A bare-bones tax return involving only W-2 income for a couple with moderately high-paying jobs (doctor, lawyer, engineer, in some areas police officer, nurse,

A bare-bones tax return involving only W-2 income for a couple with moderately high-paying jobs (doctor, lawyer, engineer, in some areas police officer, nurse, school principal, that sort of thing; enough to end up at $250k+ between the two of them) will include the following forms for the 2018 tax year: * 1040 (including Schedule 4, to report Form 8959 bits on) * 6251 (they probably don't owe AMT now, but need to fill out the form to prove it) * 8959 (because wage income over $250k). If they have any savings that's not cash under a mattress, probably add form 8960 and 1040 Schedule B or D or both (but now we have non-W2 income, of course). If they own a house, likely add Schedule A. If they have kids, probably add Schedule 3 for the child care credit and form 2441. Plus the various worksheets involved (child credit, not to be confused with the child care credit, the actual tax computation worksheet, etc), which I guess don't have to be filed with the IRS, at least. Now I agree that this is not really complicated in the grand scheme of things. I also agree that for people at lower income levels the 1040 is the only thing involved if no kids, add form 2441 if they have kids and are not stay-at-home parenting.