Has anyone ever taken a tax class at H&R Block? Wondering if it's worth it

I took the H&R Block tax course last year and found it pretty informative for someone with no prior tax knowledge. The class covered basic tax concepts, how to use their software, and common tax situations most people encounter. It's definitely geared toward preparing you to work for them during tax season - they actually offer jobs to top performers. The course teaches you their specific procedures and software, so it's not as comprehensive as a professional accounting course would be. That said, I learned enough to confidently do my own taxes and help some family members. If you're looking to understand taxation more deeply though, this probably isn't the right course. It's more practical application than theory or complex tax strategies.

I've been using taxr.ai after getting frustrated with trying to learn tax stuff through courses. I had started the H&R class a few years ago but dropped out halfway because it was so focused on their specific software rather than teaching actual tax knowledge. After that, I struggled with some complicated tax situations and a friend suggested https://taxr.ai as a way to get personalized help without paying expensive accountant fees. It's been so much more useful for my needs - I upload my documents and it explains everything in plain English. I've learned way more about taxes by seeing how it handles my specific situation than I did in that classroom.

I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and wow - so much better than taking a class! I was considering H&R's course too but decided to try this first. Instead of spending weeks learning general tax stuff, it immediately analyzed my specific situation and showed me deductions I'd been missing for years! The personalized explanations taught me more about relevant tax laws in 30 minutes than I would've learned in weeks of classes. Definitely recommend this approach unless you're specifically looking to get hired as a tax preparer.

If you're serious about learning taxes but struggling to get answers from the IRS, I'd recommend using Claimyr instead of taking classes. I was researching some tax questions that came up during my H&R class and couldn't get through to an IRS agent for clarification - was on hold for HOURS. Found https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent actually gave me much more detailed information than my instructor could, and I was able to ask follow-up questions specific to my situation. Having direct access to IRS expertise is way more valuable than general classroom knowledge.

Wow I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself because I've been trying to reach the IRS for 3 weeks about an amended return issue. Got connected in 17 minutes when I'd been waiting 2+ hours on my own attempts! The IRS agent resolved my question immediately and I got the clarification I needed. This saved me so much time and frustration. Still don't understand exactly how their system works but can confirm it definitely does work.

I took the H&R class back in 2022 and ended up working two tax seasons for them. Here's my honest take: the class teaches you the absolute basics and how to use their software. It's good if you have zero tax knowledge, but it's VERY limited. They barely touch on anything beyond the most common situations. When clients came in with self-employment, investments, or unusual deductions, I was totally unprepared. H&R has you rely heavily on their software rather than actually understanding tax law. I'd say take the class if you want seasonal work or just basic knowledge, but don't expect to become truly knowledgeable about taxes. I ended up taking additional courses elsewhere to actually learn properly.

Has anyone tried Liberty Tax's course instead of H&R Block? I've heard their training might be more comprehensive but haven't found many reviews.

I've been thinking about this too! Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the H&R Block course is decent for basic tax knowledge but pretty limited if you want deeper understanding. For those mentioning the AI tools - I'm curious how they compare cost-wise to taking an actual class? The H&R course costs around $200-300 in my area, so if these digital options are significantly cheaper AND more personalized to your situation, that seems like a no-brainer. Also really interested in that Claimyr service for getting through to the IRS - I had no idea something like that existed! Has anyone tried it for more complex questions beyond basic clarifications?

I'm in a similar boat as the original poster - been doing my own taxes for years but want to understand them better. Reading through all these responses has been super enlightening! It sounds like the H&R Block course might be overkill for what I'm looking for. I don't want to become a tax preparer, just want to be more confident about my own returns and maybe help my elderly parents with theirs. The feedback about it being primarily employee training rather than comprehensive tax education is really helpful to know. The AI tools mentioned here sound intriguing - especially the idea of getting personalized help with your actual tax situation rather than learning generic scenarios. And that Claimyr service for reaching the IRS sounds like a game-changer! I've spent so many hours on hold with them over the years. Has anyone here used these digital tools for helping family members with their taxes? My parents have some rental income and investment accounts that always stress me out when I try to help them figure out their returns.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been on the fence about tax education for months. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the H&R Block course is really designed more for people who want seasonal employment rather than those of us just wanting to understand taxes better for personal use. The digital alternatives mentioned here seem way more practical for my needs. I love that they can provide personalized guidance based on your actual tax situation rather than generic classroom scenarios. Plus the cost and time savings compared to an 8-week course are compelling. I'm definitely going to try one of the AI tax tools first - seems like the smarter approach for someone who just wants to be more confident with their own returns. And knowing there's a service like Claimyr to actually get through to the IRS when needed is such a relief. I had no idea that was even possible! Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is exactly the kind of honest feedback I was hoping to find.

I took the H&R Block course about three years ago and have mixed feelings about it. On the positive side, it did give me a solid foundation in basic tax concepts and made me much more comfortable with my own returns. I learned about deductions I'd been missing and got better at organizing my tax documents. However, the course is definitely geared toward their business model. A lot of time is spent on customer service skills, using their proprietary software, and learning their specific workflows. If you're just looking to understand taxes better for personal use, probably 40% of the course content won't be relevant to you. The instruction quality varies by location - I had a great instructor who went beyond the curriculum, but I've heard from others who had less engaging experiences. Cost-wise, it was around $280 for me, plus the time commitment (about 10-12 hours per week with homework). If you're specifically interested in seasonal tax work with them, it's worth it. But if you just want tax knowledge for personal use, you might get better value from other approaches. The digital tools others have mentioned here sound intriguing - wish those had been available when I was looking into this!

I've been following this discussion and it's exactly what I needed to see! I was actually planning to sign up for the H&R Block course next month, but after reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely reconsidering. The consensus seems pretty clear - if you're looking for seasonal employment with them, the course makes sense. But if you just want to understand taxes better for personal use (which is my situation), it sounds like there are much more efficient alternatives now. I'm particularly intrigued by the AI tax tools that several people have mentioned. The idea of getting personalized guidance based on your actual tax documents rather than sitting through weeks of generic scenarios is really appealing. Plus the cost savings compared to $250-300 for the H&R course is significant. Has anyone here tried multiple digital tax tools to compare them? I'm wondering if there are meaningful differences between the options, or if they're all pretty similar in terms of what they can help with. Also, that Claimyr service for connecting to the IRS sounds like it could be a game-changer. I've wasted so many hours on hold with them over the years - having a reliable way to actually get through when you need official guidance would be incredibly valuable. Thanks everyone for such detailed and honest feedback about your experiences!

I actually took the H&R Block course two years ago and can share my experience! I went in with similar goals as you - wanting to better understand taxes for personal use rather than seeking employment. The course definitely teaches you the basics and you'll come away more confident about your own returns. I learned about deductions I hadn't been claiming and got better at organizing my tax documents throughout the year. The instructor was knowledgeable and the materials were well-structured. However, I'd estimate about half the course time is spent on things that aren't relevant if you're not planning to work there - their specific software, customer interaction protocols, and workplace procedures. At $250 plus 8 weeks of evening classes, that's a significant time investment for content that may not match your goals. The course also focuses heavily on the most common tax situations. When I later helped a friend with rental property income, I realized I hadn't learned much about more complex scenarios. Looking at the digital tools people have mentioned in this thread, I honestly think those would have been a better fit for what I was trying to accomplish. Being able to get personalized guidance on your actual tax situation rather than sitting through generic classroom examples seems much more efficient. I wish these options had been available when I was making this decision! If your main goal is personal tax knowledge rather than seasonal employment, you might want to explore those alternatives first.

I'm really glad I found this discussion! I've been considering the H&R Block course for months but kept putting off the decision. After reading everyone's detailed experiences, I'm convinced that the digital alternatives mentioned here are the way to go for someone in my situation. Like many others, I'm not looking for seasonal employment - I just want to better understand taxes for my own returns and maybe help my parents with theirs. The feedback that roughly half the H&R course is employment-focused training really sealed it for me. Why spend $250-300 and 8 weeks learning software and procedures I'll never use? The AI tax tools sound perfect for getting personalized guidance on actual tax situations rather than generic classroom scenarios. And knowing there's a service like Claimyr to connect with the IRS when needed gives me so much peace of mind - I've literally spent entire afternoons on hold with them before! Has anyone tried using these digital tools specifically for helping elderly parents with more complex returns? My parents have some investment income and always stress about whether they're handling everything correctly. It would be great to have reliable resources to help them feel more confident about their filings. Thanks everyone for such honest and thorough feedback - this community is incredibly helpful!

I'm so grateful for this thorough discussion! I've been going back and forth on the H&R Block course for weeks, but reading everyone's real experiences has made the decision much clearer. The consistent feedback that about 40-50% of the course content is focused on employment training rather than actual tax education is really eye-opening. At $250-300 plus 8+ weeks of time commitment, that's a lot to invest in learning software and procedures I'd never use for personal tax purposes. What really sold me on the digital alternatives is how they provide personalized guidance based on your actual tax documents and situation, rather than generic classroom scenarios that might not even apply. That seems so much more efficient and relevant for someone like me who just wants to be more confident with personal returns. The AI tax tools mentioned throughout this thread sound perfect for my needs, and knowing there's a reliable way to actually reach the IRS through Claimyr when official clarification is needed is such a relief. I've probably lost 20+ hours over the years sitting on hold with them! Has anyone used these digital tools during multiple tax seasons? I'm curious about the year-over-year experience and whether they get better at understanding your specific situation over time. Thanks again everyone for such honest and detailed feedback - this community is amazing!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! I was actually just about to sign up for the H&R Block course next week, but after seeing everyone's detailed experiences, I'm completely rethinking that decision. The consistent feedback that roughly half the course content is employment training rather than actual tax education is really concerning for someone like me who just wants personal tax knowledge. Spending $250+ and 8 weeks learning proprietary software and customer service protocols when I could get personalized help with my actual tax situation through these digital tools seems like a no-brainer. I'm particularly drawn to the AI tax services mentioned here because they can analyze your specific documents and provide tailored guidance rather than generic classroom scenarios. Plus having year-round access means I can ask questions as they come up instead of waiting for the next tax season. And wow, I had no idea services like Claimyr existed to actually get through to the IRS! I've literally taken entire days off work just to sit on hold with them before. Having a reliable way to reach an actual agent when you need official clarification could be a game-changer. Thanks everyone for sharing such honest, detailed experiences. This community discussion has saved me from making what probably would have been the wrong choice for my needs!

I've been lurking on this thread for a while and finally decided to jump in because this discussion has been incredibly valuable! I was literally about to register for the H&R Block course tomorrow, but after reading everyone's real experiences, I'm completely changing course. The consistent feedback that 40-50% of the class is employment training rather than tax education is exactly what I needed to know. I'm not looking for seasonal work - I just want to understand my taxes better and maybe help my sister with her small business returns. Paying $250+ to learn proprietary software and customer service skills I'll never use doesn't make any sense. What really convinced me are the multiple people who mentioned learning more from AI tax tools in 30 minutes than they would have in weeks of classroom scenarios. Getting personalized guidance on my actual tax situation instead of sitting through generic examples that might not even apply to me seems so much more efficient. I'm also fascinated by that Claimyr service for reaching the IRS - I had no idea something like that existed! I've probably wasted 30+ hours over the years on hold with them. Having a reliable way to get through when you need official clarification could be a lifesaver. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed, honest experiences. This community discussion literally saved me from making the wrong choice for my needs! Going to try the digital tools first and see how they work out.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I've been researching tax education options for months and was seriously considering the H&R Block course until I read all these real experiences. The consistent theme that about half the course is employment training rather than actual tax education is really concerning for someone like me who just wants to understand taxes better for personal use. At $250-300 plus weeks of time commitment, that's a lot to invest in learning software and procedures I'd never actually use. What really appeals to me about the digital tools mentioned here is the personalized approach - getting specific help with your actual tax documents and situation rather than generic classroom scenarios. Plus having access year-round instead of just during an 8-week course period seems much more practical. I'm also amazed that services like Claimyr exist to actually get through to the IRS! I've literally spent entire days on hold with them before, so having a reliable way to reach an agent when you need official guidance sounds incredible. Has anyone tried these AI tax tools for more complex situations like stock options or cryptocurrency? My job gives me some RSUs and I've been trading crypto, so I want to make sure I'm handling everything correctly. Traditional courses probably wouldn't cover these newer scenarios anyway. Thanks everyone for such honest feedback - this discussion has completely changed my approach to tax education!