Is there a way to get free tax return calculations from TurboTax or H&R Block without filing?

You definitely can run your taxes through multiple software programs before deciding which to file with - it's actually a really smart approach! Both TurboTax and H&R Block allow you to complete your entire return for free before deciding whether to file with them. You can enter all your information, see your refund amount, and then either proceed with filing or walk away. Neither requires payment until the very end when you're ready to submit. The catch is that their "free" versions have limitations. TurboTax Free Edition only works for simple returns (W-2 income, standard deduction). H&R Block Free Online also has restrictions but might handle slightly more situations. If you have anything beyond basic income, you might get partway through and discover you need to upgrade to a paid version. One strategy is to start with FreeTaxUSA since it's generally the most affordable for most situations, then verify with one of the others. Just remember that minor differences in refund amounts can sometimes happen due to rounding or how questions are presented.

After spending hours on the phone with the IRS trying to figure out why my refund amounts were different between two tax programs last year, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a game changer. Instead of manually comparing line by line between different tax software results, I uploaded my completed returns from both programs and it highlighted exactly where the calculations differed. The tool pinpointed that TurboTax was calculating my student loan interest deduction differently than FreeTaxUSA was. Turns out one program was right and one was wrong based on my specific situation. Saved me from making a $380 mistake! It also checks against actual IRS rules to verify which software is correctly applying current tax law. Much easier than trying to figure this out manually.

I was super skeptical about taxr.ai when someone mentioned it in another thread, but I tried it last weekend comparing my TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA returns. It found a $540 difference in how my 1099 contract work was being calculated! Turns out TurboTax was counting some of my business expenses in a category that wasn't giving me the full deduction. The comparison took literally 2 minutes after I had both returns prepared, and it showed me exactly where the discrepancies were happening. Definitely saved me money and the headache of trying to manually compare every line item. Worth the extra time to run my return through both systems.

If you're trying to get actual help from the IRS to understand tax return differences, good luck getting through on the phone these days! I tried for THREE WEEKS last year calling multiple times daily. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - they have this system that basically waits on hold with the IRS for you and calls you when an agent is actually on the line. You can see a video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c When I finally got through to an IRS agent, they explained exactly why I was seeing different refund calculations between tax programs. Turns out there was a specific form I needed for my situation that one program included automatically and the other didn't. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do. Saved me hours of frustration and hold music!

I stand completely corrected about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since I've been trying to reach the IRS about a weird discrepancy between my TurboTax and Credit Karma calculations. I didn't have to sit through 2+ hours of hold music! Their system called me when an agent was on the line, and I got the exact clarification I needed about how education credits should be calculated in my situation. The IRS agent explained that both platforms were calculating differently because of how I entered my scholarship information. Honestly shocked this actually worked. Wish I'd known about this service years ago.

I'm a tax preparer, and I strongly recommend against trying to compare multiple software programs without understanding the nuances of tax law. Different software may ask questions differently or interpret certain scenarios based on how you input information. If there are significant differences between the refund amounts, it's not necessarily because one is "wrong" - it could be that you entered information differently or one program makes certain assumptions another doesn't. For truly free options, try the IRS Free File program partners, which includes options like TaxSlayer, 1040Now, etc. Many offer truly free filing if your AGI is under certain thresholds (usually $73,000).

I do this every year! Here's what I've learned: TurboTax: You can go all the way to the end without paying. Just don't click "File" and you'll see your refund amount for free. H&R Block: Same thing! Complete everything but don't submit. Their free version is actually pretty good for basic returns. One weird thing I noticed - sometimes they give different amounts because of how they word certain questions. Last year H&R Block phrased a question about my student loan interest in a way that made me answer differently than in TurboTax, which caused a $200 difference in my refund!