H&R Block Review: CNET’s Best Overall in 2026

8.4 / 10

Score

Cnet Score

CNET provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1-10. Each product we score is evaluated by criteria specific to its category with most assessing pricing, quality, features and performance.

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H&R Block Online Tax Service

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Pros

• Transparent pricing structure
• Free federal and state returns for simple tax returns
• Allows you to import or upload many major tax forms
• AI-powered tax assistant feature
• Access to tax pros online and in-person
• Easy-to-use software and mobile app
• Maximum refund guarantee an 100% accuracy guarantee

Cons

• More expensive than many online filing services
• Audit support costs extra if you use the online version
• Online version doesn’t let you have a pro prepare your return
• Difficult to downgrade midway through
• Complicated crypto support is lacking

Tax season is a stressful time of year for us all. Just as those holiday credit card bills come due, it’s tax time. In the lead-up to the April 15 deadline, the average American will spend 13 hours just to file a federal tax return with the IRS. Choosing the best tax software can make those hours less painful and save you time and money. 

I’m a certified financial planner (CFP) and a longtime financial writer and editor who’s covered taxes for nearly a decade. I know how complicated navigating IRS rules can be, as well as the stakes involved. Making an error could result in paying penalties and interest – or if the IRS owes you a refund, it could mean leaving money on the table.

To make tax time easier, I’ve reviewed seven major tax filing services. I tested each option to find where each one shines and identify pain points. I rated H&R Block, along with competitors like TurboTax, Jackson Hewitt and TaxSlayer, paying close attention to price, affordability, eligibility, personal experience, ease of use, features, and access to tax professionals. 

This tax season, H&R Block upped its game with better and transparent pricing and a new and improved AI Assistant -- giving it a slight edge over our former best pick: TurboTax.

When looking at H&R Block as a tax software, we found it isn’t the cheapest -- but its pricing is fairly transparent. It also supports free filing in a pretty broad range of situations. It’s also easy to use, has a good amount of extra features to help you file accurately and offers access to help from tax professionals (for an extra cost). 

Read on to learn how H&R Block stacks up against competitors.

H&R Block: Price and affordability (8/10)

Cost is perhaps the most important factor when you choose a tax filing program. But if you’ve been filing your taxes for a while, you probably know that pricing isn’t exactly straightforward. Services that promise “free filings” are often loaded with hidden costs and upgrade nudges. Prices frequently change during tax season.

H&R Block is expensive compared to most of its peers, with add-ons required for many services. While it's not the cheapest, it is not as expensive as TurboTax and we found its pricing structure to be more transparent. Therefore, we gave it 8/10 on affordability. 

Tier structure comparison

H&R Block is not the cheapest tax software program, but its top-notch service and generally cheaper than its biggest competitor, TurboTax, and frankly, more transparent and easier to understand what you will get for your money. Though three paid tiers are available, H&R Block says about 52% of taxpayers qualify to file for free online. H&R Block also has tax software you can download, with prices starting at $50 (currently discounted to $40).

Note that many tax services use dynamic pricing, with prices often increasing as April 15 gets closer. Expect the prices listed above to change throughout tax season. 

State filing fees

H&R Block’s free version includes free state returns. However, if you purchase a paid package and need to file state taxes, H&R Block is more expensive than several competitors except TurboTax).

Hidden costs and upgrades

If you’re only filing Form 1040 and you’re not claiming tax credits or deductions other than the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, student loan interest deduction and retirement plan distributions, you can probably qualify for free filing. But if you have a slightly more complex return (like you contribute to an HSA or have investment income), you’ll need to upgrade to a paid package.

H&R Block has several upcharges to be aware of:

• Multi-state filing fees: You can file up to five state tax returns using H&R Block Online. While state returns are free in the free online plan, you’ll pay an extra fee for each state return with the paid plans. 
• Refund transfer fee: If you opt to pay your tax prep fees using your refund, you’ll pay a $42 refund transfer fee.
• Audit support: H&R Block offers the option to add audit support to its online packages for an extra cost, though it’s included in its desktop software.
• Option to file with a pro. If you don’t want to DIY your return, you can have a pro file for you. Prices start at $89 (plus state filing fees) and increase based on the complexity of your return. 

H&R Block: Eligibility and use cases (9/10) 

No tax filing software can cover every situation. Some software is great for simple tax returns but lacks the features to handle complex tax situations. Other services offer high levels of expert access but have limited free filing options.

Whether you’re filing a simple tax return or have extremely complex circumstances, H&R Block probably has a product for you which is why it gets a 9/10 eligibility score.

Simple filers (Standard deductions)

H&R Block’s free package can handle many simple tax situations where you’re claiming the standard deduction. You can answer a few basic questions before you get started to see if you qualify for free filing. The interview can also help you figure out whether you qualify for commonly overlooked tax credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit.

If you aren’t eligible to use the free version – say, for example, that you contributed to an HSA or sold crypto in 2025 – you’ll typically learn that you’ll need to upgrade before you start compiling your information. Though there’s no access to expert guidance with the free version, H&R Block checks for errors throughout the filing process.

Investment income (Schedule D)

You can use H&R Block’s free package if you have up to $1,500 of interest income (reported on Form 1099-INT) and $1,500 of dividend income (reported on Form 1099-DIV). H&R Block is also a decent option if you have investment income that you report using Schedule D, though you’ll need to upgrade to the Premium version to report most types of investment income.

With the Premium version, you can import Form 1099-B from many major brokerages, including Fidelity, Robinhood, Charles Schwab and E*Trade. If your brokerage isn’t supported, you can still manually input the information from your 1099-B form and H&R Block will automatically generate Form 8949 and summarize the information on your Schedule D. 

H&R Block also has an integration with Coin Tracker that lets you import transactions from major trading platforms. Usually, it works well when you have a limited number of crypto trades and your transactions are fairly straightforward. However, it often struggles to properly classify more complex transactions like staking rewards and complicated cost-basis scenarios, so high-volume crypto traders may want to look for a specialized crypto tax service.

You can use H&R Block if you have relatively unusual types of investment income, like if you sold shares as part of an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) or you have K-1 partnership incomes. However, compared to TurboTax, these types of transactions have limited guidance and require more manual entry.  

Self-employment/Small business (Schedule C)

H&R Block offers robust Schedule C support for freelancers, self-employed filers and small business owners. If you have a couple of 1099-NECs from freelancing or a side hustle, you may be able to use the cheaper Deluxe package, but if you want to report expenses, you’ll need to upgrade to the pricier Self-Employed tier. 

You can snap a photo or upload a PDF of each 1099-NEC, or you can import it directly from many companies. Like with investment forms, importing these documents saves you time and reduces the odds of errors.

The Self-Employed package uses a guided interview process that’s similar to the more basic packages. It then walks you through credits and deductions self-employed people usually qualify for, like the home office deduction, as well as some industry-specific tax breaks.

Rental income and advanced forms

H&R Block Online offers strong support for rental properties and Schedule E. You can use the service to report rental income and expenses, and calculate depreciation. It also supports many advanced tax forms, like Form 1116 for reporting foreign tax credits.

Though H&R Block Online can handle the vast majority of individual tax filing requirements, if your return is unusually complex, you can opt to work with a pro in person or virtually.

H&R Block: Experience and ease of use (8/10)

A solid design and interface can make navigating the tax code a lot easier. The good news is, H&R Block’s platform is relatively intuitive. H&R Block is intuitive and easy to use in most situations, whether you’re filing by desktop or mobile app, which is why we're giving it an 8/10.

A solid design and interface can make navigating the tax code a lot easier. The good news is, H&R Block’s platform is relatively intuitive. H&R Block is intuitive and easy to use in most situations, whether you’re filing by desktop or mobile app, which is why we're giving it an 8/10.

Onboarding and data import

Getting started with H&R Block is straightforward. You can import the prior year’s tax return and have it autofill the information. It’s also easy to import common tax forms, like W-2s and 1099s. Many payroll providers also allow you to connect directly to H&R Block.  

Interface and navigation

H&R Block’s interface and navigation are fairly intuitive for most simple tax situations, with an easy-to-understand interview that guides you through the filing process. However, for more complex situations (like if you’re a high-volume crypto trader or have K-1 partnership income from multiple states), the guidance is fairly lacking. Though H&R Block is well-designed, I still find rival TurboTax a bit easier to navigate.

One big drawback is that it’s difficult to downgrade from one version to a less-expensive tier. When you do so, you’ll lose all but your basic personal information, even if you’ve already invested significant time preparing your return.

Mobile and desktop filing experience

H&R Block’s mobile app and desktop versions are both stable and responsive. You can use either option to complete your entire tax return, from initial onboarding to submitting it. But if your taxes are complicated, you’ll probably find it easier to file via desktop software.

H&R Block: Features (9/10)

H&R Block offers several features to ensure your return is accurate and to maximize your tax refund. The AI assist was a clear standout feature. The rest of its features are similar or equal to what other top tax services provide.

Final review/Accuracy check

H&R Block checks your return for completeness and accuracy before you file. If your return contains an error due to H&R Block’s calculation, it will refund up to $10,000 of interest and penalties under its 100% accuracy guarantee. 

Error checking

H&R Block scours your return in real time for errors, incomplete fields and inconsistencies. If it spots a potential red flag, it will highlight it. You’ll then be prompted to address the issue before you proceed to the next section or file.

Audit risk assessment

H&R Block provides general guidance about common scenarios that can trigger an audit, but it doesn’t assess your personal risk of an audit. Audit support isn’t included with its online packages, but you can purchase it as an add-on that will cover you for three years after the return deadline. If you purchase H&R Block’s downloadable tax software, audit support is included in your purchase. 

Tax guidance and education

H&R Block provides extensive tax guidance and education. As you go through the step-by-step interview, you can find hover-over information, additional explanations and a huge library of articles with detailed information about virtually every imaginable individual tax topic.

Maximum refund guarantee

If you don’t receive the biggest tax refund (or smallest tax bill) due to an issue with the software’s calculations, H&R Block will refund your fees and allow you to submit an amended return for free.

Additional features

• AI-powered tax assistance: H&R Block has an AI-powered tax assist feature that I found helpful. For example, when I asked it how to report income from Instacart, it immediately directed me to the relevant tax forms.
• Refund Advance loans: H&R Block offers Refund Advance loans of up to $4,000 with no loan fees and no interest, from Jan. 2 to March 15, 2026. You can have your loan deposited via H&R Block’s Spruce mobile banking app or the H&R Block Emerald Card, a reloadable, prepaid debit card. You can repay the loan with a refund transfer for a $42 fee, or direct the loan to be repaid from a separate repayment account for no fee. The refund advance loan is issued by Pathward®, N.A.

H&R Block: Expert support or access to tax professionals (8/10)

H&R Block offers solid access to tax professionals both online and in person, similar to how  other premium tax software offers -- such as TurboTax. H&R Block makes it pretty easy to DIY your taxes in most simple filing scenarios. However, there are plenty of options if you need professional guidance. 

Review of live support options

H&R Block allows you to work with a tax pro virtually, in person or by dropping off your return at an office. Tax pros may be CPAs, enrolled agents (EAs) or professionals with a niche area of expertise, like retirement, military or small businesses/sole proprietorships. In addition to opting to have an expert prepare and file your return for you, you can also use H&R Block Online to file your own taxes and purchase Tax Pro Review as an add-on (cost varies by plan tier). With Tax Pro Review, you do your own taxes through one of H&R Block’s DIY options, and when you’re finished, a tax professional will review your return for errors, mistakes or missed opportunities. Once you approve any changes, your tax professional will sign and file your return. 

If you’re using any of H&R Block’s paid online packages, you can also access tax pros for general tax questions and help via live chat through the Ask a Pro feature. Live chat is available Monday to Sunday, 7 a.m. CST to 12 a.m. CST.

Final verdict

H&R Block online tax service is easy to use and supports all but the most complicated tax filing situations. It’s more expensive than many competitors, but also not the priciest. It is, however, transparent with its pricing and the price structure is easy to understand. While its Crypto filing experience was a bit lacking, we liked the AI assist feature and the level of professional tax support most filers will need.

H&R Block Score Breakdown

Methodology: How we test and evaluate tax software

We tested each platform on mobile and desktop using the same basic tax scenarios. Here’s what we considered for each of the five categories.

Price and affordability

We looked at each price tier and how it stacked up against competitors’ similar offerings. Availability of a free option was important, but we also considered the likelihood that a user could actually file for free without being forced to upgrade. We also looked at how transparent each service was with their pricing. Services lost points if they didn’t clearly disclose costs of add-ons upfront. 

Eligibility and use cases

We tested each software using the same basic filing scenarios, including simple filing with a W-2 and the standard deduction, itemized returns, investment income, rental income and small-business/self-employment filings. We gave maximum points when a service could handle a broad range of filing situations without requiring extensive manual input or calculations. 

Experience and ease of use

The best tax filing services make preparing your return as simple as possible. To evaluate experience and ease of use, we looked at the setup process (including whether you could simplify the setup process by importing last year’s tax return or uploading your W-2). We also considered whether the service makes filing easier with an easy-to-understand interview process. Each software lost points for things that make for a poor user experience, like a confusing navigation or requiring users to start over if they downgraded to a less-expensive tier.

Features

Many tax software programs have an array of tools to ensure your return is accurate and maximize your refund. We have top ratings in this category for services with robust error-checking tools, audit defense services, a maximum refund guarantee and an option to receive an advance on your refund.

Expert support and tax professional access

Pretty much every filing service lets you DIY your return, but sometimes you need professional guidance. We gave top points to services that offer access to a CPA, EA or other tax pros, as well as those that provide easy access to customer service and technical support.

Scoring approach

Each category received a score on a scale of 1 to 10. The overall score was an evenly weighted average of each category, based on performance relative to competitors and the needs of typical DIY filers, as well as those with common filing situations that require extra guidance or access to a tax professional.