The answer to Is H&R Block actually free? is a Yes, because the service is free for both federal and state if you are filing a simple tax return. It covers unemployment income, retirement income, W-2 income, and interest and dividend income.
Is H&R Block or TurboTax better?
When it comes to costs, H&R Block‘s pricing is slightly lower than TurboTax‘s. Both offer solid customer service, an easy-to-use interface, and clear instructions and guidance, though there are some variations between packages.
Beyond the free version, here’s how they stack up on cost for the DIY online filing option, not considering discounts:
| H&R Block | TurboTax | |
| Deluxe | $49.99 | $59 |
| Premier/Premium | $69.99 | $89 |
| Self-employed | $109.99 | $119 |
| Additional state return fee | $36.99 | $49 |
Are there other H&R Block fees I should know about?
Like most companies, H&R Block allows you to pay for tax prep and other related fees right from your federal or state refund payment, but you’ll be charged a $39 Refund Transfer fee.
That means that H&R Block won’t charge you when you file, but will take the amount you owe from your refund plus the additional fee. So, for example, if you went with the Deluxe option for $49.99 and added on the additional $39 Refund Transfer fee, H&R Block won’t charge you on the spot but will deduct the added charges ($49.99 +$39 = $88.99) from your final refund. If you don’t have the cash available to pay now and you expect to get a large refund, it might be worth the extra fee.