My tax return got rejected because of H&R Block software error - what now?

Thank you so much for clarifying! That's a huge relief. I was worried I'd somehow be flagged in the system if I tried to file with someone else. Do you know if I'll run into the same employer import issues with other tax software? I'm not sure if this is a universal problem or just specific to H&R Block.

The import issue you experienced was specific to H&R Block's system and doesn't reflect a universal problem across all tax software. Each tax preparation service uses their own proprietary import tools, so you shouldn't encounter the same specific bug with another provider. When you choose a new tax software, you can try their import feature, but consider manually entering your information if you want to avoid any potential issues. Manual entry takes a bit more time but eliminates the possibility of import errors and gives you a chance to double-check everything as you go.

How does taxr.ai work with employer forms like W-2s? My main issue is that I have three different W-2s this year and I'm worried about missing something when I switch to a different software.

I'm a little skeptical about using yet another online service after a tax software failed. Is it actually reliable or just another thing that could glitch out?

Taxr.ai handles W-2s really well - you just upload all your forms and it automatically extracts the information from each one, highlighting any discrepancies between what's on your actual W-2s versus what might have been imported incorrectly by tax software. It's especially helpful when you have multiple W-2s because it organizes everything by employer. As for reliability, I was skeptical too after my tax software failed me. The difference is taxr.ai doesn't actually file your taxes - it just analyzes your documents to help you find errors before you file. So it's more like a second pair of eyes checking your work rather than another filing system that could fail.

Wait, how does this actually work? I don't understand how a third party can hold your place in a phone queue. Does it actually connect you to the IRS or is it some kind of middleman service?

This sounds like a scam. Why would I trust some random service with my tax situation when I could just keep calling the IRS myself? Sounds like they're just capitalizing on people's frustration with wait times.

It uses an automated system to wait in the IRS phone queue for you. When an agent is about to pick up, it calls your phone and connects you directly to the IRS agent. There's no middleman in the actual conversation - you're speaking directly with the IRS, they just handled the waiting part. I understand the skepticism completely. I felt the same way initially and was prepared to keep calling the IRS myself. The difference is that instead of you being stuck on hold for hours, their system does the waiting. In the end, you still talk directly to the same IRS agents you'd reach by calling yourself, but without the frustration of waiting on hold.

I'll check them out! Does TaxSlayer have a free option too? My return is pretty basic - just W-2 income and standard deduction.

Yes, TaxSlayer does have a free option for simple returns that include W-2 income and the standard deduction. It's called TaxSlayer Simply Free, and it should cover everything you need based on what you've described. They also have a very responsive customer service team if you do run into any issues, which is why I've stuck with them over the years despite the other options available.

Not just you. I think they keep adding "features" every year without properly testing them. I've gone back to using a simple paid preparer because I was tired of dealing with software issues. Sometimes old school is better!

I've definitely noticed this too! I think part of the problem is that they're trying to compete with each other by adding more automated features like document importing, but they're not giving enough time to properly test these systems before tax season hits. When millions of people are all trying to file at once, even small bugs become major headaches. That's probably exactly what happened with the H&R Block import issue that started this whole thread.