H&R Block Review: Pricing & Features

The free plan is best for renters, students, and W-2 employees. It includes W-2 photo capture and easy import, and it supports Form 1095 (A and B), 1098 (E and T), and 1099 (B, DIV, INT, and R). While you have access to the software’s help center, you don’t get live customer support.

This plan is for you if you have mortgage interest, real estate taxes, or health savings account (HSA) contributions. It gives you access to all the features of the free option, plus access to live phone or chat support, and its unique DeductionPro tool, which helps you optimize charitable donations.

If you’ve sold stocks, bonds, or other investments that must be reported on Schedule D, you’ll need this edition. In addition to all of the features in Deluxe, Premium also helps you claim rental income and deductions on Schedule E and import expenses from your favorite expense tracking applications, such as Stride.

Get this plan if you own a business that reports on Schedule C. It includes everything in Premium, plus the ability to claim all small business expenses, including asset depreciation. If you’re an Uber driver, this plan also allows you to import your tax information directly from Uber.

Each paid online package includes an Online Assist version with live tax pro support, which gives you unlimited access to live tax experts with share-screen and on-demand chat or video. You can file your returns at an office or virtually.

For an additional cost, a tax pro will review your entire return before it is filed.

If you’re an employee or a parent who needs simple federal filing, then Basic is for you. It includes features like drag-and-drop importing of prior-year returns, photo uploads, and free in-person audit support. No state returns are included with the Basic program, so if you need a state return you’re better purchasing the Deluxe program which includes your first state return for free.

This product, which includes everything in Basic, is the best fit if you’re an investor or a homeowner wanting to maximize tax deductions, such as your charitable donations and home mortgage interest, and report investment income.

If you’re a self-employed individual, a freelancer, an independent contractor, or a rental property owner, Premium has the tools you need to manage your taxes. Get it if you have income reported on Form 1099-MISC or Form 1099-NEC.

This plan is a necessity for a small business owner to file business returns on Form 1120, 1120S, or 1065. You can also create employer forms (Forms W-2 and 1099) and payroll forms (Forms 940 and 941).  You can prepare your individual return with the same features as the Premium edition.

H&R Block will refund any fees incurred to file a return that includes an error on its part, and it’ll refund you for any interest or penalties up to a maximum of $10,000. It’ll also explain any notices received from the IRS.

If you discover an error in the H&R Block tax preparation software that entitles you to a larger refund (or smaller liability), you’ll receive a refund of the fees paid to prepare the return and you may also use H&R Block software to amend your return for free. To qualify, your refund claim must be made within the calendar year in which it was prepared. The larger refund or smaller tax liability must not be due to incomplete, inaccurate, or inconsistent information supplied by you.

You’ll receive 20% off the following year’s tax preparation if H&R Block fails to provide any of the following four benefits: upfront transparent pricing, free audit assistance, transparent process, and free mid-year care check-in. These benefits are available whether you are an assisted client or do your own taxes using the DIY online or software tax preparation products. This guarantee is only available at select locations.

In case of an IRS audit, H&R Block offers free audit support to help you understand the process and how to respond to it. If you need a qualified H&R Block enrolled agent―a federally authorized tax practitioner―to represent you before the IRS, you’ll need to purchase its Peace of Mind Extended Service Plan add-on.

If you’re an American expat, H&R Block’s international tax experts will work with you to file your expat taxes. You also have the option of filing them yourself. H&R Block’s software is designed to identify tax benefits for expats, ensuring that you take advantage of every credit and deduction.

H&R Block Expat Tax Services (Source: H&R Block)

The DIY online option starts at $99 for simpler returns covering employment income, but more complex expat situations like self-employment income and investment income, such as stock options, can use the software for an additional cost. The fee to have an advisor prepare your taxes starts at $199. Both the online tax prep and tax guidance have a 100% Accuracy Guarantee, ensuring that your tax return will be prepared correctly.

The free tax calculator helps you learn about your current tax situation and plan ahead. Answer a few questions about your life, income, and expenses, and the calculator will estimate your filing status and taxable income based on those factors. This is useful information to determine whether you’ll end up owing taxes or may be entitled to a refund.

H&R Block Tax Calculator (Source: H&R Block)

Available on Google Play and App Store, H&R Block’s mobile application, called MyBlock, lets you prep and file your returns anytime and anywhere. You can access and manage your Emerald card, credit score, and Tax Identity Shield membership. Take a picture of your W-2 and then use MyBlock to import it to your account. This is much easier than entering all your W-2 information manually. You can also get support from a tax pro through on-demand chat or video.

H&R Block’s MyBlock mobile app (Source: H&R Block)

If your business needs year-round help with bookkeeping and payroll, H&R Block has Block Advisors who can assist you. Options include a DIY Starter service that starts at $39 per month and full-service bookkeeping that starts at $175 per month. Both plans include access to virtual and in-person help.

For payroll services, the Self-Employed version starts at $59 per month and allows you to pay yourself. Meanwhile, one or more employees start at $79 per month plus $10 per employee per pay run.

H&R Block’s Tax Identity Shield helps to protect you from identity theft, and if you do become a tax fraud victim, it offers assistance from a specially trained agent to help recover your refund as quickly as possible. Included are a dark web identity watch, credit report access and identity monitoring, and tax return notifications.

Pay your tax filing fees directly from your refund. H&R Block charges $39 for a federal refund transfer with the state refund transfer included. If you wish to receive your remaining refund by check after making payments from your refund transfer account, you’ll need to pay an additional fee of $25.

If you don’t sign up for Refund Transfer, you can receive your refund as a direct deposit or paper check free of charge. Of course, you’ll have to pay for your software from another source prior to filing. You can also elect to have your refund on a prepaid Mastercard, the H&R Block Emerald Card.