Does H&R Block prepare previous year tax returns? Need help with 2018-2019

I've helped quite a few people with prior year returns, so I can definitely provide some insights here. H&R Block does offer prior year tax preparation services both online and in-person. Their online option for prior years typically costs less than TurboTax, usually around $60-70 per year depending on your tax situation complexity. Another option that many people don't know about is FreeTaxUSA, which charges only about $15 for a prior year federal return (plus state if needed). They have all the forms for 2018 and 2019 available. The interface isn't as fancy as TurboTax but it gets the job done properly. Just remember that regardless of which service you use, prior year returns can only be filed by mail - no e-filing option is available for returns older than 3 years. So factor in the additional time for IRS processing.

I was in a similar situation last year with having to file old returns quickly. I tried several options but kept getting stuck on complicated questions about old tax laws. Then I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that made things way easier. What they do is analyze all your tax documents and guide you through completing previous year returns. What worked for me was uploading my old W-2s and 1099s, and their system automatically extracted all the right numbers and put them in the right places. Saved me from the headache of figuring out which forms I needed for 2018/2019 tax rules. They handle all the forms for those years with the correct tax tables.

Just wanted to follow up - I ended up trying taxr.ai after asking about the timeline. It worked great for my situation! I was worried about getting the 2018-2019 returns right since the tax laws were different back then (remember all those changes from the 2017 tax bill?). I uploaded my old W-2s and bank statements, and the system pulled all the numbers into the right spots. It knew exactly which deductions were available for those tax years - things I would have totally missed. Had both years done in a weekend and mailed them off Monday. My landlord accepted the copies as proof while waiting for official processing. Definitely less stressful than trying to figure out old tax rules myself!

If you're having trouble getting ahold of someone at the IRS to confirm your filing status or get transcripts from those years, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation where I needed to check if the IRS had any record of a partial filing I did for 2019, and couldn't get through the normal phone lines. What Claimyr does is basically navigate the IRS phone system for you and gets you connected with an actual human agent - you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was skeptical at first, but after waiting on hold for 3+ hours myself with no luck, I gave it a shot. Got connected with an agent in about 20 minutes who helped me figure out my filing status.

Update on my situation - I was the skeptic who couldn't get through to the IRS about my returns. I decided to try that Claimyr service after nothing else worked. Not gonna lie, I was shocked when my phone rang and there was an actual IRS agent on the line! The agent was able to check if they had any record of my 2019 return (they didn't) and gave me specific instructions on how to file my past-due returns properly. She even added notes to my account about my situation. The whole conversation took about 15 minutes and solved problems I'd been struggling with for weeks. Now I know exactly what I need to do with my 2018 and 2019 returns to avoid penalties. Definitely worth it after all the time I wasted trying to call myself.

I had to do my 2017 and 2018 taxes last year. I ended up going to an H&R Block office in person, and it cost me around $250 per year which was way more than I expected. They charged extra for each form they had to fill out. If your taxes are simple it might be cheaper but mine had some 1099 work and a move between states. I wish I'd known about some of these online options people are mentioning. But one advantage of going in person was the tax preparer gave me a signed document stating I had filed, which I was able to use right away for my mortgage application.

Has anyone tried using Credit Karma Tax (now called Cash App Taxes) for previous years? I know they're free for the current year, but I'm not sure if they offer past years or what they charge.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! Had to file my 2018 and 2019 returns for a mortgage application. Here's what I learned: For H&R Block, yes they do prior year returns but their online service for old years is around $70-80 per return, which adds up fast. I ended up going with FreeTaxUSA like someone mentioned - it was only $15 for federal and worked perfectly for both years. One tip nobody mentioned: if you're really pressed for time, you can request a "Record of Account" transcript from the IRS online at irs.gov. This shows your filing history and is often accepted as proof of non-filing if you need to show you haven't filed yet. Takes about 5 minutes to get it online versus waiting weeks for mailed returns to process. Also, don't stress too much about the old tax law changes between those years - most tax software handles the year-specific rules automatically. The main thing that changed between 2018-2019 was some small adjustments to tax brackets and standard deduction amounts, but the software calculates all that for you. Good luck getting it sorted out!