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Tax season is just around the corner. Let’s compare TurboTax with H&R Block to help you choose the right tax software for your needs. I always stress about filing taxes, but there are a number of tax filing services to make the process easier. Two of the most well-known services are H&R Block and TurboTax – which is the best software for 2020 taxes?
TurboTax and H&R Block Overview
TurboTax is the most widely used tax software. The software is available as a cloud-based version and desktop version, and lets you pay for additional features depending on your needs. On the other hand, H&R Block comes in an online and desktop version. The software is popular both when preparing taxes on your own and when using professional help.
Both TurboTax and H&R Block offer paid versions that accommodate progressively complex tax situations. Provided you enter your information accurately, these two options will give the same refund results. As such, the best choice comes down to the following factors:
TurboTax vs H&R Block Price Comparison
Generally, H&R Block is the cheaper of the two. TurboTax offers you four different versions to choose from: Free, Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed. Depending on the version you choose, costs will start from free and can go up to $120 for a federal return. For state returns, you will pay extra charges of up to $55 per state.
H&R Block also offers you four choices: Free, Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed. In addition, you will get to choose between do-it-yourself and professional tax preparation. With this tax software option, costs range from free to a maximum of $105 for a federal return and $50 per state for state returns.
TurboTax vs H&R Block Tax Software User Experience
Both TurboTax and H&R Block provide a great user experience and make it easy for you to upload the relevant documents.
H&R Block offers an attractive, simple, and easy-to-use interface. This allows you to add forms, enter your details and navigate through your taxes easily. The program also explains different concepts as you move along.
TurboTax has an interview-style approach that features simple questions to help guide you through the process. The user-focused features explain various concepts on the page as you fill in the required information. There is also a banner that keeps track of where you are in the filing process and highlights the areas you still need to complete.
Regardless of the option you choose, you will get an intuitive interface that ensures things flow logically so you can file your returns quickly. However, TurboTax is easier to navigate, making it the more user-friendly tax software of the two.
Expert Help
H&R Block has retail locations in all 50 states, making it easy to get in-person support. You can also get unlimited, on-demand help from tax experts through H&R Block Online Assist that comes as an add-on to the online software.
TurboTax doesn’t have any physical locations, but it does provide access to tax experts. It costs extra to work with a TurboTax expert, but there are four different plans available, TurboTax offers TurboTax Live, a support feature that enables you to get help from tax experts through video chat. This software also has video tutorials, a searchable knowledge base, and an online community to ensure you get the information and advice you need.
Free Options Within TurboTax and H&R Block
The free plans offered by both TurboTax and H&R Block are ideal for filers with simple returns. However, the free option from H&R Block includes more forms and schedules, which allows for more tax situations than TurboTax’s free version.
In the end, the tax software you choose will depend on your needs and personal preference.
Which one will you choose?