If your tax situation has NOT changed since last year, the easiest way to determine this is to look at your last year's income tax return. If you have experienced life changes which may affect your tax return and "bottom line,"  you will want to check out income and expenses covered by each type of Form 1040.

The three forms U.S. citizens and resident aliens use for filing individual federal income tax returns are Form 1040EZ, Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No Dependents, Form 1040A, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. To see which form you should use when filing for 2017, review  What Is the Simplest Form to Use to File My Taxes?

The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.


What is phishing?
Phishing is a scam typically carried out through unsolicited email and/or websites that pose as legitimate sites and lure unsuspecting victims to provide personal and financial information. Report all unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS or an IRS-related function to phishing@irs.gov.


Online (and other methods of) Fraudulent Scams
If you receive an EMAIL claiming to be from the IRS that contains a request for personal information, taxes associated with a large investment, inheritance or lottery:

1. Don't reply.
2. Don't open any attachments. They can contain malicious code that may infect your computer or mobile phone.
3. Don't click on any links. Visit the IRS identity protection page if you clicked on links in a suspicious email or website and entered confidential information.
4. Forward the email as-is to us at phishing@irs.gov.
   

You receive a PHONE CALL from someone claiming to be from the IRS - but you suspect they are not an IRS employee: 

1. Record the employee's name, badge number, call back number and caller ID if available.
2. Call 1-800-366-4484 to determine if the caller is an IRS employee with a legitimate need to contact you.
   

You receive a LETTER, NOTICE OR FORM VIA PAPER MAIL OR FAX from an individual claiming to be the IRS - but you suspect they are not an IRS employee: 

1. Go to the IRS home page.
2. There, search on the letter, notice, or form number.
3. Fraudsters often modify legitimate IRS letters. You can also find information at Understanding Your Notice or Letter .

Identity Protection: Prevention, Detection and Victim Assistance
Identity theft places a burden on its victims and presents a challenge to businesses, organizations and government agencies, including the IRS.

The IRS combats tax-related identity theft with an aggressive strategy of prevention, detection and victim assistance. We’re making progress against this crime, as it remains one of our highest priorities.

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