Of the 3 major tax forms, Form 1040EZ has the fewest number of lines and is the simplest to complete.

You can't use this form if the 1040EZ restrictions apply to you or you don’t meet the 1040EZ requirements. Instead, you must file Form 1040A or Form 1040.

1040EZ restrictions include:

• You can’t itemize deductions.
• You can’t have income from:
  • Self-employment
  • Alimony
  • Dividends
  • Capital gains
• You can't claim credits or deductions, except the Earned Income Credit (EIC). So you can't claim:
  • Charitable donations
  • Mortgage interest paid
  • Credits for child- and dependent-care expenses
  • Education credits

1040EZ requirements are:

• Your filing status is single or married filing jointly.
• You don't claim dependents.
• Your taxable income is less than $100,000 .
• Your income sources were only:
  • Wages
  • Salaries
  • Tips reported on Form W-2, boxes 5 and 7
  • Taxable scholarships
  • Taxable fellowship grants
  • Unemployment compensation
  • Alaska Permanent Fund dividends
• Your taxable interest is $1,500 or less.
• You don't claim adjustments to income, like student-loan interest or an IRA deduction.
• The only credit you claim is the EIC.
• You, and your spouse, if filing a joint return, were under age 65 and not blind at the end of 2012. If you were born before Jan. 1, 1948, you're considered to be age 65 and can’t use Form 1040EZ.
• You don't owe household employment taxes on wages you paid to a household employee.
• You aren't a debtor in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case filed after Oct. 16, 2005.
• You don’t owe Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) or aren’t required to file Form 6251: AMT.