Even if you can use Form 1040EZ, it may benefit you to use Form 1040A or 1040 instead. See Should You Use Another Form in Section 2, later.

Due to the following tax law changes for 2012, you may benefit from filing Form 1040A or 1040, even if you normally file Form 1040EZ. See the instructions for Form 1040A or 1040, as applicable.

If a taxpayer died before filing a return for 2012, the taxpayer's spouse or personal representative may have to file and sign a return for that taxpayer. A personal representative can be an executor, administrator, or anyone who is in charge of the deceased taxpayer's property. If the deceased taxpayer did not have to file a return but had tax withheld, a return must be filed to get a refund. The person who files the return must enter “Deceased,” the deceased taxpayer's name, and the date of death across the top of the return. If this information is not provided, it may delay the processing of the return.

You can file a joint return even if your spouse died in 2012 as long as you did not remarry in 2012. You can also file a joint return even if your spouse died in 2013 before filing a return for 2012. A joint return should show your spouse's 2012 income before death and your income for all of 2012. Enter “Filing as surviving spouse” in the area where you sign the return. If someone else is the personal representative, he or she also must sign.

The surviving spouse or personal representative should promptly notify all payers of income, including financial institutions, of the taxpayer's death. This will ensure the proper reporting of income earned by the taxpayer's estate or heirs. A deceased taxpayer's social security number should not be used for tax years after the year of death, except for estate tax return purposes.

If you had foreign financial assets in 2012, you may have to file Form 8938 with your return. If you have to file Form 8938, you must use Form 1040. You cannot use Form 1040EZ. Check www.irs.gov/form8938 for details.

If your child is presumed by law enforcement authorities to have been kidnapped by someone who is not a family member, you may be able to take the child into account in determining your eligibility for the head of household or qualifying widow(er) filing status, the dependency exemption, the child tax credit, and the earned income credit (EIC). But you have to file Form 1040A or 1040 to claim these benefits. For details, see Pub. 501 (Pub. 596 for the EIC).

These rules apply to all U.S. citizens, regardless of where they live, and resident aliens.

Have you tried IRS e-file? It's the fastest way to get your refund and it's free if you are eligible. Visit IRS.gov for details.

Were you (or your spouse if filing a joint return) age 65 or older at the end of 2012? If you were born on January 1, 1948, you are considered to be age 65 at the end of 2012.

Even if you do not have to file a return, you should file one to get a refund of any federal income tax withheld. You also should file if you are eligible for the earned income credit.

File Form 1040EZ by April 15, 2013. If you file after this date, you may have to pay interest and penalties. See What if You Cannot File on Time? in Section 4, later, for information on how to get more time to file. There is also information about interest and penalties.

If you were serving in, or in support of, the U.S. Armed Forces in a designated combat zone or contingency operation, you may be able to file later. See Pub. 3 for details.

You can use Form 1040EZ if all the items in this checklist apply.

If you do not meet all of the requirements, you must use Form 1040A or 1040. Use TeleTax topic 352 to find out which form to use.

Even if you can use Form 1040EZ, it may benefit you to use Form 1040A or 1040 instead. For example, you can claim the head of household filing status (which usually results in a lower tax than single) only on Form 1040A or 1040. You can claim the retirement savings contributions credit (saver's credit) only on Form 1040A or 1040. Use TeleTax topic 610.

IRS e-file takes the guesswork out of preparing your return. You also may be eligible to use Free File to file your federal income tax return. Visit www.irs.gov/efile for details.

An incorrect or missing SSN can increase your tax, reduce your refund, or delay your refund. To apply for an SSN, fill in Form SS-5 and return it, along with the appropriate evidence documents, to the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can get Form SS-5 online at www.socialsecurity.gov, from your local SSA office, or by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. It usually takes about 2 weeks to get an SSN once the SSA has all the evidence and information it needs.

Check that both the name and SSN on your Forms 1040EZ, W-2, and 1099 agree with your social security card. If they do not, your exemption(s) and any earned income credit may be disallowed, your refund may be delayed, and you may not receive credit for your social security earnings. If your Form W-2 shows an incorrect name or SSN, notify your employer or the form-issuing agent as soon as possible to make sure your earnings are credited to your social security record. If the name or SSN on your social security card is incorrect, call the SSA.

This fund helps pay for Presidential election campaigns. The fund reduces candidates' dependence on large contributions from individuals and groups and places candidates on an equal financial footing in the general election. If you want $3 to go to this fund, check the box. If you are filing a joint return, your spouse also can have $3 go to the fund. If you check a box, your tax or refund will not change.

Enter the total of your wages, salaries, and tips. If you are filing a joint return, also include your spouse's wages, salaries, and tips. For most people, the amount to enter on this line should be shown on their Form(s) W-2 in box 1. But you must include all of your wages, salaries, and tips in the total on line 1, even if they are not shown on your Form(s) W-2. For example, the following types of income must be included in the total on line 1.

You must use Form 1040A or 1040 if you received dependent care benefits for 2012. You must use Form 1040 if you received employer-provided adoption benefits for 2012.

If you received interest payments, you should receive a Form 1099-INT or Form 1099-OID from each payer. Report all of your taxable interest income on line 2 even if you did not receive a Form 1099-INT or 1099-OID. If you are filing a joint return, also include any taxable interest received by your spouse.

Include interest received on amounts deposited with banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, or similar organizations. If interest was credited in 2012 on deposits that you could not withdraw because of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the financial institution, you may be able to exclude part or all of that interest from your 2012 income. But you must use Form 1040A or 1040 to do so. See Pub. 550 for details.

For more information on interest received, use TeleTax topic 403.

You should also include taxable interest on bonds and other securities. If you cashed U.S. series EE or I savings bonds in 2012 that were issued after 1989 and you paid certain higher education expenses during the year, you may be able to exclude from income part or all of the interest on those bonds. But you must use Form 8815 and Form 1040A or 1040 to do so.

You must use Form 1040A or 1040 if you received taxable interest of more than $1,500. You also must use Form 1040A or 1040 if any of the following apply.

Your taxable income and filing status will determine the amount of tax you enter on line 10.

Figuring taxable income incorrectly is one of the most common errors on Form 1040EZ. So please take extra care when subtracting line 5 from line 4.

If you received Forms SSA-1099 or RRB-1099 (showing amounts treated as social security) use the worksheet on the next page to determine if you can file Form 1040EZ.

Enter the total amount of federal income tax withheld. This should be shown on your 2012 Form(s) W-2 in box 2.

If you received 2012 Form(s) 1099-INT, 1099-G, or 1099-OID showing federal income tax withheld, include the tax withheld in the total on line 7. This should be shown in box 4 of these forms.

(listed in alphabetical order)

Add lines 7 and 8a. Enter the total on line 9.

Do you want the IRS to figure your tax for you?

If line 11a is under $1, we will send the refund only on written request.

If you want to check the status of your refund, see Refund Information in Section 6, later. You can also use the IRS2Go phone app or go to IRS.gov and click on Where's My Refund. Information about your return will generally be available within 24 hours after the IRS receives your e-filed return, or 4 weeks after you mail your paper return. If you filed Form 8379 with your return, wait 14 weeks (11 weeks if you filed electronically). Have your 2012 tax return handy so you can provide your social security number, your filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund.

Where's My Refund? has a new look this year! The tool will include a tracker that displays progress through three stages: (1) return received, (2) refund approved, and (3) refund sent. Where's My Refund? will provide an actual personalized refund date as soon as the IRS processes your tax return and approves your refund. So in a change from previous filing seasons, you won't get an estimated refund date right away.

If your refund is large, you may want to decrease the amount of income tax withheld from your pay by filing a new Form W-4. See Income tax withholding and estimated tax payments for 2013 in Section 5, later.

If you owe past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support, or certain federal nontax debts, such as student loans, all or part of the refund on line 11a may be used (offset) to pay the past-due amount. Offsets for federal taxes are made by the IRS. All other offsets are made by the Treasury Department's Financial Management Service (FMS). For federal tax offsets, you will receive a notice from the IRS. For all other offsets, you will receive a notice from FMS. To find out if you may have an offset or if you have a question about it, contact the agency to which you owe the debt.

Sample Check—Lines 11b Through 11d

If any of the following apply, your direct deposit request will be rejected and a check will be sent instead.

The IRS is not responsible for a lost refund if you enter the wrong account information. Check with your financial institution to get the correct routing and account numbers and to make sure your direct deposit will be accepted.

IRS e-file offers two electronic payment options. With Electronic Funds Withdrawal, you can pay your current year balance due and also make up to four estimated tax payments. If you file early, you can schedule your payment for withdrawal from your account on a future date, up to and including the due date of the return. Or you can pay using a credit or debit card. Visit www.irs.gov/e-pay for details on both options.

To save interest and penalties, pay your taxes in full by April 15, 2013. You do not have to pay if line 12 is under $1.

Include any estimated penalty for not paying enough tax during the year (explained later) in the amount you enter on line 12. You can pay online, by phone, or by check or money order. Do not include any estimated tax payment for 2012 in this payment. Instead, make the estimated tax payment separately.

If you cannot pay the full amount shown on line 12 when you file, you can ask for:

To ask for an installment agreement, you can apply online or use Form 9465. To apply online, go to IRS.gov and click on “Tools” and then “Online Payment Agreement.”

If you want to allow your preparer, a friend, a family member, or any other person you choose to discuss your 2012 tax return with the IRS, check the “Yes” box in the “Third Party Designee” area of your return. Also, enter the designee's name, phone number, and any five digits the designee chooses as his or her personal identification number (PIN).

If you check the “Yes” box, you, and your spouse if filing a joint return, are authorizing the IRS to call the designee to answer any questions that may arise during the processing of your return. You also are authorizing the designee to:

You are not authorizing the designee to receive any refund check, bind you to anything (including any additional tax liability), or otherwise represent you before the IRS.

The authorization will automatically end no later than the due date (without regard to extensions) for filing your 2013 tax return. This is April 15, 2014, for most people.

Form 1040EZ is not considered a valid return unless you sign it. If you are filing a joint return, your spouse also must sign. If your spouse cannot sign the return, see Pub. 501. Be sure to date your return and enter your occupation(s). If you have someone prepare your return, you are still responsible for the correctness of the return. If your return is signed for you by a representative, you must have a power of attorney attached that specifically authorizes the representative to sign your return. To do this, you can use Form 2848. If you are filing a joint return as a surviving spouse, see Death of a Taxpayer in Section 1, earlier.

Electronic return signatures! To file your return electronically, you must sign the return electronically using a personal identification number (PIN). If you are filing online using software, you must use a Self-Select PIN. If you are filing electronically using a tax practitioner, you can use a Self-Select PIN or a Practitioner PIN.

You cannot use the Self-Select PIN method if you are a first-time filer under age 16 at the end of 2012.

If you cannot locate your prior year AGI or prior year PIN, use the Electronic Filing PIN Request. This can be found at IRS.gov. Click on “Request an Electronic Filing PIN.” Or you can call 1-866-704-7388.

This checklist can help you file a correct return. Mistakes can delay your refund or result in notices being sent to you.

What are your rights as a taxpayer?    You have the right to be treated fairly, professionally, promptly, and courteously by IRS employees. Our goal at the IRS is to protect your rights so that you will have the highest confidence in the integrity, efficiency, and fairness of our tax system. To ensure that you always receive such treatment, you should know about the many rights you have at each step of the tax process. For details, see Pub. 1.

Income tax withholding and estimated tax payments for 2013.   If the amount you owe or your refund is large, you may want to file a new Form W-4 with your employer to change the amount of income tax withheld from your 2013 pay. For details on how to complete Form W-4, see Pub. 505. If you receive certain government payments (such as unemployment compensation or social security benefits), you can have tax withheld from those payments by giving the payer Form W-4V.

  

  

You can use the IRS Withholding Calculator at www.irs.gov/individuals, instead of Pub. 505 or the worksheets included with Form W-4 or W-4P, to determine whether you need to have your withholding increased or decreased.

  In general, you do not have to make estimated tax payments if you expect that your 2013 tax return will show a tax refund or a tax balance due of less than $1,000. See Pub. 505 for more details.

Secure your records from identity theft.   Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, social security number (SSN), or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.

  To reduce your risk:

  If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter.

  If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, etc., contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039.

  For more information, see Pub. 4535.

  Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a systemic problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the National Taxpayer Advocate Helpline at 1-877-777-4778. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and who have access to TTY/TDD equipment can call 1-800-829-4059. Deaf or hard of hearing individuals can also contact the IRS through relay services such as the Federal Relay Service available at www.gsa.gov/fedrelay.

Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common form is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.

The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request detailed personal information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.

If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward the message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration toll-free at 1-800-366-4484. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and who have access to TTY/TDD equipment can call 1-800-877-8339.

You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov or contact them at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and who have access to TTY/TDD equipment can call 1-866-653-4261.

Visit IRS.gov and enter “identity theft” in the search box to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.

How long should you keep your tax return?    Keep a copy of your tax return, worksheets you used, and records of all items appearing on it (such as Forms W-2 and 1099) until the statute of limitations runs out for that return. Usually, this is 3 years from the date the return was due or filed or 2 years from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later. You should keep some records longer. For more details, see chapter 1 of Pub. 17.

How do you amend your tax return?    File Form 1040X to change a return you already filed. Generally, Form 1040X must be filed within 3 years after the date the original return was filed or within 2 years after the date the tax was paid, whichever is later. But you may have more time to file Form 1040X if you live in a federally declared disaster area or you are physically or mentally unable to manage your financial affairs. See Pub. 556 for details.

How do you get a copy of your tax return?   If you need a copy of your tax return, use Form 4506. There is a $57 fee (subject to change) for each return requested. If your main home, principal place of business, or tax records are located in a federally declared disaster area, this fee will be waived. If you want a free transcript of your tax return or account, use Form 4506-T or 4506T-EZ, visit IRS.gov and click on “Order a Return or Account Transcript,” or call us at 1-800-908-9946.

Past due returns.   If you or someone you know needs to file past due tax returns, use TeleTax topic 153 or visit www.irs.gov/individuals for help in filing those returns. Send the returns to the address that applies to you in the latest Form 1040EZ instructions. For example, if you are filing a 2009 return in 2013, use the address at the end of these instructions. However, if you got an IRS notice, mail the return to the address in the notice.

Innocent spouse relief.    Generally, both you and your spouse are each responsible for paying the full amount of tax, interest, and penalties on your joint return. However, you may qualify for relief from liability for tax on a joint return if (a) there is an understatement of tax because your spouse omitted income or claimed false deductions or credits, (b) you are divorced, separated, or no longer living with your spouse, or (c) given all the facts and circumstances, it would not be fair to hold you liable for the tax. File Form 8857 to request relief. In some cases, Form 8857 may need to be filed within 2 years of the date on which the IRS first attempted to collect the tax from you. Do not file Form 8857 with your Form 1040EZ. For more information, see Pub. 971 and Form 8857 or you can call the Innocent Spouse office toll-free at 1-866-897-4270.

How do you make a gift to reduce debt held by the public?   If you wish to do so, make a check payable to “Bureau of the Public Debt.” You can send it to: Bureau of the Public Debt, Department G, P.O. Box 2188, Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188. Or you can enclose the check with your income tax return when you file. Do not add your gift to any tax you may owe. See the instructions for line 12 for details on how to pay any tax you owe.

  Go to www.publicdebt.treas.gov for information on how to make this gift online.

  

You may be able to deduct this gift on your 2013 tax return.

Have a suggestion for improving the IRS and do not know who to contact? The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) is a diverse group of citizen volunteers who listen to taxpayers, identify taxpayers' issues, and make suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. The panel is demographically and geographically diverse, with at least one member from each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Contact TAP at www.improveirs.org or call 1-888-912-1227 (toll-free).

Online services and help.   Go to IRS.gov to obtain information on:

View and download tax forms and publications.   Click on “Forms & Pubs” or go to www.irs.gov/formspubs to:

Online ordering of tax forms and publications.   To order tax forms and publications delivered by mail, go to www.irs.gov/formspubs and click on “Order Forms & Publications.”

There is live and recorded tax help available. You will not be charged for the call unless your phone company charges you for toll-free calls. Live tax help is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Assistance provided to callers from Alaska and Hawaii will be based on the hours of operation in the Pacific time zone. Recorded tax help is available anytime. Callers from Puerto Rico will receive assistance from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time.

If you want to check the status of your 2012 refund, see Refund Information, later.

Call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). You should receive your order within 10 working days.

Call 1-877-777-4778.

The IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers provide over-the-phone interpreter assistance in more than 170 different languages. To find the number, see Everyday tax solutions, earlier.

Walk-In. You can pick up some of the most requested forms, instructions, and publications at many IRS offices, post offices, and libraries. Also, some grocery stores, copy centers, city and county government offices, and credit unions have reproducible tax forms, instructions, and publications available to photocopy or print from a DVD.

Mail. Order tax forms, instructions, and publications from:

You should receive your order within 10 working days after your request is received.

DVD. Buy Pub. 1796, IRS Tax Products DVD, from National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at www.irs.gov/cdorders for $30 (no handling fee) or call 1-877-233-6767 toll-free to buy the DVD for $30 (plus a $6 handling fee). Price and handling fee are subject to change. The first release will ship early January 2013 and the final release will ship early March 2013.

Visit IRS.gov and click on Where's My Refund? 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Information about your return will generally be available within 24 hours after the IRS receives your e-filed return, or 4 weeks after you mail a paper return. But if you filed Form 8379 with your return, allow 14 weeks (11 weeks if you filed electronically) before checking your refund status.

To use Where's My Refund? have a copy of your tax return handy. You will need to provide the following information from your return:

Where's My Refund? has a new look this year! The tool will include a tracker that displays progress through three stages: (1) return received, (2) refund approved, and (3) refund sent. Where's My Refund? will provide an actual personalized refund date as soon as the IRS processes your tax return and approves your refund. So in a change from previous filing seasons, you won't get an estimated refund date right away.

Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day—usually at night.

If you do not have Internet access, many services are available by phone. Call 1-800-829-4477 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for automated refund information.

You can also check the status of your refund on the IRS phone app. Download the free IRS2Go app by visiting the iTunes app store or the Android Marketplace.

Do not send in another copy of your return unless asked to do so.

To get a refund, you generally must file your return within 3 years from the date the return was due (including extensions).

Where's My Refund? includes information for the most recent return filed in the current year and does not include information about amended returns.

Refund information also is available in Spanish at www.irs.gov/espanol and the phone number listed above.

TeleTax is a wide-ranging directory of recorded tax information that is available anytime. A complete list of topics is available online at www.irs.gov/taxtopics and in the instructions for Form 1040A and 1040. Select the number of the topic you want to hear. Then call 1-800-829-4477. Be ready to take notes.