H&R Block vs TurboTax 2025: Honest Side-by-Side Comparison

H&R Block vs TurboTax: Quick Verdict

H&R Block and TurboTax are the two most popular tax software products in the US — and they’re more similar than different. Both are accurate, both cover virtually all tax situations, and both are significantly more expensive than alternatives like FreeTaxUSA. H&R Block consistently costs 20–30% less than TurboTax for equivalent plan tiers and adds the unique advantage of in-person office support if you hit a wall. For most filers, H&R Block is the better deal.

Pricing Comparison (2025)

H&R Block is consistently cheaper — by $34 per federal return on the Deluxe tier, and $27 per state filing. For a couple in two states, H&R Block saves $60–$120 over TurboTax for an equivalent product.

H&R Block’s Unique Advantage: In-Person Support

H&R Block has over 9,000 physical office locations. If you get stuck, have an audit letter, or just want a professional to review your return, you can walk into an H&R Block office. This is a real differentiator that TurboTax cannot match (TurboTax Live is online-only).

For anxious filers or those who’ve received IRS correspondence in the past, the ability to sit across from a real person at a nearby office has genuine psychological — and practical — value.

User Experience: TurboTax Is Still the Polish Leader

TurboTax’s interview-style interface is the smoothest in the industry. H&R Block’s interface is also conversational and good, but TurboTax edges it out in clarity of explanations and proactive deduction prompting. The difference is smaller than it was five years ago — H&R Block has significantly improved its UX — but TurboTax remains the benchmark for first-time filers.

Import Capabilities

Both products offer W-2 import, prior year return import, and brokerage import (for 1099-B data). TurboTax has a slight edge in the breadth of brokerage partners it integrates with directly. Both import prior year data from their own platforms; importing from the other’s platform requires a PDF.

Self-Employed and Freelancer Situations

For Schedule C filers, both products handle the forms well. H&R Block Self-Employed ($85 federal) vs TurboTax Home & Business ($129) is a $44 difference for comparable coverage. H&R Block Self-Employed also includes a year of self-employment expense tracking through their software, which has some utility for gig workers building their records.

Audit Support

H&R Block includes audit representation support — they’ll represent you before the IRS if your return is audited — through their Tax Identity Shield add-on and through their office locations. TurboTax includes audit support (guidance through the process) but full audit representation requires TurboTax Audit Defense ($59.99 add-on). H&R Block’s in-person offices provide a real advantage here: having a tax professional represent you at an IRS correspondence audit is a meaningful service.

Who Should Use H&R Block

• Filers who want solid software at a lower price than TurboTax
• Anyone who might want in-person support as a fallback
• Filers with itemized deductions who don’t want to pay TurboTax’s $69 Deluxe fee
• People in states with complex tax rules who want local office access

Who Should Use TurboTax

• First-time filers who want the most guided, polished experience
• People with complex equity compensation (RSUs, ISOs) — TurboTax Premier handles this best
• Users of TurboTax Live who want on-demand CPA video access
• Existing TurboTax users with multiple prior years of data already stored

The Bottom Line

H&R Block gives you 90% of TurboTax at 70% of the price, plus in-person offices TurboTax can’t match. For most people who aren’t first-time filers and don’t have extreme complexity, H&R Block is the smarter choice. TurboTax is worth the premium only for the most polish-sensitive users or those with unusually complex situations needing TurboTax Live.

And if you’re comfortable with a more DIY approach, FreeTaxUSA handles the same forms for $0 federal — leaving both TurboTax and H&R Block as premium options for those who value guided software.

Related guides: TurboTax vs H&R Block vs TaxAct vs FreeTaxUSA: Full Comparison | FreeTaxUSA vs TurboTax | Which Tax Software Is Right for You?