H&R Block Online Tax Pro vs in-person service - which is better for complex returns?

As a frequent user of both H&R Block services, I can tell you they're equally competent but offer different experiences. The Online Tax Pro service connects you with qualified tax professionals who review your return remotely - they have access to the same training and resources as in-person preparers. The main advantage of sticking with your online return is that you won't have to re-enter all your information. The Tax Pro will review what you've already completed and help with your complex situation. You'll communicate through their secure portal with options for video chat if needed. Going in-person does offer more personal interaction, which some people prefer for complex situations. You can ask questions in real-time and see them work through your return. But yes, you would essentially be starting over.

I had a similar dilemma last year with a complicated situation involving self-employment income and multiple state returns. I ended up trying taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after someone recommended it here, and it really helped clarify things before I even talked to an H&R Block person. What I liked was that it analyzed my specific situation first and gave me a detailed breakdown of what questions to ask the tax preparer. Saved me from paying for basic questions and let me focus on the complicated parts. It basically explained which forms I needed attention on and which parts of my return were already correct. When I did connect with the H&R Block online pro, I was way more prepared and got much more value from the consultation since I knew exactly what to ask.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai that I was skeptical about. I decided to try it before my H&R Block appointment since my return had some stock sales and a home office deduction I wasn't sure about. Honestly it was pretty impressive. It found a mistake in how I was calculating my home office deduction that would have cost me about $340. It also explained exactly why some of my stock sales were being classified differently than I expected. When I went to H&R Block with this info, the tax pro confirmed everything and seemed impressed I already understood these issues. Definitely helped me get more value from my H&R Block session since we could focus on solving problems rather than just identifying them.

If you're having trouble getting an appointment with H&R Block in-person (they're super booked this time of year), I recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to at least check with the IRS directly about your specific situation. I was waiting forever to talk to someone at the IRS about a similar "weird situation" and this service got me through to a real person in like 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour hold time. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Sometimes going straight to the source (IRS) for clarification before meeting with a tax preparer gives you better leverage to make sure they're handling your situation correctly. It helped me confirm what documents I actually needed before my H&R Block appointment, which saved a lot of back and forth.

Well I'm eating my words about Claimyr. After dismissing it as probably a scam, I tried it last weekend when I got desperate trying to clarify something about my amended return before finishing with H&R Block. Had been trying for DAYS to get through to the IRS with no luck - constant disconnects after waiting on hold forever. Used Claimyr on Saturday morning, and got a call back in about 45 minutes with an actual IRS rep on the line. They answered my question about my previous year's amended return that was causing problems with this year's filing. Saved me from having to pay H&R Block to sort through the confusion when it was really just a simple clarification I needed from the IRS. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing!

Getting back to your original question - I think convenience is a big factor. If your return is 95% done online, finishing it there with a Tax Pro review makes sense. I did the "start over in person" route last year and the hassle of rescheduling and bringing all my documents somewhere was annoying. In my experience, H&R Block's online Tax Pros are plenty competent for most situations. The only real advantage to in-person is if you're someone who really prefers face-to-face communication or has extreme anxiety about taxes and wants hand-holding through the process.

One thing nobody mentioned is that the online system sometimes has limitations with certain forms or situations. This happened to me last year with a K-1 from an oil investment. I started online but kept getting error messages for a particular schedule. Ended up going in-person and the tax pro told me that particular situation couldn't be handled through their consumer online software. Obviously I don't know what your "non-normal situation" is, but might be worth calling to ask if the online service can handle it before deciding.

I'd say stick with your online return and add the Tax Pro service for $85. Since you're already 95% done, it seems wasteful to start over in person. The online Tax Pros have access to the same training and can handle most complex situations just fine. The key advantage is that they can see exactly what you've already entered and focus specifically on your unusual situation without you having to re-explain everything from scratch. Plus, you'll have a digital record of all communications and recommendations. If it turns out your situation is too complex for the online platform (which is rare), they'll let you know and you can always go in-person as a backup plan. But given that you've been successfully using their online system for 11 years, chances are good they can handle whatever you're dealing with.

I've used both H&R Block's online Tax Pro service and their in-person offices over the years, and honestly, the quality is pretty comparable. Since you're already 95% done with your online return, I'd definitely recommend just adding the Tax Pro review for $85 rather than starting over. The online Tax Pros can handle most complex situations - I've used them for things like rental property sales, stock options, and multiple state returns. They'll review everything you've already entered and focus specifically on your unusual situation. You'll also get to keep all your work and have a digital trail of their recommendations. The only time I'd suggest going in-person is if you really prefer face-to-face interaction or if your situation involves forms that their online system can't handle (which is pretty rare these days). But after 11 years of successful online filing, you're probably better off sticking with what you know works for you.