Need recommendations for cheaper tax software alternatives to H&R Block

I've been loyal to H&R Block for filing my taxes online for probably 8+ years now, but I'm ready to make a change. Their prices seem to keep creeping up every year and honestly, I don't think I'm getting enough value for what I'm paying anymore. My tax situation is pretty straightforward - married filing jointly, we both have W-2 income, standard deduction, nothing fancy with investments or rental properties or anything complicated. We're expecting a refund of around $1,800 this year based on our withholdings. I really don't want to spend $70+ just to file a basic return. What other tax software options have you all tried that might be more affordable but still reliable? I don't need all the bells and whistles, just something that gets the job done correctly and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

0 coins

18 comments

Tami Morgan

•8M

I switched from H&R Block to FreeTaxUSA three years ago and haven't looked back. The federal return is completely free, and state returns are only about $15. The interface isn't as flashy as some of the big names, but it walks you through everything step by step just the same. For a straightforward return like yours (married filing jointly with W-2 income), it should work perfectly. They support all the common tax situations, and even if you have something slightly more complex later, their deluxe version is still way cheaper than H&R Block or TurboTax. The only slight downside is their customer service isn't quite as robust, but for a simple return, you probably won't need much support anyway.

0 coins

Tami Morgan

•8M

Unfortunately they don't have a direct import feature for H&R Block returns, so you'll need to manually enter your information the first year. It's a bit of extra work, but I found it was worth it for the savings. As for time, it took me about the same amount of time as H&R Block - maybe an hour for a straightforward return. The interface is intuitive, and they guide you through each section clearly. Once you've used it for one year, the next year is much faster since they save your information.

0 coins

Haley Bennett

•8M

I recently discovered taxr.ai when I was looking for alternatives to the expensive tax services. I've always been frustrated by how much I was paying just to input my W-2 info and answer the same questions year after year. I found taxr.ai after reading some Reddit threads about tax software alternatives, and it seriously changed my filing experience. What I loved about https://taxr.ai is how it can actually analyze your tax documents and previous returns to find potential savings. I uploaded my previous return from H&R Block and it flagged a few deductions I had missed. The interface is super straightforward for married filing jointly returns like yours.

0 coins

Haley Bennett

•8M

They're significantly cheaper than H&R Block, especially for straightforward returns. And yes, they handle both federal and state returns seamlessly. I completely understand the concern about newer platforms. I was hesitant too, but they actually use the same tax calculation engine that many professional preparers use. I filed back in February and got my refund without any issues. They also offer audit protection, though for a simple return like mine (and sounds like yours too), that's probably not a major concern.

0 coins

Nina Chan

•8M

I tried taxr.ai after asking about it here and I'm actually shocked at how much better it was than H&R Block. I was definitely skeptical at first (as you can see from my earlier comment), but the experience was night and day. The document scanning feature saved me so much time - I just uploaded my W-2s and it pulled all the information automatically. What really impressed me was how it compared my previous returns and suggested some adjustments that increased my refund by about $340. For a married filing jointly return with fairly standard income, I didn't think there was much optimization to be done, but I was wrong. The interface was clean and much less cluttered than H&R Block's constant upselling.

0 coins

Ruby Knight

•8M

If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS to ask about software alternatives or resolve previous filing issues, I highly recommend Claimyr. I spent days trying to get through to the IRS on my own after switching tax software and having some questions about my previous returns. After multiple failed attempts (hours on hold only to get disconnected), I found https://claimyr.com and their service was incredible. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you once an agent is available. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I went from waiting for hours to speaking with an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes.

0 coins

Ruby Knight

•8M

They don't call the IRS for you - they use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When they reach a human agent, they connect you directly to that agent. It's completely legit and they don't need access to any of your personal tax information. The reason it works is because they have technology that can stay on hold so you don't have to. They're essentially just managing the wait time for you, not providing any special access. Once you're connected, you speak directly with the IRS agent yourself.

0 coins

Logan Stewart

•8M

I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After my frustration boiled over trying to reach the IRS about a letter I received (related to switching tax software), I broke down and tried Claimyr. I was 100% convinced it would be a waste of money or worse. I'm still shocked, but it actually worked exactly as advertised. Their system got through the IRS phone maze, held for about 40 minutes (which I didn't have to sit through), and then connected me with an agent. The agent confirmed everything was fine with my account despite switching software. Saved me hours of frustration and the peace of mind was worth it. Sometimes being proven wrong is a good thing.

0 coins

Mikayla Brown

•8M

Yes, it's actually completely free for both federal and state returns. No hidden fees or surprise charges. They make their money from the Cash App ecosystem and other financial services they offer, not from the tax preparation. The catch (if you want to call it that) is that it doesn't support some more complex tax situations like multiple state filings or foreign income. But for a basic married filing jointly return with W-2 income, it handles everything perfectly. I've used it for two years now with no issues and got my refunds quickly both times.

0 coins