| Of course H&R Block and TurboTax are not the only two tax filing services. You may want to consider other options like TaxAct or TaxSlayer if you’re looking for a budget option. Credit Karma also allows you to file entirely for free. Show
TurboTax offers a suite of tax tools and calculators to help you save money. Input your unique tax situations to find deductions, calculate your W-4 withholding, and more. You can even estimate your tax return or how much you might owe with our tax refund calculator. Read more The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. SHARE:
 Bloomberg/Contributor/Getty Images 4 min read Published December 23, 2022 Written by Kim Porter Written by Kim PorterArrow RightContributing writer Kim Porter is a former contributor to Bankrate, a personal finance expert who loves talking budgets, credit cards and student loans. Porter writes for publications such as U.S. News & World Report, Credit Karma and Reviewed.com. When she's not writing or reading, you can usually find her planning a trip or training for her next race. Kim Porter Edited by Lance Davis Edited by Lance DavisArrow RightVice president Lance Davis is the Vice President of Content for Bankrate. Lance leads a team responsible for creating educational content that guides people through the pivotal steps in their financial journey. Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. For DIYers, H&R Block makes tax preparation simple by walking a user through the process with interview-style questions, clear instructions and in-depth explanations for different income types, deductions, and tax credits. Customers can prepare their tax returns online, have their DIY return reviewed by an expert, or turn their return over to a virtual tax pro to handle preparation and filing from start to finish. This range of options makes H&R Block a good tax software tool for people who want to try filing on their own, but also want the option to call in professional help if they have questions or get stuck. H&R Block offers four package tiers based on the type of tax forms you need. These prices reflect the list prices advertised as of November 21, 2022, without any discounts that H&R Block may offer to people who file during the tax season. The pricing options are: If you’re not sure which package you need, you can always start with the free option. While preparing your return, if you try to add income, deductions or tax credits not allowed by the version you’re in, the software will prompt you to upgrade and tell you how much the more expensive package costs. If you want to pay your filing fee out of your federal refund, H&R Block charges an extra $39 processing fee for the convenience. H&R Block Ease of UsePreparing your tax return online with H&R Block is similar to sitting down with a tax preparer. The software walks you through the tax preparation and filing process with a series of interview-style questions. As part of my review, I went through the process of preparing three sample returns. Here’s how long it took me to get from start to filing for each one:
I did run into one stumbling block while preparing the sample return for a married couple filing jointly. On the Alabama state return, the software doubled their income, showing they had $260,000 of taxable income rather than $130,000 and owed taxes and an underpayment penalty. After spending several minutes going back through the interview forms, I couldn’t figure out how to fix the issue without deleting everything and starting over, so I gave up. Such a problem could really derail an inexperienced DIYer and potentially even lead to significantly overpaying their tax return if they didn’t understand what was going on and reach out to tech support—or pay extra to get on-demand help from an H&R Block tax pro. Despite this issue, I found H&R Block’s interface to be pretty user-friendly. A banner on the left-hand side of the screen keeps a running tally of the estimated federal and state refund or amount due throughout the process. A banner on the left side of the screen keeps a running tally of the federal and state tax refund or balance due. There are also plenty of FAQs sprinkled throughout, so if you aren’t sure how to answer a question or why it matters, clicking the embedded link brings up a helpful tip on the right side of the screen. Users can click the embedded links to get tips for answering on-screen questions. If you get stuck along the way, you can click the “Get expert help” button in the top right-hand corner — just keep in mind that extra help will cost you. The company’s Online Assist provides unlimited on-demand help from a tax pro via chat or video and the ability to screen share with a tax pro. The service adds as much as $85 to the cost of a package. Compared to TurboTax, which subjects users to near-constant urging to upgrade to a more expensive package or purchase add-on features, H&R Block’s upselling is relatively mild. If you try to add income or tax breaks not allowed by the version you’re in, the software will prompt you to upgrade. And after the accuracy review portion of the free online filing, H&R Block offers a chance to upgrade to “Plus” for an additional fee, which would:
You’re also offered the chance to upgrade to have a tax pro review and sign your return for an additional fee before filing. Those were the only offers to upgrade I encountered while preparing the sample returns. How H&R Block Stacks Up Against the CompetitionH&R Block provides an easy-to-use platform, similar to meeting with a tax preparer. H&R Block walks you through an interview process, much like TurboTax, but it’s a little bit cheaper. TurboTax charges up to $119 for federal tax filing ($49 per state) for its highest “do-it-yourself tax” package, while H&R Block charges up to $114.99 for federal tax filing ($44.99 per state) for a similar package. Similar to other online tax software programs such as TurboTax and TaxSlayer, if you need help along the way, you’ve to upgrade to another pricing tier or pay extra to get it. But what’s unique about H&R Block is that its options for expert help go beyond your computer screen. Starting at $80 for federal tax returns, and costing an extra $65 per state, you can work with a tax professional virtually, in an H&R Block office, or by dropping off your tax documents at an office. And while H&R Block tries to upsell you while filing your taxes, it’s not overwhelming compared to TurboTax, which attempts to upsell you multiple times while using the software. Compare the best tax software of 2023Ready to File Your Taxes? Find out how H&R Block's online software can help. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Can I File My Taxes for Free With H&R Block?Yes, but only if you fit a specific profile. Only taxpayers with the simplest returns—generally, this means W-2 income, unemployment benefits, claiming the standard deduction and potentially the earned income tax credit and child tax credit—qualify for free federal and state filing with H&R Block. Is State Tax Filing Free With H&R Block?Yes, but only for customers who qualify to file a free federal income tax return. If you have to upgrade to the Deluxe, Premium or Self-Employed versions, you’ll pay $44.99 per state, which can get expensive for people who need to file several state returns. Does H&R Block Import My W-2 or 1099?If your employer or financial institution participates, you can import an electronic copy of your W-2 or 1099 form right into H&R Block. According to H&R Block, an estimated 70 million W-2s are available for import. But even if your W-2 isn’t available for import, you can upload a PDF, snap a picture with your phone and upload it online or via the mobile app, or enter the information manually. Does H&R Block Offer a Mobile App?Yes. H&R Block offers two mobile apps. The H&R Block Tax Prep and File App is available on the App Store, Google Play and Amazon. You can file your return from start to finish on the app or switch to a computer and back again. The MyBlockApp is geared toward customers working with an H&R Block tax pro. It offers secure messaging, video chat, and uploading of receipts, donations, and other tax-related documents. What Is the H&R Block Emerald Card?The Emerald Card is a prepaid debit card. H&R Block customers without a bank account can have their tax refunds deposited onto the card and use it to pay bills, make purchases, or get cash at an ATM. But watch out for fees. The issuer charges $4.95 any time you want to reload your card, $3 to get cash from an ATM, $4.95 if you haven’t used the card to complete a transaction in 60 days, and $35 for an over-the-counter withdrawal at a financial institution. Check out the full schedule of fees at H&R Block’s website. You can avoid those fees by having your refund directly deposited into a bank account. You can also have the IRS mail a paper check for your refund, although it will take longer to receive your refund that way. How do you calculate how much of a tax refund you will get?Every year, your refund is calculated as the amount withheld for federal income tax, minus your total federal income tax for the year.
When can I expect my tax refund 2022?Overall, the IRS anticipates most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically if they choose direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax return. The IRS urges taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically.
How long does it take to get taxes back with H and R Block?When will my refund arrive? If you e-filed your return and chose direct deposit to receive your refund, you'll usually receive your refund in 8-15 days. However, you should allow an extra 1-5 business days for your bank to process the funds.
What are the tax rates for 2022?The 2022 Income Tax Brackets (Taxes due April 2023)
For the 2022 tax year, there are seven federal tax brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. Your tax bracket is determined by your filing status and taxable income.
|
H and r block estimate tax return
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 mempelajari Inc.
