H&R Block offers four different online products, each catering to different tax situations. The Free Online plan is best for students and most W-2 employees, the Deluxe plan is suitable for dependents, itemizers, and HSA contributors, the Premium plan is ideal for investors and landlords, and the Self-Employed plan is designed for gig workers, contractors, and business owners. The software also offers a variety of additional features like video chat with tax professionals, in-person appointment planning, tax calculators, and multiple options for receiving tax refunds. However, the AI Tax Assist chatbot may not always provide accurate information, so users are advised to double-check the answers with their own research or by consulting a tax professional.
Key takeaways:
- H&R Block's 2024 online tax filing software offers a user-friendly interface, robust support options, and better free tax filing options than TurboTax.
- It offers four tiers for filing returns -- Free Online, Deluxe, Premium, and Self-Employed -- and also provides in-person assistance and online help from a Live Tax Pro.
- Its new AI Tax Assist chatbot, which helps guide tax filers through the process, is not available for those who file their returns for free.
- Despite its strengths, H&R Block falls short of the top spot on the list of best tax software in 2024 due to its less intuitive interface compared to TurboTax and additional costs for state filing and certain support options.