The Earned Income Credit (EIC) is a valuable, refundable tax credit available to low and moderate income taxpayers and families. If your EIC was disallowed or reduced for reasons other than math or clerical errors after 1996, you may need to file Form 8862 before the Internal Revenue Service allows you to use the credit again.

Married couples have the option to file jointly or separately on their federal income tax returns. The IRS strongly encourages most couples to file joint tax returns by extending several tax breaks to those who file together. In the vast majority of cases, it's best for married couples to file jointly, but there may be a few instances when it's better to submit separate returns.

An estate or trust can generate income that must be reported on Form 1041, United States Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts. However, if trust and estate beneficiaries are entitled to receive the income, the beneficiaries must pay the income tax rather than the trust or estate. At the end of the year, all income distributions made to beneficiaries must be reported on a Schedule K-1.

If some of the stocks you own pay dividends, or a mutual fund you invest in made a capital gains distribution to you during the year, you'll receive a 1099-DIV form.

Those who serve in the U.S. armed forces are honored with a number of benefits, ranging from education assistance to retirement. Among the perks are a number of steps to make filing federal income tax returns easier, as well.