ezTaxReturn.com Review 2024: Low-Cost Tax Software

ezTaxReturn takes the pain out of tax filing…for some filers. However, some may find they can’t use the software due to its limitations.

For those who can use ezTaxReturn and don't qualify for the free tier, the pricing isn't that competitive in comparison to similar tax return software programs. 

If you’re considering ezTaxReturn, there may be a better alternative unless you qualify for the free file program. In this ezTaxReturn.com review, we explore how the app compares to the other top tax software options.

ezTaxReturn - Is It Free?

ezTaxReturn advertises a free tax return for “simple filers,” but this is limited. Taxpayers who qualify for the simple return can get free federal filing only. You 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 no matter how you file.

Additionally, ezTaxReturn is quite strict about who qualifies for free federal returns. You must meet the following criteria: 

• Earn less than $50,000 per year
• Have no dependents
• Have taxable interest income under $1,500

The only credit users can claim with the free tier is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The free option also only supports W-2 income and unemployment income. HSA contributions require an upgrade. Due to these many restrictions, it seems many people won’t qualify for this "Free" tier.

You can see our picks for the best free tax software here.

What's New In 2024?

The biggest updates for 2024 focused on changes to the tax code from the IRS. The government implemented new brackets and limits for many deductions and credits, and ezTaxReturn made the necessary changes to keep up.

You may notice a maximum refund and accuracy guarantee on this and other tax software. These are industry standards, as your tax results should be nearly identical no matter how you file.

Does ezTaxReturn Really Make Tax Filing Easy In 2024?

If you fall into the simple tax qualifying for free federal returns, then yes. ezTaxReturn has an intuitive user experience that makes filing easy for tax filers with simple situations. However, it doesn’t offer imports for your tax forms or W2 data.

ezTaxReturn isn't ideal for more complex tax filing scenarios, including anyone with investment accounts. It also doesn’t have built-in depletion or depreciation calculators, so real estate investors must 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. ezTaxReturn 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, it has a few positive features making it worth consideration.

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 straightforward 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. If you earn more than $50,000 per year, have dependents, or have any income beyond your W-2 job and bank account interest, you won’t qualify.

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.

Limitations On Filing

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

As mentioned above, there are no depreciation calculators available, so 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. If you live or file in any of those states, look elsewhere for your tax filing needs.

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 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 log in.

By combining encryption and multifactor authentication, ezTaxReturn offers strong protections 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 are far more limited than competing tax software companies.

Right now they only have email support (with a one business day turnaround time), and an FAQ on their website. They typically have a phone number you can call during tax season, but this isn't available as of the time of writing.

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.

Why Should You Trust Us?

The College Investor team has spent years reviewing all of the top tax filing options, and our team has personal experience with the majority of tax software tools. I personally have been the lead tax software reviewer since 2022, and have compared most of the major companies on the marketplace.

Our editor-in-chief Robert Farrington has been trying and testing tax software tools since 2011, and has tested and tried almost every tax filing product. Furthermore, our team has created reviews and video walk-throughs of all of the major tax preparation companies which you can find on our YouTube channel.

We’re tax DIYers and want a good deal, just like you. We work hard to offer informed and honest opinions on every product we test.

How Was This Product Tested?

In our original tests, we went through ezTaxReturn and completed a real-life tax return that included W2 income, self-employment income, rental property income, and investment income. We tried to enter every piece of data and use every feature available. We then compared the result to all the other products we've tested, as well as a tax return prepared by a tax professional.

This year, we went back through and re-checked all the features we originally tested, as well as any new features. We also validated the pricing options.

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 2024. You can pay your software fee using your refund for an extra $29.95, which is definitely not worthwhile.

ezTaxReturn Features