In the United States returns filed by individual or corporate bodies to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or with the state or local tax collection agency which contains detailed information based on which income tax or other taxes are computed, are known as tax returns. These returns have to be submitted in prescribed forms which are often quite complex. They have to be filled with utmost care and the assesse must have a good knowledge of the tax rules as also the deductions allowable under the exciting tax laws.

The term tax return is sometimes interpreted as both tax return and information return through internal revenue code that makes a distinction between the two. Tax returns in a strict sense are reports of tax liabilities and payments. Sometimes they contain financial information to calculate tax. Often, people confuse tax return with tax refund. This is incorrect. The term tax return is specifically defined as documents in prescribed form e.g., Form 1040 filed with IRS. Information returns are reports containing information about income receipts or other particulars that have a bearing on tax liability. Examples are form W-2 and form 1099 used to state the income that an employer, broker or other payer pays to taxpayers. An employer who has paid any amount to a tax payer has to file an information return to the IRS with a copy to the tax payer. This procedure helps the tax payer to make a correct declaration in the return.

The standard tax return for an individual in the United States is fixed in form 1040. Several variations of this form are used, for example 1040EZ to 1040A as well as many supplemental forms. US citizens whose gross income is in excess of a base amount are required by law to file Federal Income Tax Returns and pay remaining taxes as applicable. The base amount is adjusted for inflation on an annual basis.

In matters of tax returns, it should be noted that you have only one filing status. The filing status is determined mainly by your marital status at the end of the year. Unmarried persons include those who are legally separated or are divorced at the year end. Those unmarried tax payers who have one dependent can qualify under some condition to a Head of Household Filing Status which gives them some tax benefits. There are similarly other tax filing status e.g. qualifying widow and widower status, Married filing jointly status, married filing separately status.

Many citizens find the procedure for filing tax returns complicated. Many companies offer their services to prepare tax returns can be accessed for preparing a correct return.