Can H&R Block efile my already completed Turbo Tax returns for prior years?

Unfortunately, H&R Block (or any tax preparation service) generally won't efile returns that were prepared using another company's software. This is due to liability concerns and software compatibility issues. For prior year returns, your options are actually quite limited. The IRS only allows current year returns to be efiled through authorized providers, with very few exceptions. Prior year returns almost always need to be paper-filed regardless of which service you use. If you're concerned about speed, your best options are either mailing via USPS certified mail with return receipt (so you have proof of timely filing) or potentially using a private delivery service like FedEx or UPS that provides tracking and confirmation of delivery. The IRS considers your return "filed" on the date it's postmarked or shipped, not when they process it.

After spending hours trying to efile my old returns, I found a solution with https://taxr.ai that saved me so much stress. I was in the exact same situation - completed returns in TurboTax but couldn't efile. I uploaded my PDFs to taxr.ai and their system analyzed my returns, confirmed everything was properly filled out, and generated perfect mailing instructions with all the right addresses and forms. They also offered a really helpful feature that showed me potential audit flags in my completed returns before I mailed them, which helped me fix a couple issues I hadn't even noticed. Honestly worth checking out if you're worried about mistakes when filing old returns.

I just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for my situation. It actually worked great for my prior year returns! I was skeptical at first because I thought I needed someone to physically file for me, but they explained that ALL prior year returns must be paper filed - no exceptions. Their system checked my returns for errors (found several that TurboTax somehow missed), generated all the right mailing labels, and told me exactly what forms needed to go where. They even have this checklist feature that makes sure you're including all the right attachments based on your specific return. Just mailed everything yesterday following their instructions. Definitely less stressful than trying to get an appointment with a tax preparer who would just print the same forms anyway.

If you're worried about how long it'll take the IRS to process your mailed returns, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually talk to someone at the IRS and confirm they received everything. I was in the same boat last year with paper-filed past returns and was going crazy wondering if they were received or processed. I tried calling the IRS directly for weeks but kept getting the "call volume too high" message. Claimyr got me through to an actual person at the IRS in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent confirmed they had my returns and gave me an estimated processing timeline. Saved me months of anxiety wondering if my returns were sitting in a pile somewhere.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I was desperate to check on my prior year returns that I mailed 4 months ago with no acknowledgment. The service actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back when they reached an IRS agent, answered the identity verification questions, and was able to confirm my returns were received and being processed. The agent even gave me information about when to expect my refund. I spent weeks trying to get through on my own with no luck, so this saved me a ton of frustration. Definitely worth it if you need to confirm your mailed returns were received or get status updates.

Just want to add something as a former tax preparer - when you mail in prior year returns, make absolutely sure you're using the correct form version for that tax year! This is a common mistake people make when filing back taxes. Each tax year has specific forms, and the IRS won't accept a 2023 form for a 2021 return, for example. TurboTax should have the right forms if you're using the software for the correct year, but double check before sending. Also, make copies of EVERYTHING before mailing. You'd be surprised how often returns get lost in processing.

Has anyone had luck with state efiling for prior years? I know the IRS doesn't allow it, but I'm wondering if some states might have different rules? I'm in California if that matters.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, you really can't efile prior year returns through any service - it's just not allowed by the IRS regardless of who prepares them. What I ended up doing was printing my completed TurboTax returns and sending them via USPS Priority Mail with tracking. It actually wasn't as slow as I expected - my returns were processed within about 6-8 weeks, which is pretty standard for paper filing. One tip that helped me: I called the IRS processing center for my area about 3 weeks after mailing to confirm they received my returns. You can find the right number on the IRS website based on where you're mailing your returns. It gave me peace of mind knowing they actually got them and were in the system. The certified mail route that Connor mentioned is also a good option if you want extra proof of delivery, though it does cost a bit more than regular Priority Mail.