Accidentally upgraded to H&R Block Premium - can I just create a new account to avoid the fee?

You can absolutely create a new account with H&R Block using a different email address. There's no rule against having multiple accounts, and the software doesn't track you by anything other than the login credentials. Just make sure you have all your documents ready to re-enter and don't file through both accounts. The IRS will flag duplicate filings immediately. Also, if you already paid for Premium on your current account, you likely won't get that money back, so consider if the savings are worth redoing the work. One thing to watch for: if you received any tax documents through the H&R Block interface (like imported W-2s or 1099s), you'll need to manually enter those in the new account. And don't forget to download or print any documents from your current account that you might need for your records before abandoning it.

I was in a similar situation last year with H&R Block charging me for features I didn't need. After hours of frustration trying to downgrade, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which analyzed my tax documents and gave me personalized guidance on which forms I actually needed. Saved me from paying for premium features I didn't need, and their document analysis showed me exactly what forms applied to my situation. Their automated review found a deduction I missed too! If you're stuck deciding what version you really need, it might help before you start over.

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai that I mentioned earlier. I was super skeptical but decided to give it a try since I was frustrated with being forced into premium versions. It actually worked really well! I uploaded my documents and it analyzed exactly what forms I needed - turned out I only needed very basic forms and could use the completely free version of FreeTaxUSA instead of paying for H&R Block premium. Saved me about $85 total and the interface was way simpler than I expected. Definitely checking this first next year before I start entering data into any tax software.

After dealing with similar upgrade issues, I found that trying to contact H&R Block customer service was impossible - waited on hold for over 2 hours! I ended up using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to them and actually got a representative in about 10 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They were able to downgrade my account, though they couldn't refund the difference. Still, saved me from having to redo everything from scratch. Might be worth trying before creating a new account.

I need to apologize to Profile 3 about Claimyr. I was super skeptical and called it BS, but after sitting on hold with H&R Block for nearly 3 hours and getting disconnected twice, I was desperate enough to try anything. Used that Claimyr service and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. The H&R Block rep couldn't give me a refund but did switch me to a lower tier for next year. They also gave me a code for 50% off state filing which helped offset some costs. So yeah, it actually works and saved me a ton of time. Sorry for doubting you!

I work in customer support (not for H&R Block), and I can tell you that creating a new account is totally fine. Companies expect people to make multiple accounts for various reasons. The only potential issue is if you're in the middle of a filing that has saved data - that won't transfer to your new account.

Have you tried calling H&R Block directly? Sometimes they can remove premium if you explain the situation. I accidentally upgraded to premium last year and they switched me back when I called.