The Internal Revenue Service has released a draft version of the Form 1040 for tax year 2020 with several significant changes probably in store for next tax season.
They include moving the question about virtual currency from the attached Schedule 1 to near the top of the main form, right under the name and address, asking, “At any time during 2020, did you receive, sell, exchange, or otherwise acquire any financial interest in any virtual currency?” The question comes at a time when the IRS has made it more of a priority to crack down on cryptocurrency investors who haven’t been reporting their gains on their tax filings, including by issuing summonses to major cryptocurrency exchanges like Coinbase and Bitstamp in recent years seeking information on their customers who trade in digital currency such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Another big change, as Kelly Phillips Erb of Forbes noted, is the inclusion of a question about charitable contributions on the main tax form for taxpayers who claim the standard deduction. Normally, taxpayers who claim the charitable deduction have to itemize it on Schedule A, but the CARES Act this year includes a provision for taxpayers to deduct up to $300 in charitable contributions even if they’re only claiming the standard deduction. That’s why there is now a line 10b for “charitable contributions if you take the standard deduction” on the draft Form 1040. Instructions will be provided for taxpayers and tax preparers, according to the form.
The flip side of the form includes a number of changes, including splitting the federal income tax withheld line into separate entries from W-2, 1099 and other forms, as opposed to a single line for federal income tax withholding. This suggests to Erb that the IRS may be planning to do extra scrutiny of gig workers and the self-employed.
A new line has been added to page 2 for the “recovery rebate credit,” which will be reporting the economic impact payments or stimulus checks that went out from the IRS this year as a result of the CARES Act. That too will be explained in the instructions for Form 1040, and Erb says there will be a separate reconciliation schedule that will carry over to that line on the form.
Cindy Blendu is chief transformation officer and chief HR officer at Clearwater Analytics.
Maureen Ezekwugo is the Chief Executive Officer of Oggvo, a technology company that is on a mission to help level the playing field between small businesses and big companies that have access to more resources for brand awareness and growth. With more than 20 years of experience, Maureen's career has been dedicated to helping businesses thrive online with products that transform how they market themselves to stand out and connect with today's modern online consumer. As CEO, Maureen is responsible for strategy, culture, vision, growth, and shareholder value at Oggvo.
Maureen has deep experience in driving revenue growth, building high-performing teams, and delivering exceptional customer value in competitive business markets, having served most recently as Chief Customer Officer at RealSelf – the leading online destination for consumers shopping in the aesthetic medicine space - where she led revenue growth, customer operations, and B2B marketing. Maureen is proud of her work with companies in the startup and hyper-growth stages including businesses such as MarketLeader, a software company in the real estate industry, where she helped build a powerful sales force that increased annual revenues from $1M to $100M throughout her leadership tenure.
Maureen also serves as a board member of Ada Developers Academy and as an advisor to multiple startups including BeautyTap and JoyMD. She regularly volunteers with organizations such as the Big Brother Big Sisters of America and enjoys spending her free time traveling, connecting with friends, and relaxing with her family and her cat Sochi.
The “Amount You Owe” section of the form includes a new cautionary note, saying, “Schedule H and Schedule SE filers, line 37 may not represent all of the taxes you owe for 2020. See Schedule 3, line 12e, and its instructions for details.” Schedule3, line 12e is new, according to Erb, and corresponds to another provision of the CARES Act allowing employers to defer their portion of the payroll tax for Social Security.
The form so far does not seem to include a line for the new payroll tax deferral for the employee’s share of Social Security taxes under President Trump’s recent executive order or memorandum. The draft form is likely to change before it’s finalized, though, as the IRS receives comments from the tax practitioner and accountant communities, as well as others.
