INSTRUCTIONS: MONTANA INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RETURN (Form 2M)

Montana residents who are single, married and filing jointly or the head of their household and who are filing on a calendar year basis can file their individual state income tax return using a form 2M. This document can be found on the website of the Montana Department of Revenue.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 1: At the top of the form, enter your first name, middle initial, last name and Social Security number. Provide the same information concerning your spouse if filing jointly. If either spouse is deceased, give their date of death.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 2: Give your complete mailing address.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 3: Mark your filing status with an "x."

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 4: Note whether you or your spouse are claiming an exemption on the basis of being blind or being 65 or older. List the names, Social Security numbers and relationship to you of all dependents, and indicate whether any of them are disabled. Enter the total number of such exemptions claimed on line 5d.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 5: Follow instructions on lines 6 through 15 to document your federal adjusted gross income.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 6: Follow instructions on lines 16 through 37 to determine your Montana adjusted gross income. Transfer this number to line 38 at the top of the second page.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 7: On line 39, you can either claim a standard deduction or an itemized deduction. If the latter, you must complete Schedule I on the third page and transfer the total from line 29 there to line 39.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 8: Lines 40 through 65 provide the instructions to calculate your tax owed. Note that to calculate your total nonrefundable credits on line 46, you must complete Schedule II on the fourth page, which only lists six credits out of the 24 offered by the state. If you are eligible for credits not listed here, you must file your income tax with a form 2.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return 2M Step 9: If you are owed a deposit which you wish to receive as a direct deposit, provide your bank account information where indicated.