How to copy tax data from H&R Block software to Excel for 1099-B entries

This is a common issue with tax software. Unfortunately, many tax programs like H&R Block have limitations when it comes to exporting or copying data. The software is designed primarily for preparing and filing taxes, not for data manipulation. Here are a few workarounds you might try: If you're using H&R Block desktop software, try using the Print Screen button on your keyboard while the transactions are displayed. Then paste into Paint or another image editor, and crop to just show the data. From there, you could use an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool to convert the image to text. Another option might be to check if H&R Block allows you to export your tax data in any format (PDF, CSV, etc.). Sometimes there's an export function hidden in the menu options. If those don't work, consider going back to the source - can you download the transactions directly from Fidelity in Excel format instead? Most brokerages allow you to export your transaction history.

After struggling with the same issue last year, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to be incredibly helpful. I was trying to copy data from my tax software without success, and manually entering 60+ transactions was going to take forever. I took screenshots of my H&R Block screens showing all the 1099-B transactions, uploaded them to taxr.ai, and it accurately extracted all the data into a format I could download and open in Excel. Saved me hours of mind-numbing data entry. The accuracy was impressive - it even correctly identified wash sales and long vs. short term transactions.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after my skeptical question and I'm genuinely impressed. I uploaded screenshots of my entire Schedule D from H&R Block (about 40 transactions) and it extracted everything perfectly into a spreadsheet. All my dates, amounts, and fund names came through correctly. I was able to sort and filter by fund name right away, which made reconciling with my Fidelity statements so much easier. This seriously saved me hours of work and the peace of mind from knowing I didn't make any transcription errors is huge. Definitely using this again next year!

If you're having trouble getting ahold of someone at H&R Block's support to help with this export issue, Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) got me through to a real person in minutes. I was trying to reach H&R Block support for days about a similar data export problem. I was skeptical at first but watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to try it. They basically navigate the phone tree for you and get you connected to a real support agent. The H&R Block rep showed me a workaround for getting my investment data out that wasn't documented anywhere.

I need to eat my words. After commenting here, my frustration with H&R Block's support line led me to try Claimyr. After three days of trying to get through myself with 45+ minute wait times, I got connected to an H&R Block specialist in about 20 minutes using their service. The rep actually walked me through a hidden export feature in my version of H&R Block that let me get all my 1099-B data into a format I could open in Excel. It wasn't obvious at all - you have to go to Tools > Export Tax Data and select "Detailed Worksheets" which creates a file you can then open. Wouldn't have found this without getting actual help from a human.

Have you tried using the print to PDF function? It's a workaround I've used before: 1. Go to the screen with your 1099-B data in H&R Block 2. Select Print (Ctrl+P) 3. Choose "Microsoft Print to PDF" as your printer 4. Save the PDF 5. Open the PDF and copy from there, or use Excel's Data > From PDF feature This bypasses the copy protection in the software itself.

Try using the Windows Snipping Tool (or Snip & Sketch in newer Windows) to capture the screen with your 1099-B entries, then use an online OCR service like NewOCR.com to convert the image to text. I've done this with TaxAct and it worked pretty well - not perfect but saved tons of time compared to manual entry.

I ran into this exact same issue last year with TaxAct and found a solution that might work for H&R Block too. Have you checked if there's a "Data Entry Worksheets" or "Forms View" option in your software? In my case, I discovered that while I couldn't copy from the main input screens, there was a separate worksheet view that displayed all my transactions in a more basic format that actually allowed copying. It was buried in the Forms menu under something like "Schedule D Worksheet" or "Capital Gains Detail." Also, if you're using the desktop version, try running it as an administrator (right-click the program icon and select "Run as administrator"). Sometimes copy restrictions are bypassed when the software has elevated permissions. Worth a shot before going the screenshot/OCR route!

Another approach that worked for me last tax season - check if H&R Block has a "Review" or "Summary" section before you file. Many tax software programs generate a comprehensive review document that includes all your entries in a more accessible format. In H&R Block, look for something like "Review Your Return" or "Tax Summary" - this often creates a consolidated view of all your forms and schedules. Sometimes this review format is more copy-friendly than the individual input screens. Also, if you're comfortable with it, you might try using browser developer tools if you're using the online version of H&R Block. Press F12, go to the Console tab, and sometimes you can access the underlying data that way. It's a bit technical but I've seen people extract form data this way when normal copy functions are blocked. The combination of these suggestions from everyone should definitely save you from having to manually type all 51 transactions!

Just wanted to share another potential workaround that saved me last year - if you have access to the actual 1099-B forms from your broker (Fidelity in your case), you might be able to download them directly from their website in a more Excel-friendly format. Most major brokerages like Fidelity, Schwab, etc. allow you to download your tax documents as PDFs, and some even offer CSV or Excel exports of your transaction history. Log into your Fidelity account and look for a "Tax Documents" or "Year-End Documents" section. The advantage is that this data comes straight from the source and won't have any transcription errors that might occur from copying between software programs. You can then use this to verify what you've entered in H&R Block rather than trying to extract it from the tax software. I found my broker's export was actually more detailed than what the tax software showed, which helped me catch a few small discrepancies. Worth checking before going through all the screenshot/OCR steps!

Great thread with lots of helpful solutions! I wanted to add one more option that might help - if you're still having trouble with all the suggested methods, consider reaching out to a local tax professional or CPA who has experience with investment transactions. Many of them have developed their own workflows for handling large numbers of 1099-B entries and might have access to professional tax software that has better export capabilities than the consumer versions. Some will even help you organize the data for a reasonable fee, which could be worth it given the time you'd save on 51 transactions. Also, for future years, you might want to consider switching to tax software that's known for better data export features. I've heard good things about FreeTaxUSA and TaxAct in terms of being more flexible with data manipulation, though I haven't tested this myself. The Fidelity direct export suggestion from @Javier Garcia is probably your best bet though - always go to the source when possible!

This is such a comprehensive thread with excellent solutions! I wanted to add one more tip that might help others in the future - if you're using H&R Block desktop version, check if there's a "Backup/Restore" feature that creates a backup file of your tax data. Sometimes these backup files are in a format (like .xml or .dat) that can be opened with text editors or imported into Excel using Data > From File. I discovered this accidentally when I needed to recover some data after a software crash. The backup file contained all my tax information in a structured format that was much easier to parse than trying to copy from the interface. That said, the Fidelity direct export approach that @Javier Garcia mentioned is definitely the gold standard here. For anyone dealing with investment transactions, always check your brokerage first - they usually have the cleanest, most accurate data exports available. Hope this helps save someone else the hours of frustration I went through last year!