ezTaxReturn overhauled its navigation, improved its user experience, and kept its price the same. Unfortunately, these improvements still weren’t enough to gain a recommendation from us.
Do you have a simple tax return in 2021? If so, ezTaxReturn is a tax software service to consider. However, others may find better options elsewhere.
Will ezTaxReturn work for you in this year? Keep reading our ezTaxReturn.com review and see how it compares to the other top tax software options this year.
Quick Summary
- Free for simple filers with AGI less than $100,000
- Excellent navigation and easy to use
- Isn't the best choice for investors or real estate owners
Video Review
Is it Really Free?
ezTaxReturn advertises a free tax return for “simple filers” but even this isn’t quite true. Taxpayers who qualify for the “simple” return can get free Federal filing. However, users still have to pay $19.95 for a state return.
Additionally, ezTaxReturn is quite strict about who qualifies for free returns. Users must have no dependents, only W-2 or unemployment income, and claim no deductions or credits aside from the Earned Income Tax Credit. Plus, people earning more than $100,000 per year won’t qualify for free filing.
All other filers will need to upgrade to the paid pricing model.
What's New In 2021?
This year, ezTaxReturn built on improvements from the previous year to create a much more intuitive user experience. The company overhauled the guided navigation to make it simple to use. Additionally, it integrated easy to understand definitions throughout the software.
ezTaxReturn is committed to having a user experience that stays with the times.
ezTaxReturn Pricing
ezTaxReturn has a fairly simple pricing structure. It only has a free tier and a paid pricing tier. However, it offers a discount for people who file both state and Federal returns through the software.
Free | Paid | |
|---|---|---|
Best For: | People with a basic tax situation in some states* | Everyone Else |
Federal: | $0 | $29.95 |
State: | $19.95 | $19.95 |
Combined: | $19.95 | $39.95 |
*ezTaxReturn supports the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin.
ezTaxReturn Limitations
Unlike most tax software we review, ezTaxReturn has a few important limitations that users should understand. It does not support depreciation or depletion. That means users cannot easily figure out the depreciation on a rental property or business assets. If you need to depreciate an asset, ezTaxReturn isn’t for you.
Additionally, ezTaxReturn places limitations on investments. For example, it does not support short sales of stock, sales of stock options, wash sales, or sales of real estate that you owned for investment purposes only.
Another important miss is that it does not support “qualified plans” (also known as retirement plans) for self-employed individuals.
If you hope to use ezTaxReturn, be sure to check it’s limitations before diving in.
Navigation
ezTaxReturn overhauled its navigation this year. It offers both a self-guided and a guided option. The guided option involves simple questions and answers in a clean user interface. Even beginners are likely to understand the navigation pattern.
Plus, users can navigate using the top-mounted Nav Bar which offers intuitive options for people searching for the next relevant section.
The only downside to the navigation is that ezTaxReturn incorrectly labeled its support button. Instead of labeling it “Help” or “Support”, it's labeled “Contact”. Users have to know to click it to find knowledge articles and info about technical support.
Ease Of Use
ezTaxReturn is designed for users who have simple tax forms. It doesn’t support any imports. Everything has to be hand-entered which can be cumbersome for users with more complex returns.
That said, most people who can use ezTaxReturn will have straightforward taxes. ezTaxReturn’s clean interface and great navigation make it easy to complete taxes quickly and easily.
Knowledge Articles
ezTaxReturn takes an unconventional approach to knowledge articles. The most important “knowledge articles” are snippets embedded within the software. I wish more companies did this. The articles clarify tax jargon or questions using clear writing. This integration of knowledge articles is a gold standard that more companies should adopt.
For longer articles, users can pull up the FAQ section under the “Contact” button at the top of the software. These articles are well-written and include useful insights for most users.
Extras
All users have access to ezTaxReturn’s customer support team. However, this team supports technical issues, and they cannot offer tax filing advice.
Aside from phone-based support, the only extra of note is Audit Assistance. This upgrade costs $39.95 (a fairly expensive upgrade). However, this audit protection is real. ezTaxReturn handles all representation on your behalf during the audit process. This is much more robust audit protection than most other companies offer.
Can ezTaxReturn Help Me With My Crypto Investments?
ezTaxReturn technically supports filing taxes for crypto investments. However, this isn’t made easy. Users have to manually enter each transaction and convert it to USD. Most users with crypto investments will want to choose TurboTax this year.
Can I Request My Missing Stimulus Check?
In 2020, congress passed two rounds of stimulus funding. By mid-January, most qualifying taxpayers should have received their second round of funding.
Those who didn’t get the checks may qualify for a Rebate Recovery Credit when they file their taxes. Qualifying for this credit depends on your income during the year. If you didn’t receive the appropriate stimulus, ezTaxReturn will calculate the amount you are owed in this credit. Once you file, the credit will increase the size of your refund check.
How Does ezTaxReturn Compare?
ezTaxReturn prices itself near the middle of the pack. Even with its massive improvements, the software may still not be worth the price. Credit Karma Tax and TaxHawk support more complex filing and clock in at a lower price.
We’ve also compared ezTaxReturn to H&R Block which is a premium filing software and FreeTaxUSA, which is a bargain offering.
Header |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating | |||
Stimulus Check | Paid | Free | Free |
Unemployment Income | Free | Free | Free |
Student Loan Interest | Paid | Free | Free |
Import Last Year's Taxes | Not Supported | Free | Free |
Import/Picture of W2 | Not Supported | Free | Not Available |
Multiple States | $19.95 per state | $36.99 per additional state | $12.95 per additional state |
Multiple W2s | Free | Free | Free |
Earned Income Tax Credit | Free | Free | Free |
Child Tax Credit | Paid | Free | Free |
HSAs | Paid | Deluxe | Free |
Retirement Contributions | Paid | Free | Free |
Retirement Income (SS, Pension, etc.) | Paid | Free | Free |
Interest Income | Paid | Free | Free |
Itemize Deductions | Paid | Deluxe | Free |
Dividend Income | Paid | Deluxe | Free |
Capital Gains Income | Paid (some limits apply) | Premium | Free |
Rental Income | Paid (but depreciation not supported) | Premium | Free |
Self-Employment Income | Paid (but depreciation not supported) | Premium | Free |
Audit Support | Add-On | Add-On | Deluxe |
Small Business Owner (over $5k in expenses) | Paid | Self-Employed | Free |
Free Tier Price | $0 Fed & $0 State | $0 Fed & $0 State | $0 Fed & $12.95 State |
Deluxe Tier Price | $29.95 Fed & $19.95 State | $29.99 Fed & $36.99 State | $6.99 Fed & $12.95 State |
Premium Tier Price | $29.95 Fed & $19.95 State | $49.99 Fed & $36.99 State | $6.99 Fed & $12.95 State |
Self-Employed Tier Price | $29.95 Fed & $19.95 State | $84.99 Fed & $36.99 State | $6.99 Fed & $12.95 State |
Cell |
Final Thoughts On ezTaxReturn In 2021?
In 2021, ezTaxReturn impressed us with improved navigation, but the software still isn’t where it needs to be to earn an unqualified recommendation. The cost is still too high, and it has too many limitations.
Users looking for a great experience and mid-range pricing should consider TaxSlayer. Those seeking more of a bargain can look to Credit Karma Tax or TaxHawk.
Not sure which software meets your needs? We’ve got you covered with recommendations for software based on your filing situation.
ezTaxReturn.com Review
- Navigation
- Ease Of Use
- Features And Options
- Customer Service
- Plans And Pricing
Overall
Summary
ezTaxReturn is a great free tax return option for EITC filers and other simple returns. However, it may not be the best fit for your needs.
Pros
- Free-file option for simple tax returns
Cons
- No free state return options
- Limited software for situations like depreciation
Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page, or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.
He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared towards anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.
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