H&R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 24.5 million tax returns prepared worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and Brazil. TheKansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services.
Founded in 1955 by brothers Henry W. Bloch and Richard Bloch, Block today operates 11,000 retail tax offices in the United States, plus another 1,700 abroad. Block offers its own consumer tax software called H&R Block at Home (formerly TaxCut), as well as online tax preparation and electronic filing from their website.
Here's what the critics have to say about H&R Block At HomeTM :
H&R Block provides the most enjoyable interview process, with plenty of visual cues and clear explanation of tax terms. It also offers the most generous customer support.
-CNET Downloads
H&R Block at Home Premium also includes audit defense assistance: Should the IRS audit your return, a Block tax pro will help you prepare for and even accompany you to the audit. This is a great peace-of-mind benefit for which TurboTax charges an extra $40."
- PCWorld, Yardena Arar
Block's strengths include a neat and clean design, with a multilayered tab structure and good navigation tools for returning to specific areas. A right-hand sidebar provides FAQs and tax-guide links, program help, a search utility, and an 'Ask a Tax Question' area for searching Block's knowledge base and--if all else fails--starting a free session with a Block tax advisor (another Block benefit)."
- PCWorld, Yardena Arar
H&R Block Worry-free Audit Support provides help from an H&R Block enrolled agent to assist with IRS correspondence, audit preparation and representation if needed. Worry-free Audit Support is included with all H&R Block At Home versions, which is a real plus.
-About.com
Using this software is like having your own personal tax accountant in the room with you.
TopTenREVIEW
One of the things that sets H&R Block apart from other services is that you can visit one of their local offices and talk to a professional tax preparer and have them prepare and submit your taxes for you.
-TopTenREVIEWS,
They were one of the few tax services we reviewed that caught all deductions, credits and errors we were looking for to provide the maximum refund amount possible. We found the online tax preparation software easy to use, and they were 100 percent in tune with current tax laws. Additionally, they are the only tax service that offers free audit representation for those that subscribe to their extended service plan.
-TopTenREVIEWS
H&R Block also attaches a free service to all their packages called Worry Free Audit Support and guarantees assistance from a live agent should you ever be audited by the IRS after filing your taxes through their software.
MyBankTracker.com
However, H&R Block has a few things TurboTax does not. They offer, for example, the Best of Both Package where you can prepare your taxes online and file your return with the support of a tax professional for $79.95.
-MyBankTracker.com
