Where do you put bad debt on a 1040 tax form?

Bad debt is typically reported on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) if you're a sole proprietor, or on the appropriate business tax return if you're using another business structure. If the bad debt is related to a non-business debt, it generally isn't deductible for individual taxpayers. For business debts, you would report the amount of the bad debt as a deduction on your Schedule C, which ultimately affects your taxable income on your Form 1040.