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H&R Block tax filing review
Save money by filing your taxes online or pay a little more to have a professional file for you.
H&R Block offers solutions to file your taxes online, from your computer or in person. And if you need to file a past return, back editions are available for both federal and state programs.
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$43.99
Federal starting price
$44.99
State returns starting price
Details
| Federal starting price | $43.99 |
|---|---|
| State returns starting price | $44.99 |
| Maximum return guaranteed? | Yes |
| Payment options | Credit, Debit, Check, Pay with your tax refund |
Review by
Cassidy Horton
cassidy.horton@findercrew.comCassidy Horton is a freelance copywriter and journalist, specializing in personal finance. Her writing and analysis has been featured in Forbes Advisor, Money, The Balance, Money Under 30, Insure.com and other top digital publishers. She holds a BS in public relations and an MBA from Georgia Southern University.
Expert review
Experience with taxes or not, all types of people have had a successful experience using H&R Block to file their taxes. Services are known for being user-friendly, and the company does not cram in confusing tax jargon. H&R Block also offers a lot of resources and step-by-step guides.
Despite being a popular filing option because of its name recognition and ease of use, it can get pricey for complicated tax situations. If you tend to have a more complex tax filing situation, you’ll want to compare other filing options to find one that’s the right fit.
How much does H&R Block cost?
H&R Block lets you file your taxes online, with a downloadable software or in-person at a local branch. Here’s how the cost breaks down for each option.Online: H&R Block Personal Plans
H&R Block has several plans to choose from when filing your taxes online. There are even plans that come with on-demand support from a tax expert or CPA.| Plan and packages | Price | Best for | Features |
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| Free Online | Free for federal Free for state |
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| Deluxe Online | $35 for federal $37 for state |
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| Deluxe Online Assist | $80 for federal $37 for state |
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| Premium Online Assist | $115 for federal $37 for state |
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| Premium Online | $55 for federal $37 for state |
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| Self-Employed Online | $85 for federal $37 for state |
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| Self-Employed Online Assist | $145 for federal $37 for state |
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Downloadable software
If you’re more comfortable working and storing your data on your computer, H&R Block offers tax software that you can download or purchase in stores.
- Basic: $19.95. Best for employees and parents.
- Deluxe and state: $44.95. Best for homeowners or investors. The Deluxe software is for federal and state taxes.
- Premium: $64.95. Best for self-employed or rental property owners. The Premium software is for federal and state taxes.
- Premium & Business: $79.95. Best for small business owners, but available for Windows only. The Premium & Business software is for federal and state taxes.
In-person filing
If you want more personalized help, you can also work with a tax specialist in person or online.
- In office: Starting at $85. Get your taxes ready in person at an H&R Block office. $85 is the starting price, and it may cost if you need to file state taxes, are self-employed, have a complicated tax situation or for other reasons.
- Dropoff service: Starting at $85. If you prefer to be more hands-off, drop your financial documents off at an office and have a tax specialist put together your return. $80 is the starting price, and total cost depends on if you need to file state taxes, are self-employed, have a complicated tax situation or for other reasons.
- Virtual: Starting at $85. If you want more help but you’d rather stay home, this option pairs you up with a tax specialist online. You upload your documents and they put together your return, and you’ll be able to contact them via a secure message center. $80 is the starting price, and it may change if you need to file state taxes, are self-employed, have a complicated tax situation or for other reasons.
How do I pay?
H&R Block gives you four ways to pay your preparation fees:
- Cash
- Check
- Debit or credit card
- H&R Block Refund Transfer
If you pay for your tax services up front, you’ll get back the full value of your refund. But if you use H&R Block‘s Refund Transfer, it’ll take the fees for filing your taxes directly out of your refund.
How do I get my tax refund?
There are several ways to get your tax refund with H&R Block:
- Direct deposit
- Paper check
- Emerald Prepaid Mastercard
How do I open a H&R Block account?
Individuals should start by deciding how you want to file — online, in person or by using the downloadable software.
- Select Apply now.
- From the H&R Block website, hit the File online button. Choose an online filing option, and then follow the onscreen prompts to create an account and get started.
- To file in-person, go to H&R Block‘s website and choose the File with a tax pro button. Choose a filing option, and then follow the onscreen prompts to find an office and schedule an appointment
- To get the software, go to H&R Block‘s website, scroll to the bottom of the page and select Tax Software beneath the Ways to file heading. Choose a filing option and follow the onscreen prompts to give your payment information and download the software.
Pros and cons of using H&R Block
As with most tax preparation software companies, H&R Block shows you your refund in real-time as you work your way through the filing process. Plus, you can save your progress if you need to come back and finish your return later. But here’s a rundown of some of its unique benefits and drawbacks:
Pros
- Easy to use. The company’s software is easy to use and known for yielding accurate returns. It catches mistakes and doesn’t use confusing tax lingo. The layout is clean and organized.
- Mobile app. H&R Block‘s inclusive app lets you complete your taxes on your smart device — even complicated tax situations that require the Deluxe and Premium packages.
- Downloadable. Download software to complete your taxes offline.
- Filing options. H&R Block gives you the choice of meeting in an office or working with one of the available online or software options.
- Free options. H&R Block boasts being “the land of the free.” If you have a simple tax return like a 1040EZ or 1040A, file your federal and state tax return online for free. You can purchase more complex return software, if needed.
Cons
- More expensive. In general, H&R Block is not the cheapest tax solution out there. But H&R Block is known for having a relatively good track record with customers.
- Lacks automatic deductions. H&R Block doesn’t automatically suggest deductions as much as other companies and software.
- Additional fees. If you choose to use H&R’s Refund Transfer, you’ll pay a fee of $39.95 plus a $25 additional fee for disbursement to a paper check.
What happens if I’m audited?
How much help you get from H&R Block will depend on how you filed.
If you used the downloadable software, the company will help guide you through the audit process with free in-person support. Choose to have an agent prepare you for the audit, represent you throughout the process and attend the audit with you.
If you filed your taxes in person, you’ll only get in-person help with an audit if you paid extra for the company’s Peace of Mind plan.
If you filed your taxes online, H&R Block claims that it’ll “give you steps to take to respond,” but it doesn’t clarify what that means. It does clarify that online filers don’t get in-person help or assistance responding to the IRS.
How does H&R Block’s business tax filing compare to other software?
H&R Block is a middle-of-the-road option for business owners compared to tax software solutions from TaxAct and TurboTax. Here’s why:
Pros
- Fits a wide range of businesses. H&R Block offers packages for freelancers and small business owners all the way up to corporations and s-corps.
- Plenty of options. Business owners can file taxes online, through a downloadable software or in-person at a local branch. Those who file online can pay extra to get on-demand help if they need it.
- Payroll options. Create payroll forms, such as 940s, 941, W-2, Form 1099-MISC for employees and contract workers.
- Integrations. Import Uber driver tax information and expenses from popular expense tracking apps, such as Wave.
Cons
- State e-file fee. Several business packages come with free state mail-in filing. But you’ll pay an additional $19.95 to e-file, which is what most business owners do anyway.
- Customer reviews. Overall, business customers are satisfied with H&R Block, but they say the deduction and credit maximization features aren’t quite as good as the competition.
Compare H&R Block with other online tax filing services
H&R Block reviews and complaints
As of December 2022, H&R Block earns a F rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) based on its customer complaint history and other criteria. It has a 1.12 out of 5-star customer rating based on 527 reviews.
Most of these customer reviews spoke poorly of H&R Block’s in-person filing option claiming that their tax preparer made mistakes on their tax form that resulted in penalties. Of those who filed online, many say that customer support is hard to reach via phone and that it’s difficult to get a direct solution to your problem via live chat.
What is H&R Block?
H&R Block has been in the tax service industry since 1955. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, H&R Block specializes in banking, payroll, personal finances and business consulting services. It handles tax preparation in North America, Australia, Brazil and India. H&R Block has prepared over 650 million tax returns and has over 11,000 franchises across the United States.Frequently asked questions
- What is the guaranteed maximum refund with H&R Block?
- What other guarantees can I expect with H&R Block?
In addition to the maximum refund guarantee, H&R Block gives you a 100% accuracy guarantee. H&R Block will reimburse you for any IRS fees or penalties that result from an H&R Block error. Before anything is sent off, the company checks for mistakes and assesses your audit risk.
- What if I have an urgent question and don’t want to call H&R Block?
For a quick answer, use H&R Block live chat feature.
- How do I submit my W-2 with H&R Block?
Simply take a picture with your phone and uploading it online or into the software. You can also upload documents into the cloud.
