H&R Block Review
H&R Block sells online DIY tax filing alongside a large network of physical offices, which is its real differentiator: you can start online and hand the return to a preparer in person. Its online tiers track TurboTax's structure — a free tier for simple returns, then paid tiers as schedules are added, with the state return charged separately in the paid tiers. Prices generally sit a little below TurboTax for equivalent complexity.
Pricing observed August 2026 · Think Bigger Today editorial team
Plans and published prices
Prices shown were read from the vendor's public pricing page on the observation date below. Filing-season prices usually rise as the deadline approaches — confirm the current price on the vendor site before you pay.
| Plan | Who it covers | Federal | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Online | Simple returns: W-2 income, standard deduction, some credits | $0 | $0 |
| Deluxe Online | Itemised deductions, HSA | Paid tier — confirm current season price | Per-state add-on charged separately |
| Premium Online | Investments, rental income | Paid tier — confirm current season price | Per-state add-on charged separately |
| Self-Employed Online | Schedule C, freelancers, contractors | Highest DIY tier — confirm current season price | Per-state add-on charged separately |
| In-office or drop-off | You want a preparer to handle it | Quoted by return complexity, not a fixed list price | Included in the quote |
Observed August 2026 on the vendor's pricing page.
What it does well
- Physical offices in most metropolitan areas, so an online return can be escalated to a person face to face.
- The free online tier covers a somewhat wider set of simple situations than the strictest free tiers.
- Interface is close to TurboTax's in clarity, usually at a slightly lower price point.
- Prior-year returns from competitors can be imported as PDFs.
Its limits
- Still upsells: adding a schedule mid-return triggers a tier upgrade.
- State returns are charged per state in paid tiers.
- In-office pricing is quote-based, so the cost is not knowable before you sit down.
- Online tier prices change during the filing season.
Who it suits
- · Filers who want the option of in-person help without changing provider.
- · Simple filers who fall just outside a rival's free tier.
- · People who prefer to drop off documents rather than type them in.
Who should look elsewhere
- · Filers optimising purely on price — flat-fee products are cheaper for the same complexity.
- · Anyone who will never use an office, since that is the main thing the premium buys.
Frequently asked questions
Think Bigger Today keeps its editorial standards independent of commercial relationships. This review was written by our team using publicly available information, including regulatory filings and published rate sheets. H&R Block did not review, approve or endorse it, and is not responsible for its accuracy. Companies that work with us commercially get no preferential coverage, scoring or placement. This page may link to our free matching service, for which we can be paid a referral fee — that fee never decides what we publish, and you may or may not be matched with H&R Block. Figures can change without notice; always confirm the current terms with the provider. Nothing here is financial, legal or tax advice.
How we built this review
- Content and methodology updated
- Written and maintained by
- Think Bigger Today editorial team
Data sources and observation years
- H&R Block public pricing page — observed August 2026. Prices change during filing season
- IRS annual inflation adjustments (revenue procedure) — observed tax year 2026
We do not claim to be licensed advisers and we publish no anonymous expert reviews. What we do commit to is method: where a figure comes from an ingested dataset we name that source and show when it was observed, and where we cannot verify it we leave it out. See how we source our data.