America’s First Income Tax Form July 7, 2005 Andrew Chamberlain Andrew Chamberlain Ever wonder what the original 1913 IRS 1040 form looked like? See a PDF version here. Notable for its four-page length—and single page of instructions—the original 1040 requires at least one thing modern forms don’t: math knowledge. The 1913 form actually lists individual tax rates and brackets, allowing taxpayers to calculate tax liability the old fashioned way as opposed to looking it up in a pre-calculated table—or clicking an option box in TurboTax. Stay informed on the tax policies impacting you. Subscribe to get insights from our trusted experts delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Share Tweet Share Email Topics Center for Federal Tax Policy Individual Income and Payroll Taxes