Key Takeaways
- H&R Block is the best value among the major tax software providers - Free through Self-Employed plans start at $0 and top out at $85 federal, well below TurboTax's $139 Premium.
- State filing costs $37 per state on all paid plans, compared to $64 per state with TurboTax - a meaningful difference if you file in more than one state.
- H&R Block added AI Tax Assist in 2025-2026, an AI tool available on paid plans that answers tax questions in plain English and reviews your return for missed deductions.
- One advantage TurboTax can't match: H&R Block has thousands of physical office locations. If you prefer to hand your return to a human, you can start online and finish in person.
- Free in-person audit support from enrolled agents is included with all plans - no upgrade needed.
For tax year 2025 (filed in 2026), H&R Block is the strongest mid-market alternative to TurboTax — meaningfully cheaper across every tier, with a comparable guided interview experience and one thing TurboTax cannot offer: the option to walk into a physical office if you want a human to take over.
Here is what has changed for 2025-2026 and whether it is worth switching.
H&R Block Pricing for 2025-2026
H&R Block charges less than TurboTax at every tier, and the gap is significant at the upper end — $85 versus $139 for the self-employed tier.
| Plan | Federal | State | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Simple W-2 returns with standard deduction |
| Deluxe | $35 | $37/state | Homeowners, itemizers, HSA, childcare |
| Premium | $60 | $37/state | Investments, rental income, crypto sales |
| Self-Employed | $85 | $37/state | Freelancers, contractors, small business owners |
State filing is $37 per state on paid plans. That is $27 cheaper per state than TurboTax’s $64. For a filer with income in two states, that alone saves $54.
You can start any plan for free and only pay when you actually file.
What Is New for 2025-2026
AI Tax Assist is H&R Block’s new AI tool, available on all paid plans. It answers tax questions in plain language as you file, and can review your return to flag potential missed deductions. It is similar to TurboTax’s Intuit Assist, though H&R Block’s version is more conversational and less focused on document parsing.
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), passed in 2025, introduced new deductions that H&R Block now handles: the tips deduction (up to $25,000 for qualifying workers), 100% bonus depreciation on business equipment, and the now-permanent 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction for self-employed filers.
H&R Block also updated its interface for tax year 2025 to better handle cryptocurrency reporting and rental property income — both previously weak spots compared to TurboTax.
How H&R Block Compares to TurboTax
The filing experience is similar — both use a step-by-step interview format, both cover the same federal forms, and both include an accuracy review before you submit. The meaningful differences are price, support, and the in-person option.
H&R Block’s upsell pressure is lighter. TurboTax prompts you to upgrade at multiple points in the filing process. H&R Block is more restrained — you will see upgrade prompts mainly when you add an income type that your current plan does not cover.
For complex returns (investments, multiple 1099s, self-employment, rental income), I still lean toward TurboTax’s Premium tier for its depth and document import features. But for most filers — W-2 plus a mortgage and some investments — H&R Block’s Premium at $60 does the job TurboTax charges $139 for.
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Audit Support
Free in-person audit support from H&R Block enrolled agents is included with every plan — no upgrade required. This is a genuine differentiator. TurboTax offers free audit guidance, but full representation requires the MAX add-on at extra cost. With H&R Block, you can walk into an office and have a licensed professional handle the IRS for you, included in the price you already paid.
For identity theft protection and additional audit defense layers, H&R Block offers an optional Worry-Free Audit Support add-on, but it is not required for basic in-person audit help.
The In-Person Option
H&R Block has over 9,000 physical office locations in the U.S. If you start your return online and hit something confusing, you can hand it off to a tax professional at a local office. The software is integrated — your online progress carries over.
This hybrid option does not exist with TurboTax. If you have any chance of wanting a human to complete your return, H&R Block is worth considering on that basis alone.
Common Issues to Watch Out For
One thing I hear about often: people who start with H&R Block Free and discover mid-return that their situation requires Deluxe or Premium. The Free plan is genuinely limited to simple W-2 returns with the standard deduction — if you have a mortgage, investments, or freelance income of any kind, you will be upgraded.
The “Plus” add-on that appears after the accuracy review (adds document storage and live tech support) is optional — you do not need to take it. Click past if you do not want it.
Also note: H&R Block’s Self-Employed plan ($85 federal) is a separate product from their Premium ($60) plan, not just an upgrade. Make sure you start in the right tier if you have freelance income — switching mid-return can be annoying.
When to Choose H&R Block Over TurboTax
H&R Block makes more sense if: you are price-sensitive, you want in-person backup as an option, or you have a relatively straightforward return (W-2, mortgage, standard investments). The savings versus TurboTax are real — $44 cheaper at the Premium tier, $27 less per state.
TurboTax makes more sense if: you have a genuinely complex return (heavy crypto, multiple business income streams, rental properties across states), or you want the most polished document-import and AI-classification experience.
See the full best tax software comparison for how H&R Block stacks up against TaxAct and other options.