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Overview

The review command displays your completed federal tax return in a clear, plain-English format. Use this to verify every number before filing or to see your return summary again after it’s been calculated.

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Syntax

/ezfile:review
This command has no arguments. It reads your calculated return from ./returns/return-2025.json.

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Prerequisites

You must have a calculated return. If no return data exists, the command returns: 
No return data found. Run `/ezfile:file-taxes <path-to-w2>` to calculate your return first.

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What It Does

  1. Reads return data - Loads complete return from ./returns/return-2025.json
  2. Formats summary - Displays every line item with explanations
  3. Shows schedule details - If Schedule 1 or Schedule 1-A was used, shows line-by-line breakdown
  4. Includes state summary - If state tax data is available, shows state return summary
  5. Provides insights - Displays 2-3 personalized insights (withholding analysis, effective rate, missed opportunities)
  6. Suggests next steps - Links to related commands

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Output Format

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Federal Return Summary

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

  INCOME
    Line 1a  Wages (W-2 Box 1):        $44,629.35
    Line 9   Total income:             $44,629.35

  ADJUSTMENTS TO INCOME
    Line 10  Student loan interest:     -$1,800.00  ← Schedule 1
    Line 11  Adjusted Gross Income:    $42,829.35

  DEDUCTIONS
    Line 12a Standard deduction:       -$15,750.00
    Line 12c Schedule 1-A deductions:        $0.00
    Line 14  Total deductions:         -$15,750.00
    Line 15  Taxable income:           $27,079.35

  TAX CALCULATION
    10% on first $11,925:               $1,192.50
    12% on next $15,154.35:             $1,818.52
    Line 16  Tax:                        $3,011.02
    Line 19  Saver's Credit:              -$205.35
    Line 22  Tax after credits:          $2,805.67
    Line 24  TOTAL TAX:                  $2,805.67

  PAYMENTS
    Line 25a Federal tax withheld:       $4,200.00
    Line 27  Earned Income Credit:          $0.00
    Line 33  TOTAL PAYMENTS:             $4,200.00

  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
    Line 34  YOUR REFUND:                $1,394.33
    → Choose direct deposit for fastest refund (~21 days)
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────

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Schedule 1 (If Applicable)

If you claimed student loan interest: 
  SCHEDULE 1 — Adjustments to Income
    Line 21  Student loan interest:     $1,800.00
    Line 26  Total adjustments:         $1,800.00
    → Flows to Form 1040, Line 10

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Schedule 1-A (If Applicable)

If you claimed any of these new 2025 deductions: 
  SCHEDULE 1-A — Additional Deductions (New for 2025)
    Line 1   Tip income deduction:      $2,500.00
    Line 2   Overtime pay deduction:    $1,200.00
    Line 3   Auto loan interest:          $800.00
    Line 4   Senior deduction:          $4,000.00
    Line 5   Total:                     $8,500.00
    → Flows to Form 1040, Line 12c

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State Tax Summary (If Available)

If state tax data was calculated: 
  STATE RETURN — Pennsylvania
    State wages (Box 16):              $44,629.35
    State tax owed:                     $1,370.12
    State tax withheld (Box 17):        $1,370.12
    State refund/owed:                     $0.00

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Key Insights

The command provides 2-3 personalized insights based on your return:

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1. Withholding Analysis

If refund > $1,000:
Over-withholding detected: Your employer withheld 4,200.00,whichis4,200.00, which is 1,394.33 more than you owed. That’s $116/month that could’ve been in your paycheck throughout the year. Consider adjusting your W-4 to reduce withholding for 2026.

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2. Effective Tax Rate

Your effective federal tax rate is 6.3%. This is your real tax rate (2,805.67tax÷2,805.67 tax ÷ 44,629.35 income). It’s lower than your marginal bracket of 12% because the first $11,925 is taxed at only 10%, and you get deductions.

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3. Missed Opportunities

If you were close to qualifying for credits:
Saver’s Credit opportunity: You earned this credit because you contributed 4,107toyour403(b).Ifyouhadearned4,107 to your 403(b). If you had earned 3,329 less (bringing AGI to 39,500),yourSaver′sCreditwouldincreasefrom1039,500), your Saver's Credit would increase from 10% to 20% of contributions, saving an additional 200 in taxes.
Or if you were close to EIC:
Earned Income Credit: With AGI of 42,829,you′reabovetheEIClimit(42,829, you're above the EIC limit (19,104 for single filers with no children). If you had AGI below 19,104,youcouldqualifyforupto19,104, you could qualify for up to 649 in refundable credit.

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Understanding Your Refund

You get a refund when your employer withheld MORE federal tax from your paychecks than you actually owe. In your case:
  • Your employer withheld: $4,200.00
  • Your actual tax: $2,805.67
  • Difference (refund): $1,394.33
Think of it as getting back your own money that the government held interest-free all year.
You owe money when your employer withheld LESS federal tax than you actually owe. This can happen if:
  • Your W-4 was set to withhold too little
  • You had multiple jobs and each withheld as if it was your only income
  • You had a mid-year raise that wasn’t reflected in withholding
  • You had side income with no withholding
Ideally, your refund or amount owed should be close to 0.Thismeansyouneithergavethegovernmentaninterest−freeloan(largerefund)norunderpaidtaxes(amountowed).Mostpeoplepreferasmallrefund(0. This means you neither gave the government an interest-free loan (large refund) nor underpaid taxes (amount owed). Most people prefer a small refund (200-500) as a safety margin.
Complete a new Form W-4 with your employer. If you got a large refund, you can reduce withholding by:
  • Increasing your standard deduction on Line 3
  • Claiming more dependents on Line 4(a) (only if you actually have dependents)
  • Entering additional income in Step 2
If you owed money, do the opposite to increase withholding.

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Next Steps

The command ends with these suggestions: 
  NEXT STEPS:
  → /ezfile:checklist     Step-by-step guide to file at freefilefillableforms.com
  → /ezfile:explain AGI   Understand what any number means
  → /ezfile:add-1098e     Add student loan interest (if not already added)

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Disclaimer

Reminder: EZFile is a calculation assistant. Review all numbers against your W-2 before filing. You are responsible for the accuracy of your return.
  • file-taxes - Main command to calculate your return
  • calculate - Recalculate return after changes
  • explain - Understand any line item or concept
  • checklist - Get step-by-step filing instructions

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