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Overview

The file-taxes command is the main entry point for EZFile. It reads your W-2 document (PDF or image), extracts all data, asks intake questions, calculates your complete Form 1040 (or 1040-SR for seniors) line by line, and provides state tax guidance.

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Syntax

/ezfile:file-taxes <path-to-w2-pdf-or-image>
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path-to-w2-pdf-or-image
string
required
Path to your W-2 document. Can be a PDF file or image (JPG, PNG).

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What It Does

The command follows a complete 9-step workflow:
  1. Reads your W-2 - Extracts all boxes (1-20) using multimodal document processing
  2. Validates data - Checks Box 4 ≈ Box 3 × 6.2% and Box 6 ≈ Box 5 × 1.45%
  3. Shows extracted data - Displays a summary with SSN masked to last 4 digits
  4. Asks intake questions - Date of birth, student loan interest, tips, overtime, auto loan interest
  5. Checks scope - Verifies you fit EZFile’s single W-2 filer profile
  6. Calculates return - Computes the full 10-step tax calculation
  7. Shows summary - Displays complete return with all line items
  8. Provides state guidance - Gives state-specific tax notes based on W-2 Box 15
  9. Saves data - Writes return data to ./returns/return-2025.json and ./returns/summary-2025.md

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Example Usage

/ezfile:file-taxes ~/Documents/w2-2025.pdf

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Output Format

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Disclaimer (Shown First)

EZFile is a tax calculation assistant, not a licensed tax preparer or tax advisor. It does not file your taxes — you must file yourself at freefilefillableforms.com or another IRS-approved method. Review all numbers carefully before entering them. You are responsible for the accuracy of your tax return. For complex situations, consult a CPA or enrolled agent.

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W-2 Extraction Summary

W-2 EXTRACTED
Employee: John Smith (XXX-XX-1234)
Employer: Acme Corporation

Box 1   Wages:              $44,629.35
Box 2   Federal withheld:    $4,200.00
Box 3   SS wages:           $44,629.35
Box 4   SS tax:              $2,767.02
Box 5   Medicare wages:     $44,629.35
Box 6   Medicare tax:          $647.13
Box 12D 403(b):              $4,107.00
Box 13  Retirement plan: ✓
Box 15  State: PA
Box 16  State wages:        $44,629.35
Box 17  State tax withheld:  $1,370.12

Validation:
  Box 4 = Box 3 × 6.2% → $2,767.02 [PASS]
  Box 6 = Box 5 × 1.45% → $647.13 [PASS]

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Complete Return Summary

2025 FEDERAL TAX RETURN SUMMARY
Filing Status: Single
Form: 1040

INCOME
  Wages (Box 1):                $44,629.35

ADJUSTMENTS
  Student loan interest:        -$1,800.00
  AGI (Line 11):                $42,829.35

DEDUCTIONS
  Standard deduction:           -$15,750.00
  Total deductions:             -$15,750.00
  Taxable income (Line 15):     $27,079.35

TAX
  10% on first $11,925:          $1,192.50
  12% on next $15,154.35:        $1,818.52
  Tax (Line 16):                 $3,011.02
  Saver's Credit:                 -$205.35
  Total tax (Line 24):           $2,805.67

PAYMENTS
  Federal withheld (Box 2):      $4,200.00
  Total payments (Line 33):      $4,200.00

RESULT
  YOUR REFUND:                   $1,394.33

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State Tax Note

The command automatically reads your state from Box 15 and provides state-specific guidance. For example:
Pennsylvania: PA uses a flat 3.07% rate. Your PA tax: 1,370.12.Withheld:1,370.12. Withheld: 1,370.12. PA refund/owed: $0.

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Intake Questions

The command asks these questions using Claude’s AskUserQuestion tool:
  1. Date of birth - Determines Form 1040 vs 1040-SR and standard deduction amount
    • Born before January 2, 1961 → Form 1040-SR, $17,750 standard deduction
    • Born January 2, 1961 or later → Form 1040, $15,750 standard deduction
  2. Student loan interest - For Schedule 1, Line 21 above-the-line deduction
    • Max deduction: $2,500
    • Phaseout: 85,000−85,000-100,000 MAGI
  3. Tips - For Schedule 1-A, Line 1 deduction (new for 2025)
    • Phaseout: 75,000−75,000-100,000 MAGI
  4. Overtime - For Schedule 1-A, Line 2 deduction (new for 2025)
    • Phaseout: 75,000−75,000-100,000 MAGI
  5. Auto loan interest - For Schedule 1-A, Line 3 deduction (new for 2025)
    • Max deduction: $10,000
    • Phaseout: 75,000−75,000-100,000 MAGI

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The 10-Step Calculation

The command implements the complete Form 1040 calculation pipeline:
1

Income

Line 1a = W-2 Box 1 (wages)
2

Adjustments

Line 10 = Student loan interest (Schedule 1, Line 26)
3

AGI

Line 11 = Line 1a - Line 10
4

Schedule 1-A Deductions

Line 12c = Tips + Overtime + Auto loan interest + Senior deduction
5

Standard Deduction

Line 12a = 15,750(or15,750 (or 17,750 if 65+)
6

Total Deductions

Line 14 = Line 12a + Line 12c
7

Taxable Income

Line 15 = max(Line 11 - Line 14, $0)
8

Tax

Line 16 = Apply 2025 single filer brackets to Line 15
9

Credits

Line 19 = Saver’s Credit (nonrefundable) Line 27 = Earned Income Credit (refundable)
10

Payments & Result

Line 25a = W-2 Box 2 (federal withheld) Line 33 = Line 25a + Line 27 Line 34 = Refund (if Line 33 > Line 24) Line 37 = Amount owed (if Line 24 > Line 33)

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Data Privacy

CRITICAL: The command NEVER stores or displays full Social Security Numbers. All SSNs are immediately masked to XXX-XX-NNNN format (last 4 digits only). All processing is local — no tax data is transmitted over the network.

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Next Steps

After running file-taxes, the command suggests:
  • Run /ezfile:checklist for step-by-step filing instructions
  • Run /ezfile:explain <topic> to understand any line item
  • Run /ezfile:review to see the summary again

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Files Created

  • ./returns/return-2025.json - Complete return data (all line values)
  • ./returns/summary-2025.md - Human-readable summary

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