Forms: Form 1040A
(a) Election by taxpayer An individual who does not itemize his deductions and who is not described in section 6012(a)(1)(C)(i), whose gross income is less than $10,000 and includes no income other than remuneration for services performed by him as an employee, dividends or interest, and whose gross income other than wages, as defined in section 3401(a), does not exceed $100, shall at his election not be required to show on the return the tax imposed by section 1. Such election shall be made by using the form prescribed for purposes of this section. In such case the tax shall be computed by the Secretary who shall mail to the taxpayer a notice stating the amount determined as payable.
Amended 1964, 1969, 1976, 1977, 1986
- 1986 Pub. L. 99-514 Pub. L. 99–514, § 104(b)(16)(A), substituted “who is not described in section 6012(a)(1)(C)(i)” for “who does not have an unused zero bracket amount (determined under section 63(e))”.
- 1977 Pub. L. 95-30 Pub. L. 95–30, § 101(d)(13), substituted “An individual who does not itemize his deductions and who does not have an unused zero bracket amount (determined under section 63(e)), whose gross income” for “An individual entitled to take the standard deduction provided by section 141 (other than an individual described in section 141(e)) whose gross income” and struck out “and shall constitute an election to take the standard deduction” after “Such election shall be made by using the form prescribed for purposes of this section”.
- 1976 Pub. L. 94-455 Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 501(b)(8), 503(b)(2), 1906(b)(13(A), substituted “entitled to take the standard deduction provided by section 141 (other than an individual described in section 141(e))” for “entitled to elect to pay the tax imposed by section 3” and “take the standard deduction” for “pay the tax imposed by section 3” and struck out provision relating to disallowance of section 37 credit in determination of tax imposed by section 3 of this title, and struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
- 1969 Pub. L. 91-172 Pub. L. 91–172, § 803(d)(1), raised the individual gross income limit of $5,000 to $10,000 for exercising the option to pay the tax under section 3 of this title, and struck out provisions relating to heads of household, surviving spouses and married individuals filing separate returns.
- 1964 Pub. L. 88-272 Pub. L. 88–272 struck out “34 or” before “37 shall not be allowed”, and inserted provision that in case of a married individual filing a separate return and electing benefits of this subsection, neither Table V in section 3(a) nor Table V in section 3(b) shall apply.
Cases: Lawless v. Commissioner, T.C. Summ. Op. 2001-178
Cited by 1
(b) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for carrying out this section, and such regulations may provide for the application of the rules of this section—
Amended 1969, 1976
- 1976 Pub. L. 94-455 Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 501(b)(9), 503(b)(3), 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out an introductory provision, “or his delegate” after “Secretary”, redesignated former par. (5) as (4), and as so redesignated, inserted reference to where the taxpayer elects the standard deduction but is subject to the provisions of section 141(e) (relating to limitations in case of certain dependent taxpayers). Former par. (4), which related to cases where the taxpayer is entitled to credit provided by section 37 of this title, was struck out.
- 1969 Pub. L. 91-172 Pub. L. 91–172, § 942(a), substituted provisions authorizing the Secretary to promulgate regulations to compute the tax in cases where the gross income is $10,000 or more, where the gross income from sources other than wages on which the tax has been withheld at the source is more than $100, where the taxpayer is entitled to a credit under section 37 of this title, or where the taxpayer does not elect the standard deduction, for provisions authorizing the computation of the tax in cases where the gross income is $5,000 but not more than $5,200, or where the gross income from sources other than wages on which the tax has been withheld at the source is more than $100, but not more than $200.
(1) to cases where the gross income includes items other than those enumerated by subsection (a),
(2) to cases where the gross income from sources other than wages on which the tax has been withheld at the source is more than $100,
(3) to cases where the gross income is $10,000 or more, or
(4) to cases where the taxpayer itemizes his deductions or where the taxpayer claims a reduced standard deduction by reason of section 63(c)(5).
Amended 1977, 1986
- 1986 Pub. L. 99-514 Pub. L. 99–514, § 104(b)(16)(B), amended par. (4) generally, substituting “where the taxpayer claims a reduced standard deduction by reason of section 63(c)(5)” for “has an unused zero bracket amount”.
- 1977 Pub. L. 95-30 Pub. L. 95–30, § 101(d)(14), substituted “itemizes his deductions or has an unused zero bracket amount” for “does not elect the standard deduction or where the taxpayer elects the standard deduction but is subject to the provision of section 141(e) (relating to limitations in case of certain dependent taxpayers)”.
Such regulations shall provide for the application of this section in the case of husband and wife, including provisions determining when a joint return under this section may be permitted or required, whether the liability shall be joint and several, and whether one spouse may make return under this section and the other without regard to this section.