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TurboTax vs. H&R Block: Which Software Is Best For You?

TurboTax is popular, but it isn't the clear choice for all. Our opinion: Take a hard look at H&R Block before deciding how to file.

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Sabrina Parys

Editor & Content Strategist

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Expertise

• Taxes
• Investing

Sabrina Parys is an editor and content strategist on the taxes and investing team at NerdWallet, where she manages and writes content on personal income taxes. Her previous experience includes five years as a copy editor and associate editor in academic and educational publishing. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.

Published in

Editor & Content Strategist

Sabrina Parys is an editor and content strategist on the taxes and investing team at NerdWallet, where she manages and writes content on personal income taxes. Her previous experience includes five years as a copy editor and associate editor in academic and educational publishing. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.

Arielle O'Shea

Head of Content, Investing & Taxes

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19 years of experience

Expertise

• Retirement planning
• investment management
• investment accounts

Arielle O’Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet. She has covered personal finance and investing for nearly 20 years, and was a senior writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet before becoming an editor. Previously, she was a researcher and reporter for leading personal finance journalist and author Jean Chatzky, a role that included developing financial education programs, interviewing subject matter experts and helping to produce television and radio segments. Arielle has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC's "World News Tonight," and has been quoted in national publications including The New York Times, MarketWatch and Bloomberg News. She is based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Published in

Head of Content, Investing & Taxes

Arielle O’Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet. She has covered personal finance and investing for nearly 20 years, and was a senior writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet before becoming an editor. Previously, she was a researcher and reporter for leading personal finance journalist and author Jean Chatzky, a role that included developing financial education programs, interviewing subject matter experts and helping to produce television and radio segments. Arielle has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC's "World News Tonight," and has been quoted in national publications including The New York Times, MarketWatch and Bloomberg News. She is based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Competition is fierce among the biggest tax-prep software providers. Many consider TurboTax to be king, but it may not be the clear choice for everyone. Here’s our point-by-point comparison to help sort out which is better for you.

How the costs compare

FREE TIERS

$0 + $0 per state filed.

TurboTax Free Edition supports a simple Form 1040 and no schedules except for the 1-A, earned income tax credit, child tax credit and student loan interest. Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible.

$0 + $0 per state filed.

Allows you to file a 1040 plus earned income credit, child tax credit, student loan interest, Schedule 1-A, and limited Schedules 1, 2 and 3, which makes it usable by a lot more people than most other free software packages.

PAID PACKAGES

Deluxe $69 + $59 per state.

Itemize and claim several tax deductions and credits. Works well for business income but no expenses.

Premium $129 + $59 per state.

Investment reporting and rental income (Schedules D and E, and K-1s), plus business income, expenses on a Schedule C, home office deductions and features for freelancers.

Access to tax pro support requires upgrading to TurboTax's Expert Assist packages, which range from $49 to $199, plus state fees of $54 to $64.

Promotion: NerdWallet users can save up to an additional 10% on TurboTax.

Deluxe $60 + $49 per state.

Itemize and claim several tax deductions and credits. Works well for business income but no expenses.

Premium $100 + $49 per state.

For investors or rental property owners (Schedules D and E, and K-1s).

Self-Employed $120 + $49 per state.

For small-business owners, freelancers and independent contractors.

All paid packages include unlimited tax pro help and AI Tax Assist.

Promotion: NerdWallet users receive 20% off federal filing costs.

One note about prices: Providers frequently change them and may offer discounted services and packages toward the beginning of tax filing season. These markdowns tend to get replaced with surge pricing the closer we get to the tax filing deadline. We base our reviews on the list prices and not the discounts to reflect this. All prices are accurate as of March 2. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to the provider's website.

What it’s like to use

Only one entity determines how the math works on a tax return, and that’s the IRS. So unless there’s a programming error, you should get the same numerical “answer” no matter which tax software you use. But you still have to feed the software all of your information, and there are a million ways to do that. This is why we look at features and ease of use — we want to know which offerings are least likely to make you want to lose your cool.

H&R Block

H&R Block’s interface is visually simple, straightforward to use, and it steps up to explain concepts as you go. The program does a great job of posing “yes or no” questions to help funnel the user to the correct forms, but we found that TurboTax does a slightly better job of shepherding the customer through the various tax scenarios they might encounter.

In terms of navigation, skipping around to specific spots can be a little trickier than it needs to be, but a banner across the top keeps track of where you are in the filing process.

Embedded "learn more" links provide more information without having to wander around, the help menu is visible from all pages, and you can click to access the help portal throughout. Note that for the free edition, the chatbot can only answer simple questions, and in our testing, we found that it often had difficulty pointing us to relevant resources.

TurboTax

TurboTax’s interface is like a chat with a tax preparer, and you can skip around if you need to. We found that the program does a stellar job of moving a taxpayer through the return, whether you're a beginner or seasoned filer. Questions are posed simply, helping customers quickly and confidently enter the necessary information.

A banner running along the side keeps track of where you stand in the process and flags areas you still need to complete. If forms are not yet available, the program also flags when you can expect the IRS or a financial provider to supply them.

Embedded links throughout the process offer tips, explainers and other resources. And help buttons can connect you to the searchable knowledge base, on-screen help and more. AI Tax Assist, which is available with all packages, is also a handy tool that can help field basic questions or point you to resources within the vast TurboTax knowledge database.

Both H&R Block and TurboTax allow you to switch from a different software provider and import tax documents, and they both have a mobile app. H&R Block has a tool to help you calculate the deduction value of donated items, while TurboTax has discontinued its counterpart, ItsDeductible. This may be a sticking point for those who itemize.

» MORE: Try our federal tax calculator

What kind of tax support you get

H&R Block and TurboTax each offer in-line help and searchable knowledge bases, tech support and access to tax pros.

H&R Block's tax support services are notable, as pricing for the paid packages includes access to a tax pro through chat or video — something that often requires upgrading to an entirely new package with other providers. However, if you're looking for a final review, you'll have to pay more.

Both TurboTax and H&R Block offer full-service and in-person filing. However, H&R's wide net of offices throughout the U.S. might make the face-to-face option far more accessible than TurboTax's more limited in-person offerings.

H&R Block

If you use one of H&R Block’s paid packages, you get access to the company’s AI Tax Assist tool, as well as unlimited chat or screen-sharing sessions with a human tax pro at any point while preparing your return. The tax pro will not review, sign or e-file your return for you, though.

H&R Block’s Tax Pro Review offers a one-on-one review of your completed return with a human tax pro who will go over your documents and check for accuracy and possible missed deductions or credits; if you want, the tax pro will also sign and e-file your return for you. The cost generally starts at $55, and the review usually happens within three days.

H&R Block also has another option: an enormous band of human tax preparers at the company’s 9,000 or so offices around the world. Full-service help is available both virtually and at brick-and-mortar stores. It isn’t free, of course (in-office and virtual appointments start at $89), but it helps to know you can go there if you get confused or stuck.

TurboTax

All of TurboTax's standard paid package types can be upgraded to TurboTax Expert Assist packages, which offer unlimited on-demand screen sharing, phone and chat access to tax pros, as well as a one-on-one review with a tax pro before you file. You can talk on the fly to a tax pro via one-way video (you see them, but they don’t see you; they just see your screen).

TurboTax also offers Expert Full Service, which eliminates the need for tax software altogether. Instead, you upload your tax documents and a human puts together your tax return. You’ll be matched with a tax preparer, meet on a video call before they begin working, and then you’ll meet again when your return is ready for review. The preparer files the return for you.

Expert Full Service starts at $89, but the final price may vary based on your actual tax situation and the forms used or included with your return. State returns are additional.

TurboTax has also expanded its physical footprint this year by opening more offices and service locations nationwide.

Transparency: What’s clear — and what’s not

When choosing which products to use and pay for, transparency can make or break the experience. We evaluated how each provider handles product comparison, upselling, and the ease of upgrading or downgrading.

Product comparison

TurboTax makes it harder than necessary to independently determine and price which DIY product you need. While side-by-side pricing and feature comparisons are standard for tax software, TurboTax shows price ranges and recommends products based on user input. H&R Block, by contrast, offers a clear side-by-side comparison, making it easier to quickly scan what each DIY product offers and how much it will cost.

Upselling

When filing, upsells are unavoidable with either provider. We found both H&R Block and TurboTax to be middle of the road, with design choices that may frustrate users, such as prominently highlighted offers that require a deliberate click away to decline.

Downgrading and upgrading

Both companies have improved the upgrading and downgrading experience. Rather than calling customer service or restarting their returns, users can now downgrade within the software if a higher-tier package was initially selected but wasn’t actually needed. Both programs also clearly explain when and why an upgrade is required if you try to add unsupported income or information. That said, H&R Block still has room for improvement in how much information carries over when downgrading to a lower-tier return.

Ways to receive your refund

Both H&R Block and TurboTax allow filers to receive a federal refund via direct deposit to a bank account. Other options include applying the refund to next year’s taxes or directing the IRS to purchase U.S. savings bonds on your behalf. Both providers also let users pay their tax prep fees with their refund, though this option comes with an additional fee.

Notably, the IRS is discontinuing paper checks in most cases, which means filers without access to a bank account may find H&R Block’s prepaid gift card and debit card options particularly helpful. TurboTax does not offer debit or gift card options for refunds.

» MORE: See how to track the status of your tax refund

Help if you get audited

If you're audited, it’s important to know what kind of support you’re getting from your tax software. First, be sure you know the difference between “support” and “defense.” With most providers, audit support (or “assistance”) typically means guidance about what to expect and how to prepare — that’s it. Audit defense, on the other hand, gets you full representation before the IRS from a tax professional.

H&R Block offers free audit support, but you also can buy a product called Worry-Free Audit Support. This gets you in contact with an enrolled agent to guide you through an audit. It includes IRS correspondence management, audit preparation and in-person audit representation from an enrolled agent; it costs $20. You could also bundle it with Tax Identity Shield for another $10, which provides personal assistance if it turns out criminals used your personal information to file a fake tax return.

TurboTax gives customers free audit support from a tax pro to help you understand what’s going on if you get that dreaded audit letter for a tax return you filed through the program; if TurboTax can’t connect you with a pro, you’ll get a refund or $30 if you used the Free Edition. If you want someone to represent you in front of the IRS, you’ll need TurboTax’s audit defense product, called MAX. It runs an extra $49.99 and includes features such as identity theft monitoring, loss insurance and restoration help.

» MORE: See how to track the status of your tax refund

Which one is right for you?

Despite its dominant market share in DIY tax prep, TurboTax may not be the clear choice for everyone. While both providers offer robust human support options, the level of help you get varies by cost and package type.

H&R Block doesn’t charge extra for tax pro support if you’re using one of its paid packages — a big bonus, as most tax software charges additional fees for this type of help. However, this support doesn’t come with a free final review, and the pro won’t sign and file for you. For that, you’ll need to upgrade to Tax Pro Review at an additional cost.

Filers looking for unlimited tax pro support, including a final review and generous customer support hours, may lean toward TurboTax Expert Assist, which offers all of these features in one neat package despite a higher price.

Both providers also offer a great user experience, helping users to upload, import, and add their information efficiently and with guidance. However, we found that the experience of working within the TurboTax interface was slightly more streamlined than that of H&R Block's.

» Want all the details? Read our full reviews of H&R Block and TurboTax

Federal: $52.99 to $104.99. Free version available for simple tax returns only.

State: $44.99 to $62.99 per state.

Add Xpert Assist for $45.

Promotion: NerdWallet users get 20% off federal and state filing costs.

Federal: $60 to $120. Free version available for simple tax returns only.

State: $0 to $49 per state.

Unlimited tax pro help included in paid packages.

Promotion: NerdWallet users receive 20% off federal filing costs.

Federal: $69 to $129. Free version available for a simple Form 1040 return only (no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, student loan interest, and Schedule 1-A). Roughly 37% of filers qualify.

State: $0 to $59 per state.

Tax pro help available by upgrading to Expert Assist.

Promotion: NerdWallet users can save up to an additional 10% on TurboTax.

Federal: $39.99 to $69.99. Free version available for simple tax returns only.

State: $0 to $45.99 per state.

On-demand tax help at Premium and Self-Employed tiers.

Promotion: NerdWallet users receive 20% off federal filing costs on Classic, Premium, and Self-Employed packages with the code "Nerd20".

These star ratings are based on a tax provider's free tier score. For more detailed scoring, see the full product details above. Providers frequently change pricing. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to each provider's site.

In this comparison

In this comparison

on Larson Tax Relief's website

Tax Levies & Liens Release, plus Wage Garnishment Relief;

End Penalties & Interest and Resolve Back Taxes;

IRS Audit Defense, Tax Negotiation, and Payroll Tax Support.

on Larson Tax Relief's website