How Much Does H&R Block Cost?
H&R Block is an American company with over 12,000 offices throughout the globe. The company provides consumer tax services, such as payroll, business consulting services, consumer tax software, and online tax preparation or electronic filing.
How much does H&R Block tax preparation cost?
The average cost of H&R Block tax preparation is around $225 per return, including state filing fees with no itemized deductions. Adding itemized deductions and a Schedule C with business income can significantly increase the fee, possibly even doubling or tripling it. For more information, get in touch with a tax professional at a local office.
Filing online your own taxes can be done easily through their online platform. According to the H&R Block website, there are four options from which to choose based on your needs. In the table below we listed the service options and their costs:
SERVICE | COSTS | WHAT DOES INCLUDE |
---|---|---|
Free Online | $0 |
|
Deluxe |
|
|
Premium |
|
|
Self-Employed |
|
|
Based on our own research, the average return done at a local office was about double per return rate compared to the costs of the H&R Block software, as seen in our table below:
Geographical Location | Costs |
---|---|
Atchison, KS | $345 |
Bogalusa, LA | $239 |
Columbus, OH | $460 |
Forest City, NC | $321 |
Fort Worth, TX | $268 |
Harrisburg, PA | $416 |
Knoxville, TN | $183 |
Lafayette, IN | $690 |
Magnolia, TX | $546 |
Orlando, FL | $385 |
Oroville, WA | $80 |
Pueblo West, CO | $345 |
Reno, NV | $171 |
Roseville, MN | $550 |
St. Petersburg, FL | $460 |
Stevens Point, WI | $322 |
Surprise, NY | $552 |
These costs are estimates, and most of them are quoted for a simple 1099 plus some deductions or forms. However, the costs may vary based on the type of filing option you go for.
Also, the H&R Block provides the option to download do-it-yourself tax software. This way you can do your taxes right from your home by purchasing one package listed below:
OPTION | COSTS | WHAT IT INCLUDES |
---|---|---|
Basic | $25 |
|
Deluxe+State | $49 |
|
Premium | $75 |
|
Premium+Bussines | $89 |
|
However, it is important to know that the costs listed above are discounted, and are subject to change. For accurate costs, we recommend visiting their official website.
At H&R Block you can also have your taxes prepared by a tax expert. Depending on the type of services that you are looking for, the company provides four different options:
OPTION | COSTS | WHAT DOES INCLUDES |
---|---|---|
Streamline
Under 21 years old or full-time student under 25 years old |
$99
From $79 |
|
Standard | $164 |
|
Rental | $309 |
|
Business | $359 |
|
A former employee of H&R Block stated that the cost of their services is determined by the complexity of the tax forms required and the amount owed by the customer. He also noted that H&R Block generally charges higher fees than local CPAs and suggested that it may be more beneficial for individuals to either file their taxes independently or seek assistance from another tax prep service.
You might also like our articles on the cost of starting a business, using ADP Payroll, or hiring a CPA.
According to one Reddit user, for filing the 1099 misc form he was quoted $350. The cost did not include other tax filings.
What are the extra costs?
Depending on the type of filing that you need to do, extra charges may apply, such as $3 per dividend, depreciation on deductible assets for $10, and $15 per fund for personal super contribution claim.
Additional Rental Property may also be an additional cost of $195, depending on the package that you choose.
If you want an instant refund, it is available for an additional fee. Sources report a charge of 15% for the first $350 and 5% for the rest of the tax refund.
Important things about the tax filing options
H&R Block offers a range of tax products to choose from. All of the online filing products come with a variety of convenient features such as easy import options, Earned Income Tax Credit, 1095-A healthcare information, 1099-INT, 1099-R, 1099-DIV forms, and technical support via chat.
Customers can also benefit from Refund Reveal™, free federal e-file, and data security. For those who prefer to use software packages, they will receive the same features as the online products, along with free in-person audit support.
In order to get the maximum refund, H&R Block will look for every eligible deduction.
H&R Block offices are available all year long.
Saving money on professional tax software
Numerous H&R Block coupons are available on third-party websites and news outlets including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Forbes. By utilizing these codes, you can save anywhere from $25 to $50. To take advantage of these offers, simply visit the above-mentioned websites, find the code, and enter it during checkout.
H&R Block provides discounts to users who file their taxes early. As the tax season deadline approaches, prices tend to increase significantly, making it more advantageous to file your taxes as soon as possible.
On the day of this writing, the H&R Block official website provides a $10 discount for each of their downloadable tax software.
If you are looking for tax software, it is worth considering some of the other options available besides H&R Block. TurboTax, TaxSlayer, Jackson Hewitt, and TaxAct all have their own unique features and pricing plans. A comparison of these products on FitSmallBusiness.com reveals what each one is best for, how much they cost, and what the free version includes.
If you earned less than $60,000 in the year, you can file your taxes for free at MyFreeTaxes.com.
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