Most taxpayers use Form 1040: U.S. Individual Income Tax Return to file their annual tax returns. Before the tax year 2018, alternative forms were also used: Form 1040EZ: Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No Dependents and 1040A: U.S. Individual Tax Return.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) consolidated the forms into one, allowing taxpayers to supplement their filings with different schedules.
Key Takeaways
- Form 1040 is the standard tax return form that most individual taxpayers use every year.
- The IRS no longer accepts Forms 1040EZ or Form 1040A as of tax year 2018.
- Form 1040EZ was meant for individuals who didn't take credits or deductions.
- Form 1040A limited the amount of deductions and credits taxpayers could claim.
Form 1040: U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Form 1040 is the only form that most individual taxpayers can use to report their income taxes to the IRS. This form has two pages and was simplified in 2018.
It provides the most options for claiming tax credits and deductions for those who:
- Have taxable income greater than $100,000
- Itemize deductions
- Receive income from the sale of property
- Have income from unreported tips, self-employment, certain non-taxable distributions, a partnership or S corporation, or as a beneficiary of an estate or trust.
Individual taxpayers who are 65 and older can use Form 1040SR: U.S. Tax Return for Seniors. It resembles Form 1040 but has larger fonts, which makes it easier to read and complete.
Discontinuing 1040EZ and 1040A
As of tax year 2018, Form 1040 was redesigned and Forms 1040A and 1040EZ were discontinued.
Form 1040-EZ: Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No Dependents
Form 1040-EZ was the shortest of the 1040 forms and the easiest to complete. It was meant for individuals who only took the standard deduction and didn't itemize.
Taxpayers could not claim any tax credits or deductions other than the earned income tax credit (EITC), or make any adjustments to income like contributions to an individual retirement account (IRA). All self-employment, alimony, dividends, or capital gains also disqualified individuals from using Form 1040EZ.
Form 1040A: U.S. Individual Tax Return
Form 1040A fell somewhere in between the standard Form 1040 and Form 1040EZ in terms of complexity. It offered more room for tax breaks than Form 1040EZ, including childcare, education, and retirement savings.
This form was limited in how many deductions and credits it allowed compared to the standard Form 1040. For instance, those who couldn't use Form 1040EZ because there were dependents to claim could use 1040A if certain conditions applied.
Is Form 1040 the Only Option to File My Tax Return?
Yes. As of the 2018 tax year, all individual taxpayers are required to file their tax returns using Form 1040. The IRS consolidated all previous versions of the annual tax return into Form 1040 to streamline the process.
Why Did the IRS Discontinue Forms 1040EZ and 1040A?
The IRS stopped accepting Forms 1040EZ and 1040A beginning with the 2018 tax year after it redesigned Form 1040, which is the standard tax return form. It consolidated all three forms into one, allowing taxpayers to supplement their filing with various schedules.
Where Can Taxpayers Get Information Regarding Tax Filing?
The IRS has a Taxpayer Assistance Center Office Locator on its website to assist taxpayers who need help resolving tax issues.
The Bottom Line
Filing Form 1040EZ or 1040A instead of Form 1040 was often faster and required less recordkeeping. Since tax year 2018, the EZ and A versions of Form 1040 were discontinued. The IRS assists taxpayers with instructions for filing annual taxes on the IRS website.
