What Is a 1040EZ Form and Is It Still Used?

The 1040EZ form was a streamlined tax return option for those with simple tax situations. However, the IRS discontinued the form after the 2017 tax year and replaced it with a redesigned Form 1040. 

Let’s revisit the 1040EZ’s history and discuss your current tax form options. That way, you can plan for the next tax season.

1040EZ form overview

The 1040EZ was introduced in 1982 to provide taxpayers with simple tax situations a quick and easy way to file their returns. Significantly shorter than the standard IRS Form 1040, the 1040EZ focused only on basic income and tax questions. 

However, not everyone could use the form. To qualify, you had to: 

• File as single or married filing jointly 
• Earn less than $100,000 in total income 
• Have less than $1,500 in taxable interest income (other interest income-related restrictions also applied) 
• Only have income from wages, salaries, tips, unemployment compensation, taxable scholarships, fellowship grants, or taxable interest (up to the limit) 
• Be under age 65 
• Not claim dependents 

In addition, you could not: 

• Itemize deductions 
• Claim deductions for educator expenses, tuition and fees, or student loan interest 
• Claim tax credits for health insurance, education, or retirement savings (you could only claim the earned income tax credit (EITC)) 
• Have received advance EITC or premium tax credit payments for health coverage purchased through the health insurance marketplace 
• Be a debtor in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed after October 16, 2005 
• Have foreign income or income from sources such as retirement account distributions, dividends, or self-employment earnings 
• Owe taxes on wages paid to household employees, such as a nanny 

Because of its limitations, the 1040EZ form was generally the best fit for students (often filing taxes for the first time) or early-career professionals with no children and few or no investments.

Discontinuation of the 1040EZ form

The IRS retired the 1040EZ form after the 2017 tax year. In 2018, it debuted a redesigned Form 1040 that replaced the 1040EZ, the slightly more complex 1040A , and the traditional 1040. 

Why the change? The IRS aimed to simplify and streamline the tax filing by reducing the number of forms and addressing the limitations of the 1040EZ. The revised form takes a “building block” approach allowing taxpayers to customize the filing process based on their situation.  

Depending on your tax situation, the 1040 may be the only form you need. However, you can attach additional forms, known as tax schedules, to your return if you: 

• Itemize deductions 
• Report dividend or interest income 
• Report self-employment income 
• Report the sale of a capital asset, like real estate or stocks 
• Pay self-employment tax 

TurboTax automatically selects and fills in the appropriate schedules for you based on your answers, so you don’t have to worry about choosing the correct forms.

Form 1040 and its alternatives

The redesigned IRS Form 1040 is currently the standard form to file individual tax returns. For Taxpayers 65 or older, Form 1040-SR is available as an optional alternative to using form 1040. 

The 1040-SR, mandated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, has the same schedules, line items, and preparation instructions as the 1040. However, it’s designed to make filing taxes easier for seniors who prefer filling out paper forms over using software. Senior-friendly features include large print and the standard deduction table printed directly on the form.

How TurboTax simplifies filing

You don’t need the TurboTax 1040EZ to keep tax filing simple. TurboTax does that for you. Our software stays current with the latest tax laws and forms, guiding you through the process step by step. This ensures your tax filing experience is as smooth and stress-free as possible. With TurboTax, you can even file your taxes for free with Form 1040 if you’re among the 37% of filers who qualify. Get started today.