H&R Block 2022 Online Tax Prep Review

H&R Block Walk-Through Review Video

H&R Block Online - Is It Really Free?

H&R Block offers free Federal and State tax filing for people in the following situations:

• W-2 income
  
• Unemployment income
• Social Security Income
• People with Student Loan Interest
• People claiming the Child Tax Credit

The free tier is also allowing users to file for their stimulus credit. Compared to the competition, H&R Block online offers one of the broadest programs available.

However, H&R Block won’t be free for all users. For example, filers with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or who have dependent care expenses must upgrade to the Deluxe tier.

See the full list of the best free tax software here >>

What's New In 2022?

In 2022, H&R Block is emphasizing with its online assistance program in a big way. The program includes enhancements such as screen sharing, video calling, and support from mobile apps. Users who opt for the online assistance program receive on-demand support from enrolled agents and CPAs who can assist with personalized tax questions.

Aside from major enhancements with the Online Assistance program, H&R Block made some made marginal improvements on an already great product. During testing, we noticed better search functionality for knowledge articles. Additionally, the company offers more “help” translating jargon throughout the filing workflows.

H&R Block has also improved its cross-platform integration. Users can start using H&R Block to submit photos of their tax documents. Later on, users can finish their tax filing using a computer or another device. Information seems to be saved perfectly between the two platforms.

From a value perspective, gig workers with less than $5,000 in business expenses may qualify to file using the Premium tier rather than the Self-Employed tier. It’s great to see H&R Block continuing to support the nation’s many gig workers in this way. However, we are disappointed to see that in 2021 it is not supporting HSA contributions or dependent care credits through its free tier.

In 2022, we named H&R Block Online one of the best tax software options for Stock Market Investors. They were also the runner-up in just about every other category, so you can't go wrong! Check out our full rankings of the Best Tax Software here.

Does H&R Block Make Tax Filing Easy In 2022?

H&R Block uses sensible workflows to help filers complete their tax returns with minimal pain. The questionnaires, guided software, and navigation bars all help users understand what they’ve done, and how much more remains.

The built-in calculators, simple language, and robust import options make tax filing straightforward for most filers.

Claiming common credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit was all easy to do. The software also made it easy to square away pre-refunded credits (such as the Advanced Child Tax Credit) and pre-paid taxes (such as quarterly tax estimates).

Testing revealed only a few drawbacks. First, self-employed people need to determine their maximum retirement account contributions on their own. Second, the limited brokerage and crypto integrations make the software somewhat difficult to use for active traders.

H&R Block Notable Features

H&R Block is a premium tax software, so it has a long list of notable features. These are some of the most important features for typical users.

Easy Navigation

H&R Block continues to use a question-and-answer navigation style to help tax filers through the software. The questions are free from jargon when possible. When H&R Block uses jargon, it explains the terms through "Read More" bubbles or other hover features.

Short Questionnaires To Expedite Filing

At the start of each major section (Income, Deductions, Credits, etc.), H&R Block prompts users with a short questionnaire. The questionnaire narrows down the parts of the software relevant to each user. This keeps users from filing fatigue.

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 Block’s app. When they are ready to file, the software will glean what it can from the photos and automatically fill in the details.

Robust Depreciation And Expense Calculators

H&R Block has easy-to-use calculators for mileage, depreciation, and other expenses. These make filing easy for anyone who doesn’t want to calculate depreciation on their own.

Free Live Chat Tech Support

H&R Block offers free live chat tech support on the Deluxe, Premium, and Self-Employed tiers. It also offers some “tax guidance” though this is not tax advice. Rather, the free guidance helps users find credits, deductions, or other parts of the software that they may have missed.

Option To Upgrade For Tax Support

H&R Block’s Online Assist program allows filers to access unlimited support from tax-filing experts. The add-on is pricey, but it guarantees that users get the answers they need from a qualified person.

H&R Block Notable Drawbacks

As premium software, H&R Block has only a few notable drawbacks. These are the drawbacks that arose during testing.

Can't Calculate Self-Employed Retirement Account Contributions

Self-employed people have flexibility in contributing to their retirement accounts. Unfortunately, H&R Block doesn’t calculate the maximum contribution amount for filers.

A tax filer may unwittingly contribute more than the maximum amount, or they may under contribute, not realizing they have more room to contribute. This issue won’t affect more filers, but it is a surprising oversight.

Have To Pay To Report HSA Contributions

One of H&R Block’s pricing gotchas has to do with HSA contributions. If you have a health savings account (HSA), even if it is through your employer, you’ll have to pay for H&R Block’s Deluxe edition. The price isn’t terrible, but it’s a lot more than free.

Limited Financial Institution Integrations

H&R Block does not natively integrate with brokerages or crypto exchanges to calculate capital gains from trading activity. As a result, stock and crypto investors may have information to complete Schedule D forms.

In some cases, the 1099 forms will be enough for H&R Block to do the work for you, but that won’t always be the case. This can be cumbersome compared to TurboTax which offers several integrations.

High-Cost Audit Support

The company’s Worry-Free Audit Support costs $19.99. This is a fee that must be paid on top of all other software costs. Several companies offer audit support as a value-add rather than a stand-alone product.

Related: Should You Pay For Audit Support For Your Taxes?

H&R Block Online Prices And Plans

H&R Block has four major pricing tiers including a completely free (State and Federal filing cost $0) option. H&R Block’s 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 >>

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. 

How Does H&R Block Stack Up To The Competition?

H&R Block has an impressive set of functionalities available through its free pricing tier. It frequently makes the list a top choice for people seeking free filing.

The Deluxe Tier is H&R Block’s worst value. Low-cost or free software can easily help filers itemize deductions and claim straightforward credits.

Compared to H&R Block’s competition, the Premium tier is the best value for a paid tier. It supports rental properties, basic self-employment income and expenses, and all stock and crypto activity.

Users who don’t need H&R Block’s robust functionality may find that FreeTaxUSA or TaxSlayer offers the necessary functionality at lower costs.

H&R Block typically prices itself near the top end of the market and the current prices are no exception. Filers looking for a deal on H&R Block should lock in prices in early January of 2022 to get the lowest possible rates. Plus, if you use this link, you can get 20% off.

Is It Safe And Secure?

Tax Prep companies are valuable targets for hackers seeking personal information. H&R Block uses encryption, multi-factor authentication, and web-browsing encryption to keep users’ financial information safe. However, the company is not perfect. In 2019, the company suffered a data breach in which some customer information was leaked.

How Do I Contact H&R Block?

One of the reasons we love H&R Block is because of the ways you can get help. You can get help online, through phone, or even have a tax preparer virtually prepare your tax return. You can also visit one of H&R Block's network of locations as well.

To contact H&R Block by phone, you can call 1-800-472-5625. If you want to visit an office in-person, you can schedule an appointment here.

Where To Buy

We recommend that everyone who uses tax software uses the online version, versus buying a disk and installing it on a home computer. You're more at risk of losing your data on your home computer, where if you use the online version, you can always have it saved and access it if your computer crashes.

With that in mind, here's where you can buy H&R Block Tax Software.

H&R Block Online: H&R Block online is typically the easiest way to buy H&R Block tax software. You can start for free online, and the guided software will help you pick the best version for you. Or you can jump right into whichever version you need. Plus, you can get 20% off if you go through this link >>

Amazon: Amazon is currently having a promotion for H&R Block where you can get the Federal and State filing, plus a 3% refund bonus. Check out H&R Block on Amazon here.

Retail Stores: H&R Block tax software is also available in some retail stores for a limited time. You can typically find it on store shelves in late December through April. You can find it at Target, WalMart, and office supply stores like OfficeDepot.

Check out H&R Block 2022 here and get 20% off >>

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 (i.e. the third stimulus payment). 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 (issued in 2020), you'll need to file a 2020 tax return.

I didn’t 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 company’s 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.

Do I have to use the self-employed tier for my side hustle?

Most side hustlers and people with minimal business expenses can find their tax liability using the Premium level. The Premium level is less expensive than the Self-Employed tier, but it supports “simplified” expenses. This includes expenses of less than $5,000. Filers still get to claim the Qualified Business Income Deduction on this tier.

Is H&R Block better than TurboTax?

It depends. We found H&R Block to be better on price, and pretty good on usability. TurboTax does offer one of the easiest to use interfaces, though, and it can make tax filing easy.

H&R Block Online Features

Here are the main features available by plan level.