H&R Block features great live tax support options and boasts the best free filing experience, making it an editor's choice pick this year.
The company offers four tiers for filing tax returns this year -- Free Online, Deluxe, Premium and Self-Employed. H&R Block Free Online stands out because it offers more forms and schedules than TurboTax's free tier. More people also typically qualify for free filing on H&R Block -- about 55% -- compared to TurboTax.
H&R Block’s main shortcoming is that its interview-style platform doesn’t quite hold your hand in the same way that TurboTax does. Its AI Tax Assist chatbot also isn't available to taxpayers who file their returns for free. Neither is access to a tax pro. Downgrading tiers also remains a bit tricky.
- Live support available with paid tiers at no added cost
- Additional in-person help at your local H&R Block branch
- A top online free edition that accommodates many taxpayers
- More affordable than industry leader TurboTax
- Interface is not as intuitive as TurboTax’s Q&A model
- State filing costs extra, per state
- AI Tax Assist and live tax pro help via chat isn’t available for Free Online tier
- Downgrading remains more complicated than it should be.
Who should use H&R Block tax software?
If you want to save a few dollars by passing on TurboTax, H&R Block will feel almost identical. Switching is easy, you can transfer your data directly from TurboTax's software or upload a PDF of last year's tax return.
You will forgo a slightly better user experience on TurboTax -- but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better free option with as smooth of a filing experience as H&R Block. Its Free Online edition covers students and adults with simple returns and allows a wider range of credits and tax forms than its rival.
Like TurboTax, H&R Block charges customers a pretty penny per state tax return -- $49 per return. So if you’re filing multiple state returns, you might want to look elsewhere. Jackson Hewitt, for instance, offers unlimited state returns, plus your federal return for $25. FreeTaxUSA's service charges only $15 per state filing, providing another affordable option.
If you don't qualify for H&R Block Free Online, there are ways you can potentially file for free elsewhere. Cash App Taxes lets you file for free online, no matter your tax situation. The IRS Free File program also allows taxpayers making up to $84,000 to file for free through partners like TaxAct and EZTax Return.
But if you use software other than H&R Block or TurboTax, you'll experience a noticeable drop off in quality. Many other tax software options require you to input most of your information manually and work on a platform that won't hold your hand in the same way TurboTax and H&R Block do.
How much does H&R Block cost?
H&R Block offers four online products -- Free Online, Deluxe, Premium and Self-Employed -- that range from $0 to $125 in cost. Prices may increase as we approach tax day on April 15. The best tier for you will depend on the deductions and tax credits you want to claim.
If you require personal assistance, H&R Block offers the option to have a tax pro review your return or to hand your taxes off to an expert for an additional fee -- starting at $55 and $99, respectively.
Free Online: Best for students and most W-2 employees
The Free Online plan works best for W-2 employees with simple tax returns, but it’s also great for students since it allows for both education tax credits and deductions for student loan interest.
H&R Block Free Online even allows a wider range of credits and tax forms than TurboTax's version. The free plan includes Schedule 1, Schedule 2 and Schedule 3. You can also report unemployment compensation and claim expenses like education costs.
Be sure to double-check the tax forms that H&R Block accepts as part of its free tier before you start your tax return, as they are subject to change. About 55% of filers qualify for Free Online, according to H&R Block.
If you need expert help when filing your taxes, or at the very least want access to H&R Block’s AI Tax Assist chatbot, it may be better to upgrade to the Deluxe plan.
Deluxe: Best for itemizing deductions and HSA contributors
Deluxe features everything in Free Online but also includes itemized deductions and support for health savings accounts, the child and dependent care tax credit plus mortgage interest payments.
Not sure whether you should itemize this year? Check Schedule A to see if any expenses apply to you. For instance, you may have received a big property tax bill in 2024 or paid medical expenses out of pocket. If the total of your allowable deductions is greater than the standard deduction, it could make sense to itemize.
With Deluxe, you can also file self-employment taxes. But you only get access to Schedule C to report different income streams. You’ll need to upgrade to the Self-Employed tier to itemize business expenses.
H&R Block’s Deluxe plan currently costs $60 for a federal return and $49 per state filing. As with any H&R Block paid plan, you can add a review from a live tax pro to the Deluxe plan or hand over your forms to them for an added fee.
Premium: Best for investors and landlords
The Premium tier adds several layers of tax services for those with more complicated situations.
If you earned money from a rental property or you have capital gains from the sale of investments or cryptocurrency, the Premium plan is for you. With H&R Block’s Premium tier, you can also report money withdrawn from a trust or your S corporation earnings.
In 2025, H&R Block’s Premium tier could be a lucrative option for investors looking to save money compared to filing with TurboTax. H&R Block’s Premium tier costs $100 for a federal return and $49 per state return under current pricing. By comparison, TurboTax’s self-employed tier and Premium filing option are lumped together and start at $139 for federal tax returns and $64 per state return.
Self-Employed: Best for gig workers, contractors and business owners
The Self-Employed plan is H&R Block’s most expensive, currently at $125 for a federal return and $49 per state. For that price, you get everything the service’s cheaper tiers offer and a few more forms.
The Self-Employed plan works best for freelancers, small business owners and gig workers with expenses to claim. If you had a side job or revenue stream in 2024, you’ll likely have to select this advanced tax preparation plan to maximize your return.
H&R Block DIY products, compared
| Best for | Product | Federal | State* | Live tax pro review |
| Students and most W-2 employees | Free Online | $0 | $0 | $55 federal; $0 per state |
| Itemizing deductions and HSA contributors | Deluxe | $60 | $49 | $125 federal; $49 per state |
| Investors and landlords | Premium | $100 | $49 | $195 federal; $49 per state |
| Gig workers, contractors and business owners | Self-Employed | $125 | $49 | $220 federal; $49 per state |
*Pricing is per state return.
How does H&R Block work?
I used H&R Block to file my taxes last year because I was able to file for free. This year, I don't qualify for the free tier. Still, the service provides one of the best online filing experiences I've come across.
You can easily upload last year's federal tax return to get you started if you filed using another service. And you can digitally transfer your data over from TurboTax with ease.
Most tax forms can be autopopulated on your return by H&R Block's software by either uploading PDFs of common forms like a W-2 or connecting directly with your bank. Some information, like Social Security payments and rental property income, will still need to be typed in manually using the H&R Block's interview style model.
The filing process on H&R Block starts with the software asking you basic questions about your tax situation. H&R Block will then recommend a tier for you to file your return. For my testing, I selected options that I knew would land me on the paid Deluxe tier (such as contributing to an HSA and itemizing expenses) because I wanted to see how easily I could downgrade to its free edition.
Downgrading tiers remains complicated
H&R Block has been accused by the Federal Trade Commission of making it difficult for customers to downgrade tiers on its service and deceiving customers through predatory marketing into thinking they can file for free, only to have them discover they don't qualify.
Downgrading is now a bit simpler for taxpayers. H&R Block has added an option through AI Tax Asisst, its chatbot, where you type in "downgrade," click a button and start using its free tier again. You will have to log in to H&R Block again to confirm the change.
You can also still call H&R Block at 1-800-472-5625 or speak with a customer service agent online if you're stuck on the Deluxe, Premium or Self Employed tier and want to downgrade.
TurboTax still makes downgrading tiers much easier, because it has an actual button dedicated to that. H&R Block additionally deletes any progress you've made in filing your tax return if you change tiers. According to the FTC's settlement with H&R Block, this shouldn't be an issue beginning in 2026.
AI Tax Assist
AI Tax Assist, H&R Block's AI chatbot, is also back this year after debuting in 2024. Generally, I find this to be a great tool available to filers using a paid tier. You can access AI Tax Assist by clicking on "Help" on the top-right side of the screen, where you will see examples of questions you can ask the chatbot.
However, like most AI in 2025, AI Tax Assist is not perfect. Similar to my experience testing H&R Block last year, the AI gave me incorrect information about whether I'd receive a 1099-K form this year.
When I rephrased the question to ask about specific IRS thresholds instead, it provided me with the right answer. If you earned more than $5,000 in business payments through third-party apps like eBay or Venmo in 2024, you will receive a 1099-K form, according to the IRS.
I also asked the AI questions about my specific tax situation. To its credit, AI Tax Assist gave me correct answers on how to upload multiple W-2s and whether I would need to use Schedule B to report interest earned through my high-yield savings accounts in 2024.
Our takeaway? Be sure to double check any tax information or advice AI Tax Assist gives you by using the free FAQ section available to H&R Block filers or the IRS website.
Price transparency
As you go through the filing process on H&R Block, you will always know how much you'll have to pay when you file. At any time, you can click on "Cart" on the top right side of the screen and see a breakdown of your expected payment. Your estimated refund is also automatically updated on the top left of the screen.
Like TurboTax this year, H&R Block also notifies you if a form you add to your tax return requires you to upgrade to a higher tier. As an example, the software asked me to upgrade Premium after I added a form to disclose cryptocurrency investments.
H&R Block will try to upsell you on filing with a tax pro or having a tax expert review your tax return before you file. But most filers won't need this. H&R Block offers both a 100% tax accuracy and max refund guarantee. I do appreciate that the ads to upgrade services are not as frequent as they are on TurboTax.
Is H&R Block’s tax pro help worth the cost?
This depends on how comfortable you are doing your taxes on your own and how complicated your tax situation is. Most taxpayers with common tax situations shouldn't need personalized assistance.
H&R Block’s do-it-yourself tax options make it relatively easy for you to navigate the tax-filing process. Its free online resources will answer most questions that will pop up. Plus, H&R Block’s Deluxe, Premium and Self-Employed tiers, you will be equipped with the company’s new AI tax assistant and live expert help via chat.
If you do want help from a tax professional, we recommend comparing H&R Block's costs for a tax review or to hand your taxes over with other tax professionals to find the best fit.
Keep in mind, that filing with a tax pro starts at $99, but the price you pay will go up the more complicated your tax situation is and if you need to file multiple state returns.
Other notable features H&R Block offers
H&R Block offers multiple free tax tools for anyone visiting their site, including a tax calculator to estimate the size of your refund, a “where’s my refund?” tool to track the status of your return and a tax prep checklist to review before you start the tax filing process.
With all tiers except Free Edition, you can chat with an agent about your tax return by clicking "Help" on the top-right side of the screen. This is in addition to AI Tax Assist and written FAQs available in the same tab. TurboTax charges extra for requesting live assistance during the tax filing process, so H&R block offering the perk for free for paid tiers is a big bonus of using the service.
You can choose to receive your tax refund from H&R Block in a few different ways:
- Direct deposit (5 days early if you choose to transfer to a Spruce mobile bank account)
- Transfer to the prepaid debit card Emerald Card
- Paper check in the mail from the IRS
- US Series I Savings Bonds
If you try out H&R Block and decide the service isn't for you, you can go into account settings on the lower-left portion of the screen and delete your account.
Is H&R Block right for me?
H&R Block's 2025 tax software remains a top contender in the battle for best tax preparation software.
Its user experience is not as intuitive as TurboTax, but it offers a better free tier along with brick-and-mortar locations if you need access to a live human. H&R Block notably also costs less, should you be required to pay to file your return.
I like that H&R Block offers both AI Tax Assist and live tax help from an expert with its paid tiers. While I do wish this was extended to free filers, the company's expansive list of resources and intuitive interface should be enough for DIY filers to cope.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and isn’t influenced by advertising or partnerships. It hasn’t been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
