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Product Review: Tax Software: Turbotax vs. H&R Block

It’s tax season!!! 

 

And you know what that means… 

 

Hours upon hours of figuring out your yearly income and expenses ⏳⏳⏳

 

Cuz truth is, when you’re just starting out as a freelancer or small biz owner, things aren’t all rainbows 🌈 and unicorns 🦄 with the ever-looming IRS.

 

ESPECIALLY if you’re using an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of everythinginstead of a streamlined, cloud-based accounting software like FreshBooks or Wave.



But we’re here to help, not judge 😘  

 

Which is why we’ve taken the liberty to do a product review on TurboTax and H&R Block, two of the most popular tax software platforms out there.

 

Since we’re sure this isn’t your first rodeo with filing taxes 🐴, we’re gonna skip the “about” fluff and dive right into ease of use, features, prices, customer support, and more.

 

Trust us when we say this isn’t one you want to skip. It’ll save you time and headaches for months to come.

➡️ This way to tax relief 👇🏽



TurboTax Vs. H&R Block: Ease of Use


Filing taxes is a challenge, especially as an entrepreneur (those itemized deductions thooo 😖).

 

So, you want a service that can explain things to you like you’re 5 and make sure you’re doing - and paying - what you’re supposed to. 

 

Luckily, both TurboTax and H&R Block have easy-to-use, interview style interfaces to walk you through the filing process step by step.

 

They have: 

  • 💻 Easy navigation menus

  • ℹ️ The right info at the right time to guide you through forms

  • 📞 Customer support almost immediately

 

Just FYI, this section is extremely slim and high-level, mainly touching on what to expect so there are no surprises.

 

(I mean, this most likely isn’t your first time doing taxes sooooo, there’s that.) 

 

Anyways, like usual, we got the bases covered… 😉


Ease of Use of TurboTax



The word is out, and people are ravinggg for TurboTax being soups user-friendly.

 

You can skip around however much you need, and the banner on the side lets you know how you’re getting along. 

 

And no matter where you are, you’re just a click away from tips, explainers, and other resources that can clear up any doubts 💡

 

It’s SO human-centric that it’s like having a convo with a tax guru next to you 🧔🏽🧾

 

Also, on a side note, TurboTax’s parent company, Intuit, has been around for over two decades. Because of that, a lot of current filers are familiar with their interface 😌


Ease of Use of H&R Block



Right, so not much to say about H&R Block’s ease of use here, other than it also has a simple dashboard and is easy on the eyes 👀

 

Nevertheless, it’s not as common sense as TurboTax when it comes to skipping around sections. (With a little brain power, we’re so sure you can do it, though 🧠)

 

Similar to their competition, H&R Block also has links and resources and such dispersed throughout to keep you on track. 

 

But, for ease of use, one clearly pulls out on 🔝

 

Winner: TurboTax



TurboTax is just plain more user-friendly and intuitive than H&R Block. 

 

Plus, its clean design makes filling out the countless questions less overwhelming, and you literally can’t get lost in the sections, like, even if you tried… 😅

 

And as an additional bonus, because TurboTax and QuickBooks are owned by the same parent company (Intuit), you can integrate the accounting platform QuickBooks with TurboTax. 

 

But we admit, ease of use isn’t everything. 

 

So, check out how it measures up to H&R in the rest of the review. 

 

(K, we’re done with the slightly inappropriate, sexual innuendos 😂😇 If you somehow didn’t pick up on them, nvm lol.) 



TurboTax Vs. H&R Block: Features 

 

Whatever you need done, here’s how TurboTax and H&R Block differ:



Winner: H&R Block

 

Yes, it’s a REALLY tough call. Yet still, H&R Block wins. Nothing beats that old school, in-person help 🥰

 

In “normal” times (that is, no COVID), it’s nice to be able to meet face-to-face with a tax expert, especially if you’re a new biz owner and need your hand held because you have no idea what you’re doing.




TurboTax Vs. H&R Block: Price


 We get it. Income > Expenses. Always. 

 

(Btw, you can write off taxes as a business expense. You’re welcome.)

 

While TurboTax and H&R Block do cost about the same, take a look at their self-file costs to see which is more up your alley:



💰 Obviously, more complicated tax situations = more money.  

 

👩🏽‍💼 Also, if you want live support or a tax pro to do things for you, you’ll have to divvy up at least $60 more for either company. 

 

Not to mention the other upsells both push… 

 

👉🏽 Anyways, further deets on TurboTax’s prices as well as H&R Block’s pricescan be found on their websites.

 

(Funny thing… Actually noticed the prices got cheaper the more I toggled around on their websites, switching between pages and such 😂 No joke #shady. But might be worth trying 🤷🏽‍♀️)

 

Winner: H&R Block

 

At face value, yes, H&R Block is cheaper for self-filing.

 

However, as we said earlier, prices can increase tremendously depending how much of a problem child your taxes are, if you want a real person to help you, the like.  



TurboTax Vs. H&R Block: Customer Support 

 

Simply put, taxes are NOT something you want to f*** up and let slide. (Audits are REAL and v costly 🤑)

 

So, it’s nice to know you have a shoulder to lean on when possible.

 

Again, when it comes to customer support, no two customer services are created equally. 

 

Here’s how TurboTax and H&R Block compare:


TurboTax Customer Support

 

TurboTax offers TurboTax Live and TurboTax Live Full Service.

 

When you sign up for TurboTax Live, you can ask tax experts as many annoying questions as you want right as you’re filling out your return. 

 

At the end, they’ll make sure everything’s perf before you send it on its way 📤

 

Or, prefer to dump all your tax stuff on someone else and have them take care of it while you worry about better things? 

 

Done ✅ with TurboTax Live Full Service.

 

All you have to do is upload your tax documents and shove them over. They take care of the rest. 

 

But if you don’t want to spend the extra cash for the Live services, no worries! A free online knowledge base and tech support may be able to help. 



H&R Block Customer Support


H&R Block has “file with a tax pro.”

 

An expert will help you through any questions you have via chat, phone, or screen-sharing as you’re going through your return. 

 

If you want someone to review it and check for errors, that’s also an option (for a higher price, ofc). They can even sign and e-file it for you once they’re done 😁

 

And if THAT wasn’t enough, don’t forget about their physical offices. 

 

You can talk to a real life human in real time. No screen in between (just masks cuz, COVID 😷).

 

Again, if you’re trying to save those dollars, check out their free online info and tech support. 

 

Winner: H&R Block

 

Though we’re willing to be not many people stepped foot in actual offices for their taxes this year, it’s still incredibly convenient that it’s an option.

 

Sometimes we just need that human-to-human, face-to-face connection, ya know? ❤️



TurboTax Vs. H&R Block: Real Reviews


We all want what others like and approve, even when it comes to tax software.

 

So, if you’re not convinced one way or the other just yet, hearing what others have to say may help persuade you (or just confuse you even more lol).  


TurboTax Reviews

  • “Always a delight to use Turbo Tax. I had questions on dependents, 1099-DIV and other tax related items. Used the help and easily figured stuff out. Turbo Tax is the best!” – Dinojoe

  • “Turbo Tax is soo easy to use and gave me a great amount of money back on my taxes. It make sure you understand everything you are doing and as a first time doing it myself I was nervous but using Turbo Tax was so helpful and easy to use. I recommend people to use Turbo Tax!!!!! – Kim1604 

  • “It is so clear, concise, friendly, helpful, and EASY to file taxes with TurboTax!” – rdevonas

  • “Very simple and easy to use. Also has good walk through information when you have questions.” – CowboyTommy 

 

These are just a few of the 15,000+ reviews on the TurboTax website. 


H&R Block Reviews 

  • “This was the first time I have filed my taxes by myself and I found the H&R website easy enough to use. I did pay for a Tax Pro to review my documents, and I was glad to know that my numbers were correct.” – Artur 

  • “I have used H&R block for over 10 years and am quite pleased. Thanks again! Terry was also great in helping me review my return.” – Deb CD

  • “Last year I messed up my taxes and didn't get them back until September. This year H&R Block helped save me precious time and fixed any mistakes I made.” – Bradley87

  • “Easy, simple, quick. Very informative for people who have inquiries about their taxes.” – Chiq 

 

Feel like reading for a day? There are 400,000+ reviews on the H&R Block website, too.



TurboTax Vs. H&R Block: Final Verdict



Even though it seems H&R trumps TurboTax in every aspect, it was a close call on quite a few categories.

 

Really, apples and oranges here 🍎🍊

 

So, in all honesty, price may be the determining factor for you.

 

Let’s put it this way… 

 

Basically, if your tax situation isn’t complicated, go with H&R Block. It’s the best free tax service for simple filings. 

 

Plus, they have physical locations around the U.S. in case you do end up needing in-person help (again, extra charge, but hey). 

 

However, if you’re already self-employed and have your own small biz with a bunch of income streams, TurboTax may be for you.

 

While TurboTax’s fees top out at a full-service tax prep, H&R Block’s pricing can get real expensive real quick (open-ended pricing, babyyyy). 

 

But ultimately, the choice is up to you 🤷🏽‍♀️

 

We’re just here to guide you on the path of least resistance and tell you how things really are, only to set you free and watch you fly after making your own decisions 🕊

 

👉🏽 We do know one thing, though. If you’re worried about getting the mundane administrative stuff right, get early access to Boost. It’s where the side hustle generation goes to handle their finances in one place.