H&R Block is selling a discounted version of its online DIY tax filing service with professional review, according to WIRED’s commerce coverage, bringing the starting price for Tax Pro Review to $55 with $0 per state filed. WIRED says the service previously started at $75 with $0 per state filed.
The offer is pitched at filers who want to enter their own tax information online, then have an H&R Block tax professional review the return, sign it, and file it. According to WIRED, customers can communicate with the assigned professional online through chat or a virtual call, so the process does not require a visit to an H&R Block office.
That distinction matters for people comparing tax software: the cheaper end of the market usually assumes the filer is comfortable reading forms, catching errors, and deciding which add-ons are worth paying for. H&R Block’s reviewed DIY option keeps the data entry with the customer but adds a human check before filing. Whether that is worth the fee depends on the filer’s return, which WIRED does not assess beyond noting that first-time filers and people with more complicated tax situations may find the review useful.
Free filing has limits
H&R Block also offers an Online Free Edition, according to WIRED. The company says around 55% of filers qualify for it. The free version is limited to simple returns: Form 1040 filings with no schedules, except for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Student Loan Interest, and Retirement Plan Distributions.
WIRED says simple state returns can also be filed for free through H&R Block’s free online option. That is the cleanest number in the whole pricing stack: $0, assuming the return fits the product’s definition of simple. Tax software companies do love a qualifier.
Paid tiers listed by WIRED
For taxpayers outside the free tier, WIRED lists several online filing prices from H&R Block. Deluxe starts at $48 for a federal return plus $49 for each state return, and includes itemized deductions and free Tax Pro Review.
Premium is listed at $80 plus $49 per state return. WIRED says that tier adds support for investments and also includes free Tax Pro Review.
The self-employed and business-owner option is listed at $96 plus $49 per state return. According to WIRED, that version supports 1099 forms with expenses and includes free Tax Pro Review.
WIRED says H&R Block has provided tax preparation services for 70 years and still offers in-person help alongside online filing. WIRED also discloses that its editors independently select featured products but that the publication may receive compensation from retailers or purchases made through its links.
This story draws on original reporting from WIRED.
