Block Advisors Review: Features and Pricing 2022
Tim is a Certified QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) Pro, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and CPA with 25 years of experience. He brings his expertise to Fit Small Business’s accounting content.
This article is part of a larger series on Accounting Software.
What We Recommend Block Advisors For
Block Advisors is best suited to small businesses and self-employed individuals that are looking for an inexpensive way to file their taxes. It’s also a great option for those who are looking to outsource their financial needs year-round with bookkeeping and payroll services. It’s best for businesses that want the added assurance of a skilled tax pro available at any time to answer questions.
Who Block Advisors Is Best For
- Businesses that are looking to outsource their taxes, bookkeeping, and payroll: Block Advisors offers a full menu of financial services, and you can customize a package that works for your business. Bookkeeping services include the option of do-it-yourself (DIY) with on-demand support or full-service with a dedicated account manager.
- Businesses that want the ability to meet with a tax professional in person or virtually: Block Advisors is flexible and will accommodate your meeting preference, whether that’s in person or via phone, video, or live chat.
- Businesses that are seeking access to tax help with free accounting software: Block Advisors has partnered with Wave to provide tax services and free accounting software. Wave also made our list of the best small business accounting software.
Who Block Advisors Is Not a Good Fit For
- Businesses that want to prepare their taxes using desktop software: If you’re looking to file your taxes, H&R Block, Block Advisors’ parent company, offers desktop software that will assist you. It also comes with the option of Online Assist, which gives you unlimited help from a live tax professional.
- Businesses seeking inexpensive tax software with support from a tax pro: TaxSlayer is a less expensive option than Block Advisors and provides access to live support from tax professionals with the Premium and Self-Employed versions.
- Businesses looking for different levels of tax assistance: If you’re looking for more variety with types of tax assistance, we suggest TurboTax, which lets you select from DIY, assisted, and full-service tax assistance options.
If you aren’t sure that Block Advisors is the assisted bookkeeping service for you, check out our article on the best online bookkeeping services.
Block Advisors Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Both plans offer free unlimited live expert help | DIY option not available for corporate and partnership returns |
| Transaction syncing is available | Desktop software not available |
| Ability to import documents like W-2s and 1099s by snapping a pic | Not able to file unlimited amended returns |
| Possible to import info from other tax preparers or pull directly from prior year’s tax return | Block Advisors exclusively uses Wave accounting software, which has very limited features |
| Year-round accounting assistance, including bookkeeping and payroll services | Dedicated mobile app not available |
Block Advisors Pricing
Block Advisors offers two levels of pricing, with the option to file online with unlimited access to a tax pro, or you can let a Block Advisor prepare and file the return for you. However, the DIY option is only available for self-employed individuals, not for those who need to file a corporate or partnership return. Bookkeeping and payroll services are also offered as well as a personalized one-hour consultation in which you can ask questions specific to your business.
Self-Employed | S-Corp | C-Corp | Partnership | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tax Filing DIY Cost | Starting at $145 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tax Filing Full-Service Cost | Starting at $229 | Starting at $250 | Starting at $250 | Starting at $250 |
Bookkeeping Starter Cost | Starting at $50 per month | Starting at $50 per month | Starting at $50 per month | Starting at $50 per month |
Bookkeeping Full-Service Cost | Starting at $150 per month | Starting at $150 per month | Starting at $150 per month | Starting at $150 per month |
Self-Employed Payroll | Starting at $59 per month | Starting at $59 per month | Starting at $59 per month | Starting at $59 per month |
One+ Employees Payroll | Starting at $79 per month plus $10 per employee, per pay run | Starting at $79 per month plus $10 per employee, per pay run | Starting at $79 per month plus $10 per employee, per pay run | Starting at $79 per month plus $10 per employee, per pay run |
Personalized Consultation | $50 for a one-hour session | $50 for a one-hour session | $50 for a one-hour session | $50 for a one-hour session |
Block Advisors Features
Block Advisors has a couple of very important guarantees that stand behind its level of accuracy and ability to help you obtain the maximum refund. Its personalized assistance and accessible support make it an attractive option for those who value exceptional service when working with a tax professional. Block Advisors are small business tax experts who not only provide add-on services like audit support but are also available year-round to assist with your bookkeeping and payroll needs:
- 100% Accuracy Guarantee: If Block Advisors makes an error on your return, you’ll be reimbursed for any resulting penalties and interest. To qualify, the error can’t be due to inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent information that you supply.
- Personalized tax assistance: Your tax pro has received Block Advisors’ proprietary certification and has an average of 12 years of experience. Not only are they available at tax time, but they’ll work with you year-round.
- Bookkeeping services: Block Advisors also provide year-round bookkeeping support at two levels, Starter and Full-Service. Both give you free on-demand access to Xero, an online accounting program for small businesses. The Starter plan starts at $50 per month and gives you access to an accounting pro who’ll work with you to create an action plan. If you’re a Full-Service subscriber, you will also receive financial statements, such as your monthly profit and loss (P&L). Your accounts will be reconciled and transactions categorized in real-time, and your books will be finalized for tax time.
- Payroll services: Whether you’re a team of one or have employees, Block Advisors can assist with running payroll, creating and filing payroll tax forms, and a dedicated account manager who will assist you with setting up your account and answering any questions that come up. Prices start at $59 per month for the Self-Employed plan and $79 per month plus $10 per employee per pay run.
- Accessible support: Whether you opt to do your own taxes with the help of an expert or to work directly with a tax pro, support is available via phone, video, or live chat. If you decide to file with a tax pro, you can meet with them in person at a location near you.
- Small business expertise: Your Block Advisor has received specialized training in small business taxes. They’ll take care of everything, from Schedule C returns to reviews of your profit and loss statement.
- Maximum Refund Guarantee: If you discover a Block Advisors error on your return that entitles you to a larger refund or smaller tax liability, they’ll refund the tax prep fee for the return and file an amended return for free.
- Add-on services: For an additional fee, you can select additional support such as a year-end filing service, business tax audit support, and estimated quarterly tax payment evaluation.
Are you interested in learning more about filing your own taxes? Check out our recommendations for the best small business tax software.
Block Advisors: Working With Your Tax Professional
Block Advisors offers two different options for filing taxes—doing it yourself with a tax pro on standby if needed or letting a tax pro handle everything for you. In either case, you have unlimited access and multiple ways to communicate.
DIY Filing
To file your own taxes, you must first gather up all of your documents. Block Advisors has put together a small business tax prep checklist that will help to ensure that you have everything you need. These documents will help to answer questions about your business when you set up the software. Once everything is entered, you’ll have an opportunity to review the return before filing.
One of the best parts about working with Block Advisors is that you have free access to unlimited live help from a tax expert. The software itself is quite intuitive, and navigation flows well. If you’re unsure about a particular form or tax situation, you can chat on-demand via video and share screens if there are documents you have questions about.
Full-Service Filing
Once you sign up with Block Advisors, you’ll be given the option to meet with a tax pro in person or via phone, video conference, or live chat. They’ll work with you to determine the documents they’ll need, which you can either send virtually or bring to your meeting. Your tax pro will then take over, completing the necessary forms and also making themselves available for any questions. You’ll have an opportunity to review the return before they file it for you. They’re available year-round for any questions, and you also receive the same unlimited tax help as is offered with DIY filing.
Working With Your Bookkeeper
Block Advisors offers both a Starter and Full-Service plan for bookkeeping services that are available for self-employed, corporations, and partnerships. Both provide on-demand access to expert accounting help, a review of your books year-to-date, and a quarterly action plan. Your dedicated account manager will assist with onboarding, and your files will be managed with Xero accounting software, which you can also access on your own.
If you opt for the Full-Service plan, you’ll also receive a monthly account reconciliation and financial statements, such as your P&L and income statement. Block Advisors will categorize your transactions and your books will be finalized for tax time. To find out more information, you can schedule a free 30-minute consultation with an account manager.
Block Advisors Mobile App
Block Advisors doesn’t have its own dedicated mobile app. H&R Block does offer MyBlock, a mobile app for iOS and Android devices. However, MyBlock is essentially your H&R Block account and is for users of the online version.
Block Advisors Reporting
Depending on the type of service that Block Advisors provides, you’ll receive reports that will assist you in making decisions and ensuring that your business is compliant. For taxes and bookkeeping, you’ll receive a P&L statement and a business entity structure analysis on a monthly basis. Your Block Advisor will also create a quarterly action plan that provides specific recommendations as to how to achieve your business goals.
If there are other reports you need, you can work with your Block Advisor to customize them. You can also access a variety of reports, such as an Accounts Receivable (A/R) Aging or Expenses by Vendor report, in Xero. For payroll clients, you’ll receive monthly and pay period reports for review.
Block Advisors Alternatives
Best For | Businesses that want to prepare their taxes using desktop software with the option of Online Assist | Businesses seeking inexpensive tax software with support from a tax pro | Businesses looking for different levels of tax assistance |
Service Fee | $79.95 for Premium & Business version plus $39.99 for Online Assist | $54.95 for Self-Employed version plus $39.95 per state—includes tax support | $248 for Live Self-Employed and $438 for Live Full-Service Self-Employed |
Bottom Line
Block Advisors allows you to either fully or partially outsource your tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services. With the option of customizing a plan that works for your business, it’s best for small business owners and self-employed individuals. Block Advisors’ personalized assistance and accessible support allow you the ability to reach out for help at any time. Combined with its accuracy guarantee, it’s a great option if you’re looking for reliable and efficient support.
