At tax time, you’re bombarded with ads for free tax returns. It’s everywhere – your TV, billboards, social media, and even the Super Bowl. Even if you’ve never tried online tax filing before, those “free free free” commercials have probably at least piqued your interest and left you wondering “What’s the catch?”. The reality is although tax companies advertise free tax returns, not everyone will qualify.
Who qualifies for free federal tax filing?
Generally, you can only qualify for a free income tax filing if you have a simple tax return. However, each tax service defines “simple” differently. Often, you’re limited to reporting specific kinds of income and claiming minimal tax credits. Anything more and you’ll be required to upgrade to a paid product. At ezTaxReturn, you can file a free federal tax return if you meet the following criteria:
- You’re single or married filing jointly
- No dependents
- Have W-2 income or unemployment income
- Don’t claim any credits outside of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Take the IRS standard deduction
- Your income is $50,000 or less
- Earned less than $1,500 in taxable interest
If you don’t meet the qualifications for a free simple tax return, our paid option will better suit your needs. Please note, there is an additional fee for state returns.
Pros and cons of free tax filing
You save a lot of money
Obviously, the biggest benefit of free federal tax filing is that you get to save money, potentially hundreds of dollars. According to the National Society of Accountants, the average cost of a Form 1040 with the standard deduction plus state is $220. Using ezTaxReturn to file a simple tax return means you’ll pay a combined cost of just $19.95 to file your federal and state tax returns. That’s a $200 savings you can put towards groceries and other bills.
Step-by-step guidance lets you file quickly and confidently
The beauty of using tax preparation software like ezTaxReturn is that you don’t have to know anything about taxes. You just answer basic questions about your life and income while following our step-by-step guidance. There’s little to worry about because we do the calculations and complete the right forms for you.
Get your biggest possible refund, guaranteed
With inflation driving up the cost of everything, getting a tax refund can give you a great financial boost. Don’t miss the opportunity to get your biggest possible refund, do your taxes with ezTaxReturn. Our software is up to date with the latest tax laws, so you’ll get every money-saving tax deduction and credit you deserve.
Fastest way to get your tax refund
Get your refund faster by e-filing and having your cash direct deposited into your bank account. It’s quick, convenient, and secure. Nine out of ten taxpayers get their refunds in less than 3 weeks. That’s nothing compared to the 6 months you’ll be waiting if you filed on paper.
Free customer support
Whether you need help resetting your password, downloading copies of your return, or tracking your tax refund, our trained customer service representatives are available to help. There’s no jumping through hoops or relying on community discussion boards for answers. Just send an inquiry or request a callback and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Get notified right away when your tax return is accepted
Within 24 hours of e-filing, you’ll receive an email from ezTaxReturn letting you know the IRS has accepted your return. From there, you can begin tracking your refund using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov. You’ll need your refund amount, SSN and filing status to check your refund status.
You may receive promotional offers for financial products
You may be wondering how tax companies make money if everyone’s filing for free. The answer is simple, some companies use the data on your tax return to promote products or services they think will help your financial life. This includes things like loans and credit cards. If you apply and get approved, they earn a commission from the bank.
Watch out for the bait-and-switch
Always read the fine print before beginning your tax return so you’re not blindsided by unexpected fees. As we mentioned earlier, “free” doesn’t mean free for everyone. The problem is you usually don’t realize you’re ineligible until you’re hit with charges when you try to file. After committing all that time and effort, you’ll be mad, but probably not enough to walk away. Some tax companies know this and like to take advantage. Not ezTaxReturn. We prefer to give you honest and transparent pricing so you can make the best decision for yourself.
