H&R Block tax filing review

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	Import last year’s return Access to prior year return from TurboTax, TaxAct, Credit Karma, or another tax preparer Earned income tax credit (EIC) Technical support by chat
Basic Online Assist	$43.99 for federal $44.99 for state	Simple filers who want on-demand help	Same as Free Online — but with on-demand help from a tax expert, enrolled agent or CPA
Deluxe Online	$43.99 for federal $44.99 for state	Homeowners, donations & HSAs	Store all tax documents for six years Mortgage & property tax donations Optimize charitable donations with Deduction Pro Technical support by phone
Deluxe Online Assist	$109.99 for federal $44.99 for state	Homeowners, donations & HSAs who want on-demand help	Same as Deluxe Online — but with on-demand help from a tax expert, enrolled agent or CPA
Premium Online Assist	$159.99 for federal $44.99 for state	Freelancers, contractors and investors	Freelance and independent contractor income with simple expenses Stocks, bonds, retirement, and other investment income (Schedule D) Import 1099-B investment income including cost basis Rental property income and tax deductions (Schedule E) Import expenses from popular expense tracker apps like Stride
Premium Online	$59.99 for federal $44.99 for state	Freelancers, contractors and investors who want on-demand help	Same as Premium Online — but with on-demand help from a tax expert, enrolled agent or CPA
Self-Employed Online	$91.99 for federal $44.99 for state	Self-employed and small business owners	Import Uber driver tax information Self-employment and small business income Business tax deductions and asset depreciation
Self-Employed Online Assist	$194.99 for federal $44.99 for state	Self-employed and small business owners who want on-demand help	Same as Self-Employed Online — but with on-demand help from a tax expert, enrolled agent or CPA

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 starting at	Best for	Features
Basic	$29.95 for federal $39.95 for state program + $19.95 for e-file	Small businesses with simple returns	Import W-2s, 1099s and 1098s Drag and drop last year’s personal return from TurboTax, Quicken or another tax provider Itemize deductions with Schedule A Get five free federal e-files for your personal return
Deluxe + State	$54.95 for federal $0 for the first state program + $19.95 for e-file	Business owners with investments, retirement income, mortgage interest nad real estate deductions	Get reporting assistance on income from investments, stock options, home sales and retirement Get guidance on maximizing mortgage interest and real estate tax deductions Optimize charitable donations with H&R Block DeductionPro Includes one personal state program download
Premium	$74.95 for federal $0 for the first state program + $19.95 for e-file	Business owners with inheritance assets, advanced Schedule C needs or rental property income	Use tax calculators to help determine the cost basis of sale, dividend, gift and inheritance assets Get advanced Schedule C guidance to maximize deductions for self-employment income Get Schedule E guidance for rental property income and expenses
Premium & Business	$89.95 for federal $0 for the first state program + $19.95 for e-file	C-corporations & S-corporations	Get guidance on filing: Corporate and S corporation tax returns Partnership and LLC tax returns Estate and trust tax returns Nonprofit tax returns Create payroll and employer forms Maximize tax benefits for vehicle deductions, depreciation and business expenses Includes unlimited business state programs

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 employees and parents.
• Deluxe and state: $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 filing

If you want more personalized help, you can also work with a tax specialist in person or online.

• In office: Starting at $80. Get your taxes ready in person at an H&R Block office. $80 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 $80. If you prefer to be more hands-off, you can drop your financial documents off at an office and have a tax specialist put together your return. $80 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.
• Virtual: Starting at $80. 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 cost 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.

1. Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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:

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.

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

• Will I get my maximum refund with H&R Block?

  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.

• Can I expect guarantees with H&R Block?

  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.

• 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.

• Is there a way to see if I qualify for EITC with H&R Block?

  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.

• Are H&R Block team members qualified?

  H&R Block works with a team of highly trained professionals — tax attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents, and preparers.