H&R Block Home Deluxe

Editor's Review

The name H&R Block has become synonymous with filing federal and state income taxes. Although the company originally made its reputation with brick-and-mortar store fronts, they were one of the first entrants into the tax-software industry with TaxCut, which has been renamed for tax year 2009 as H&R Block At Home.

The Deluxe version of H&R Block At Home was reviewed by the Software.com lab and found to perform with the same confident ease as its predecessors. The official tax forms and tables have not yet been finalized by the IRS; however, the software handled trial runs smoothly. (Note: as the IRS and state agencies finalize their forms, the software updates from the H&R Block At Home website.)

H&R Block At Home Deluxe imports prior years' data easily from all of the popular tax packages, including Quicken, MS Money, TurboTax, and of course its own predecessor, TaxCut, for W-2 and the various 1099 forms. The new improved user interface utilizes a Q&A approach to guide users through the tax preparation process, and also makes it easy to investigate alternatives, then navigate back to the tax form and line in question.

The Deluxe version tested included detailed assistance for homeowners and investors, including guidance for reporting and maximizing deductions for:

home sales

retirement income

investments

stock options

interest income

dividends

home mortgage interest

real estate taxes

donations

Returns are automatically checked for errors, and the user may e-file five personal federal returns. Note that H&R Block At Home Deluxe allows for preparation and printing of unlimited federal returns.

H&R Block At Home Deluxe: What We Liked

Worry-Free Audit Support is included in the purchase price, ensuring a trained H&R Block agent will assist with communication and represent the user in the event of a state or federal audit.

One state tax preparation program is also included.

Good value for the price, particularly compared to competitors.

H&R Block At Home Deluxe: What We Didn't Like

Registration requires giving some personal data.

Some users reported receiving annoying telemarketing calls.

H&R Block Support

The H&R Block website includes a full technical help section, and a chat feature and toll-free telephone number are also provided during office hours. Tax-preparation questions can be answered by a professional via telephone or email at a small additional charge.

About H&R Block

H&R Block was originally formed in Kansas City, Missouri in 1946 as a small business servicing company by the three Bloch brothers, Leon, Richard, and Henry. In 1955 their company began specializing in tax return preparation, and their success can measured by the company name being a household word. In 2007, the company reportedly claimed 19.9 million U.S. clients.