Print your name, address, and Social Security Number at the top of the form.
- Double check the spelling of your name and your SSN.
- Your refund may be delayed if your name or SSN does not match your Social Security records, or if you make a mistake in your address.
Line 1: Wages
- Gather all your W-2 statements from each job you worked during the year.
- Look in Box 1 of the W2. This is your total wages. Using a calculator, add up the Box 1 amounts from every W2.
- Put the total figure on Line 1.
Line 2: Interest
- Gather all your 1099-INT statements from each bank that reported your interest earnings for the year.
- Using a calculator, add up all the interest amounts from every 1099-INT.
- Put the total figure on Line 2.
Line 3: Unemployment and Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends
- Gather all your 1099-G statement from the state agency that paid you unemployment compensation.
- Put the figure from the 1099-G on Line 3.
- If you received Alaska Permanent Fund dividends, put the figure reported to you by the State of Alaska on Line 3.
- If you have both unemployment and Alaskan dividends, add the two figures together and put the total on Line 3.
Line 4: Adjusted Gross Income
- Using a calculator, add the figures on Lines 1, 2, and 3 of your 1040-EZ.
- Put the total figure on Line 4.
- This figure is your Adjusted Gross Income. AGI is used to figure your Earned Income Credit and your tax.
Line 5: Personal Exemptions & Standard Deduction
- Can your parents, or someone else, claim you as a dependent?
- You are a dependent if a family member pays for more than half your living expenses.
- If you're not sure, ask your parents or guardians if they will be claiming you as a dependent on their tax return.
- If you are being claimed as a dependent, check the "Yes" box on Line 5.
- If you are not being claimed as a dependent, check the "No" box on Line 5.
- If you are unmarried, put the figure $7,950 on Line 5.
- If you are married and filing a joint return with your spouse, put the figure $15,900 on Line 5.
- This figure ($7,950 for Single people, and $14,900 for Married people) is the combination of your Standard Deduction and your Personal Exemptions.
- Together, this figure represents the amount of income which is tax-free.
- If you earn less than $7,950 (Single) or $14,900 (Married), your income is completely tax-free. You should still file a tax return, because you probably will have a refund from any tax that was withheld on your paycheck. You may also qualify for the Earned Income Credit.
Line 6: Taxable Income
- Using a calculator, enter the figure from Line 4 (your Adjusted Gross Income), and then subtract the figure from Line 5.
- Put the result on Line 6. This is your taxable income.
- This figure will be used to calculate your tax.
Line 7: Federal Income Tax Withheld
- Go back to your W-2 statements. Look at Box 2. This is the amount of income tax that was withheld from your paychecks and sent to the IRS on your behalf.
- Using a calculator, add up the Box 2 amounts from every W-2.
- Put the total figure on Line 7.
