Frequently asked questions

Supported states, forms and schedules

  • Is my state tax return supported?

    ezTaxReturn.com supports full-year resident state tax returns in many states. We do not support part-year or non-resident state tax returns at this time. For a complete listing of the states we support, please visit our homepage and click the link entitled "What We Support".
  • What forms, schedules, income and expenses are supported?

    Our program supports all the forms and schedules that most Americans need. For a specific listing of everything that is currently supported, please visit our homepage and click the link entitled "What We Support".

Login problems

  • Help, I can not login

    If you are having troubles logging in, follow these steps:
    1. First make sure you are using the correct username. If you are not absolutely positive of your username, click the Forgot Username link next to the Username textbox on the login screen. You can have your username emailed to any of the email addresses registered to your account or sent as a text message to your mobile phone.
    2. Once you have your username, make sure you have the correct password. If you are not absolutely certain of your password, click the Forgot Password link next to the Password textbox on the login screen, and our program will lead you through the password reset process if necessary.
  • I forgot my password, how do I reset it?

    To reset your password, simply click the Forgot Password link next to the Password textbox on the login screen, and our program will lead you through the password reset process.
  • I forgot my username and no longer have access to my old email address

    If you do not remember your username and no longer have access to the email address you used to create your account, our system can contact you by cell phone or daytime phone to verify your identity. Simply click the Forgot Username link next to the Username textbox on the login screen, and our program will help remind you!
  • I forgot my username, how do I retrieve it?

    If you forgot your username, simply click the Forgot Username link next to the Username textbox on the login screen. You can have your username emailed to any of the email addresses registered to your account or sent as a text message to your cell phone.

Filing Status & Claiming Dependents

  • Do I need my spouse's Social Security Number to file Married Filing Separate?

    Yes. The IRS requires your spouse's Social Security Number in order to file Married Filing Separate.
  • Do I need to claim a child as a dependent to file Head of Household?

    No. To file as Head of Household, you need a qualifying child or other qualifying individual (e.g. parent) for whom you can claim as a dependent, or a relative for whom you paid over half the cost of keeping up a home in which you both live. After you select head of household, follow the on-screen instructions to enter a dependent or qualifying individual.
  • How do I change my filing status?

    To change your filing status, follow these steps:
    1. Click "Personal Info" in the navigation bar to visit the Personal Info Summary page. You can review your filing status and personal information here.
    2. Click "Filing Status" and follow the on-screen instructions to change your filing status.
    3. As you continue through the personal info part of the program, you may be prompted for additional information (e.g. spouse info) depending on what your new filing status is.
  • My child is a full-time college student. If I claim her as a dependent, can she claim an exemption for herself when she files?

    Exemptions were eliminated with the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. However, anyone who can be claimed as a dependent on somebody else's tax return needs to indicate that they are a dependent of another on their own tax return in order to have their standard deduction and other taxes and credits calculated correctly.
  • My spouse and I are married filing separate. Can we both claim our child as a dependent?

    Unfortunately no. Each child may only be claimed as a dependent one time.

Inside my return: Income

  • Are child support payments taxable?

    Child support is not considered income and does not get included in your taxable income. However, it is important to enter your child support payments as "non-taxable income". This income can affect other calculations on your tax return.
  • How do I enter dividends if I did not receive a 1099-DIV?

    If you received a statement from your brokerage institution but did not receive a Form 1099-DIV, simply pretend that you received a Form 1099-DIV. You will be prompted for specific information that is usually reported on the Form 1099-DIV, but you should be able to easily identify the information you have to enter simply by looking at the statement you received from your brokerage firm.
  • How do I enter grant income?

    1. If your grant was reported on a Form 1099-G, enter your grant income in the "Government income" section of the program.
    2. From Income Summary, select "edit" next to Government Income and follow the on-screen instructions.
    3. If you received a scholarship or fellowship grant not reported on a Form W-2, enter this in the "Income" section of the program.
    4. From the Income Summary page, click edit next to wages
    5. From the W-2 Summary page, click continue and answer "yes" to the "Taxable scholarship or fellowship grants" radio in the Other Earned Income page, then follow the on-screen instructions.
  • How do I enter multiple W-2 forms?

    Each W-2 you (and your spouse if filing jointly) received must be entered separately in the Wages portion of the Income section of the program.

    1. In the Income Summary screen, click the "edit" link next to Wages Amount.
    2. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter each of your W-2s separately.
  • How do I figure out the cost basis of shares purchased at various times and various prices?

    The basis is what you paid for the shares plus any costs of purchase. Just add the cost of shares purchased on separate dates.
  • How do I file Schedule D?

    Schedule D is used to report sales of capital assets such as stocks and bonds. In the income section of our program, visit the "Sales of capital assets" section to report your capital gains or losses.
  • How do I report active duty and combat pay?

    If you were on active-duty in the military, there is nothing you need to report for your Federal return. On some state tax returns, you will be asked whether you received income while on active-duty. If asked, say yes. Otherwise, there is nothing you need to report.

    If you also received combat pay, simply enter your W-2 exactly as it appears. Combat pay is reported in your W-2 in Box 12 with code Q. You will not need to do anything else, combat pay will be automatically handled by the program

  • How do I report royalty income?

    We regret to inform you that royalty income is not supported by the ezTaxReturn program.
  • How do I report stock gains or losses?

    Stock sales are considered capital asset sales. In the income section of our program, visit the "Sales of capital assets" section to report your stock gains or losses.
  • My W-2 is incorrect. What should I do?

    Contact the payroll or human resources department of the company that issued the W-2 to get a corrected copy before filing your taxes. If you already filed your return, you may have to file an amended return to fix the problem.
  • Where do I enter capital loss carryovers?

    Capital loss carryovers are entered in the capital asset sales section of the program. To find this link, please visit the income section of your return.
  • Where do I report my 1099-R forms?

    Form 1099-R is used to report distributions from IRAs and pensions, also known as retirement income. Accordingly, 1099-Rs are entered as retirement income in the income section of the program.
  • Where do I report my 401k contributions?

    Contributions to cash-deferred retirement accounts such as 401ks or 403bs are typically taken out of your wages by your employer and are reported on your Form W-2 box 12 with codes D,E,F,G or H. As long as you enter your Form W-2 exactly as it appears in front of you, your 401k contributions will be accurately reported.

Inside my return: Expenses

  • How do I enter spousal support or alimony?

    • If you paid alimony, enter "Alimony paid" in the Expenses section of the program.
    • If you received alimony, enter "Alimony" in the Income section of the program.
  • What education expenses are deductible?

    Tuition and related expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent to an eligible educational institution may be applied towards the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit.

    • Related expenses required for enrollment or attendance include activity fees, books, and supplies.
    • You may not claim any expenses paid for insurance, medical care, room and board, transportation, or other living expenses.
  • Where do I enter moving expenses?

    You can enter unreimbursed moving expenses in the Expenses section of the program under “Moving Expenses”. If you are a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and, due to a military order, you moved because of a permanent change of station, you can deduct your moving expenses on your federal tax return. Some states also allow other individuals to deduct moving expenses incurred because of a change in work location. The program will collect a bit of information about your move to determine whether you qualify to take this deduction on your federal and/or state tax returns.

Inside my return: Itemized Deductions

  • How do I claim charitable donations or contributions?

    Charitable contributions are an Itemized Deduction. Click on Charitable contributions in the Itemized Deductions section of the program, and follow the on-screen instructions to report your donation.

  • How do I enter multiple medical expenses?

    Medical expenses are an Itemized Deduction. Click on Medical expenses in the Itemized Deductions section of the program, and follow the on-screen instructions to report your expenses.

  • How do I enter my property taxes?

    There are different places in the program where you can enter property taxes, depending upon the type of property (real-estate or other) and its use (personal or business).

    • Property taxes paid for properties used for a home business should be reported in the Self-Employment Income section of the program.
    • Property taxes paid for rental properties should be reported in the Rental Real Estate Income section of the program.
  • How do I report my union dues?

    The union dues deduction on your federal tax return was eliminated with the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. However, some states allow this deduction as an employee business expense to taxpayer's who itemized their deductions. Enter these expenses in the Expenses section of the program under “Business Expenses”.

  • Is a loss on the sale of your home deductible?

    Loss on the sale of your home counts as a personal loss and is not deductible.

  • Should I choose the standard or itemized deduction?

    After you have entered all of your expenses, the program will calculate both for you. Typically, the higher deduction will maximize your refund. If you are not sure which deduction to choose, our program can automatically select the best option for you.

  • Where do I enter commuter expenses?

    Normal commuting expenses traveling between home and work are not deductible (subway / bus / commuter train tickets, car mileage). However, if you have additional work-related travel expenses you were not reimbursed for, you can enter these expenses in the Itemized Deductions section under "Non-reimbursed work expenses".

Inside my return: Credits

  • How do I delete my EIC (Earned Income Credit)?

    If you incorrectly claimed the EIC (Earned Income Credit), follow these steps to delete it from your return:

    • Go to the Taxes & Credits page.
    • Click the "delete" link next to the Earned income credit amount.

Inside my return: Filing my state taxes

  • How do I file a part-year or non-resident state tax return?

    Unfortunately, ezTaxReturn.com does not support part-year or non-resident state tax returns at this time. If you need a specific part-year state, please send our customer support team an inquiry to let us know of your needs so that we can best serve you in the future.

  • How do I work on my state return instead of continuing my federal return?

    All state tax returns are based on the income reported on your federal return. Even if you do not need to file a federal return, you will have to complete a federal return in order to collect all the information that is required for your state. After your federal return is complete, you will be presented with the option to prepare your state return also. At the end of the program, you will have the option to file federal only, state only, or both returns together.

Pricing, Payment & Coupons

  • Are there additional fees for re-filing after rejection?

    Absolutely not. You can file as many times as you need to in order to get your return accepted. There are never any additional fees for re-filing.

  • Help! I was double-billed.

    You should not have been double-billed. But if you were, please send an inquiry to our customer support team, and we will make sure that the duplicate charge gets reversed.

  • How do I get a breakdown of all fees for my return?

    Before you are asked for any payment, you will be given a breakdown of any and all fees required for filing your return. To see all of our prices, please click the Prices link in the header on our homepage.

  • I filed using FreeFile. Why am I being asked to pay?

    In order to qualify for a free federal tax return via the freefile program, you must visit our website directly from the IRS Free File website, and you must start your return immediately. If you live in a state that qualifies for our IRS Free File offer, and if your adjusted gross income is below the amount that qualifies for a free federal return, then you should not be billed for your federal return. If you chose to prepare and e-file your state return, you will be charged accordingly. If you think a mistake was made, please contact our customer support team.

  • Where do I enter my coupon code?

    Right before you get to the payment screen, you will be asked to enter a coupon code.

    • If you are not prompted for a coupon code, that may mean that you are not eligible for a discount.
    • If you do not receive a prompt but believe you are eligible for a discount, please contact customer service.

Downloading / Printing my tax return

  • How can I obtain a copy of my tax return?

    Current-year tax returns can be printed and saved towards the end of the program before you e-file and from the ezDownload Center after you have filed. If you need a prior-year return, simply visit your myAccount screen, and you will be able to access your last three years worth of tax returns.

Fixing mistakes I made

  • How do I go back and change something?

    The best way to go back and make changes is to use the navigation bar at top of the screen to go back to the section you have to change. Simply hover over the section you need to revisit and choose where you want to go. If your return has already been filed and accepted by IRS, you may have to file an amended tax return to fix your mistake.

  • How do I wipe out all data and start from scratch?

    To start everything over, simply go to the personal info section of the program and visit the filing status screen. This will force you to go through the entire program and is essentially the same thing as starting over from scratch (without having to create a new account!).

Questions after filing

  • Can I amend my tax return online?

    If you made a mistake on your original return or need to change it for any reason, you can simply file an amended return. Federal tax returns and the following states can be amended and e-filed:

    California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington

    If you need to amend a state return in any of the following states, you can prepare it online but will have to print, sign and mail your return the old fashioned way.

    Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia

  • How do I go back and make changes after I have e-filed?

    If you filed your return, and it is rejected by IRS, you will have the ability to go back into your account and make any changes you need. If your tax return is accepted by IRS, you will need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X). Amended returns can't be e-filed; but if you used our program to prepare your return, you can amend, print, and mail an amended return.

  • I forgot to include something in my taxes. Is it too late to cancel?

    After you e-file your return, it is automatically sent to the IRS. Unless your electronic return gets rejected by the IRS, there is no way to cancel it. If you need to make any changes, you will need to file an amended return.

  • I just realized my bank information is incorrect. How do I change this before the IRS attempts to process my refund?

    Once your return has been accepted by the IRS, there is no way to change your direct deposit information.

    • If your return is rejected by the IRS for some reason, you will be able to change the bank information as you make other corrections.
    • If your return is accepted by the IRS, but you entered account information that does not exist, the IRS will send you a paper check.
    • If your return is accepted by the IRS, and you incorrectly entered an account that belongs to somebody else, and if the bank accepts the deposit, you will have to work with that bank to recover your funds.
  • Help, my return was rejected due to the prior-year AGI, what can I do?

    Due to a backlog glitch, the IRS may reject your e-file tax returns. Learn how to fix this here.

Tax return status

  • How do I know if my tax return has been filed?

    Log in to your tax return account and click the "Go to my tax return" link from the myAccount screen. If you are taken to your ezStatus screen, that means that your tax return has been filed, and your ezStatus screen will provide you with a live status of your tax return. If your return has not yet been filed, you will be taken to the section of your tax return you last completed, and you will be able to continue to finish and e-file your return.

  • What is the status of my tax return?

    To learn about the status of your return, simply log into your account. The status of your return will be displayed under "Current Status".

  • Where do I find my filing confirmation number?

    After you have filed your return, your confirmation number will be provided on your status screen. Simply login to your account and click the link to go to your tax return, and you will find it. If you filed a state return, your status page will show your federal and state confirmation numbers separately.

Refund & Balance Due

  • Can I receive my refund by direct deposit into multiple accounts?

    Yes. When asked how you would like to receive your refund, simply choose to receive your refund by direct deposit. Then follow the instructions for entering up to three separate accounts.

  • Do you still offer Refund Anticipation Loans?

    Unfortunately no. Refund anticipation loans are no longer available. All of the banks have stopped offering this service online.

  • Does it cost anything to get my refund by direct deposit?

    Absolutely not. Direct deposit is the fastest possible way to receive your refund and does not incur any additional expense.

  • How come my refund is greater than the total tax I paid?

    There are certain tax credits called "refundable credits", which can give you a refund that is greater than the total tax you paid. In other words, these credits are an extremely generous gift from the government to you. Examples of these types of credits are the "Earned Income Credit (EIC)" and the "Refundable Education Credits". Upon completion of the preparation of your return, your Bottom Line screen will show you exactly how your refund was calculated.

  • How was my refund calculated?

    Upon completion of the preparation of your return, your Bottom Line screen will show you exactly how your refund was calculated.

  • If I choose to pay by installment, how does that work?

    If you are unable to pay the tax you owe, an installment agreement is your best option. When you choose this option, you will have to enter the amount you are able to pay each month and the day you would like the payments to be made. You can even choose to have the payments automatically deducted from your bank account. Within 30 days, IRS will contact you to let you know if your installment agreement request was accepted.

  • What are my options if I cannot pay the tax that I owe?

    If you are unable to pay the tax you owe, your best option is to file a request to pay by installments. When you choose this option, you will have to enter the amount you are able to pay each month and the day you would like the payments to be made. You can even choose to have the payments automatically deducted from your bank account. Within 30 days, IRS will contact you to let you know if your installment agreement request was accepted.

  • When can I expect to receive my refund?

    To find out when you will receive your refund, log into your account and click the link to go to your tax return. If your return has already been filed, you will be taken to your ezStatus screen, which will show you how to find out when your refund will be released.

  • Will rejection at the state affect my federal refund?

    No, a rejected state return will not cause a federal return to be delayed.

Rejected return

  • Help, I got rejected. What do I do now?

    You will need to correct and re-file your return. When you log into your account, the program will give you all the information you need to correct the rejection. You will usually need to go back and change something, then continue through the program and re-file your taxes. Follow the instructions, and contact customer service if you have any questions.

  • My return was rejected. Will I be charged when I re-file my return?

    No, it is free to re-file your taxes as many times as needed.

Deleting my account

  • How do I delete my account?

    If you're sure you want to delete your account, sign in to delete your account.

Prior year returns

  • Can I prepare and e-file a prior-year tax return?

    Unfortunately not. At this time, the IRS e-file system only supports tax returns filed for the current filing season.

  • How can I access my prior year tax return?

    To access your prior-year return, simply log into your account. On the left-side of the MyAccount screen, the section called "Prior-year returns" contains links to all prior-year returns filed at our site that are available for download.

    If you need a copy of a return that is not shown on your MyAccount screen, visit the homepage, click the Sign In button, and select the option entitled "Copies of Returns".

Are you ready to start your return?