How to access and pay for my previous year's tax return from H&R Block free edition?

This is actually pretty common with most tax preparation services. H&R Block, like many others, typically charges a fee to access and download prior year returns. The "free" edition usually only covers the preparation and filing for the current tax year, not ongoing access to those documents. You have a few options here: 1. Pay the fee to H&R Block - it's usually around $6-9 to access prior year returns. This is the quickest way if you need it immediately for your mortgage application. 2. Request a tax transcript directly from the IRS through their website (irs.gov) - this is free but can take 5-10 business days to receive. 3. Visit an H&R Block office in person - sometimes they can print a copy for you (though they might still charge a fee). For future reference, always download and save a PDF copy of your return immediately after filing. Most services give you a short window to download it for free before they start charging.

I had the EXACT same issue last year when applying for a student loan! After hours of frustration with H&R Block's system, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was a total game changer. They have this tool that can help you access past returns without going through all the hoops. I uploaded my basic info and they were able to help me locate and retrieve my previous returns. What I liked most was that they explained exactly what was happening with the H&R Block system and why I couldn't easily access my own documents. They even showed me how to make sure I save copies going forward so I wouldn't have this problem again.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after asking about it here. It actually worked perfectly for getting my old H&R Block return! They showed me a way to retrieve my documents that I wouldn't have figured out on my own. Saved me from paying the H&R Block fee AND got me the exact document format my lender needed. Will definitely use them again next time I need tax help!

If you're having trouble getting someone on the phone at H&R Block (their customer service can be a nightmare this time of year), I'd recommend Claimyr https://claimyr.com. I used them when I had a similar issue last tax season and couldn't get through to anyone at H&R Block for days. Their system basically holds your place in line with H&R Block's customer service and calls you when an actual human picks up! Saved me hours of holding and frustration. Check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. After using their service, I got connected to an H&R Block rep who explained how to get my return without paying their extra fee.

Just wanted to follow up on this Claimyr thing - I was super skeptical but decided to try it since I was desperate to get my 2023 return for refinancing. I honestly can't believe it actually worked! Got a call back in about 1.5 hours and talked to an actual helpful person at H&R Block. The rep told me that since I needed the return for a mortgage, they could provide a one-time courtesy access to download it. Wouldn't have known this was even an option if I hadn't been able to speak to someone directly. Saved me both money and a ton of stress with my mortgage broker breathing down my neck!

Just so you know, you can also get your tax transcripts directly from the IRS for free. Go to IRS.gov and search for "Get Transcript." You can create an account and access your tax information that way. It might not be the exact H&R Block formatted return, but it contains all the same information that a mortgage company would need.

Has anyone tried just going to an actual H&R Block office in person? I had this issue last summer and just walked into my local office. The person there printed my old return for me on the spot for free since I had filed with them initially. Might be worth a try before paying online fees or waiting for callbacks!

I just went through this exact same frustrating experience a few months ago! What worked for me was calling H&R Block's customer service early in the morning (like 8 AM) when the wait times are shorter. I explained that I needed my return for a mortgage application with a tight deadline, and the representative was actually able to waive the fee as a one-time courtesy. They told me this is a common request for mortgage applications and they have some flexibility for urgent situations. The key is speaking to an actual person rather than just trying to navigate their website. If you can't get through on the phone, definitely try visiting a local office like others suggested - that seems to be the most reliable way to get help without paying extra fees. For next year, I learned my lesson and immediately downloaded and saved copies of everything right after filing. These companies really do make it unnecessarily difficult to access your own documents later!

I work at a local tax preparation office and see this issue all the time during mortgage season! Here's a pro tip that most people don't know: if you call H&R Block and specifically mention that you need the return for a "time-sensitive mortgage application," they often have a special protocol for these situations. Many lenders will also accept what's called a "tax return transcript" from the IRS, which shows the exact same information as your filed return but in a slightly different format. You can get this for free through the IRS website (irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) and it's often processed faster than trying to get the original return from H&R Block. Before paying any fees, I'd recommend calling your mortgage lender first to ask if they'll accept an IRS transcript instead of the original H&R Block format. Most lenders actually prefer transcripts because they're directly from the IRS and confirm the return was actually filed and processed. This could save you both time and money! And yes, definitely save copies immediately after filing going forward - this is such a common headache that could be easily avoided.

I just went through this exact same situation last month! After reading through all these suggestions, I ended up trying the "walk into a local office" approach and it was definitely the way to go. The staff member was able to pull up my account immediately and explained that while their online system charges a fee for past returns, they can often provide copies in-person at no charge, especially when it's for mortgage applications. She printed my 2023 return right there and even gave me some tips on how to save copies properly going forward. What I learned is that H&R Block's online system and their in-person service operate somewhat differently - the online portal is more automated and fee-based, while the physical offices have more flexibility to help customers in urgent situations. If you have a location nearby, I'd definitely recommend trying that route first before paying any fees or dealing with phone wait times. Took me less than 15 minutes total and saved me both money and stress with my mortgage timeline.

I've been dealing with this same issue and wanted to share what finally worked for me. After trying several of the suggestions mentioned here, I found that the combination approach was most effective. First, I called my mortgage lender to confirm what format they actually needed - turns out they were perfectly happy with an IRS transcript instead of the original H&R Block return format. This saved me from having to deal with H&R Block entirely. I got my IRS transcript through their online portal (irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) which was completely free and took about 10 minutes to set up the account and download. The transcript had all the same tax information my lender needed, just in the IRS format rather than the H&R Block layout. For anyone else in this situation, I'd recommend checking with your lender first about accepting IRS transcripts before paying H&R Block's fees. Most mortgage companies actually prefer the IRS version since it comes directly from the source and confirms your return was properly filed and processed. If your lender specifically requires the original H&R Block format, then definitely try the local office approach that others mentioned - seems like that's consistently worked for people without the extra fees.

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation right now! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I think I'm going to try the approach of calling my mortgage broker first to see if they'll accept an IRS transcript instead of the original H&R Block format - it sounds like that could save me a lot of time and money. If they insist on the original format, I'll definitely try visiting my local H&R Block office in person before paying their online fees. It's honestly ridiculous that they make it so difficult to access your own tax documents online but then can apparently print them for free in person. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these kinds of bureaucratic nightmares! I'll update this thread once I get it sorted out in case others run into the same issue.

I just want to echo what several others have mentioned about trying the IRS transcript route first - this really should be your go-to solution! I work in mortgage lending and can confirm that we actually prefer IRS transcripts over the original tax prep company formats because they come directly from the IRS and verify that the return was actually filed and processed. The IRS Get Transcript service at irs.gov is completely free and usually provides instant access once you verify your identity. You can get either a "Tax Return Transcript" (shows most line items from your original return) or a "Tax Account Transcript" (shows payment history and any changes made to your return). For mortgage applications, the Tax Return Transcript is typically what you'll need. It contains all the income and deduction information that lenders require, just formatted differently than your original H&R Block return. Before paying any fees to H&R Block or spending time trying to reach their customer service, definitely call your mortgage lender to confirm they'll accept the IRS transcript. In my experience, 95% of lenders prefer it anyway. This could save you both time and money while actually giving your lender a more reliable document!