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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.$49.99
Federal returns starting price
$44.99
State returns starting price
Details
| Federal returns starting price | $49.99 |
|---|---|
| State returns starting price | $44.99 |
| Maximum return guaranteed? | Yes |
| Payment options | Credit, Debit, Check, Pay with your tax refund |
Expert review
Review by
Cassidy Horton
cassidy.horton@findercrew.comCassidy Horton is a writer for Finder, specializing in banking and investments. She has a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. Cassidy enjoys educating people about financial services, exploring the Pacific Northwest and watching endless reruns of The Office.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Online | Free for federal Free for state |
Simple filers |
|
| Free Online Assist | $49.99 for federal $39.99 for state |
Simple filers who want on-demand help |
|
| Deluxe Online | $49.99 for federal$44.99 for state | Homeowners, donations & HSAs |
|
| Deluxe Online Assist | $99.99 for federal $49.99 for state |
Homeowners, donations & HSAs who want on-demand help |
|
| Premium Online Assist | $69.99 for federal$44.99 for state | Freelancers, contractors and investors |
|
| Premium Online | $139.99 for federal $49.99 for state |
Freelancers, contractors and investors who want on-demand help |
|
| Self-Employed Online | $104.99 for federal$44.99 for state | Self-employed and small business owners |
|
| Self-Employed Online Assist | $169.99 for federal $49.99 for state |
Self-employed and small business owners who want on-demand help |
|
Online: H&R Block Business Plans
Business owners who want to file their taxes online with H&R Block can also find a wide range of options:
| Plan and packages | Price | Best for | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29.95 for federal $39.95 for state program + $19.95 for e-file |
Small businesses with simple returns |
|
| Deluxe + State | $54.95 for federal $0 for state program + $19.95 for e-file |
Business owners with investments, retirement income, mortgage interest nad real estate deductions |
|
| Premium | $74.95 for federal $0 for state program + $19.95 for e-file |
Business owners with inheritance assets, advanced Schedule C needs or rental property income |
|
| Premium & Business | $89.95 for federal $0 for state program + $19.95 for e-file |
C-corporations & S-corporations |
|
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.
In-person filing
If you want more personalized help, you can also work with a tax specialist in person or online.
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.
- Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
- From the H&R Block website, click 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 click 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 click 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 not at all scattered.
- 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. You can download software if you prefer doing 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 does not automatically suggest deductions as much as other companies and software.
- Additional fees. Look out for the federal refund transfer 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. You can 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 October 2020, H&R Block earns a D- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) based on its customer complaint history and other criteria. It has a 1.2 out of 5-star customer rating based on 314 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 get ahold of via phone and that it’s difficult to get a direct solution to your problem via live chat.