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EzPaycheck is Halfpricesoft’s locally processed payroll application for small businesses and accounting professionals that want to calculate payroll, print checks, and prepare federal payroll forms in-house. Its license is for a tax year—not a lifetime—and the vendor’s pages currently show conflicting prices. The fit depends on your operating system, the forms you need, and whether you are comfortable handling state and local filing outside the software.

What EzPaycheck does

Halfpricesoft describes EzPaycheck as software for paying W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. Its listed functions include calculating wages, payroll taxes and deductions; printing paychecks and paystubs; tracking paid time off; and producing payroll reports and federal forms. These are vendor-described capabilities, not results of independent testing.

The publisher lists support for salary, hourly, tip, commission, bonus and custom pay types, along with multiple pay periods. It also describes federal and state tax tables, local tax options, additional withholding, and pre-tax or post-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions, insurance and child support. Verify that the specific tax and deduction rules you use are supported before relying on the software for a live payroll.

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Which platforms and versions are listed

Halfpricesoft’s download page lists 2026 builds published July 27, 2026: Windows version 3.16.20 and Mac version 3.16.11. The page lists 2026 federal and state tax tables and Form 941 for both builds. It lists 2025 W-2/W-3, Form 940 and Form 943 for Windows; the Mac listing names 2025 W-2/W-3 and Form 940. These are the publisher’s listed inclusions and may change with updates. See the EzPaycheck download page.

#1 Best Overall
Print Checks Payroll - Payroll software for Windows 10/11 - CD - Includes 12 month license
  • Unlimited number of companies and employees
  • NACHA files for Direct Deposit
  • Optional integratd E-File for Federal W2's and 1099-NEC's
  • Create checks for Employees or 1099-NEC contractors.
  • Generate and populate tax forms such as W-2, W-3, 1099-NEC, 940, 941 and 941-B. Optional federal E-File and some supported State E-File

The feature page says the single-user edition supports Windows and Mac, while the multi-user network edition is Windows-only. Halfpricesoft describes the network edition as allowing data sharing across multiple computers. Confirm the platform and edition you need before purchasing.

Forms, filing, and the state-tax boundary

The publisher lists Forms W-2, W-3, 940, 941 and 943. It also says direct in-app e-filing is available for Forms 941 and 940. That is a Halfpricesoft product claim; it does not independently establish IRS approval or the outcome of a filing. The company points to separate products for W-2/W-3 and 1099 e-filing. See the product information.

Rank #2
Sale
Bookkeeper: Easily Manage Your Business Finances
  • You can now print to blank check stock. Customization of the check layout is "not" possible at this time. Check the Help file for additional details.
  • Electronic form filing for W-2, 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC is available through a third party service (there is a nominal fee for this service).
  • Tax forms for 2022
  • Includes tax tables for 2023
  • Support for new 1099-NEC form

State and local support has a meaningful limit: Halfpricesoft says EzPaycheck generates reports to help prepare state, city and other local tax forms, but does not fill in those paper forms. You may need to complete forms or submit returns through the relevant government portal yourself. Do not assume that the listed federal forms mean the software handles end-to-end state or local filing. Details are on the vendor’s state and local forms page.

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Check printing requires the right supplies

EzPaycheck is described as printing checks on blank or preprinted stock, with layouts and MICR encoding for blank stock. Halfpricesoft lists blank perforated 8.5 × 11-inch check paper among its supplies. Before ordering paper, check your printer, the software’s check layout, sheet dimensions and any MICR requirements. No particular paper brand or printer compatibility has been independently tested.

Rank #3
Express Accounts Accounting Software Free [PC Download]
  • Manage your payments and deposit transactions
  • Check balances and generate reports to monitor your business finances
  • Email and fax reports to your accountant
  • Create and track quotes, invoices and more
  • Connect to the app with secure web access

Is EzPaycheck a lifetime license?

No. Halfpricesoft’s FAQ says EzPaycheck is licensed per tax year; a new year’s license is required to use the software for that tax year. The vendor says payroll data carries forward. This is an annual, tax-year license, not a lifetime license or a monthly subscription.

The vendor’s displayed prices do not agree, so there is no single price that can be treated as settled. Its FAQ lists $169 per calendar year per installation; its pricing page shows an $80-per-user offer for 2026 and 2027 and a $50-per-user annual multi-user offer; another vendor page states $189 per year. Differences may reflect updates, editions, promotions or stale copy. Check the current purchase and pricing page before buying, and confirm the tax year, edition, number of installations and renewal cost. Halfpricesoft also describes a 30-day trial with feature access and a watermark on printed output before purchase; check the vendor’s product and trial details for current terms.

Rank #4
2026 ezPaycheck Payroll Software for Small Businesses
  • ezPaycheck is the easy-to-use DIY payroll software trusted by thousands of small businesses since 2005.
  • Calculate federal and state payroll taxes, deductions, print paychecks, print tax forms, free support. Supports salary, hourly-rate, commission, tips and customized wages (such as pay-by-piece, pay-by-stop and pay-by-mileage)
  • Flexible tax options for W2/1099 employees, churches & non-profits employees who have special tax needs
  • Print employee paychecks and vendor checks on blank stock and pre-printed blank check.
  • Note: 1) This is the order of ezPaycheck 2026. You need to purchase the new license key to use ezPaycheck 2027 version in Year 2027. 2) We will ship a USB disk with the installation and license information. If you prefer to receive a copy by email, please contact us from halfpricesoft site support page with your Amazon order ID.
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How to decide whether it fits

  • It may suit you if you want locally processed payroll software, need the listed federal forms, and are prepared to print checks or handle filing steps outside the application where necessary.
  • Check carefully first if you rely on state or local paper-form completion, need Mac support for multiple users, require direct deposit, or need specific e-filing workflows. The cited vendor pages do not establish those capabilities.
  • Evaluate the full workflow using the trial if its current terms work for you: enter representative payroll scenarios, inspect reports and forms, test your check layout with your printer and paper, and confirm that the required tax-year license covers your installation setup.

Halfpricesoft markets EzPaycheck as “powerful, reliable payroll tools to small businesses.” That is the vendor’s own description, not an independent finding. The available product information does not establish payroll accuracy, security through an audit, reliability under independent testing, or customer satisfaction.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Print Checks Payroll - Payroll software for Windows 10/11 - CD - Includes 12 month license
Print Checks Payroll - Payroll software for Windows 10/11 - CD - Includes 12 month license
Unlimited number of companies and employees; NACHA files for Direct Deposit; Optional integratd E-File for Federal W2's and 1099-NEC's
$99.95
SaleBestseller No. 2
Bookkeeper: Easily Manage Your Business Finances
Bookkeeper: Easily Manage Your Business Finances
Tax forms for 2022; Includes tax tables for 2023; Support for new 1099-NEC form
$47.50
Bestseller No. 3
Express Accounts Accounting Software Free [PC Download]
Express Accounts Accounting Software Free [PC Download]
Manage your payments and deposit transactions; Check balances and generate reports to monitor your business finances
Bestseller No. 4
2026 ezPaycheck Payroll Software for Small Businesses
2026 ezPaycheck Payroll Software for Small Businesses
Print employee paychecks and vendor checks on blank stock and pre-printed blank check.
$178.95
Best Value
SAGE 50 Premium Accounting 2026 U.S. Retail Enhanced Edition | PC Online Code | 1-user, 1-year subscription with payroll for 1–10 employees, plus accounting, budgeting, bank feeds, and job costing.
  • TRUSTED ACCOUNTING: For 44 years, Sage has supported small business with accounting software to help their business thrive. Grow your business with Sage 50 Premium Enhanced: powerful, reliable, and cloud-connected. One year support with subscription.
  • CLOUD CONNECTED: Sage 50 Premium Enhanced Accounting gives you powerful, cloud-connected desktop software with all the features you need. Pick your business model and start with the right chart of accounts—set up is easy!
  • PROCESS PAYROLL: Simplify your payroll processes for 1-10 of your employees with updated tax calculation for efiling, employee witholdings and automated W2s.
  • NEW FEATURES: AR Automation allows you to share invoices, send payment reminders, and automatically collect payments. Our Customer Account Portal gives you 24/7 access to a secure portal to view, manage, and pay invoices.
  • PREMIUM: With Sage 50 Premium Enhanced, you get advanced budgeting tools, the security of audit trails, and enhanced job costing by phase and cost type.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.