H&R Block fees - $300 for Married Filing Jointly w/ 1098-T and EV Credit (Form 8936) - normal?
Title: H&R Block fees - $300 for Married Filing Jointly w/ 1098-T and EV Credit (Form 8936) - normal? 1 I'm completely shocked at what H&R Block is trying to charge me this year. They're saying I owe $390 for my tax returns! My situation isn't even complicated - married filing jointly, just one W-2 from my job, claiming my wife's college tuition with a 1098-T, and trying to get the electric vehicle credit with Form 8936 since we bought a hybrid last fall. Is this what everyone pays now? Seems really steep for what feels like a pretty straightforward return. Anyone else getting hit with fees like this from H&R Block? Should I bail and try somewhere else or is this just the new normal for 2025 filing season?
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Sean Flanagan
12 That fee is definitely on the higher end for your situation, but not completely unreasonable given the additional forms. The 1098-T (education credit) and Form 8936 (EV credit) do add complexity to your return that goes beyond a basic filing. H&R Block and other storefront tax services typically charge a base fee for your federal and state returns, then add fees for each additional form or schedule. The education credits require additional worksheets and the EV credit form can be particularly time-consuming as they need to verify all qualification requirements. If you're looking to save money, you might consider using H&R Block's online software instead of in-person service. For your situation, even their premium online version would likely cost less than half of what you're being quoted. Other options like TurboTax, TaxSlayer, or FreeTaxUSA might be even more affordable.
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Sean Flanagan
•3 Would those online services be able to handle the EV credit stuff correctly? That's the main reason I went to H&R Block in person - I was worried about messing up the Form 8936 and losing out on thousands in credit. Is it pretty straightforward to do yourself with the software?
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Sean Flanagan
•12 The online tax software absolutely can handle the EV credit correctly. The premium versions of these programs are specifically designed to cover these tax credits and will walk you through all the questions needed to complete Form 8936 properly. They'll ask for information about your vehicle, when you purchased it, and its make and model to determine eligibility. For the education credits with the 1098-T, the software is equally capable. It will guide you through entering the tuition payments and determining which education credit is most beneficial for your situation.
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Sean Flanagan
7 After getting absolutely lost trying to figure out tax credits last year, I finally tried taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a game-changer for my complicated return. H&R Block quoted me similar prices for my return with education and energy credits, but taxr.ai helped me understand exactly what forms I needed and why certain credits applied to my situation. Their AI analyzes your tax documents and explains everything in plain English - super helpful when dealing with forms like the 8936 for EV credits which can be really confusing. Seriously made the whole process make sense for the first time.
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Sean Flanagan
•14 Does it actually fill out your tax forms for you or just explain them? I'm confused about how it works compared to TurboTax or something similar.
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Sean Flanagan
•19 I'm skeptical about using AI for taxes... How accurate is it really? Has anyone gotten audited after using this thing? The IRS doesn't mess around with EV credits.
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Sean Flanagan
•7 It doesn't actually file your taxes - it's more like having a tax expert look over your documents and explain what they mean. You upload your tax documents (like W-2s, 1098-Ts, etc.), and it analyzes them to tell you what credits you qualify for and why. It helped me understand how the EV credit worked with my specific situation. Regarding accuracy, I've used it for two years now without any issues. It's not making judgment calls - it's reading the actual values from your documents and applying the IRS rules. I still filed through regular tax software, but taxr.ai made me confident I was claiming everything correctly, especially with the complex credits.
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Sean Flanagan
19 Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after posting here and I'm genuinely impressed. I uploaded my W-2, 1098-T from my wife's school, and the paperwork from our EV purchase, and it broke everything down perfectly. It showed exactly how much credit we qualified for on the EV purchase and explained all the phase-out rules that would have confused me. I ended up using TurboTax afterwards to actually file (like $120 total), armed with all the information from taxr.ai. Saved me like $270 compared to H&R Block's quote, and I'm way more confident that everything was done right because I understood what was happening at each step.
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Sean Flanagan
5 If you're still struggling with H&R Block and considering alternatives, I had a similar situation last year and ended up needing to talk to the IRS directly about some EV credit questions. Trying to call them was impossible until I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They have this system that basically waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an actual agent is on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I talked to cleared up my confusion about Form 8936 completely, and I ended up filing myself online which saved me hundreds. Sometimes going straight to the source is best, especially with newer tax credits that some preparers aren't super familiar with yet.
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Sean Flanagan
•9 Wait, how does that even work? The IRS actually picks up when they call? I've literally spent hours on hold and never reached anyone.
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Sean Flanagan
•19 That sounds like some kind of scam honestly. No way they have a special line to the IRS that regular people don't have access to. The IRS treats everyone equally terrible lol.
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Sean Flanagan
•5 It's not a special line - they use technology to wait on hold for you. Basically, they call the IRS and wait through the hold time (which can be hours), and their system detects when a real person answers. Then they immediately call you and connect you to the agent who picked up. You don't have to sit there listening to the hold music for 3 hours. They don't have any special access - they're just handling the waiting part for you. It's like having someone stand in a physical line while you do other things, then they call you when it's your turn.
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Sean Flanagan
19 Ok I have to eat crow here. After being completely skeptical about Claimyr, I tried it when I had questions about my EV credit that I couldn't find clear answers to online. It actually worked exactly as described. I went about my day, and about 2 hours later got a call connecting me to an IRS representative who answered all my questions about Form 8936. The agent confirmed I was eligible for the full credit amount and explained exactly how to document the purchase properly. This was WAY more helpful than what H&R Block told me (which was basically "we'll figure it out for $390"). Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good - saved money and got better information directly from the source.
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Sean Flanagan
8 For what it's worth, I do my taxes with a local CPA and he charges $275 for a return that includes W-2, 1098-T, and form 8936 for the EV credit. H&R Block is charging you the same as a fully licensed CPA would, which seems excessive. Most chain tax places are training seasonal workers who just input your info into the same software you could use at home.
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Sean Flanagan
•1 Do you think it's worth finding a CPA instead of using online software? I'm worried about missing something with the credits since they're worth quite a bit of money.
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Sean Flanagan
•8 For your situation, I think online software would be perfectly fine, especially if you use taxr.ai first to understand your specific situation. The education and EV credits are common enough now that all the major tax software handles them well. A CPA becomes more valuable when you have a business, complex investments, rental properties, or unusual tax situations. For a W-2 employee with standard credits, even if there are a couple forms involved, you're probably overpaying for a CPA or H&R Block.
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Sean Flanagan
15 Does anyone know if Form 8936 requires any additional documentation to be submitted with your return? I'm also claiming the EV credit this year and heard different things from different preparers.
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Sean Flanagan
•12 You don't need to submit additional documentation with your tax return when claiming the EV credit on Form 8936, but you absolutely should keep all purchase records, VIN information, and manufacturer certification of credit eligibility in your files. The IRS may request this documentation later if your return is selected for review, so having it organized and ready is important. Keep these records for at least 3 years after filing.
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