by all the different lines that mention taxes. One thing I learned from this discussion is that it's always worth calling the requesting organization to ask for a specific line number if you're unsure. Some places are clearer about this than others, but it can save you from potentially using the wrong figure on important applications. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and expertise - this is exactly the kind of practical advice that makes navigating tax season so much easier!