Customer Ratings & Reviews

I got H&R Block Premium and Business 2019 to help me prepare my taxes because I am a freelancer with my own business as my primary source of income. In previous years I’ve filed on my own using other tax software, but this is my first experience with H&R Block software. The software download and installation was quick and straightforward. This software package actually comes with two different programs, H&R Block Business and H&R Block Premium. Each time you launch the software it will ask to check for updates, which is typical of tax prep software as new laws and rules can change calculations even during tax filing season and patches are issued to correct any errors or omissions. I wasn’t surprised that despite downloading the latest installation file from H&R Block, within a week the software found updates to install on subsequent launches of the program. Some of the forms directly from IRS.gov haven't even been updated for 2019 as of this writing, and the software tells you upfront if you should wait to file due to pending changes in the law that may affect your tax situation. I started with the H&R Block Business software and when it came time to choose my business type (partnership, S Corp, etc.). I went through the ‘help me decide’ wizard. The questionnaire determined that, as a single member LLC, I would be reporting all my business income on my individual tax return, and I would actually only need to utilize the Premium program that came with the software package. The rest of this review will focus on my experience with that piece of the software as I didn’t require any of the forms included with the Business portion of the software for my tax situation. The first thing I did was import my federal tax return from last year; I was happy to see that even though I created the file in different software (TurboTax) I was able to do this, which helped me save some time by pre-populating fields like address, filing status, and expected forms based on what I entered last year. Of course, you’re able to change or delete whatever items it pulled in that are no longer relevant. Note that if you want to import previous tax data using the Business portion of the software, it only is able to import files created specifically by H&R Block Business 2018. When importing individual return tax data, you can also import financial data from Quicken, Microsoft Money, etc. if the information is saved in Tax Exchange Format (.TXF file). What I like about this software, and most tax prep software in general, is that the questions they ask are in plain English and relatively easy to understand. This makes filling out the fields and selecting answers more straightforward. Where there might be some confusion or clarification needed, there are links to popup more information and explanations to help you better understand what the question is asking and for what situations a response may be required or applicable. If you need live help, there’s a chat feature that allows you to speak with a tax professional, though this service costs extra to activate. I like that prior to each section there’s a little summary of what’s coming up so that you can collect and prepare your documents and information before you get started and at the end of each section is a summary of all the information you entered. There’s also a running tabulation of your refund (or owed taxes) with the latest change history so you can see live when you’re inputting new values how your tax liability changes with each entry. At the top of the screen is a menu bar that lets you choose or search for specific forms. Or if you want to go into the underlying IRS form for the section you’re currently filling out, you can click the ‘show form’ button at the bottom of the window and manually check and adjust the fields. This is also useful if you need to look at a specific line or entry on a particular form, as it’s not otherwise clear when you fill out the fields in the software where those values end up on the forms. I was a little disappointed that some forms weren’t included/automated in the software, for example Publication 535 for taking a self-employed health insurance deduction, the program directed me to download the paper worksheet to fill out by hand and then manually input the calculated result back into the software. When you’re finished inputting data there’s a check for errors and validation. Errors need to be fixed, though validations don’t always need clearing in order for you to move on. Just be careful if you go back to a specific form and change a value as it can impact other values "downstream" which might not recalculate immediately unless you go back through to those entries as well to double-check them. One state return is also included with the software package which is a separate download but added on to the existing software. If you need to file in more than one state you have to purchase additional states to download. The experience for the state return forms was about the same as for federal forms: this piece of the software pulled in some information from the federal return. There were also some worksheets not in the software that I had to fill in by hand (Worksheet L) and then input the resulting calculations. Because of this, I almost missed an exemption that wasn’t highlighted in the software, but rather I had to go looking for it on my own to figure it out. However, the state return was a lot easier to fill in with fewer prompts, questions, and fields. Error checking is performed at the end of filling out the forms as well as an overall audit risk check for both state and federal. There’s even a max refund guarantee that H&R Block will refund you the software fee if you find another tax software that results in a bigger refund using the same data and free audit support when you file using the software (print or e-file). Five federal e-files are included with the software; e-filing state returns cost extra, though you can print and file by mail any number of returns for free. If you owe money, you can send a check, authorize a bank transfer (ACH) for a specific date when you file, or pay using a credit/debit card through a separate secure website. If you’re getting a refund you can choose to receive a check, direct deposit, or have the amount loaded to an Emerald Prepaid Mastercard which works like a re-loadable debit card. Overall, I found the H&R Block software about as easy to use as other tax prep software I’ve used. Afterwards, I felt confident that the values and calculations were correct and that my taxes were prepared correctly using it. The interface of the software is easy to navigate and sections and fields are explained well, however, a few supporting forms were not included in the software that I needed for my tax situation, and I spent a little extra time researching on my own how to fill these out correctly.

April 15th is a date many American’s dread and mark on their calendars. My wife and I file our taxes every year (shocker right ?) We’d previously been in the Turbo Tax family for over a decade, but agreed to give this new H&R tax product a review for the 2019 tax year. We experienced similar features to what we are accustomed to. Using this platform really couldn’t be any easier, and removes (at least lessens) the April 15th burden. PROS + Super quick and easy start + Import personal data from a variety of sources ---previous H&R Block product ---previous Turbo Tax product ---new customer manual entry ---PDF document upload + Simple doc W-2, 1099, 1098, etc import(s) from ---previous software ---ADP payment systems (using code from W-2) ---PDF document scan ---mobile upload / text a pic + “What-if” tax scenarios + Itemized vs Standard deduction comparison + Help and educational screens galore + access to H&R Block tax consultants ($29.99 Software Assist free) + Federal and State returns + E-file, and Print & Mail filing options + Linkage to bank account for IRS electronic Fed / State returns + Simple, simple, simple CONS -Nothing substantial, just the fact we all have to pay Uncle Sam each year for the services afforded us

This review is for the digital download of the H&R Block Business Tax Software, which needs to installed in a window PC. The installation was fast, and the wizard guided along with simple answer questions. One of the first steps, which I recommend, is to make sure to click Update Program; this way, when you file, you will have the latest forms and information. As you go through the installation and setup, be sure to check the FAQ’s and Help section for answers to any questions. This software is the Premium version, so it contains all the types of returns; (1) Partnership, (2) C Corporation, (3) S Corporation, (4) Trust & estate, (5) Nonprofit, (6) W-2 or 1099, and (7) Payroll return. If you are not sure which form to use, the software will help you decide. The entire process was a breeze, I filed my regular business freelance income(s), and I did not encounter any issue at all. The software interface is very intuitive, in the sense that keeps the entire process flowing and also asks questions along the way. At the end of the process, I can file, print return, and view e-file details. The sooner you file your business tax, the sooner you can entirely focus on your business. If you are a freelancer, have a side project, or/and a side hustler, then filing your business tax is a breeze with H&R Block Business tax software. Going through between stages of the process seems easy and especially for people like me who have multiple sources of income.

The H&R Block Premium & Business edition is perfect for anyone with a small business that needs to create their own tax forms, like W2 and 1099 or partnership/corporation/nonprofit returns and may need to file multiple personal tax returns. The software installs two separate programs, H&R Block 2019 and H&R Block Business 2019. Once installed they both will want to check for updates, which is highly recommended. Both have a very similar style and look as they guide you and ask questions throughout the forms. Many fields are direct and simple, like name and address, but even on these pages they have helpful information on the side. In the Business software under the simplified questions and answers you can go directly to the Government instructions if you want to see the full language, the personal tax return software keeps it simple and provides links to the help center if you want more details. Several fields as you are guided along have a “Learn More” option giving more details ranging from a single sentence that is almost as vague as the item itself to more details that you could imagine for that single question. For the most part it answered my own curiosity of what could be entered for that particular field. Included with your activation you get 5 federal e-file returns and $9.99 for any after that. However, you can use the software to prepare and print as many paper versions as you want. The price includes 1 state download and it still costs $19.95 to e-file for each state. If you need a different state for any other return, it costs $39.95, but you now have that downloaded and can use it for any other returns you prepare. Essentially with those costs you have $90 of e-file and state forms available, not considering how much help you get in putting everything together and online support. However, if you don’t need the added business forms or don’t plan on filing multiple federal returns, other editions may suit you better. Provided you followed all of the guidance throughout the software and entered information correctly, H&R Block has their Maximum Refund Guarantee where if you find tax software that gives a bigger refund, they will refund your fees. They also have their free in-person audit support should the IRS or your state office ever decide to look into your claims for audit. Having used their online filing a couple times, everything is very familiar. However, they are two separate systems and this software keeps everything local. So as with any tax, financial and personal information it is upon you to keep it safe and backed up.

Looking for the best way minimize my tax burden, I decided to try H&R Block’s Premium Tax software in lieu of others this year. I’ve used H&R’s advisors for my business taxes previously, so I knew I’d get competent software. That’s what it is. Competent. As familiar as I am with doing both personal and business (S-Corp) taxes, I was disappointed. Preparing taxes is a drag. This program looks and works as though it’s made for tax professionals. Dry with bland graphics. You really have to know where to look for help and forms. Again, it does the job. I tested it against a competitor and the results were within $100. Arguably negligible for my circumstances.

This is an excellent option for tax preparation. It is not as easy or intuitive as TurboTax however it definitely has some benefits like assistance with audits (charged for with TurboTax), multiple filings for free, and included business and personal filing software (normally separate with TurboTax).

Excellent software to use for tax preparation. Installation was easy and instructions are clear.

Great tax software, easy to use and comprehensive. Will continue to use in the future.

This Product now today is what I been needing & has service me in my need to prepare my taxes.

I've used this software for more than a dozen years. H&R improves it each year.

Program works good to complete your taxes yourself

Great tax software - very thorough and user friendly.

Tax software is not something anyone looks forward to purchasing or using. H&R Block makes the process easier than it could otherwise be. I’ve been using Turbo Tax for a number of years. Since H&R Block was cheaper, I thought I’d give it another try this year. H&R Block seemlessly imported my 2018 tax return file, bringing over my dependents, mortgage points, and charitable organizations. This made the transition much easier. I found that H&R Block knows taxes. Similar to TurboTax, the software walks you through all of the items to be considered for your return. This includes not only standard forms such as W2, but also opportunities to enter 1099 statements for freelance work, investment forms, and partnership forms. Further, it walks through all of the areas where there are deductions for freelance income, such as mileage for work related travel and long term assets. It also steps through deductions for home office, meals, etc that small business owners may incur. While all the areas are there, the order that the program uses is a little confusing. There were certain deductions, such as qualified business income, which weren’t addressed until nearly the end. The program incorporated the item into the tax calculation, but didn’t surface what it was doing. If you’re used to reviewing the forms yourself, this can be a little disconcerting. I also found that some of the explanations were a little brief. The program explains what an item is, but doesn’t provide a lot of context to know what implications there are for certain answers. On the other hand, it does provide the option of chatting with a tax profession right from the software. Comparing my return against last year, it didn’t seem to miss anything. I also didn’t learn anything more about taxes. My wife and I both received W2 forms from ADP for our respective employers. In both cases, a payroll download was available to make the data entry easier. Online entry is preferred as there are many fields from the forms which need to be filled in. Import works for forms from many of the larger banks and brokerage houses as well. In short, TaxCut knows taxes and gets you to the right answer in the end. While it’s not quite as intuitive as Turbo Tax, it’s equally useful and a little bit cheaper.

This software expects you to know all the technical details and info about the tax code apparently. I’m barely even started on using this crap and I’m stuck googling tax code and giving myself a headache trying to understand. The software doesn’t even have any help features to explain anything as far as I can tell. Steer clear if you’re not a tax pro and pay a little extra to turbo tax since they actually give guidance.

This review is for &R Block - Premium & Business Tax Software - Windows design: The software is not as user friendly as i thought it would be, the application interface looks like something from the early 2000's. I think its a bit intimidating for not so computer savvy users. While other softwares rely a lot on being very user friendly with simplified and clear steps to help navigate the different forms, I found H&R to be a little bit crammed. Using the software: H&R block is by all means a complete solution if you chose the premium business version. It has all the forms necessary, and the great feature of chatting with a real tax expert when you have a question related to the use of the software. I found this to be a great feature that I relied on heavily. You can also drag & drop, or upload your tax return from the previous year, upload your W-2's or simply enter the EIN for your employer and the software will look up your W-2 online and grab it based on your SSN & the EIN of your employer. Since you have paid for this software it includes free filing which is similar to competitors. The biggest strength of this software is that if you are a business owner with complicated forms and do not want to hire a tax specialist, this software will get the job done but will be time consuming. For a simple tax filing return this is an over kill, but it does the job fast.

Typically I want until April 15th for filing my return but I decided to give it a shot early this time. I bought this version because I do freelancing and I have multiple incomes and also work in 3 different states, so its a bit complicated. Zi also have 4 different trading account which needs to be computed for cost basis etc. So, with that said here is the review: If you have self employment and multiple sources of income (Brokerage, W2), this is the version to get INSTALL Download and installation is fast and straight forward. It is a light software and installation is quick and easy like any other software. SETUP If you have not used this software before it will ask you to setup but if you have used it, you could use the prior used userid to get it and it will also know your details since you have used it before. USAGE This is where H&R Block shines. If you have any other software ilke tax slayer or tax act, you will really like the features of the polished software. The 2019 version kind of runs neck to neck with the leader - Turbo Tax on online filing. However, the main advantages with HR block are : 1. You have access to any of the live CPAs in the HR block 2. Audit help is outstanding and comes standard with this version where Turbotax charges extra for it. FILING Fed and one state is included with this version , but if you have multiple states, then you will have to pay extra per state but it still works out cheaper than Turbotax. You have options to File online or print and send. The software also helps filing extensions. If you need to make amendments, the software also helps with this, although you may need to download an update. PROS ==== 1. It is cheaper than turbotax for this type of version 2. H&R Block has physical locations which can help you in case of audit.Unlimited Real-Time Tax Advice From Certified Experts. 3. Worry-Free Audit Support — This is included in the Deluxe package at no additional cost. 4. Love the uploading tax return from prior year (PDF) 5. Picture of W2 feature is great 6. I like the navigation and interface CONS ===== 1. Can we beatify the look and feel like turbo tax.

I have been using H&R Block software for over a decade, either installed on my computer or web based. Each year, my tax returns become more and more complicated due to being a student, business owner, landlord, contractor, and stock trader. This year's return was 35 pages worth of IRS forms, if I printed it, not counting any supporting documentation. I do not have any education whatsoever on taxes but the software is simple to use. I answer the questions and it easily handles everything I throw at it. Occasionally, I am stumped but their help section is easy to access. Sometimes it even has my common question sitting in the left column just waiting to be asked. I click it and have an answer. In all of the years of using the software, I have not had any issues with filing returns. No audits and no mistakes after filing. To be extra sure that everything is done properly, the software runs a check at the end and highlights anything it believes might be incorrect. Since many forms are easily imported electronically nowadays, mistakes are even less common. My stock account forms were imported simply by telling it what brokerage firm I use along with the account number and form number. It magically finds and imports all of the data in seconds. While I believe the prices are the same, a perk to purchasing the software and installing it is that all of your data remains on your computer instead of a server in cyberspace. After confirming that the software is up to date, a user could use the software completely offline if they wanted to. Just keep in mind that automatic form entry/importing and electronic filing require internet access. Neither are required but it is much safer to eFile than to mail a physical tax return. This software makes eFiling simple whether a person has one job with a W-2 or they have multiple businesses.

Doing your own taxes is super easy with this software. Step by step directions walk you through the entire process. Help options are available along the way to answer questions. Error checking verifies there is no information missing once you are done. Efile is an option that easily lets you file and you can save a digital copy of your return. When you file again next year your data can be imported from this year to expidite entering data.

This is my first attempt at doing my own taxes since I became a grown up, with credits for this, taxes for that, etc etc. Although i realized when i sat down, that i didnt have all of the information that I needed to complete my return, I could tell that there is alot of detail in the program. It was almost like sitting with my tax preparer, but without all of the small talk. One of the features that i really appreciated is the fact that I can compare filing jointly versus filing separately from my wife. I still needed all of the documents and information from her, but it gave me a pretty good idea of what will benefit us the most. I was able to begin with some of the information and save my progress and return to it later. Since this is peronal and business software, we are able to do the taxes for our rental properties that are listed under an LLC. We have not completed everything as of yet, but i actually feel pretty confident that any mistakes that I could possibly make will be caught and I can also ask any questions with the help of H&R Block. If this goes as smoothly as it has so far, my tax accountant will have received his final payment from me!

H&R Block’s software is a great option to do your taxes. There are pros and cons to it, but at the price point it’s at least equal, and more likely better, than competitors’ offerings. Pros: I have a slight issue with the user interface that I talk about later, but even with that Con I still think that this program is better than the other major player on the market. I have had multiple instances where a certain competitor’s program forces me to get a lower return because of how it asks it’s questions and what it assumes that means, which has led to the wrong result on my taxes. Especially when dealing with certain 1099 issues. I have on many occasions had to lie to the competitor’s program to get it to do my taxes right. So, while the other program may be more user friendly than this one, I have far more confidence in this program to actually get my taxes done correctly. The other big pro is the time savings. I have used software to do my taxes a lot in the past, but the last couple of years I have done my taxes myself the old-fashioned way, by going to the IRS and getting the forms and instructions. Using the software got me done in a fraction of the time. I also like the audit help and audit risk evaluation. It’s a nice feature to make you feel more comfortable using a software if you’re used to using a professional but realize your tax situation is pretty simple. Cons: The biggest cons for the software is that it isn’t as user friendly as other programs I’ve used in the past. The best example is that I had 2 forms that I got that there was no way to put into the program and because of its interface, it is not obvious at all where that information is supposed to be entered. Because I’ve done my taxes by hand the last couple of years, I was able to go back to the form itself and figure it out, but the software wasn’t very helpful. At times they may ask a question and you’re not sure what it means, and it takes some digging or maybe a question to customer support to figure out they meant for you to enter information from that one form you haven’t used yet. Not everyone is going to have those extra forms so it may not be an issue for a lot of people, but for me this is a pretty big issue. I don’t think this should scare anyone off of the program since if you have a tax form you haven’t used yet it will be pretty obvious. Contact their help people if you can’t figure out where to enter that information and I’m sure they’ll get it sorted out pretty easily so there’s not too much of a risk of doing your taxes wrong, it just isn’t as convenient as it could be. Also, their maximum refund guarantee means if you do use another tax program that was more user friendly and it resulted in a bigger refund, they’ll cover you and make it right. Another example is that it constantly wanted to download more stuff, which is good because its more up-to-date that way, but it get irritating the way they do it and how it closes down the whole program to restart it to get a few tax code updates. It’s just irritating but doesn’t affect the quality of the software. I actually almost docked the program a star for this, but I didn't because I think this is still a more accurate program than many others on the market. But I kind of wish I could dock half stars. Ultimately, in my opinion the software needs a bit more polish on the user interface, but it will still save you a lot of time over doing your taxes the old fashioned way, saves you a lot of money compared to hiring an accountant, and I have more confidence in this program’s ability to get your taxes done correctly than any other software I’ve used in the past. I would strongly recommend this software for your taxes.