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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.
Adrienne Fuller is the head of publishing at Finder. With a decade of experience creating guides in finance and education, she aims to deliver the accurate and transparent information she wishes she had when she made some of life's important financial decisions. For the past 3 years she has been the publisher of money transfers, helping readers save when they send money all over the globe. She has a BA from Colorado College and loves to hike with her two Catahoula dogs around her home in San Diego.
What options do I have for filing my taxes with H&R Block
H&R Block has several different filing options.
Online
H&R Block‘s online filing software lets users file their taxes from any device. Depending on which version you choose, you can get technical support with the online chat feature and/or over the phone.
Free. A free way to file your federal taxes that’s best for simple returns. The state additional fee is $29.99.
Deluxe: $49.99. Best for homeowners, donations & HSAs. The state additional fee is $39.99.
Premium: $69.99. Best for freelancers, contractors and investors. The state additional fee is $39.99.
Self-employed: $104.99. Best for self-employed and small business. The state additional fee is $39.99.
Tax Pro Review: $144.99. Tax pros will review, sign and e-file your return. The state additional fee is $39.99.
With 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: $29.95. Best for simple tax situations. The Basic software is for federal taxes only.
Deluxe: $54.95. Best for homeowners or investors. The Deluxe software is for federal and state taxes.
Premium: $74.95. Best for self-employed or rental property owners. The Premium software is for federal and state taxes.
Premium & Business: $89.95. Best for small business owners, but available for Windows only. The Premium & Business software is for federal and state taxes.
In person
If you want more personalized help, you can also work with a tax specialist in person or online.
In office:Starting at $59. Get your taxes ready in person at an H&R Block office. $59 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 $59. If you prefer to be more hands off, you can drop your financial documents off an an office and have a tax specialist put together your return. $59 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.
Tax Pro Go: Starting at $49. 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. $49 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.
You can choose to get your money back on a prepaid Mastercard, via direct deposit or via check.
If you pay for your tax services up front, you’ll get back the full value of your refund. But you can also take advantage of H&R Block‘s Refund Transfer, which takes the fees for filing your taxes directly out of your refund.
Who is H&R Block for?
Experience with taxes or not, all types of people use H&R Block’s services for a successful experience. 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.
H&R Block Features
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.
Refund reveal. In real time, H&R Block lets you see how and why your refund amounts change.
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.
Pros and cons of using H&R Block
Pros
Easy to use. The company’s software is easy to use and known for yielding accurate returns. It catches mistakes and don’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.
Bookmarking. As you complete information, you can bookmark sections to come back to later. This feature is convenient if you get confused about something and want to take a fresh look later. However, the software will not let you skip ahead to work on future sections.
Downloadable. You can download software if you prefer doing your taxes offline.
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.
Compare other services to file taxes online
Updated December 7th, 2019
How do I use H&R Block?
Start by deciding how you want to file — online, in person or by using the downloadable software.
To file online, go to H&R Block‘s website and 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 online, 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.
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.
Bottom line
H&R Block is one of the most popular filing options because of its name recognition and ease of use. But for complicated tax situation, it can be pricey. If you’re not sold, compare other filing options to find one that’s the right fit.
Frequently asked questions
H&R Block claims you will get your maximum tax refund — guaranteed. The company lives by the saying that H&R Block is the difference between getting your taxes done and getting your taxes won.
In addition to the maximum refund guarantee, you can enjoy 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.
For a quick answer, use H&R Block live chat feature.
Simply take a picture with your phone and uploading it online or into the software. You can also upload documents into the cloud.
Yes, H&R Block will let you know if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The company will also calculate the right credit amount and file the correct forms — all for free.
H&R Block works with a team of highly trained professionals — tax attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents, and preparers.
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