How We Picked And Tested
Under the hood, every tax software platformeven those that tax pros usefills in the same IRS forms and uses the same math to calculate the amount you owe or the amount of your refund. But they dont all offer the same experience. The biggest differences among the tax-filing options lie in how thorough their questions are, whether they ask the right questions, and how pleasant or taxing the experience is.
For the 2020 filing period, we retested four major online tax appsH& R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, and TurboTaxand two we hadnt tested before that are part of the IRSs Free File Program, FileYourTaxes.com and OLT. We decided not to retest Credit Karma Tax, our previous pick for filing simple returns, due to multiple negative reports we received regarding the programs accuracy and its ability to handle different tax situations, including filing state returns in more than one state. You can learn more about the reported issues with Credit Karma Tax in the Competition.
To test these apps, we created three fictional filers to represent a range of situations. These were the same ones we used previously, but slightly updated to include more common scenarios for many people in 2020things like getting unemployment income, not receiving their stimulus payments, or making charitable contributions.
Our fictional filers:
We proceeded with more common tax-filing situations. These are the key distinctions we considered during testing:
What You Get From H& r Block’s Free Version
Like the free tax software from most of its competitors, H& R Block Free lets you file Form 1040, take the earned income tax credit and reconcile your advanced child tax credit. It can handle unemployment income and help you to claim a missing stimulus payment.
H& R Blocks free version also lets you file schedules 1 and 3 of Form 1040, which is a big bonus because many taxpayers need to file those forms to report things such as deductible student loan interest, certain retirement contributions, alimony, the lifetime learning credit and the savers credit. You may need to upgrade if you don’t know how much to claim for those things and want the software to calculate it for you.
While H& R Block’s free version has expanded capabilities, if you plan to itemize deductions, were a landlord, freelanced, sold cryptocurrency, contributed to an HSA, ran a small business or had any other situations going on, youll probably need to upgrade to one of H& R Blocks paid packages.
Some May Qualify For Tax Credits Now
The IRS has stressed that taxpayers shouldnt file an amended return unless the calculations make the taxpayer newly eligible for additional federal credits and deductions not already included on the original tax return.
The IRS, for instance, can adjust returns for taxpayers who claimed the EITC. Because the exclusion changed the income level, those people may now be eligible for an increase in the EITC amount which may result in a larger refund.
Taxpayers, however, would have to file an amended return if they didn’t originally claim the EITC or other credits but now are eligible because the exclusion changed their income. These taxpayers should review their state returns as well, tax experts say.
Others may qualify for the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which is a credit for qualified education expenses paid for an eligible student for the first four years of higher education.
Recommended Reading: Do You File Unemployment On Taxes
Congress Passed The American Rescue Plan What You Need To Know
Online tools and resource hubs from H& R Block help individuals, families, and small business owners understand available relief and key changes with the third stimulus
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Today, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which will bring additional relief to millions of Americans impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. As we wait for the bill to be signed into law, H& R Block has tools ready to help you determine how much your third stimulus check may be, as well as information about key things that are different with this third round of stimulus.
With each round of stimulus payments, there are details that change, and this third round of stimulus payments is no different, said Julius Lai , H& R Blocks chief product and experience officer. H& R Block is here to help with online calculators and resources, so that everyone knows how the American Rescue Plan will impact them.
Key differences with the third stimulus include:
New third stimulus benefit amounts. With the third stimulus, those who are eligible will receive $1,400 $2,800 per couple.
More dependents will receive stimulus money. All dependents on a persons tax return will receive a $1,400 benefit, this includes children 17 and older, and adult dependents, such as college students.
In addition to specific changes to the third stimulus payment, the bill passed by Congress also includes other important tax provisions.
About H& R Block
H& r Block Online Faqs
Here are some common questions we get about H& R Block online:
Can H& R Block Online help me file my crypto investments?
H& R Block Online has instructions that carefully explain how users can file taxes on their cryptocurrency trades. However, the software treats it like other capital gains activities. There are no special integrations to make crypto filing easier.
Can I request my stimulus check through H& R Block Online?
In 2022, H& R Block will support the Recovery Rebate Credit for tax filers who never received their 2021 stimulus money . You’ll need an IRS letter Notice 1444 to file for this credit. Note that to request one or both of the first two stimulus checks , you’ll need to file a 2020 tax return.
I didnt receive the full amount for Advanced Child Tax Credit Payments. Can H& R Block help me get the rest?
Yes! H& R Block will help filers who were over and underpaid with the Advanced Child Tax Credit payments. This is supported on the companys free filing platform.
Does H& R Block offer refund advance loans?
At this time, H& R Block is only advertising tax refund advance loans to people who use the office locations. These loans can be as high as $1,000 and applications begin November 15, 2021.
Does H& R Block offer any deals on refunds?
At this time, H& R Block is not advertising deals on refunds. Historically, the company has partnered with Amazon to offer boosted returns for people accepting refunds as gift cards. This may return later in the season.
You May Like: How Can I Find Out My Pin Number For Unemployment
Importing Previous Tax Data Is Easy
H& R Block provides two methods for importing data from last year to simplify this years filing process. First, you can upload a tax data file from either H& R Block or TurboTax. This is the most efficient option that gets the most detail to include in your new return.
The other option is to scan or snap a photo of a PDF of last years federal return. This can come from any source, including any other tax software or a CPA.
H& r Block Online Prices And Plans
H& R Block has four major pricing tiers including a completely free option. H& R Blocks Premium pricing tier is one of its most competitively priced tiers.
Users can also opt for Worry-Free Audit assistance which costs $19.99 and provides support if you are audited.The Online Assist plans from H& R Block include unlimited help from tax professionals such as CPAs or Enrolled Agents. These individuals can answer tax questions specific to your situation.
Bonus: Get 20% off H& R Block online by signing up through this link > >
|
Plan |
|---|
Note: Prices are subject to change, especially as it get’s closer to the tax deadline. The earlier you start, the higher likelihood you have of locking in better prices.
Read Also: How To Get Unemployment W2 Forms
No Matter How You File Block Has Your Back
What Is The Best Free Tax Software
Based on its feature set, included IRS forms, interface and support, Cash App Taxes earns CNET’s pick for best free tax software in 2022.
Cash App Taxes’ biggest strength is that it will work for almost any tax filer. Its very short list of restrictions includes foreign income, nonresident state returns, increased standard deduction , and married filing singly in community property states.
Cash App Taxes doesn’t even have any paid tax preparation services, so you don’t have to worry about pitches for upgrades. If you can file your return with Cash App Taxes, it will certainly be 100% free. It works with every state that requires a tax return except for Montana.
The level of support in Cash App Taxes is not comparable to top products like TurboTax or H& R Block, but it does include live chat and contextual help content.
Also Check: How Do I File Taxes With Unemployment
Its Difficult To Skip Around
The online version of H& R Block has a user-friendly interface, but the downside is that it has a very linear feel when entering your tax information. Sections like income need to be completed before moving on to another area. It forces you to be organized, but can also make it hard to complete your taxes as you gather information.
Why You Should Trust Us
This is Wirecutters eighth year testing and recommending online tax-preparation software, and its my second time working on the guide as a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. For over five years before joining Wirecutter, I wrote extensively about personal finance for sites such as Lifehacker, SmartAsset, and MyBankTracker. Topics I covered included when to hire a tax pro, the biggest deductions you should claim, what to do to make the audit process less stressful, and, yes, head-to-head tax software comparisons.
Over the years, Ive personally used various tax-prep software and worked with tax pros to file complex returns involving self-employment income, business deductions , stock gains and losses, homeownership, education credits, and dependent care. Im one of the 34% of Americans who actually like or love doing their taxes, but I also sympathize with those who just want to get their taxes over with. In doing research for this guide, Ive kept up with major tax changes for the 2020 tax year, subscribing to riveting alerts from the IRS.
You May Like: How Long Is Unemployment In Nc
What Do You Get With H& r Block
- Easy tax form import and upload. This is one of H& R Block’s best time-saving features. In a matter of seconds, you can upload a PDF version of your tax form or import it from your employer, bank, or investment company.
- Mobile version. Work on your taxes on the mobile or web versions, or switch back and forth.
- Step-by-step guidance. This is something H& R Block excels at. Any time you’re required to answer a question or provide a number, one click will populate a side-bar with a helpful explainer that breaks down, in layman’s terms, what it means.
- Option to upgrade for live support. Pay extra and you can consult a tax expert, or hand off your documents to a professional to prep everything for you.
- Multiple refund options. You can get your federal refund deposited into your bank account, sent as a check, or loaded onto a prepaid debit card. You can also use your refund to buy an Amazon gift card in increments of $100 and H& R Block will add on a 3.5% bonus. This is probably only worth doing if you have a large refund, otherwise the bonus is negligible.
- Tax return storage. H& R Block will store your finished tax returns in your account for up to six years.
- Accuracy guarantee. H& R Block will pay IRS penalties and fees related to calculation errors up to $10,000. If it’s determined that you entered information improperly, the guarantee does not apply.
Tax Privacy And Security Tips
One understandable concern weve heard from readers is the desire to know how these tax tools protect your privacy and financial information. The good news is, the government has been taking steps to make sure that doing your taxes online is more secure. For example, in 2020, the IRS mandated multi-factor authentication for all online tax-prep tools . We also looked at the privacy and security policies for the tax software we tested and asked the companies for information on how they safeguard customer data. The answer: All of them encrypt the data when its stored on their systems and follow the IRSs standards for electronically sending returns securely.
The bad news is that the nature of the internet means theres no such thing as 100% secure tax filing, and tax-prep services are especially common targets for hackers. We looked into software breaches from previous years at TurboTax and H& R Block and found that the breaches were caused by credential stuffingidentity thieves used passwords and usernames stolen from other services to log in to the tax software. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to follow strong security practices, which includes never reusing the same password for different accounts. A password manager can help you create a strong, unique password for all of your accounts. Other recommendations:
You May Like: How Many Unemployed In Us
Upload Tax Documents To Speed Up The Process
H& R Block is one of the easiest online filing software packages. It allows users to upload tons of forms including 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, W-2 forms, and much more. If the form is standard, you can upload it in H& R Block. Users can even snap pictures of their forms and upload them using H& R Blocks app. When they are ready to file, the software will glean what it can from the photos and automatically fill in the details.
Why Must Some Amend Their Returns
Beginning in May and continuing into the summer, the IRS will automatically refund taxpayers who filed their returns without claiming the new tax break on unemployment benefits, it said, but this was in regards to their federal return.
Some states may still opt to tax jobless aid, tax experts say. That means some taxpayers may have to file an amended return to get their maximum refund if the unemployment tax break now makes them eligible for additional tax credits that were not claimed on their original return, or if they mistakenly excluded their unemployment income in states that choose to still tax the jobless aid.
Otherwise, the IRS said it will recalculate returns of taxpayers by incorporating the $10,200 exclusion and either refund them or apply it to other taxes they owe.
While many states will follow suit and automatically refund taxpayers, there are a handful of states that are requiring taxpayers to file an amended tax return to receive the benefit of the unemployment tax break if they filed before the American Rescue Plan was signed, says Curtis Campbell, president of TaxAct, a tax preparation software.
This varies by state. Taxpayers who filed their returns before the American Rescue Plan became law in March may need to file an amended state tax return to get a state refund.
New Mexico, for instance, has advised taxpayers to amend their returns if they were filed before mid-March.
Recommended Reading: Can You Work With Va Unemployability
Get Help Claiming Your Unemployment Income Exclusion And Filing Your Return
H& R Block is ready for you virtually, online, and in-person.
- H& R Block Virtual: Get matched with a local tax pro, take a pic to send your documents and sit back while our team prepares your return.
- File Online: File completely independently or get some assistance from a tax pro .
- In-Person: Meet with a tax pro at a safe distance and get the tax filing help you need.
Related Topics
Finding your taxable income is an important part of filing taxes. Learn how to calculate your taxable income with help from the experts at H& R Block.
Other Good Tax Software
MyFreeTaxes runs on the TaxSlayer platform. Its completely freeno income, age, or geographic limitations. Whats the catch? As far as we can tell, there isnt one, except that we dont particularly like TaxSlayers interface. This is a service provided by the charitable organization United Way to anyone and everyone. But the software is clunky, and the guidance is less thorough than what you get from our picks, so we recommend it primarily for those who are willing to spend extra time puzzling over how to enter their info in exchange for totally free federal and state filing.
TaxSlayers commercial offerings are attractively priced: The Classic edition, which includes all forms, is $17 for a federal return and $32 for each state tax return. (TurboTax Deluxe, in contrast, costs $39
for a federal return and $40 for each state tax return, and it doesnt include every form.) But if you go through MyFreeTaxes, you get the same TaxSlayer service for free.
An added concern: A screen at the beginning of the interview process asks you to sign a privacy policy to continue entering your information. This step actually grants TaxSlayer the permission to use your info to provide you with offers, from the company or from third parties. Other tax software does this, too, but TaxSlayer doesnt make it clear that agreeing is entirely optional we recommend that you skip this page.
Don’t Miss: Where Can I Cash Unemployment Checks
