Tax Software
H&R Block: features, pricing and who it fits
H&R Block offers online Free, Deluxe and Self-Employed tiers plus a Windows-only Premium & Business download, backed by its tax offices. Its own pages differ on Schedule C coverage in the lower tiers, and state fees appear as $19.95 or $39.95, so confirm the total at checkout.
Who H&R Block is for
Best for
- Self-employed filers who want an online Self-Employed edition with the option of in-person or pro help from the same brand
- Small business owners who want downloadable Windows software for business returns
Look elsewhere if
- Mac users who need the Premium & Business desktop edition (listed for Windows 11)
- Filers who need a verified, published price before starting, since the vendor's pricing pages blocked automated reading and sources disagree
H&R Block features
- Tax market
- US federal and state returns
- Self-employed return support
- Self-Employed Online and Premium & Business desktop are the Schedule C products; the Deluxe + State page says Deluxe does not cover Schedule C
- Business entity returns
- Premium & Business desktop edition is described as supporting business returns
- E-filing to IRS or ELSTER
- E-file for federal and state returns (state e-file fee listed at $19.95)
- Expert or Steuerberater help
- Tax Pro Review add-on online and tax offices; Premium & Business lists unlimited help
- Pricing model
- Per return: free tier, then per-tier federal price plus per-state fee
- Target company size
- Individuals, freelancers and small business owners
H&R Block pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Online | $0 federal, $0 state, $0 filing fee | per return | Vendor page text for simple returns; eligibility text on vendor pages is inconsistent about Schedule C |
| Self-Employed Online | $130 | per federal return | Price from the product's structured data on the vendor's self-employed page, as shown in a search result |
| Premium & Business (Windows download) | Starting at $99 plus state | per tax year | Includes 1 state; additional states and state e-file fees listed at $39.95 and $19.95 on one page |
hrblock.com returned HTTP 403 to every direct fetch, so these figures come only from the vendor's own pages as shown in search results. H&R Block's filing FAQ result says paid online plans start at $65 federal. State fees differ across pages ($19.95 or $39.95 per state). Treat all paid prices as unconfirmed until checked at checkout.
Prices as published by H&R Block on the date above. Quotes for larger teams often differ, which is what a request on SaaSBid surfaces.
Worth knowing before you buy
- The Schedule C question has two answers on H&R Block's own pages: the Deluxe + State page says Deluxe does not cover Schedule C, while the Free Online page lists Schedule C income among who qualifies.
- Business returns sit in the Windows-only Premium & Business download, not in the online tiers.
- State fees differ across H&R Block pages ($19.95 or $39.95 per state), so budget for the higher figure until checkout shows the total.
- The brand was in the 2011 DOJ-blocked bid to buy TaxAct, which ended up with Blucora in 2012.
H&R Block alternatives
Vendor dossier
Fit by company size
| Category | 1-10 people | 11-50 people | 51-500 people | 500+ people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Software | Strong fit | Workable | No data | No data |
Strong fitWorkablePoor fitNo data from the vendor
How buying H&R Block works
- How you buy
- Buy online
- Free plan
- Yes
- Contract
- Per return, pay at filing
About the company
- Founded
- 1955
- Headquarters
- Kansas City, US
- Ownership
- public (NYSE: HRB)
- Employees
- 4,200 full-time (2024)
- 1993
- Bought MECA Software, maker of TaxCut
- 2010
- Agreed to buy TaxAct parent for $287.5 million; DOJ sued to block
- 2016
- Launched Block Advisors year-round tax service
What vendors in this category ask before quoting
Answer these once in a SaaSBid request and H&R Block and its alternatives quote against the same facts.
- Which country will the return be filed in, and are you also filing in a second one?Tax software serves one market, so a two-country setup usually needs two products.
- Are you a sole proprietor, freelancer, LLC, partnership or corporation?Entity type decides which edition and which forms are required.
- Is your VAT or Umsatzsteuer status small-business exempt or regular?Some German products cover only exempt or simple cases and treat VAT-liable users separately.
- How many returns and how many states or businesses do you need to file?Per-state fees and limits on returns per license change the total price.
- Do you want a person to review or prepare the return, or only software?Expert tiers cost more and can be priced per entity or as a share of a refund.
- If you run a tax firm: how many clients and staff do you have, and do you keep DATEV?Client bands, included users and the DATEV interface decide which plan and which add-ons are needed.