Can I cancel my H&R Block appointment and file my taxes myself instead without paying their fee?

You're in luck! If H&R Block hasn't actually filed your return with the IRS yet, you can absolutely back out. The key is that nothing has been submitted to the government at this point. Simply call the office where you had your appointment and let them know you've decided to file your taxes yourself instead. Since your return isn't complete and hasn't been filed, you typically won't owe them anything. They may have had you sign some paperwork, but it usually only becomes binding once they complete and file your return. I'd recommend calling sooner rather than later though. Be polite but firm that you've changed your mind and want to handle your taxes yourself. Ask them to confirm that you won't be charged since nothing was filed. Get the name of whoever you speak with just in case.

I was in a similar situation last year with feeling overwhelmed doing my own taxes. I tried taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after a friend recommended it, and it was seriously helpful. You just upload your tax documents and it pulls out all the important information and walks you through filing step by step. It was way cheaper than H&R Block and actually helped me learn how to do it myself rather than just doing it for me. I think you're making a smart move to learn how to do your own taxes - it's really not as scary as the big tax prep companies make it seem, especially with the right tools.

Just wanted to follow up - I took the advice here and tried taxr.ai after canceling my H&R Block appointment. SO glad I did! I was nervous about my side gig income but it walked me through everything step by step. I ended up saving the $200+ that H&R wanted to charge me, and I actually learned something about how my taxes work instead of just having someone do it for me. The document scanning feature saved me tons of time too. Will definitely use it again next year!

Another thing to consider - if you ever need to follow up with the IRS after filing (like if there's an issue with your refund or you have questions), good luck getting through on the phone. I spent HOURS on hold last year. I ended up using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which somehow gets you through to an actual human at the IRS without the crazy wait. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c After trying to DIY my taxes and having some issues, this saved me so much frustration. The IRS actually had a question about my return that was holding up my refund, and I would never have known without getting through to them.

I have to admit I was completely wrong. After my tax return got flagged for verification this year and I couldn't get through to the IRS for weeks, I remembered this thread and tried Claimyr out of desperation. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 30 minutes (while I was just going about my day, not sitting on hold). The agent was able to verify what was holding up my refund and told me exactly what documentation to send in. Now my refund is on the way. For anyone doing their own taxes, definitely bookmark this service because the DIY approach is great until something goes wrong and you need to talk to the IRS.

Just a heads up - make sure you get copies of all the documents and information that H&R Block already entered. You'll need your prior year AGI to file electronically this year if you do it yourself. Ask them to print out a copy of what they've done so far!

Don't feel bad about backing out! I used to work at a tax prep place (not H&R but similar), and this happens ALL THE TIME. From the business perspective, it's just part of the game. Just be polite when you call to cancel. FYI - for a basic return, those fees are crazy. Unless you have super complicated taxes (multiple rental properties, your own business with employees, etc.), most tax software is really user-friendly now and costs WAY less.

You're absolutely making the right call! $270 is way too much for a basic tax return, especially when you consider how much good tax software has improved. Most people can handle their own taxes these days unless they have really complex situations. Since H&R Block hasn't filed anything yet, you should be completely in the clear to back out without any fees. I'd call them today and just say you've decided to file yourself. Don't let them pressure you into staying - they'll probably try to scare you about making mistakes, but honestly, the software available now walks you through everything step by step and catches most errors. The fact that you're willing to learn how to do it yourself is great too. Once you do it once, you'll realize it's not nearly as complicated as these places make it seem, and you'll save hundreds every year going forward.