Tax Forms History - Form 1040 through the Years

Federal Income Tax Form 1040 for Every Tax Year

Since 1913, America has had a Form 1040. With the ratification of the 16th Amendment, which allowed the collection of income tax, the IRS Form 1040 became commonplace. Learn more about the history of taxes in the United States. Throughout the years, it has been revised again and again, until it has evolved into its present state. Here is the IRS Form 1040 for every tax year since 1913:

			1913	1914*	1915*	1916	1917	1918	1919
1920	1921	1922	1923	1924	1925	1926	1927	1928	1929
1930	1931	1932	1933	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939
1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947	1948	1949
1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
2010	2011	2012

*- The 1913 form was used for years 1913-1915. The IRS did not begin to release versions for every year until 1916.

A list of more federal IRS tax forms.

Historically Significant Tax Returns - Tax Returns of the Presidents and Presidential Candidates

The United States President always makes their tax return a matter of public record. We at efile.com never share your personal information. The presidential tax returns presented below are publicly available and are of historical interest.

The practice of releasing tax returns when running for office didn't become commonplace until the late 1960's, which is also when presidential candidates, and not just presidents, began to routinely release their income tax returns to the public. In the runup to the 1968 presidential election, George Romney, a governor of Michigan at the time, released 12 years of his tax returns from 1955-1966 after being pressed on the topic by reporters. This set the precedent for presidential candidates to release their tax returns and almost every president from Nixon onward has made their tax returns public. The only exception was Gerald Ford, who kept his tax returns private.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937

FDR’s domestic policy is remembered for lasting contributions such as Social Security. But he also signed several tax reforms that raised taxes to fund the World War II effort as well as new social programs. He signed the Revenue Act of 1941 into law, raising the highest estate tax rate to 77%, the highest in United States history.

Richard Nixon

1969 1970 1971 1972

Nixon signed the Tax Reform Act of 1969, which essentially eliminated taxes for those living in poverty and raised taxes on certain rich groups by closing loopholes. However, during his presidency he also reduced the highest rates for the richest Americans from 70% to 50%.

In addition, Nixon made it commonplace for presidents to publically release their tax returns. Gerald Ford's tax returns are not public, but following Jimmy Carter, every US president and major US political figure has released their tax returns.

Jimmy Carter

1977 1978 1979

Carter supported lowering taxes for the middle class, as well as eliminating tax shelters and loopholes.

Ronald Reagan

1981 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987

Under Reagan, a number of important tax reforms occurred. In 1981, he signed into law what was at the time the largest tax cut in US history. It cut approximately $750 billion in 7 years. Reagan also signed the Tax Reform Act of 1986 into law.

George H.W. Bush

1989 1990 1991

George H.W. Bush is known for his famous line “Read my lips: no new taxes”. However, he didn’t keep that promise and had to raise taxes during his presidency.

Bill Clinton

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Under Clinton, taxes were lowered for the middle class but they rose for the wealthy.

George W. Bush

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Bush signed the Economic Growth and Tax Reconciliation Act in 2001. This tax cut reduced taxes by $1.3 trillion over ten years. The Act was extended in 2011.

Barack Obama

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

The president supports higher taxes for the wealthy as a way to reduce the national deficit, while keeping taxes low for the middle and lower classes. In 2011, Obama signed a 2-year extension to the Economic Growth and Tax Reconciliation Act after it passed both the House and the Senate, keeping taxes low for all tax brackets.

Joe Biden

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

The vice president supports increasing taxes for the wealthy.

Dick Cheney

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

The former vice president supported keeping taxes low and touted the benefits for businesses.

John McCain

2006 2007

The 2000 and 2008 presidential candidate supports lowering taxes and simplifying the tax code.

Sarah Palin

2006 2007

The 2008 vice presidential candidate is known to oppose increasing taxes for the wealthy, and she also supports removing the estate tax (the "death tax"). While governor of Alaska, she imposed new taxes on the oil industry, generating substantial revenue for her state.

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney. Image courtesy of Gage Skidmore. 2010 2011

The 2012 Republican presidential candidate favors lowering tax rates for individuals.

Paul Ryan

2010 2011

The 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate is best known for his budget plan that attempts to broaden the tax base and reduce tax rates across the board. His proposed plan was coupled with spending cuts that were aimed at reducing the national budget deficit.

Detailed overview of the tax history in United States and the world.