Form 1040EZ Instructions

Completing the 1040EZ form.

Form 1040EZ is for taxpayers who have no capital gains, dependents or business income to report. The 1040EZ is a one-page tax form that is the simplest of all 1040 forms to fill out. You can fill out the 1040EZ form online with a fillable form or download the form and enter the information in black ink so you can send the form through the USPS.

Things You'll Need

• 1040EZ form
• Wages (W-2)
• Taxable interest (1099-INT)
• Unemployment (1099-G)

Instructions

1. Enter your name and address in the top section of the form as well as a spouse's name if it applies. Enter a Social Security number for each person and check the box for you and a spouse if you want to donate $3 to the presidential election campaign.

2. Enter your wages, including tips and salary from your W-2 form on the line under the income section. If you have any taxable income from a form 1099-INT, enter that on line 2. If you received unemployment, enter the amount from form 1099-G on line 3 (follow the directions on this line as sometimes the government gives special conditions for claiming the full amount).

3. Add lines 1 through 3 together and enter the total on line 4 for your adjusted gross income. If you can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, follow the directions on line 5. Subtract line 5 from line 4 to find your taxable income on line 6.

4. Enter the amount of federal income tax that was withheld from your wages on line 7 in the payments, credits and tax section. If any other credits apply, such as the earned income credit (use the worksheet to figure the credit found on page 13 of the instruction booklet) or nontaxable combat pay, enter those amounts.

5. Add lines 7 through 9a to find your total credits and payments and enter this amount on line 10. Look at the tax table on page 27 of the instruction booklet to find the tax for the amount on line 6. Enter that amount on line 11.

6. Find the amount of your refund by subtracting line 11 from line 10 if line 10 is more than line 11. Enter this amount on line 12a. This is the amount of your refund. If line 11 is more than line 10, subtract line 10 from the amount on line 11. Enter this amount on line 13. This is the amount that you owe to the IRS.

7. Enter a routing number and bank account number if you have a refund coming and you want the amount deposited into your bank account, or write a check to the Department of Treasury for the amount that you owe the IRS. Sign and date the form. Send to the correct office of the Internal Revenue Service found on back page of the instruction booklet.

References

• IRS: 1040EZ
• IRS: 1040EZ Instruction Booklet