by William Perez

Feb 14 2008

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 statements 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 not being claimed as a dependent, do not check the boxes on Line 5.

• If you are being claimed as a dependent, check the box on Line 5 for yourself and/or your spouse. Use the worksheet on the back of Form 1040-EZ to figure the amount to enter on Line 5.

• If you are single (unmarried), put the figure $8,200 on Line 5.

• If you are married and filing a joint return with your spouse, put the figure $16,400 on Line 5.

• This figure ($8,200 for Single people, and $16,400 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 $8,200 (Single) or $16,400 (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.