H&R Block Review: Pricing and Features in 2022

H&R Block is an online tax preparation service that helps you file your own tax returns either online or with software that you download to your computer. You can also file with a tax professional in an office or virtually. Its features include W-2 import, refund transfer, a tax calculator, a tax preparation checklist, and multiple guarantees. You can file simple federal and state returns for free or choose from its paid packages with prices that start at $49.99 per federal return, plus $36.99 per state.

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What We Recommend H&R Block For

H&R Block is an ideal choice if you’re looking for inexpensive packages and bundles to file your individual and business taxes. We selected it as the best desktop software for filing multiple federal and state tax returns with schedule C businesses in our guide to the best small business tax software. It also gives you the option to get started online and then switch to in-person filing if needed. Its paid tiers cater to different tax situations, and it’s a good choice if you want to try its unique features, multiple guarantees, and on-demand help from a tax professional.

H&R Block Is Especially Good For

• Best for taxpayers who want desktop software: With its desktop software, you can prepare as many returns as you like and e-file five of them for no additional cost.
• Individuals and businesses who need the help of a tax professional: H&R Block offers an assisted service, where a tax professional will file for you. Free in-person audit support is also available.
• Expats seeking tax services: H&R Block offers both do-it-yourself (DIY) and assisted tax services to United States citizens and green card holders who are required to file their US expat taxes every year. Its online software is designed to identify tax benefits specifically for expats.

H&R Block Is Not a Good Fit For

• Professional tax preparers: If you’re a tax professional working for multiple clients, H&R Block isn’t for you as you cannot sign as a paid preparer. You can check out our review of the best tax software for tax preparers instead.
• S Corporation (S-Corp) and partnership owners: H&R Block doesn’t support forms 1120S or 1065, so if that tax classification applies to you, we suggest checking out TaxAct.
• QuickBooks Self-Employed users: If you use QuickBooks Self Employed to keep your books, you can purchase TurboTax as a bundle and transfer your business income and expenses automatically.

Are you looking for something different? Read our article on the best small business tax software. In this guide, we looked at a variety of solutions and narrowed our recommendations down based on the price of preparing the typical bundle of returns required by most business owners.

H&R Block Pros and Cons

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H&R Block Pricing

H&R Block’s online software includes a free edition for simple returns as well as three paid packages with prices that range from $49.99 to $109.99 per federal return, plus $44.99 per state. If you need the help of a tax pro, its Online Assist version starts at $69.99 per federal return. If you prefer desktop software, you can choose from four tiers with prices ranging from $19.95 to $79.95 for unlimited returns, although you may have to pay extra for e-filing more than five returns.

Online Preparation and Filing

Free Online

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.

Deluxe

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.

Premium

If you’ve sold stocks, bonds, or other investments that must be reported on Schedule D, you’ll need the Premium 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.

Self-Employed

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.

Online Assist

Each 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.

Desktop Software

Basic

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.

Deluxe + State

This product suits you if you’re an investor or a homeowner who wants to maximize tax deductions, such as your charitable donations and home mortgage interest, and report investment income. This plan also includes everything in Basic.

Premium

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 Premium if you have income reported on Form 1099-MISC or Form 1099-NEC.

Premium & Business

If you’re a small business owner, this plan is a necessity. You can create employer forms (Forms W-2 and 1099) and payroll forms (Forms 940 and 941). However, it appears that a few important forms are no longer supported, which include partnership and limited liability company (LLC) tax returns (Form 1065), corporate and S-corp returns (Forms 1120 and 1120S), nonprofit returns (Form 990), and estate and trust returns (Form 1041). You can also prepare your individual return with the same features as the Premium edition.

H&R Block Features

H&R Block offers some advanced features that are helpful for tackling difficult tax situations, depending on the version and package you choose. For instance, it offers W-2 photo capture, multiple guarantees, and easy input from other tax programs. We have some of H&R Block’s main features detailed below.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

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.

Maximum Refund Guarantee

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.

No Surprise Guarantee

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

Audit Support Guarantee

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.

Expat Tax Services

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

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.

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.

Tax Calculator

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

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.

Mobile App

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

Available on Google Play and the 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.

Block Advisors

If your business needs year-round help with bookkeeping and payroll, H&R Block has Block Advisors that can assist you. Options include a DIY Starter service that starts at $50 per month and full-service bookkeeping that starts at $150 per month. Both plans include full, on-demand access to Xero and 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, while one or more employees start at $79 per month plus $10 per employee per pay run.

Tax Identity Shield

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.

Refund Transfer

Pay your tax filing fees directly from your refund. H&R Block charges $39 for a federal refund transfer, but it’s free for states. 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.

Customer Service and Ease of Use

While H&R’s Block’s user interface isn’t as simple as some other online programs like TaxSlayer, it’s still seamless and easy to navigate. Every page includes clear instructions for the next steps, and you can skip some pages and go back to complete them later. To get started, you need to answer a series of questions about your life, income, deductions, and other information:

H&R Block’s interview process (Source: H&R Block)

Once you log in, you can view the status of your refund and check your past tax history. You can also instantly access the calculator to estimate your tax refund:

H&R Block’s tax history page (Source: H&R Block)

There’s an in-software help center including extensive online customer support, including a database of frequently asked questions (FAQs), blogs, and communities of experts. If you need unlimited live chat support and the ability to call and talk to a person, you’ll need to purchase a paid version. Finally, you can visit an H&R Block agent in any of its 12,000 offices.

H&R Block Alternatives

Bottom Line

H&R Block is a solid choice for individuals and business owners who want to save on their federal and state tax returns. Its free edition is a bit more expanded than most other programs, and its online versions come with multiple guarantees that will help you reduce your tax liabilities and increase your refund. It also gives you the option to talk to a live tax pro online, plus you can visit an agent at a desk in its brick-and-mortar office.

If you’re looking to cut costs while still having the ability to talk to a real person, you should try H&R Block today.