How to Fill Out the Tax Form 1040 Line-by-Line
Filling out the 1040 tax form from the Internal Revenue Service is one of several ways to pay your federal taxes. Although there are three versions of the 1040 form, form 1040EZ is one of the simplest and most commonly used. You're eligible to fill out the 1040EZ if your taxable income is below $100,00; if you're filing either as a married couple or single; if you've earned $1,500 or less in interest income; if you have no dependents; and if you're not claiming specialized deductions like contributions to an IRA.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- IRS 1040EZ form (see References)
- IRS 1040EZ instructional booklet
- W-2 forms from your employer
- Black or blue ballpoint pen
- Calculator (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Enter your name, home address and Social Security number in the top section of the 1040EZ. If the form was mailed to you by the IRS, use the pre-printed peel-off label included with the form. If you don't have a Social Security number, call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 to request one via form SS-5.
-
2
Add up the total of your income listed in Box 1 on your W-2 forms, provided by your employer. Enter the total in Line 1 of the 1040EZ form.
-
-
3
Enter your taxable interest in Line 2. This number will be included on the end-of-the-year statements provided by your bank, credit union or other financial institution.
-
4
Enter any unemployment compensation above the $2,400 threshold in Line 3, as well as any Alaska Permanent Fund dividends that you received.
-
5
Add the totals of lines 1 through 3. This equals your adjusted gross income. Enter it in Line 4.
-
6
Put an "X" or checkmark in Section 5 next to "You" or "Spouse" if either of you can claim you or your spouse as a dependent. If someone can, complete the worksheet on the reverse side of the form and write down the result in Line 5. Otherwise, write "9350" if you're filing as a single individual, or "18700" if you're filing as a married couple.
-
7
Subtract the results of Line 5 from the total in Line 4. The result is your taxable income. Write it down in Line 6. If you have a negative number, write "0."
-
8
Enter any federal income taxes that have already been withheld in Line 7. You'll find such information on your W-2 income forms in Box 2.
-
9
Fill out Line 8 only if you're eligible for the making work pay credit, which is part of the federal government's economic stimulus plan for the 2010 tax year. To determine your credit, complete the worksheet on the reverse side of the 1040EZ form.
-
10
Complete lines 9A and 9B only if you're eligible for the making work pay credit. For the 2010 tax year, you may be eligible for the earned income credit if you earned less than $13,460, or if you and your spouse earned less than a total of $18,470. To determine your credit, complete the worksheet on Page 13 of the 1040EZ's instructional booklet or consult a professional tax preparer. This credit can be very complex, and miscalculating your credit can result in a two-year ban from claiming the credit again.
-
11
Add the total of lines 7 through 9 and write it in Line 10.
-
12
Find your tax rate by locating your taxable income from Line 6 on the tax tables published on pages 27 through 35 of the 1040EZ instructional booklet. Write down your tax in Line 11.
-
13
Subtract Line 10 from Line 11 if the former is smaller than the latter. Write it down in Line 13. This is the amount of tax you owe to the federal government. If Line 11 is smaller, subtract it from Line 10 and enter the result in Line 12A. This is the refund the government owes you, and you should then complete the "Refund" box with your bank account information so the government can send you your refund.
-
14
Sign and date the bottom of the form, and include your occupation and daytime phone number.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
This information is valid for filling out the 1040EZ form for tax year 2010 and does not constitute tax advice. After 2010, tax credits, brackets and other details may change. The IRS also operates a 24-hour tax hotline to guide you through the process, available by calling 800-829-1040.
References
- Photo Credit Duncan Smith/Photodisc/Getty Images
