Which tax form is typically used to claim a refund for overpaid taxes?

The most commonly used tax form to claim a refund for overpaid taxes is Form 1040. This is the standard individual income tax return form utilized by taxpayers to report their income, deductions, and tax liability to the IRS. When individuals assess their total tax obligation and find that they have paid more in taxes throughout the year than they actually owe, they would use Form 1040 to file for a refund of the excess amount.

This form facilitates the computation of taxes owed and helps in determining any overpayment. Taxpayers detail their income sources, permitted deductions, and tax credits, leading to either a refund or a balance due.

In contrast, other forms provided in the options serve different purposes. Form 1099 is a information form used to report various types of income other than wages, salaries, and tips, while Form W-2 reports an employee's annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld from their paycheck. Form 8862 deals with claiming the Earned Income Credit after a prior disallowance. Thus, these forms do not serve the primary purpose of claiming a refund for overpaid taxes.