ezTaxReturn.com Review 2023

ezTaxReturn can take much of the pain out of tax filing…for some filers. But others can’t use the software due to certain limits. However, for people who can use ezTaxReturn, the prices are middle of the pack compared to other tax filing options.

If you’re considering ezTaxReturn, there may be a better alternative this year unless you qualify for free file. Find out why and how ezTaxReturn.com compares to the other top tax software options.

ezTaxReturn – Is It Free?

ezTaxReturn advertises a free tax return for “simple filers,” but this isn’t quite true. Taxpayers who qualify for the simple return can get free federal filing only. Users still have to pay $19.95 for a state return. Unless you live in a state with no state income tax return requirement, you’ll have to pay to use ezTaxReturn.

Additionally, ezTaxReturn is quite strict about who qualifies for free federal returns. These include:

• No dependents to qualify for free federal filing
• Must earn less than $50,000

The only credit users can claim at this tier is the Earned Income Credit.

The free option also only supports W-2 income and unemployment income. HSA contributions require an upgrade. Due to these many restrictions, most people won’t qualify for this “Free” tier.

See our picks for the best free tax software here.

What’s New In 2023?

This year, ezTaxReturn is continuing making minor improvements across the board to create a more intuitive, user-friendly tax filing experience. This included overhauling the guided navigation to make it more simple to use.

The biggest updates in 2023 focused on changes to the tax code from the IRS. The government implemented new brackets and limits for many deductions and credits. ezTaxReturn made necessary changes to keep up.

You may notice a maximum refund and accuracy guarantee on this and other tax software. These are an industry standard, as your tax results should be nearly identical. This could possibly vary slightly due to rounding, no matter how you do your taxes.

Does ezTaxReturn Really Make Tax Filing Easy In 2023?

If you fall into the simple tax category, then yes. ezTaxReturn has an excellent user experience that makes filing simple for tax filers with simple situations. However, it doesn’t offer imports, which could increase the usability, but overall, it is easy-to-use software.

ezTaxReturn isn’t the best when it comes to supporting for major tax filing scenarios beyond their simple tax category. It also doesn’t have built-in depletion or depreciation calculators, so real estate investors would have to do calculations elsewhere. Because of this shortcoming, we suggest real estate investors look to  TurboTax, H&R Block, and other premium software packages.

Self-employed retirement plans are also not well supported. Self-employed business owners who don’t claim depreciation may be unable to use the software. The software doesn’t allow users to claim contributions to certain self-employed retirement plans such as Keogh or SEP accounts.

ezTaxReturn Features

Although ezTaxReturn doesn’t support all tax situations, but it has a few excellent features.

Guided Navigation

ezTaxReturn uses questions and answers to guide users through the software. The wording of the questions makes it easy for filers to respond correctly.

Robust Error Detection

ezTaxReturn has built-in error detection to prevent users from entering information in the wrong box or entering the wrong value. The error detection prevents users from moving forward without first checking on an issue. Error messages are descriptive enough to help users solve the problem.

ezTaxReturn Drawbacks

Despite ezTaxReturn’s excellent user interface, the software has several shortcomings.

Restrictive Free Tier

ezTaxReturn’s free tier supports very few tax filers. And those who qualify will still have to pay for state filing.

No Depreciation Calculators

ezTaxReturn doesn’t have depreciation or depletion calculators. So landlords and self-employed people with depreciable assets can’t claim this legitimate tax deduction through the software.

Many Limitations On Filing

The ezTaxReturn software only supports one rental property per return. Landlords with multiple properties can’t use the software. It doesn’t support options trading or wash sales.

And as mentioned above, there are no depreciation calculators in the software. People with “complicated” tax filing situations may find that the software simply won’t work for them.

EzTaxReturn also has limitations on state filing. Unsupported states include Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.

How Does ezTaxReturn Compare?

ezTaxReturn prices itself near the middle of the pack. Even with its annual improvements, the software may still not be worth the price.

Cash App Taxes and TaxHawk support more complex filing and clock in at a lower price. Here’s a closer look at how ezTaxReturn compares:

Is It Safe And Secure?

ezTaxReturn uses industry-standard encryption technology to keep user information safe. It has strong password requirements, and users must use a second form of authentication to login.

By combining encryption and multi-factor authentication, ezTaxReturn does everything in its power to prevent data breaches or hacks. The company hasn’t suffered major data breaches and has historically received accolades for its security protocols.

How Do I Contact ezTaxReturn?

ezTaxReturn boasts that its software is “so easy, it’s unlikely you’ll need customer service.” And it says that only about 10% of its customers reach out for help. But if you do need assistance, your options will be far more limited than you’d receive with other tax software companies.

There’s no option to get in contact with a tax pro. The only way to contact the company’s support team is to submit an email-based inquiry.

ezTaxReturn FAQs

Let’s answer a few of the most common questions that filers ask about ezTaxReturn:

Can ezTaxReturn help me file my crypto investments?

ezTaxReturn technically supports filing taxes for crypto investments. However, this isn’t made easy. Users must convert all their trades to USD and manually enter each into ezTaxReturn. This is a cumbersome task that most people will want to avoid.

Most users with crypto investments will want to use a crypto tax software that integrates with TurboTax.

Can ezTaxReturn help me with state filing in multiple states?

EzTaxReturn supports multi-state filing, but it doesn’t support every state. States that aren’t supported include the following: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Does ezTaxReturn offer refund advance loans?

No, ezTaxReturn is not offering refund advance loans in 2023. You can pay your software fee using your refund for an extra $29.95, which is definitely not worthwhile.

ezTaxReturn Features