Self employed sole proprietors file only one tax return, which is a combined personal and business tax return. Your business income and expenses are reported on Schedule C. Your net profit, or loss, from Schedule C then goes on line 12 of form 1040 (Schedule 1). Form 1040, Schedule C and Schedule 1 (and any other required forms and schedules) are your "tax return". Some people refer to their whole tax return as "Form 1040", as the other forms and schedules are essentially attachments to form 1040.
