Individual taxes are filed on a form called the 1040. The status of your filling, amount of deductions and credits are mainly determined by your family size and income during the year. Using professional software makes the filing easier. About 90% of  people filing use the IRS E-File system but due to its complexity they can easily lose hundreds and even thousands of dollars. They can even breaking the law and claiming certain credits unbeknownst to you. Having a professional tax preparer can alleviate many of these concerns and make sure that you are receiving all your credits and deductions.