Personal return basics

# Personal return basics

The Personal edition helps you prepare an individual return. Today the personal return is US Form 1040 for tax year 2026, with Schedules 1 and 2 and the business and self-employment schedules. Personal returns for Canada and India are not offered yet.

This article is general information, not tax advice. Ask your accountant about your own return.

Starting a return

1. Open Taxes and choose a new personal return.
2. Choose the country (US) and the tax year (2026).
3. Type in the figures from your documents. Each field has a name that matches the form line.

The return is saved in the company file beside your books, but it is never posted to the books.

Where each part goes

• Income is entered on the income lines of Form 1040 and Schedule 1.
• Deductions and credits are entered on Schedules 1 and 2, and on the Form 1040 lines for credits.
• Business income from a sole proprietor comes from Schedule C. You can fill Schedule C from the books for the same period, using the tax-line totals (see tax-lines).
• Self-employment tax is worked out on Schedule SE from the Schedule C profit.

Checks

The return shows diagnostics in plain words. A calculated figure appears next to any figure you type over, so you can see what changed. Read the diagnostics before you sign anything.

What is missing so far

• Schedule A and other schedules are not in the forms yet.
• Pop Books does not e-file the return with the IRS. No e-filing is offered.
• The figures on screen are the product's working. Your preparer confirms the final refund or amount owed.