Helpful IRS Publications

This page contains links to the most helpful IRS publications that will help you solve the most vexing tax problems.

If you need form 1040, form 1040A, form 1040EZ or other federal tax forms, click on the preceding links.

Do your taxes online, for free:
Tired of forms, schedules, and number-crunching? If you want to avoid costly mistakes, while at the same time taking advantage of all possible credits and deductions, you want to do your taxes online.

H&R Block allows you to work on your return for free, until you file. Work on your federal, state, and small business taxes, and pay nothing until you are satisfied with your return. Start now.

Click here to start

IRS Publications

The following are links to common IRS publications, along with links to pages on this site that help with the subject matter of each publication.

Publication 17 The granddaddy of all IRS publications, it seeks to describe in detail the whole tax-filing process. Warning: if you have a 28.8 modem, or a slow computer, skip this one.


Income-Related IRS Publications

Publication 25 - Taxable and Non-Taxable Income

Publication 50 - Investment Income and Expenses includes capital gains tax laws.

Publication 504 - for Divorced or Separate Individuals - deals with alimony and child support among many other things.

Publication 929 - deals with reporting a child's interest income and other dependant-related issues.

Publication 915 - Reporting Social Security Benefits.

The following IRS publications all deal with the reporting of retirement plan benefits:

Publication 939 - General Rule for Pensions and Annuities.
Publication 575 - Pension and Annuity Income
Publication 590 - Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs).
Publication 721 - Tax Guide to U.S. Civil Service Retirement Benefits.
Publication 571 - Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans (403(b) Plans).


Tax Credits-Related Irs Publications

Publication 596 - describes the Earned Income Credit.

Publication 972 - Child Tax Credit.

Publication 503 - Child and Dependant Care Expenses.

Publication 524 - Tax credit for the elderly or disabled

Publication 970 - Seeks to explain the claiming of Educational Tax Credits.


Tax Deductions-Related IRS Publications

Publication 936 - Deals with the Mortgage Interest Deduction.

Publication 970 - Helps with the claiming of Student Loan Interest Deduction.

Publication 502 - Explains Medical and Dental Deductions.

Publication 526 - Deals with Charitable Contributions.

Publication 561 - Helps you establish the value of items donated to charity.

Publication 550 - Helps with all Investment Interest Deductions as well as capital losses.

Publication 547 - Explains the claiming of Casualties and Theft Deductions, along with these next two publications:

Publication 584 - Helps with the claiming of personal property loss
Publication 584b - Helps with the claiming of business property loss


Publication 529 - Describes the process of Itemizing Tax Deductions. The following publications help with deducting of specific expenses:

Publication 463 - Explains the deducting of travel expenses
Publication 535 - Describes specific business deductions
Publication 587 - Deductions related to business use of your home
Publication 529 - Explains the depreciation of property.


Miscellaneous IRS Publications

Publication 505 - Explains income tax withholding and estimating taxes

Skip all the hassle - file electronically!

H&R Block Premium allows you to put away all forms, schedules and worksheets, and instead answer plain-English questions in a simple online questionnaire.

All the calculations are performed for you, and you get the benefit of knowing that all possible credits and deductions are accounted for. Best of all, you can work on your return for free, and pay nothing until you file.

Try it now

Here are some more ways in which H&R Block Premier can help make filing your return easier:

Answer only questions that apply to you
Dramatically simplifies tax preparation by streamlining the interview, bypassing questions that don't apply to you.

Advice for New Tax Laws
Takes advantage of new laws to make the most of every new tax break.

Prepares for Next Year's Taxes
Automatically sets up data for next year's taxes as you prepare this year's taxes.

Plus EVERYTHING in the Standard Edition:

  • Step by step interview that walks you through your return
  • Automatically fills out form 1040A and all schedules for you
  • Get your investment, mortgage, and wage data instantly
  • Get the deductions you deserve
  • Takes advantage of new tax laws
  • Automatically double-checks for overlooked deductions and missed opportunities
  • File your state return too!


Try H&R Block Premium for Free Now