Please complete the $2023$ federal income tax return for Lois Pewterschmidt using the below information. Be sure to include only the required tax forms when completing the return. For the purposes of this assignment, unless otherwise instructed, you do not need to attach Form $8582.$ Also, ignore any potential ability to take tax credits of any kind, even if they would be allowed, as the content has not yet been covered. If information is missing, use reasonable assumptions to fill in the gaps.

Lois Pewterschmidt $($social security number $223-45-6789,$ age $42,$ phone number $425-123-4567)$ and her now ex$-$husband Peter Griffin $($social security number $123-45-6789,$ age $44)$ were legally divorced on March $1,2018.$ After divorcing, Lois moved to Washington State, where she currently resides at $10044$ SE $7$th St$,$ Bellvue, WA $98004.$ As of the end of $2023,$ Lois was unmarried. Lois and Peter had $3$ children together, Stewie, Chris, and Meg, ages $2,14,$ and $18,$ respectively. Stewie and Chris live at home with Lois, while Meg is a full$-$time college student at Washington State University. Meg$$s parents each provide $50\%$ of her support. Stewie, Chris and Meg$$s social security numbers are $323-45-6789,423-45-6789,$ and $523-45-6789,$ respectively. Lois also adopted a dog, Brian, who is $8$ years old, lives with the family year$-$round, and is totally supported by Lois.

As part of the divorce agreement, Peter must pay Lois $$12,000$ per year until Chris turns $18,$ at which point the annual amount reduces to $$10,000$ per year until Stewie turns $18.$ At that point, the annual payments are reduced to $$6,000$ per year until Lois remarries or dies. Lois and Peter agreed at the time of the divorce to allow the parent meeting IRS requirements and tie$-$breaking rules to claim each child as a dependent.

Lois has worked at Bellvue High School as a piano teacher since moving to Washington in $2018.$ She draws an annual salary and has employer$-$paid health and dental insurance. In $2023,$ Lois earned $$61,238$ in salary. Her employer also paid for $$8,009$ of health insurance premiums. Bellvue High School withheld $$12,248$ in federal income taxes, $$4,293$ in social security taxes, and $$1,004$ in Medicare taxes. Lois also received interest from City of Quahog bonds totaling $$1,978$ and Microsoft corporate bonds totaling $$3,245.$ Lastly, Lois$$ parents provided her with $$25,000$ to help with bills and childcare costs in $2023.$

Using the above information, prepare the $20231040$ for Lois. Structure her tax return so that you minimize her tax liability $($i$.$e$.$ if items can be treated different ways, choose the most tax$-$beneficial treatment available for $2023).$ Lois does not want $$3$ to go to the presidential election campaign fund, nor does she wish to designate anyone as a third$-$party designee. If Lois is due a refund, she would like to receive a refund check.

Note that many items will reference you $($or require you$)$ to use and attach a form or worksheet. The only forms and worksheets I require that you complete are form $1040,$ and schedules $1,2,3,$ A$,$ C$,$ and E if utilized. Do not include these if they are not needed. All other forms can be ignored. Keep in mind this tax return is only intended to incorporate information covered prior to Exam $1.$ Therefore, you can ignore items not covered $($i$.$e$.$ credits$),$ even if Lois should include them.