Here’s what HIVE AI had to say about “What forms do I need to file for common deductions?”:

Forms you need to file for common deductions

Below are the most commonly claimed deductions and the forms or schedules you typically use to claim them on an individual return. Almost all individual deductions ultimately flow through Form 1040, with detail on Schedule 1 or Schedule A and, when required, a specialized form.

Standard deduction vs. itemizing

• Most filers either take the standard deduction directly on Form 1040 or itemize on Schedule A if itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction for their filing status. See Topic 501 for what’s included in itemized deductions and when itemizing makes sense .
• If you itemize, you complete Schedule A and attach it to Form 1040 (or 1040-SR) .

Medical and dental expenses

• Schedule A: Deduct unreimbursed medical and dental expenses above the AGI threshold in the medical section of Schedule A .
• Keep receipts, insurance explanations of benefits, and proof of payment .

State and local taxes (SALT)

• Schedule A: Report state/local income or sales taxes, real property taxes, and personal property taxes, subject to the SALT cap, in the taxes section .

Mortgage interest and points

• Schedule A: Report qualified home mortgage interest and points in the interest section. Attach Form 4952 only if you are claiming investment interest expense (not typical for home mortgage interest) per IRS procedural guidance .

Charitable contributions

• Schedule A: Report cash and noncash gifts in the contributions section .
• Form 8283: Required if your total noncash contributions exceed $500 (use Section A or B as applicable; additional appraisal rules apply at higher thresholds) .
• Contemporaneous written acknowledgments are required for any single gift of $250 or more .

Casualty and theft losses (federally declared disasters)

• Form 4684: Compute the loss; attach Form 4684 and carry the result to Schedule A casualty/theft section when allowable .

Educator expenses, HSA, IRA, student loan interest, and other “above-the-line” deductions

• Schedule 1 (Form 1040) Part II: Most “adjustments to income” are entered here, including:
  • Educator expenses
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) deduction (Form 8889 is generally required for HSAs; software prompts you on attachment)
  • Traditional IRA deduction
  • Student loan interest deduction (note joint filing requirement applies for married couples claiming the interest deduction under IRC §221(e)) .
• Your tax software will populate Schedule 1 and attach any required supporting forms; paper filers attach Schedule 1 to Form 1040 .

Self-employment retirement contributions (SEP, SIMPLE, solo 401(k))

• Schedule 1: Enter the deduction for your self-employed retirement plan contributions on Schedule 1, line for adjustments to income. If you maintain a plan, separate annual plan reporting (Form 5500 series) may apply even if you don’t claim a deduction in the current year (see Pub 560). Common plan filings:
  • Form 5500-EZ: One-participant plan
  • Form 5500-SF: Small plans meeting criteria
  • Form 5500: Other plans
    File electronically with the Department of Labor’s EFAST as applicable .

Business, rental, and investment-related deductions

• Schedule C: Sole proprietor business income and expenses, including ordinary and necessary business deductions .
• Schedule E: Rental real estate, royalties, pass-through entity income and related deductible expenses .
• Schedule D/Form 8949: Report capital transactions; investment-related expenses are largely limited, but investment interest expense requires Form 4952 if claimed; Schedule D is among common schedules supported in Free File .

Unreimbursed employee expenses (limited categories)

• Form 2106: Only certain categories of employees can deduct unreimbursed employee business expenses (Armed Forces reservists, qualified performing artists, fee-basis state/local officials, and impairment-related work expenses). Those filers generally use Form 2106, then flow to Schedule A or Schedule 1 as applicable per Publication 529 .

Adoption credit and expenses

• Form 8839: Claim the adoption credit and report qualified adoption expenses. Statute requires including the child’s identifying information (name, age, TIN) on the return unless the IRS permits alternatives; joint filing rules for certain credits/benefits apply by statute .

Foreign tax credit and standard deduction coordination (special situations)

• Form 1116: If you claim the foreign tax credit, some coordination rules apply, including how the standard deduction or certain other deductions are treated for allocation purposes in specialized contexts (for example, Puerto Rico resource guidance shows how to enter the allowable standard deduction on Form 1116 lines in certain cases) .

Where these forms appear in common software

• Most consumer tax software and IRS Free File partners support Form 1040/1040‑SR, Schedules 1–3, Schedule A, B, C, D, E, SE, and Schedule 8812. If you need a less common form, check the software’s supported forms list .

Documents you should gather to support deductions

• Mortgage interest statements, property tax bills, charitable receipts, medical receipts and insurance statements, 1095‑A for Marketplace insurance (if applicable), HSA/FSA contribution records, retirement contribution records, and side‑gig statements. The IRS “Gather your documents” guide lists typical proof for credits and deductions and health insurance reconciliation on Form 1095‑A .

If you tell me which deductions you expect to claim, I can list the exact forms, lines, and any attachment or substantiation rules specific to your situation.

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