Understanding taxes – and tax returns – is key to financial literacy. Tax expert Aki Stepinska provides a no-nonsense guide to one of the most important tax forms in the U.S.: the 1040.

Taxes are unavoidable, and unfortunately, feared by most people. But financial literacy can be achieved quicker than you'd think.

Understanding tax forms, what they are asking for, and the process of filing them is an essential piece of becoming truly financially literate.

Understanding the tax process, especially the '1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return' form, can liberate American taxpayers from the dread and unnecessary costs associated with tax season.

This jargon-free, comprehensive guide from tax expert and corporate writer Aki Stepinska aims to inform the U.S. taxpayer of every facet of the 1040 form, from what it actually is to how to fill it in the right way.