Comparing H&R Block VS Turbo Tax for 2025: Which is better for families?

You're not likely to see much difference in your refund amount between H&R Block and TurboTax since they're both using the same tax code. The question is more about your comfort level with DIY. With your situation (married, 4 dependents, straightforward income, no itemized deductions), you have a pretty standard tax situation that software like TurboTax can handle easily. The software will walk you through all the questions about child tax credits, dependent care, and any education credits that might apply to your situation. The $320 you're spending at H&R Block would definitely be saved by going DIY - even TurboTax's highest tier would cost less than that. Your friend's experience might be because when they self-prepared, they missed deductions or credits that a professional caught, but modern tax software is designed to catch these through its question process. If you're nervous, you could try entering your information in TurboTax (it's free to start) and see what kind of refund estimate you get before paying or filing. Just make sure you have all your documents ready - W-2s, 1099s, childcare expenses, etc.

When I was in a similar situation last year (switching from in-person to DIY), I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a game-changer. It's like having a second opinion on your tax return without the professional fees. I was nervous about missing deductions or credits when switching to TurboTax, so I used taxr.ai to scan my completed return before filing. It flagged that I had entered my childcare expenses incorrectly and might be missing out on the full Child and Dependent Care Credit. Fixed that and got an extra $600 back! The nice thing is it works with returns from either TurboTax or H&R Block's software, so you could even compare both if you wanted to. Definitely made me more confident in making the switch to DIY filing.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that someone mentioned earlier. I was skeptical but decided to try it after already completing my return in TurboTax. Holy crap it actually found two issues with my return! I had completely forgotten about some education expenses for my oldest (who's now in college) and it flagged that I might qualify for the American Opportunity Credit. Also found that I had entered my HSA contributions in the wrong section which was causing them to be counted incorrectly. Fixed both issues in TurboTax and my refund went up by $850! That's money I would have left on the table. And it cost way less than the difference between TurboTax and what I used to pay my tax guy. Definitely recommend for anyone making the switch from professional to DIY.

If you do decide to file yourself but run into issues with the IRS afterward (which can happen regardless of whether you use H&R Block or TurboTax), I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS about a processing error on my return last year - constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting on hold. Finally used Claimyr and got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They have this system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you when they get a human. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent was able to fix the issue on the spot, and my refund was released a week later. Saved me months of frustration and letter-writing. Just mentioning this because sometimes even when you file perfectly, you still need to talk to the IRS, and that's where most people get stuck.

Alright, I need to eat some crow here. After my skeptical comment about Claimyr, I got a CP12 notice from the IRS saying they were adjusting my refund and I needed to call. Spent 3 days trying to get through with no luck. Finally broke down and tried Claimyr out of desperation. I'm shocked to say it actually worked exactly as advertised. Their system called me back in about 45 minutes and connected me directly to an IRS agent who helped resolve my issue. I was 100% wrong about this being a scam. For anyone dealing with IRS phone issues, this service is legit and saved me hours of frustration. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!

I've used both H&R Block and TurboTax over the years. Since your tax situation is pretty straightforward (W-2 income, standard deduction, child tax credits), either option will get you the same refund if you enter everything correctly. The biggest difference is just how the software walks you through things. I personally prefer TurboTax's interface - it's more conversational and less form-based than H&R Block's software. Since you're new to DIY, that might make it easier. One thing to consider though - if you've been going to the same H&R Block person for years, they might have knowledge about your history that helps with continuity. But honestly, with 4 kids under 16, you're likely just taking the standard deduction and child tax credits, which any software can handle perfectly.

I switched from H&R Block to TurboTax 2 years ago and my refund was actually higher with TurboTax! Not because TurboTax is "better" but because the software asked me some questions my tax preparer never did about my kids' school expenses and some job-related costs. If you're worried about missing something, just go slow and read all the questions carefully. Both H&R Block and TurboTax use the same tax laws - the difference is just in how thorough you are with providing information. One tip: Before you start, gather ALL your documents: W-2s, any 1099s, childcare receipts, any school costs, healthcare info. Having everything ready makes the process much smoother.

As someone who made the switch from H&R Block to TurboTax three years ago, I can tell you it was one of the best financial decisions I made. With your situation - married filing jointly, 4 dependents, straightforward W-2 income - you're actually in an ideal position for DIY software. Here's what I wish someone had told me before I switched: Your refund amount will be virtually identical between H&R Block and TurboTax because they're both following the same tax code. The real question is whether you're comfortable navigating the software yourself. For a family like yours, you'll mainly be dealing with the Child Tax Credit (up to $2,000 per child under 17), and possibly the Child and Dependent Care Credit if you pay for childcare. TurboTax is excellent at walking you through these family-related credits with simple yes/no questions. My advice? Try TurboTax's free estimation tool first. Input your basic info and see what refund estimate you get. If it's close to your usual $7,000, you'll know the software is capturing your situation correctly. You can always abandon the process if you're not comfortable. That $320 you're saving annually adds up - over 5 years, that's $1,600 back in your pocket for the same result.