Starting with tax year 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) completely redesigned the federal income tax system by eliminating prior years’ Forms 1040EZ and 1040A. They eliminated it to restructure the federal income tax system entirely. All taxpayers now use a single, simplified form—Form 1040. This significant change affects millions of taxpayers who used those other forms for simple returns on wages, salaries, taxable interest, or basic tax situations. The new system consolidates all federal income tax filing into one form and allows individuals to file electronically or by mail, ensuring consistent preparation of simple and complex tax returns.
This shift affects taxpayers, especially joint filers, married people filing jointly, and first-time filers. The new Form 1040's building-block structure simplifies income, deduction, and tax credit reporting while allowing schedules for more complicated tax subjects like unemployment compensation, alimony, taxable grants, scholarships, and other income. The form handles income from employer-reported wages and limited interest income. We aim to simplify filing status choices, calculate taxable income, and help you calculate total tax payments.
File your 2018 tax return with these clear, step-by-step instructions. You will learn how to properly file tax forms, report income, claim dependents and credits, calculate deductions, and calculate the total amount owed or refunded. E-filing, mailing, withheld taxes and payments, and owing money are also covered. Whether you file taxes online for free or on paper, simple instructions will help you estimate costs, avoid mistakes, and ensure accuracy.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act brought the most significant changes to federal tax filing in decades. Form 1040EZ and Form 1040A no longer exist, replaced by a redesigned Form 1040 that serves all taxpayers regardless of their tax complexity. This new approach eliminates the previous three-tier system where taxpayers selected forms based on income levels and deduction preferences.
The modular new Form 1040 includes the most common tax lines for reporting income, claiming the standard deduction, and calculating basic tax credits. Form 1040 is modular, so the main form has the most common tax lines for reporting income, claiming the standard deduction, and calculating basic tax credits. Only when reporting certain income or claiming certain deductions do taxpayers need schedules 1–6. People who file simple forms often only fill out the main form without extra schedules. This makes the process as easy as it was with the old 1040EZ.
This guide serves taxpayers who previously filed Form 1040EZ, first-time filers, and anyone with basic tax situations involving wages, salaries, limited interest income, and standard deduction claims. If you receive W-2 forms from employers, have minimal investment income, and do not itemize deductions, this guide provides everything needed to complete your tax return accurately and efficiently.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act introduced substantial changes affecting virtually every taxpayer for the tax year 2018.
The redesigned form maintains familiar elements while reorganizing information flow. Basic personal information, filing status selection, and dependent reporting remain in the exact general location. However, many detailed income and deduction lines moved to separate schedules, creating a cleaner main form focusing on the most common tax situations. This structure allows simple returns to remain simple while accommodating complex situations through additional schedules when necessary.
Before starting your tax return, gather essential documents to ensure accurate reporting and smooth filing. You need all W-2 forms from employers, any 1099 forms reporting interest income, dividends, or other payments, Social Security cards for all family members, and bank account information if you want direct deposit of your refund. Having complete documentation prevents delays and reduces errors that could trigger IRS correspondence or processing delays.
Complete your personal information section carefully, as errors cause the most common filing problems. Enter your first name, middle initial, last name, and Social Security number exactly as they appear on your Social Security card. If you are a married couple filing jointly, provide the same information for your spouse. Include your current home address and foreign address if applicable. Double-check Social Security numbers against the actual cards, as mismatched numbers represent the leading cause of rejected electronic returns.
Select your filing status based on your marital status and family situation on December 31, 2018. Single status applies to unmarried individuals or those legally separated. Married filing jointly typically provides the best tax benefits for married couples, though married filing separately may benefit couples where one spouse has significant medical expenses or other exceptional circumstances. Head of household requires being unmarried and paying more than half the cost of maintaining a home for qualifying dependents. Qualifying surviving spouse applies to widowed individuals with dependent children during the first two tax years after their spouse's death.
List each dependent's full name, Social Security number, and relationship to you. Check appropriate boxes to claim the Child Tax Credit for children under age 17 or the Credit for Other Dependents for qualifying individuals who do not meet Child Tax Credit requirements. Ensure each dependent has a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, as missing or incorrect numbers will prevent you from claiming associated tax credits and may delay processing of your return.
Report all income sources accurately, starting with wages from W-2 forms in Box 1 and federal income tax withheld in Box 2. Enter interest income from all 1099-INT forms, noting that amounts over $1,500 require Schedule B. Include ordinary dividends, IRA distributions, pensions, annuities, and capital gains or losses. Report unemployment compensation, which became fully taxable in 2018, along with other income sources. The new form accommodates most common income types on the main form, reducing the need for additional schedules for basic tax situations.
Calculate your adjusted gross income by adding all income lines from the previous section. This represents your total income before applying deductions and is the foundation for determining your tax liability and eligibility for various credits. If you need to claim adjustments to income, such as student loan interest deduction, educator expenses, or IRA contributions, you must complete Schedule 1 and adjust this calculation accordingly.
Claim your standard deduction based on your filing status, which nearly doubled for the tax year 2018. Most taxpayers benefit significantly from these increased amounts compared to itemizing deductions. Add standard deduction amounts if you or your spouse is 65 or older or blind. The standard deduction eliminates the need to track and document individual deductible expenses for most taxpayers, simplifying the filing process considerably.
Calculate your taxable income by subtracting your total deductions from your adjusted gross income. Using the tax tables or computation worksheet, this amount determines your federal income tax liability. You owe no federal income tax if your taxable income is zero or negative. You may be eligible for refundable credits, even when no tax was withheld from your paychecks.
Determine your tax liability using the tax tables in the Form 1040 instructions or tax software calculations. If applicable, apply any tax credits you qualify for, including the Child Tax Credit, Credit for Other Dependents, and education credits. Subtract total credits from your calculated tax to determine your final tax liability. Add any additional taxes from Schedule 2 if you have self-employment income or other special tax situations.
Calculate your total tax payments by adding federal income tax withheld from all W-2 and 1099 forms, estimated tax payments made during the year, and any refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit. Compare your total costs to your tax liability to determine whether you receive a refund or owe additional taxes. If you owe money, explore payment options, including electronic payments, installment agreements, or other arrangements to meet your tax obligations.
Electronic filing represents the fastest, most secure method for submitting your tax return.
Paper filing remains available for taxpayers who prefer traditional methods or lack reliable internet access. Download current forms from IRS.gov, complete them using black ink, double-check all calculations, and mail them to the address specified for your state. Paper returns require 6-8 weeks for processing, and you must send supporting documents only if specifically requested. Keep copies of your completed return and proof of mailing for your records, as paper filing provides less tracking capability than electronic submission.
Multiple payment options accommodate different preferences and circumstances when you owe federal income tax.
The original filing deadline for tax year 2018 returns was April 15, 2019. Taxpayers who needed additional time could file Form 4868 to request an automatic six-month extension until October 15, 2019. Extensions provide extra time to file your return, but do not extend the payment deadline. So, estimate and pay taxes owed by the original deadline to minimize penalties and interest charges.
The IRS offers several options when you cannot pay your full tax liability by the deadline.
Most former 1040EZ filers complete their returns using only the main Form 1040 without additional schedules. However, certain income types or tax situations require specific schedules:
Math mistakes are the fastest way to slow down your refund or create problems with the IRS.
Getting your basic information wrong causes more headaches than any other mistake. Check every Social Security number against the cards to ensure they match ideally—one wrong digit will reject your return immediately. Your bank account and routing numbers must be precisely right for direct deposit, so grab a bank statement or blank check to verify these numbers. Names must appear exactly as they do on Social Security cards, including middle initials and suffixes, or the IRS computer system will kick back your return.
Picking the wrong filing status can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in extra taxes. Married couples almost always save money by filing jointly, but sometimes filing separately makes sense if one spouse has huge medical bills or student loan debt. Head of household status gives you a bigger standard deduction and better tax rates, but you must be unmarried and pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home for qualifying family members.
The IRS already knows most of your income from the forms your employers and banks send them, so leaving something out creates problems. Report every W-2 from every job you had during 2018, even short-term or part-time work, plus all the interest from every bank account. Don't forget that unemployment benefits became fully taxable in 2018, so include every dollar you received from your state unemployment office.
Whether you must file depends on how much money you made, your marital status, and your age during 2018. If you're single and under 65, you must file when you earn $12,000 or more. Older single filers have a slightly higher threshold of $13,600. Married couples filing together must file if they made $24,000 (both under 65), $25,300 (one spouse 65 or older), or $26,600 (both 65 or older). Single parents filing as head of household face limits of $18,000 (under 65) or $19,600 (65 or older). You also must file if you earned $400 from self-employment, owe special taxes, or received certain retirement distributions.
Even when you don't have to file, doing so often puts money back in your pocket.
Report every dollar you earn, no matter how small it seems, then claim your full standard deduction to reduce your taxable income. Electronic filing works great for simple situations and usually results in refunds when employers took out federal taxes during the year. Setting up direct deposit gets your refund money into your bank account much faster than waiting for a paper check in the mail.
The old 1040EZ form disappeared, but don't worry—the new Form 1040 works just as simply for basic returns. Most people with regular jobs and standard deductions will only complete the main form without extra schedules. The layout changed, but the process remains straightforward for simple tax situations like yours.
Take the standard deduction for 2018 since it nearly doubled from previous years. Single filers get $12,000, married couples filing jointly receive $24,000, and head of household filers claim $18,000. These amounts beat itemized deductions for most people, making your tax prep much easier while saving you more money.
The Child Tax Credit doubled to $2,000 for each qualifying child under age 17, with much higher income limits than before. This means more families qualify and receive significantly more money back. The credit can eliminate your entire tax bill and even generate a refund if you owe less than the credit amount.
Your 2018 tax return was due April 15, 2019. If you need extra time, you can file Form 4868 for an automatic extension until October 15, 2019. Remember that extensions give you more time to file your paperwork, but not to pay any taxes you owe—those are still due by the original deadline.
Contact your employer first, since they keep copies and can reissue your W-2 fairly quickly. If your employer won't help or has closed, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to request wage transcripts that show the same information. This backup method takes longer, so start the process as early as possible.
File your return by the deadline anyway to avoid hefty late-filing penalties, which cost much more than late-payment fees. Pay whatever you can with your return, then contact the IRS to set up a payment plan. Short-term agreements under 120 days have minimal costs, while more extended plans include interest charges but keep you compliant.
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