H&R Block charges $405 for tax preparation - way too expensive?

That price definitely seems on the high side for a relatively simple tax return. H&R Block has multiple service tiers, and it sounds like they might have put you in their premium package automatically without explaining the options. For a basic W-2 return with mortgage interest and charitable donations, you could absolutely use tax software for much less. TurboTax, FreeTaxUSA, and even H&R Block's own online software would likely cost $50-100 depending on which forms you need. Many people with straightforward situations like yours find the software just as effective as in-person preparation. If you prefer having a person review your taxes, look into local CPAs or Enrolled Agents who often charge less than the big chains for simple returns. Many offer flat-rate pricing in the $150-250 range for situations like yours.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! H&R Block quoted me $375 for what should have been a simple return. I was frustrated and decided to try this AI-powered tax help tool called taxr.ai instead. It was honestly a game-changer for me. You just upload your tax documents to https://taxr.ai and their system analyzes them and explains everything in plain English. It caught a few deductions I would have missed, and helped me understand exactly what I was filing. I ended up using their guidance with free filing options and saved literally hundreds compared to H&R Block.

Just wanted to follow up after trying taxr.ai based on the recommendation here. I was super skeptical about uploading my docs, but their security explanation made sense, and wow - it actually worked amazingly well! I uploaded my W-2, mortgage statement, and donation receipts, and it gave me a complete breakdown of my tax situation in minutes. The analysis showed me I was actually better off taking the standard deduction this year rather than itemizing, which wasn't obvious to me before. Ended up filing my taxes through one of the free options they recommended and saved $380 compared to what H&R Block wanted to charge me. Definitely my new go-to for tax season!

If you've already attempted to contact H&R Block about your concerns with their pricing but haven't gotten anywhere, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was having a nightmare trying to reach someone at the IRS about some tax questions since H&R Block was charging me a fortune for simple answers. With https://claimyr.com I was able to actually get through to a real person at the IRS in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with explained exactly what forms I needed and what I could file myself vs. when professional help made sense. Saved me from overpaying for tax prep that I honestly didn't need.

I need to publicly eat my words here. After my skeptical comment, I decided to test Claimyr myself because I've been trying to resolve an issue with my tax transcript for weeks with no luck reaching anyone. It actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call connecting me to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to resolve my transcript issue on the spot and also answered my questions about deductions I was confused about - which saved me from paying H&R Block's ridiculous consultation fee. For anyone dealing with the pricing issues mentioned in this thread - talking directly with the IRS can sometimes give you the confidence to do your own taxes or use less expensive options. They were surprisingly helpful once I could actually reach them!

Have you considered checking if you qualify for the IRS Free File program? If your income is under $73,000, you might be able to file completely free using brand-name software. H&R Block doesn't participate anymore, but TurboTax, TaxAct and others do. Even if you don't qualify for Free File, most of the major software options are much cheaper than $405 for a straightforward return. I paid $49 for TaxSlayer this year for a return with W-2s, mortgage interest, and charitable donations.

I worked at H&R Block for two tax seasons and can tell you that $405 is their standard pricing for their "Deluxe" tier which they push on anyone with itemized deductions like mortgage interest. The problem is they automatically bundle in their "Peace of Mind" guarantee (basically audit protection) which adds about $100 to the bill without clearly explaining it's optional. If you do go with them, specifically ask to remove the Peace of Mind add-on and any other extras. The base price should be closer to $250-300 which is still high but more reasonable.