On this page13 sections
H&R Block suits people who want a choice between doing taxes online and handing them to a tax pro, with unlimited expert help built into the paid online tiers. It is legitimate: it is a publicly traded company (NYSE: HRB) founded in 1955 in Kansas City, and it says 22.3 million returns were filed by or through it in fiscal 2026. The tradeoffs are price and consistency: paid online tiers cost more than budget software, office fees aren't published, and Trustpilot and BBB reviews are dominated by complaints about preparer errors, slow fixes and refund delays. In 2025 the FTC ordered it to pay $7 million over how it advertised free filing and handled downgrades.
- Company
- H&R Block, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri; organized in 1955; NYSE: HRB3
- Scale
- 22.3 million returns filed by or through H&R Block in fiscal 2026; 6,802 company-owned and 1,814 franchise offices as of March 31, 20263
- Online prices
- Free Online $0 federal and state; Deluxe $65, Premium $105, Self-Employed $130 federal, each plus $49 per state, as listed for the 2026 filing season1
- Who files free
- About 52% of filers qualify for Free Online, per H&R Block: Form 1040 with W-2 income and only a few credits and schedules1
- Office prices
- Not published; set by the office based on your return2
- Refund Transfer fee
- $42 to have prep fees taken out of your refund (optional; a Pathward, N.A. bank product)2
- Guarantees
- 100% Accuracy (penalties and interest from its errors), Maximum Refund (fee refund plus free amended return) and No Surprise pricing1
- FTC order
- Finalized January 2025: $7 million in consumer redress, clearer free-filing ads and easier downgrades for the 2025 and 2026 seasons4
- SEC 10-K (fiscal 2026)
- Pending inquiries; Discloses government inquiries, class actions and mass arbitrations over IRS Free File and its DIY products, including the use of pixels3
Pros
- Free Online covers simple W-2 returns, and H&R Block says about 52% of filers qualify
- Paid online tiers include unlimited expert help and AI Tax Assist
- You can file online, with a virtual pro, or at one of about 8,600 offices
- Accuracy and Maximum Refund guarantees on every return
- Large, publicly traded company with SEC-audited financials
Cons
- Paid online tiers cost more than budget software, and each state is $49
- Office prices aren't published until a pro looks at your return
- Trustpilot score of 1.3 out of 5 and 1,243 BBB complaints in three years
- FTC found its free-filing ads and downgrade process misled customers
- Optional add-ons like the $42 Refund Transfer raise the total
Best for: People who want the option of in-person help or built-in expert support and are willing to pay more than budget software for it.
Skip it if: Your return is simple enough for a $0 option or you're comfortable filing alone, since FreeTaxUSA or IRS Free File will cost far less.
H&R Block vs. competitors
| Company | Federal online price | State | Live help | In-person option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H&R Block | $0 simple; $65 to $130 paid tiers | $0 on Free Online; $49 each on paid tiers | Unlimited expert help on paid tiers | About 8,600 offices |
| TurboTax | $0 for simple returns; paid tiers up to $139 (federal and state) | Extra on paid tiers | Expert Assist $59 to $209 | No; Full Service from $129 |
| FreeTaxUSA | $0 for all situations | $15.99 each | Chat $7.99; tax pro $64.99 | No |
| Jackson Hewitt | $25 flat online, federal and state | Included online | Not published | Over 5,100 locations plus Walmart stores |
H&R Block pricing at a glance
H&R Block online filing prices for the 2026 filing season (2025 returns)1
| Product | Federal | State | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Online | $0 | $0 | Simple Form 1040: W-2s, limited interest and dividends up to $1,500, unemployment, retirement distributions, EITC and Child Tax Credit |
| Deluxe | $65 | $49 each | Itemized deductions, HSAs; unlimited expert help and AI Tax Assist included |
| Premium | $105 | $49 each | Investments and rental property; expert help included |
| Self-Employed | $130 | $49 each | Freelancers and small business owners filing Schedule C; expert help included |
| Tax Pro Review | Add-on, price shown at checkout | Not published | A tax pro reviews your DIY return before you file |
| In-office or virtual tax pro | Not published | Not published | A tax pro prepares the return; price depends on forms and complexity |
Optional extras cost more: a Refund Transfer is $42, and Peace of Mind and Tax Identity Shield are sold separately. Prices change during the season, so check the total at checkout before you file.
H&R Block, step by step
Pick how you file
Choose online DIY, desktop software, a virtual tax pro, or an appointment at an office. You can switch from DIY to Tax Pro Review partway through.
Import last year's return
Returning users carry data forward, and H&R Block says you can import a return from TurboTax or other tax prep services.
Answer the interview
The software asks about income, deductions and credits and moves you to a paid tier if your situation needs forms Free Online doesn't cover.
Review the price and add-ons
Before filing you see the federal and state fees and offers like Refund Transfer, Peace of Mind and Tax Identity Shield. All are optional.
File and track
E-file the return and track it. If H&R Block made an error, the accuracy guarantee covers resulting penalties and interest, not the tax itself.
H&R Block legitimacy and licensing
Yes. H&R Block, Inc. was organized in Missouri in 1955 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange as HRB. Its fiscal 2026 annual report says 22.3 million returns were filed by or through H&R Block in the U.S., Canada and Australia, and that it ran 6,802 company-owned and 1,814 franchise offices as of March 31, 2026. It also owns Block Advisors and the Wave small business software.
Legitimate doesn’t mean problem free. The BBB rates its U.S. headquarters A+, but the company isn’t accredited and the profile shows 1,243 complaints in three years. Trustpilot reviews are 89% one star. In January 2025 the FTC finalized an order requiring H&R Block to pay $7 million over deceptive free-filing ads and a downgrade process that forced customers to contact support and wiped their entered data. The company didn’t admit the allegations. Its latest 10-K also discloses ongoing government inquiries, class actions and mass arbitrations over IRS Free File and its DIY products, including the use of tracking pixels.
H&R Block cost
Online, Free Online costs $0 for federal and state returns if your return is simple: Form 1040 with W-2 income, limited interest and dividends up to $1,500, unemployment, retirement distributions, and the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits. Once you need itemized deductions, an HSA, investments, rental income or Schedule C, you move to a paid tier: Deluxe at $65, Premium at $105 or Self-Employed at $130 for the federal return, plus $49 for each state, as listed for the 2026 filing season.
Office and virtual tax pro prices aren’t published. The fee depends on the forms in your return, and H&R Block’s No Surprise guarantee says it tells you the price upfront and keeps you updated if it changes. Ask for the estimate before the pro starts. Extras add up: paying your fee out of your refund through a Refund Transfer costs $42, and Peace of Mind audit coverage and Tax Identity Shield are separate purchases.
Online software vs. an H&R Block tax pro
The paid online tiers include unlimited expert help and AI Tax Assist, so you can ask a question without paying for a full review. Tax Pro Review is the middle option: you do the return yourself and a pro checks it before filing. With an office or virtual appointment, a pro prepares the whole return.
Most of the harsh reviews involve office work: wrong figures, missing documents, or last year’s numbers entered on this year’s return, followed by months of calls to fix it. If you go to an office, bring every form, ask the preparer’s credentials, and get a copy of the full return before you sign.
What customers say about H&R Block
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Individual tax pros who are patient and fix problems quickly
- Online software that's easy to follow for simple returns
- Free Online covering W-2 filers with common credits
Common complaints
- Preparer errors that led to IRS notices months later
- Slow or hard-to-reach help when a return needs to be corrected
- Long waits to be paid under the accuracy guarantee
- Fees higher than expected after upgrades or add-ons
- Refund delays tied to wrong bank or address details
H&R Block complaints and what customers report
Across the BBB and Trustpilot, the most common complaints are preparer errors that surface as IRS notices months later, trouble reaching the office or tax pro afterward, slow payouts under the accuracy guarantee, refund delays caused by a wrong bank account or address, and fees that grew after upgrades. Positive reviews usually name a specific tax pro who was patient and fixed a problem quickly.
To protect yourself, keep copies of everything you hand over, review the return line by line before it’s filed, and save the price estimate. If you get an IRS notice, contact H&R Block right away; guarantee claims depend on prompt notice and documentation.
Guarantees, refunds and add-ons
Every return comes with three promises. The 100% Accuracy Guarantee reimburses penalties and interest caused by an H&R Block or software error. It doesn’t pay the extra tax itself, because you’d owe that anyway. The Maximum Refund Guarantee refunds the prep fee for that return and files a free amended return if an H&R Block error cost you money. No Surprise means you’re told the price upfront.
Add-ons are optional. Peace of Mind is an extended service plan for assisted returns that provides audit representation and covers some additional tax from preparer errors, within limits. Tax Identity Shield adds identity monitoring. The Refund Advance is a loan from Pathward, N.A., offered at participating offices in set amounts from $250 to $4,000 and not available in H&R Block Online. The Emerald Advance is a separate line of credit at 35.9% APR. You can file and get your refund without buying any of these.
Rules that protect you
Any paid preparer must have an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number and sign your return. You can check credentials in the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers, which lists CPAs, enrolled agents and attorneys. You are still legally responsible for what’s on your return, so read it before you sign.
The FTC order requires H&R Block’s free-product ads to say what share of filers qualify and lets you downgrade online without losing data. If you think you were charged for an upgrade you didn’t need, ask for a refund first, then file with the BBB, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or your state attorney general.
Alternatives to H&R Block
- IRS Free File or VITA Better if your income is low enough to qualify, since you can file free with guided partner software or have IRS-certified volunteers prepare it.
- FreeTaxUSA Better if you're comfortable on your own and want a $0 federal return even with investments or self-employment income. Read review
- TurboTax Worth comparing if you want online software with the widest range of paid expert help. Read review
- A local CPA or enrolled agent Better for a complex return or an audit, where you want the same credentialed preparer every year.
H&R Block reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used H&R Block, yours will be the first.
Write a reviewHow do I know I can trust these reviews about H&R Block?
- Every reviewer confirms an email address before a review can publish.
- Our moderators read every review before it publishes.
- Companies can respond publicly but can never edit, hide or remove a review.
- Paying BestGuide never changes the reader rating or which reviews publish.
Frequently asked questions
Is H&R Block a legitimate company?
Yes. It's a publicly traded company founded in 1955 that says 22.3 million returns were filed through it in fiscal 2026. Customer reviews are poor, though, and the FTC fined it $7 million in 2025 over its free-filing ads and downgrade practices.
How much does H&R Block charge to do taxes online?
Free Online is $0 for simple returns. Deluxe is $65, Premium $105 and Self-Employed $130 for the federal return, plus $49 per state, as listed for the 2026 season. Check the total at checkout, since prices change during the season.
How much does H&R Block charge in person?
It doesn't publish office prices. The fee depends on the forms and schedules in your return, and you should get an estimate before the preparer starts.
Is H&R Block Free Online really free?
Yes for simple returns, including the state return. H&R Block says about 52% of filers qualify. If you have itemized deductions, an HSA, investment sales, rental income or self-employment income, you'll be moved to a paid tier.
Is H&R Block cheaper than TurboTax?
Often, on paid tiers. H&R Block's top online tier is $130 federal, while TurboTax lists paid tiers up to $139, and both charge extra for state. Compare the total for your own return, including state fees and add-ons.
What does the H&R Block accuracy guarantee cover?
If an H&R Block or software error causes penalties or interest, it reimburses them. It doesn't cover additional tax you owed anyway. Contact H&R Block as soon as you get an IRS notice.
What is the H&R Block Refund Transfer fee?
$42. It lets you pay your prep fee out of your refund through a Pathward, N.A. account. It's optional, and you can get your refund directly from the IRS without it.
Why was H&R Block fined by the FTC?
The FTC said H&R Block advertised free filing that many people couldn't use and made it hard to downgrade to a cheaper product, deleting entered data when people did. The 2025 order required $7 million in redress and changes for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Can I import last year's TurboTax return into H&R Block?
Yes. H&R Block says you can import a prior-year return from TurboTax or other tax prep services, and returning users carry their own data forward.
What's the difference between Tax Pro Review and an office appointment?
With Tax Pro Review you prepare the return yourself online and a pro checks it before filing. At an office or virtual appointment, the pro prepares the whole return for you.
Sources (7)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- H&R Block: Online tax filing (products, Free Online eligibility, guarantees) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- H&R Block: Tax offices and product disclosures (Refund Transfer, Refund Advance, Emerald Advance) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- SEC EDGAR: H&R Block, Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year ended June 30, 2026 (accessed October 13, 2026)
- FTC: FTC finalizes order with H&R Block requiring them to pay $7 million (January 2025) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: H & R Block Inc., U.S. Headquarters (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Trustpilot: H&R Block reviews (accessed October 13, 2026)
- IRS: Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials (accessed October 13, 2026)
BestGuide is free to use. Some companies we review pay us when you visit their site or contact them through us. Compensation may influence which companies we feature and their order. It doesn't change what our reviews say. Advertising disclosure