Why am I getting different tax refund amounts with H&R Block tax pro vs filing myself with TurboTax?

I'm currently working with a tax professional at H&R Block to file my 2024 taxes. Out of curiosity (and trying to save some money), I decided to try entering all my info into TurboTax myself to see if I could get similar results for cheaper. The H&R tax pro charges around $375 while TurboTax premium versions are only like $129 or so. Well, I was shocked at how different the results came out! When I did it myself with TurboTax, I actually ended up OWING on my federal return, while the H&R Block tax pro somehow got me a refund. And for my state taxes, the refund amount was significantly smaller when I calculated it myself compared to what the tax pro came up with. I've scheduled an appointment to ask my tax pro to explain how they got the results they did, but I'm honestly surprised at how big the difference is. Has anyone else experienced this kind of discrepancy between DIY tax software and using a professional? I guess this is exactly why tax pros exist and can charge those fees... they actually find ways to save you money that the software doesn't catch?

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18 comments

Mei Chen

•8M

The difference you're seeing is likely due to tax optimization strategies that professionals know about but software doesn't automatically apply. Tax software like TurboTax is only as good as the information you put into it, while tax professionals actively look for deductions and credits you might qualify for. Common areas where pros often find more savings include business expenses, education credits, retirement contributions, and healthcare deductions. They also know which filing status might be most beneficial for your situation and can identify industry-specific deductions you might not know about. I'd definitely keep that appointment with your tax pro and ask them to walk you through exactly what they did differently. Take notes on what they found so in future years you can decide if their fee is worth it or if you could potentially input that same information yourself.

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Mei Chen

•8M

TurboTax does contain all legal deductions, but it doesn't always prompt you for every possible scenario that might apply to your situation. The software asks general questions and follows a standard path based on your answers, but sometimes misses nuances that would lead to additional questions. A tax pro actively looks at your complete financial picture and asks targeted questions based on their experience. They might recognize that your profession qualifies for certain deductions, or that your living situation opens up credits you didn't know applied to you. They're trained to spot these opportunities rather than following a linear questionnaire.

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Amara Okonkwo

•8M

I discovered this exact same issue last year! After trying both routes I ended up having to pay significantly more when using TurboTax compared to working with a professional. I switched to using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely changed my tax filing experience. It basically analyzes all your tax documents and identifies specific deductions the other programs miss. For me, it spotted some home office deductions and business expenses from my side gig that TurboTax somehow missed even though I swear I entered everything correctly. The interface is much better at finding those edge cases that even good tax software doesn't always catch.

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Amara Okonkwo

•8M

Yes, it absolutely handles complicated tax situations. The platform was specifically designed to catch things like rental property deductions and small business expenses that often get overlooked. It's particularly good at identifying depreciation opportunities and business deductions that other systems miss. Regarding pricing, there are no hidden fees - everything is transparent upfront before you commit. The cost varies based on your specific tax needs but is typically comparable to TurboTax's premium tiers while providing much more personalized analysis. You can see the exact price for your situation before making any payment.

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Giovanni Marino

•8M

Just wanted to follow up - I took the plunge and tried taxr.ai after seeing this thread. I was honestly blown away by how much better it was than my experience with TurboTax. It found nearly $1,800 in additional deductions for my rental properties that I had completely missed! The system flagged some maintenance expenses and depreciation calculations that I hadn't been handling correctly. The document analysis feature saved me hours of data entry too. I'm definitely using this for all my tax filing going forward. Thanks for mentioning it here!

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Dylan Hughes

•8M

If you're having trouble understanding the differences between your tax pro results and TurboTax, you might want to try getting clarification directly from the IRS. I tried calling them for weeks about a similar issue but could never get through. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes! They have this demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent was surprisingly helpful and walked me through exactly why my calculations were different and which approach was actually correct. Turns out my tax pro was right about some things but actually wrong about others. Getting that official verification saved me from potentially filing incorrectly.

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Dylan Hughes

•8M

It works by using automation to navigate the IRS phone system and wait on hold for you. When an actual agent picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to them. It's basically like having someone else wait on hold instead of you wasting hours with your phone glued to your ear. No, it's definitely not a scam. I was skeptical too, but it genuinely connected me to a real IRS agent who answered all my questions about the discrepancy between my different tax filing methods. They have the video demo so you can actually see how it works before trying it. I understand the skepticism - I felt the same way until I tried it.

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Fatima Al-Sayed

•8M

I need to apologize and admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate to resolve an issue with my tax refund that was similar to what the original poster described. It actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back in about 35 minutes and was connected to an IRS representative who helped clarify why my refund calculations were different. Turns out there was a specific education credit that was being calculated differently. The agent explained exactly how to correctly document it regardless of which tax filing method I used. Definitely worth it just to avoid the hours of frustrating hold music and "your call is important to us" messages!

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Sofia Rodriguez

•8M

I've been a tax preparer for 10+ years and this happens ALL the time. The difference is rarely because we have "secret deductions" but usually because the software doesn't ask the right questions or people don't know how to categorize certain expenses properly. Check these common areas where DIY filers mess up: - Business expense categorization (putting things in wrong categories) - Retirement contribution deductions - Education credits (lifetime learning vs american opportunity) - Home office deduction (if you're self-employed) - Health insurance premium tax credits Ask your tax pro exactly what they did differently. It'll be educational!

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Sofia Rodriguez

•8M

It absolutely matters which tax professional you use, but it's not necessarily about brand names. H&R Block has some excellent preparers, but quality varies widely as it does with local CPAs. The key difference is typically expertise level and specialization. Most H&R Block preparers are trained in their specific tax preparation system and have varying levels of certification. A local CPA who specializes in tax might have more comprehensive knowledge, especially for complex situations like business ownership, investments, or unusual income sources. However, they often charge significantly more. The best approach is finding someone with specific experience in your particular tax situation, regardless of where they work.

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