If you haven’t heard, the postcard is real. Kind of.

In June, the Treasury Department and IRS unveiled the new 2018 individual income tax return. The new form is an offshoot of last year’s tax overhaul.

Though famed a “postcard,” the new return is anything but simple. Many Americans will have to go through the same or similar hoops to complete their taxes in the new format.

Essentially, page one of the individual return is a half-sheet of paper including contact information and a signature line. Page two is a half-sheet of paper summarizing income, deductions, and tax.

Preparation and reporting are not any simpler for the average American, as most taxpayers will complete new “schedules” to report deductions and credits formerly found on the 1040. The new format replaces the former Form 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ.

With over 20 years of experience in public accounting, Amanda Bechen CPA owns Bechen & Company PC located in Wagner, SD, and can be contacted at 605-384-4200 or www.bechenco. com.