If you're staring at your 1040 income tax form and feeling lost, you probably aren't alone. The 1040 tax form was overhauled and revamped in 2018, designed to be shorter and hopefully less confusing.

Taxes can be complicated. As taxpayers, we find that frustrating. So it would make sense, then, that we would snatch up the easiest tax forms that we can find. Only, that's not always the right choice ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Lea Uradu, J.D., is a Maryland state registered tax preparer, state-certified notary public, ...