Information for IRS Tax Form 1040EZ

If you ever filed your taxes in the early 2000s (or at any point before 2018), you might remember IRS Form 1040EZ. It was the fast-and-easy version of a tax return that people with simple finances loved using. Well, maybe “loved” is a bit of an overstatement, but it had no complicated deductions, no dependents, just the basics. Unfortunately, in 2018, the IRS retired this form in favor of a more flexible system.

Even though 1040EZ is no longer part of the current filing lineup, it’s still worth what this form was all about, especially if you’re filing a return for an older year or just curious how today’s tax forms evolved. This quick guide walks you through what 1040EZ was all about, why it got phased out, and what to expect now when filing a basic tax return.

What is Form 1040EZ?

IRS Tax Form 1040EZ is the shortest federal income tax form. It is designed for taxpayers whose filing status is “single” or “married filing jointly” with no dependents. The 1040EZ is less complex than Tax Form 1040 and Tax Form 1040A, so it generally takes less time to fill out and process. However, it may be more beneficial to use Form 1040 or Form 1040A, since those forms allow taxpayers to claim “head of household” status (which typically results in a lower tax than filing as “single”), dependents, and various credits and adjustments to income.

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A taxpayer may use IRS Tax Form 1040EZ if all of the following are true:

• He or she has taxable income less than $100,000
• He or she files as “single” or “married filing jointly”
• He or she claims no dependents
• He or she claims no adjustments to income
• He or she claims only the following credits: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or federal telephone excise tax credit
• He or she is under the age of 65
• He or she is not blind
• He or she has income from only the following sources: wages, salaries, tips, unemployment compensation, taxable scholarship or fellowship grants, or Alaska Permanent Funds dividends
• He or she has taxable interest of $1,500 or less
• He or she did not receive any advance EITC payments
• He or she does not owe any household employment taxes (from wages paid to a household employee)
• He or she does not owe any Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
• He or she is not a debtor in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case (that was filed after October 16, 2005)

For taxpayers who do not meet the above requirements, Tax Form 1040 or Tax Form 1040A must be used. To claim the “single” filing status on Tax Form 1040EZ, the following must be true as of the last day of the applicable tax year (e.g., December 31, 2008 for a 2008 tax return):

• You were never married
• You are considered legally separated or divorced (according to state law), or
• You were widowed before January 1^st (of that tax year) and did not remarry during that tax year

To claim a “married filing jointly” status on Tax Form 1040EZ, the following must be true:

• You were considered legally married as of the last day of the applicable tax year
• Your spouse died during the tax year and you did not remarry during that year, or
• You were considered legally married as of the last day of the tax year and your spouse died before your return was filed

For federal tax purposes, “marriage” is defined as a legal union between a man and a woman as husband and wife, and “spouse” is defined as a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.

Form 1040EZ vs. 1040 vs. 1040-SR

Forms 1040 and 1040-SR carry on the spirit of the old 1040EZ, which was all about making tax filing easier for folks with simple financial situations and a short list of requirements.

These days, most people will find what they need with either the standard 1040 or the 1040-SR. The regular 1040 gives you room to report more types of income and take advantage of various deductions and credits. The 1040-SR offers the same features but is designed specifically for taxpayers aged 65 and up, with a layout that’s easier on the eyes.

Form 1040
Form 1040 is the standard individual income tax return form used by most taxpayers. It accommodates a wide range of tax situations, from simple to complex. Whether you have multiple income sources, claim various deductions and credits, or need to report additional taxes, Form 1040 is designed to handle it all. It’s the go-to form for filing your federal income taxes.​

Form 1040-SR
Form 1040-SR is an alternative to Form 1040, specifically designed for taxpayers aged 65 and older. Introduced following the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, it features larger print and includes a standard deduction chart directly on the form for easy reference. Functionally, it’s identical to Form 1040, using the same schedules and instructions. The primary difference lies in its readability enhancements, making it more user-friendly for seniors who prefer paper filing.

While Form 1040EZ is no longer available for current tax years, Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR serve as the primary forms for individual taxpayers. Your choice between Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR depends on your age and personal preference for form layout. Both forms accommodate a variety of tax situations and can be filed electronically or by mail.

Can You Still Use IRS Form 1040EZ?

The short answer is no, but you knew that, right? As of the 2018 tax year, the IRS officially retired Form 1040EZ, along with the old 1040A. These were replaced by a redesigned version of Form 1040 that’s meant to be simpler and more flexible for a wider range of taxpayers.

Instead of choosing between multiple simplified forms, everyone now starts with the same Form 1040. Depending on your situation, you might just need the main form, or you may need to attach a few extra schedules. And if you’re 65 or older, there’s also Form 1040-SR, which includes the same info but uses larger print and a more user-friendly layout.

So while 1040EZ is a thing of the past, the IRS has tried to keep things simple with newer, streamlined options that cover more tax scenarios in one place.

The Final Word on IRS Form 1040EZ…

While IRS Form 1040EZ is officially a thing of the past, its spirit lives on in how simple tax filing can still be today, especially with online tools and the redesigned Form 1040. Whether you used it in the past or just heard about it recently, understanding 1040EZ helps make sense of how tax forms have changed over time.

And if your situation is still pretty straightforward, the current process might feel just as easy as it did with the old form. Taxes may not be fun, but at least they don’t have to be confusing.

IRS Form 1040EZ: FAQ

1. What was IRS Form 1040EZ used for?
IRS Form 1040EZ was a simplified version of the regular tax return that made it easy for people with straightforward finances to file their federal income taxes. It worked well if you had just one or two jobs, made less than $100,000, didn’t have kids or any big deductions, and weren’t claiming many credits. It was the simplest federal tax form out there at the time.

2. Why did the IRS get rid of Form 1040EZ?
The IRS discontinued Form 1040EZ in 2018 to streamline the filing process. Instead of having three different versions of the 1040 (regular, A, and EZ), they created a single Form 1040 that adapts to each taxpayer’s needs using attached schedules. This made things more consistent across the board and gave everyone a more customized experience, even if their taxes were simple.

3. Can I still file my taxes using Form 1040EZ?
Nope, Form 1040EZ isn’t accepted anymore for any tax year starting in 2018. If you’re filing a prior-year return for 2017 or earlier, then yes, you might need to use 1040EZ if it applied to your situation. But for all current tax years, the regular Form 1040 is what you’ll need to use.

4. What should I use instead of Form 1040EZ now?
You’ll now use the standard Form 1040, even if your taxes are simple. The good news is that many online tax services make the process just as easy as the old 1040EZ did. If your situation is pretty basic, the software will usually skip the extra forms and just fill out what’s necessary on the main 1040.

5. Was there any benefit to using 1040EZ compared to the new Form 1040?
Back when it was around, the big draw of 1040EZ was that it was short, sweet, and easy to fill out. Now, the new Form 1040 can be just as simple depending on how you file. The benefit is that it’s more flexible, and even if your situation changes slightly year to year, you won’t have to switch forms like before. Everything is handled in one place.

6. I used to qualify for 1040EZ. What should I expect with the current Form 1040?
If you used 1040EZ in the past, chances are your return will still be easy to file with the modern Form 1040. You’ll probably only need to fill out the main form without any of the extra schedules. The layout might look a little different, but the actual information you need to report is still just basic stuff like wages, taxes withheld, and whether you’re eligible for certain credits. Most online tax tools will walk you through it step by step, so it shouldn’t feel overwhelming at all.

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