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This guide shows you exactly how to transfer data from your W-2 and EZFile calculations to Free File Fillable Forms.

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How Free File Fillable Forms Works

1

Create an account

Go to https://www.freefilefillableforms.com/You’ll need:
  • Your Social Security Number
  • Date of birth
  • Prior year AGI (from 2024 tax return) OR prior year self-select PIN
2

Select your form

  • Choose Form 1040 (or Form 1040-SR if you’re 65+)
  • The forms are functionally identical; 1040-SR just has larger print
3

Fill in fields

  • Click on each field and type the value
  • Some fields auto-calculate (addition/subtraction)
  • Most fields require manual entry—this is where EZFile helps
4

Add schedules if needed

  • Click “Add Form” to attach Schedule 1, Schedule 1-A, Form 8880, etc.
  • These flow automatically to Form 1040
5

Review and submit

  • Check all entries carefully
  • E-sign the return
  • Submit electronically to the IRS
  • Save a PDF copy for your records
Important: Free File Fillable Forms does very little math for you. You must calculate most values yourself and enter them. That’s exactly what EZFile does—it provides the calculated values you need to enter.

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Form 1040: Field Mapping

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Top Section: Personal Information

FieldWhat to EnterSource
Your first name and middle initialYour legal first nameW-2 Box e
Last nameYour legal last nameW-2 Box e
Your social security numberYour full SSNW-2 Box a (you have the original)
Filing statusCheck “Single”Always Single for EZFile users
Digital assets questionCheck “No” (unless you had crypto)Ask user if uncertain
Unlike EZFile, you WILL enter your full SSN on the actual tax form. EZFile masks it for privacy during calculation, but you need the real number to file.

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Address Section

FieldWhat to EnterSource
Home address (number and street)Your current mailing addressMay differ from W-2 Box f
Apartment numberIf applicable—
City, town, or post officeCurrent city—
StateTwo-letter state code—
ZIP codeFive-digit ZIP code—
Foreign country nameLeave blank (if U.S. address)—

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Income Section

What to enter: Sum of all W-2 Box 1 amountsExample:
W-2 #1 Box 1: $44,629
W-2 #2 Box 1: $12,500

Enter in Line 1a: $57,129
Source: W-2 Box 1 (total taxable federal wages)
What to enter: $0 for each (unless applicable)These lines are for:
  • 1b: Tax-exempt interest
  • 1c: Qualified dividends
  • 1d: IRA distributions
  • 1e: Pensions and annuities
  • 1f: Social Security benefits
  • 1g: Capital gains
  • 1h: Other income
For W-2-only filers: All $0
What to enter: Same as Line 1aCalculation: Line 1a + 1b + … + 1hFor W-2-only filers: Line 1z = Line 1a
What to enter: Amount from Schedule 1, Line 10 (if you filed Schedule 1)Common sources: Unemployment compensation, gambling winnings, jury duty payFor most W-2 filers: $0
What to enter: Line 1z + Line 8Example:
Line 1z: $57,129
Line 8:  $0

Enter in Line 9: $57,129
This is your total income before adjustments.

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Adjustments to Income

LineField NameValue to EnterSource
10Adjustments to incomeAmount from Schedule 1, Line 26Student loan interest deduction
11Adjusted gross income (AGI)Line 9 - Line 10This is your AGI
Line 11 (AGI) is critical—save this number. You’ll need it to file next year’s taxes.
Example with student loan interest: 
Line 9 (Total income):       $57,129
Line 10 (Adjustments):       $2,500  (from Schedule 1)

Enter in Line 11 (AGI):      $54,629

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Standard Deduction

Line 12a: Standard deductionEnter: $15,750Check the box: “You as a dependent” = NO(Check “Spouse itemizes” = NO)

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Deductions (Lines 12-14)

LineField NameValue to EnterSource
12bCharitable contributions$0Only if itemizing (rare)
12cSchedule 1-A totalAmount from Schedule 1-A, Line 5Tips, overtime, car loan, senior deduction
13Qualified business income$0W-2 filers have no QBI
14Total deductions12a + 12b + 12c + 13Sum of all deduction lines
Example: 
Line 12a: $15,750  (standard deduction)
Line 12b: $0
Line 12c: $1,200   (from Schedule 1-A)
Line 13:  $0

Enter in Line 14: $16,950

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Taxable Income

Line 15: Taxable Income

Formula: Line 11 (AGI) - Line 14 (Total deductions)Cannot be negative: If the result is negative, enter $0Example:
Line 11 (AGI):              $54,629
Line 14 (Total deductions): $16,950

Enter in Line 15:           $37,679
This is the number that determines your tax bracket.

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Tax Calculation (Line 16)

1

Find your bracket

Use your taxable income (Line 15) to find your tax bracket.2025 Single Filer Brackets:
  • 10%: 0−0 - 11,925
  • 12%: 11,926−11,926 - 48,475
  • 22%: 48,476−48,476 - 103,350
  • 24%: 103,351−103,351 - 197,300
  • 32%: 197,301−197,301 - 250,525
  • 35%: 250,526−250,526 - 626,350
  • 37%: Over $626,350
2

Calculate your tax

Use the appropriate formula from the table below.Example (Taxable income: $37,679):
Bracket: 12% ($11,926 - $48,475)

Tax = $1,192.50 + ($37,679 - $11,925) × 0.12
Tax = $1,192.50 + $25,754 × 0.12
Tax = $1,192.50 + $3,090.48
Tax = $4,282.98

Enter in Line 16: $4,283 (rounded)
Tax Bracket Formulas:
If Line 15 is…Tax Calculation
0−0 - 11,925Line 15 × 0.10
11,926−11,926 - 48,4751,192.50+(Line15−1,192.50 + (Line 15 - 11,925) × 0.12
48,476−48,476 - 103,3505,578.50+(Line15−5,578.50 + (Line 15 - 48,475) × 0.22
103,351−103,351 - 197,30017,651.00+(Line15−17,651.00 + (Line 15 - 103,350) × 0.24
197,301−197,301 - 250,52540,099.00+(Line15−40,099.00 + (Line 15 - 197,300) × 0.32
250,526−250,526 - 626,35057,131.00+(Line15−57,131.00 + (Line 15 - 250,525) × 0.35
Over $626,350188,769.75+(Line15−188,769.75 + (Line 15 - 626,350) × 0.37

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Tax and Credits (Lines 17-24)

LineField NameValue to EnterSource
17Amount from Schedule 2, line 21$0AMT or excess premium tax credit (rare)
18Add lines 16 and 17Same as Line 16For W-2 filers, usually equals Line 16
19Nonrefundable creditsAmount from Schedule 3, Line 8Saver’s Credit if eligible
20Reserved(Leave blank)—
21Other credits from Schedule 3$0—
22Subtract Line 19 from Line 18Line 18 - Line 19Cannot go below $0
23Other taxes from Schedule 2$0No additional taxes for W-2 filers
24Total taxLine 22 + Line 23This is your total federal tax liability
Example with Saver’s Credit: 
Line 16: $4,283
Line 17: $0
Line 18: $4,283
Line 19: $200  (Saver's Credit)
Line 22: $4,083
Line 23: $0

Enter in Line 24: $4,083

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Payments (Lines 25-33)

What to enter: Sum of all W-2 Box 2 amountsExample:
W-2 #1 Box 2: $4,200
W-2 #2 Box 2: $1,100

Enter in Line 25a: $5,300
What to enter: $0 (unless you have 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, etc.)For W-2-only filers: $0
What to enter: $0 (unless you made estimated tax payments)For W-2-only filers: $0
What to enter: Line 25a + Line 25b + Line 25cFor W-2-only filers: Same as Line 25aExample:
Enter in Line 25d: $5,300
What to enter: $0 (unless you made quarterly payments)For W-2-only filers: $0
Eligibility: Single filers with AGI ≤ $19,104 (no children)What to enter: EIC amount from EIC table or Form 8812Check the box: “EIC” if claimingFor most filers: $0 (unless very low income)
What to enter: $0 for each (unless applicable)These lines are for:
  • 28: Additional child tax credit
  • 29: American opportunity credit
  • 30: Recovery rebate credit
  • 31: Amount from Schedule 3, line 15
  • 32: Other payments
For typical W-2 filers: All $0
What to enter: Line 25d + Line 26 + Line 27a + Lines 28-32For most W-2 filers: Line 25d + Line 27a (if eligible)Example:
Line 25d: $5,300
Line 27a: $0

Enter in Line 33: $5,300

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Refund or Amount Owed

If Line 33 > Line 24:Refund = Line 33 - Line 24Example:
Line 33 (Total payments): $5,300
Line 24 (Total tax):      $4,083

Enter in Line 34: $1,217 (REFUND)

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Direct Deposit Information

Line 35a: Amount of Line 34 you want refunded to you
  • Enter: Same as Line 34
Line 35b: Routing number
  • Enter: Your bank’s 9-digit routing number
  • Find it on a check (first 9 digits at bottom)
Line 35c: Type
  • Check “Checking” or “Savings”
Line 35d: Account number
  • Enter: Your bank account number
  • Find it on a check (after routing number)
Direct deposit refunds typically arrive in 10-21 days. Paper checks take 4-6 weeks.

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Schedule 1: Additional Income and Adjustments

When to add: Student loan interest deduction, unemployment income, or other adjustments
1

Add Schedule 1 to your return

In Free File Fillable Forms:
  1. Click “Add Form” or ”+” button
  2. Search for “Schedule 1”
  3. Select “Schedule 1 (Form 1040)”
2

Fill in Part II: Adjustments to Income

Most common for W-2 filers:
LineFieldValue
21Student loan interest deductionEnter amount (max $2,500)
26Total adjustmentsSum of Part II lines
Student loan interest phaseout:
  • Full deduction: MAGI ≤ $85,000
  • Partial deduction: MAGI 85,001−85,001 - 99,999
  • No deduction: MAGI ≥ $100,000
3

Transfer to Form 1040

Schedule 1, Line 26 → Form 1040, Line 10This happens automatically in Free File Fillable Forms.
Example: 
Schedule 1, Line 21: $2,500 (student loan interest)
Schedule 1, Line 26: $2,500 (total adjustments)

Form 1040, Line 10: $2,500

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Schedule 1-A: New Deductions (2025)

When to add: Tips, overtime pay, car loan interest, or senior deduction (65+)
1

Add Schedule 1-A to your return

In Free File Fillable Forms:
  1. Click “Add Form”
  2. Search for “Schedule 1-A”
  3. Select “Schedule 1-A (Form 1040)“
2

Fill in applicable lines

LineFieldMaximumPhaseout
1Tip income deductionActual tips75K−75K - 100K MAGI
2Overtime pay deductionActual overtime75K−75K - 100K MAGI
3Auto loan interest$10,00075K−75K - 100K MAGI
4Senior deduction$4,000 (if 65+)75K−75K - 100K MAGI
5TotalSum of Lines 1-4—
Sources:
  • Line 1: W-2 Box 7 (Social Security tips)
  • Line 2: Calculate from pay stubs (overtime hours × overtime rate)
  • Line 3: Auto loan interest statement (new car purchased in 2025)
  • Line 4: Flat $4,000 if you were 65+ on Dec 31, 2025
3

Transfer to Form 1040

Schedule 1-A, Line 5 → Form 1040, Line 12cThis happens automatically in Free File Fillable Forms.
Example with senior deduction: 
Schedule 1-A, Line 1: $0
Schedule 1-A, Line 2: $0
Schedule 1-A, Line 3: $0
Schedule 1-A, Line 4: $4,000 (senior deduction)
Schedule 1-A, Line 5: $4,000

Form 1040, Line 12c: $4,000

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Form 8880: Saver’s Credit

When to add: AGI ≤ $39,500 AND you made retirement contributions (401k, 403b, 457, IRA)
1

Check eligibility

All must be true:
  • AGI ≤ $39,500 (single filer)
  • Age 18 or older
  • NOT a full-time student
  • NOT claimed as a dependent
  • Made retirement contributions during 2025
2

Add Form 8880 to your return

In Free File Fillable Forms:
  1. Click “Add Form”
  2. Search for “8880”
  3. Select “Form 8880 (Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions)“
3

Fill in Form 8880

LineFieldValue
1Traditional and Roth IRA contributionsEnter amount from W-2 Box 12 (codes D, E, G, AA, BB)
2Maximum contribution$2,000
3Smaller of Line 1 or Line 2min(Line 1, $2,000)
4Credit rate50%, 20%, or 10% based on AGI
5Credit amountLine 3 × Line 4
Credit rates (Single filer):
  • 50%: AGI ≤ $23,750
  • 20%: AGI 23,751−23,751 - 25,850
  • 10%: AGI 25,851−25,851 - 39,500
4

Transfer to Schedule 3 and Form 1040

Form 8880, Line 5 → Schedule 3, Line 4 → Form 1040, Line 19This flows automatically in Free File Fillable Forms.
Example: 
AGI: $30,000
401(k) contributions (W-2 Box 12 Code D): $3,000

Form 8880:
Line 1: $3,000
Line 2: $2,000 (maximum)
Line 3: $2,000 (smaller of Lines 1 and 2)
Line 4: 10% (credit rate for AGI $30,000)
Line 5: $200 (credit amount)

Form 1040, Line 19: $200

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Signature Section

FieldWhat to Enter
Your signatureE-sign with Free File Fillable Forms
DateDate you file
Your occupationYour job title (e.g., “Teacher”, “Nurse”, “Engineer”)
Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)If you received one from IRS (6-digit number)
Phone numberYour best contact number
Email addressYour email address
IP PIN: Only enter if the IRS sent you one. Most taxpayers don’t have one. It’s used for identity theft protection.

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After Submission

1

Get confirmation

Free File Fillable Forms will provide a confirmation number after successful submission.Save this number and the PDF copy of your return.
2

Track your refund

Check refund status at:IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool: https://www.irs.gov/refundsAvailable 24 hours after e-filingYou’ll need:
  • SSN
  • Filing status (Single)
  • Exact refund amount
3

Refund timeline

E-filed with direct deposit: 10-21 days (typical)E-filed with paper check: 4-6 weeksPaper filed: 6-8 weeks
4

Save records

Keep for at least 3 years:
  • Copy of filed Form 1040
  • All W-2s
  • Form 1098-E (student loan interest)
  • Confirmation number
Keep for 7 years if:
  • You claimed a loss from worthless securities
  • You filed a claim for credit or refund after filing

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Troubleshooting

Cause: Name or SSN entered incorrectlySolution:
  • Verify SSN matches Social Security card exactly
  • Verify name matches Social Security card (including hyphens, spaces)
  • If you changed your name, update with Social Security Administration first
Cause: Prior year AGI entered incorrectlySolution:
  • Check 2024 tax return, Line 11
  • If you didn’t file in 2024, enter $0
  • Use self-select PIN option if you can’t find prior year AGI
Cause: Someone else claimed you as a dependentSolution:
  • Verify you cannot be claimed as a dependent
  • If you CAN be claimed, you must check the “You as a dependent” box
  • If you CANNOT be claimed but someone did, file by paper and include explanation
Cause: Formula error or data entry mistakeSolution:
  • Double-check all W-2 Box 1 and Box 2 entries
  • Verify taxable income calculation (AGI - deductions)
  • Recalculate tax using bracket formulas
  • Use EZFile /calculate command to verify
Cause: Schedule 1-A is new for 2025; may not be available early in filing seasonSolution:
  • Wait until IRS releases final forms (usually mid-January)
  • Check Free File Fillable Forms “Add Form” search
  • If not available, file without it and amend later if necessary

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Quick Reference: Data Flow

Use this flow to verify your entries. Every number on Form 1040 should trace back to a W-2 box, a schedule, or a calculation.

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