H&R Block Home Premium

Editor's Review

H&R Block has been a trusted name for preparing and filing federal and state income taxes for many years, both in store fronts and online. Their software package, originally named TaxCut but renamed for 2009 as H&R Block At Home, is a logical extension of their expertise, offering ease of use for even complicated tax issues and greater value than some competitors.

The Premium version of H&R Block At Home includes specialized guidance for tax preparers with:

home sales

retirement income

investments

stock options

interest income

dividends

home mortgage interest

real estate taxes

self-employment (Schedule C)

rental property income and expenses

Note that the IRS has not yet finalized the official tax forms and tables. H&R Block At Home Premium handled trial runs smoothly, up to the point of actual efiling. (As the IRS and state agencies finalize their forms, the software updates from the H&R Block At Home website on a pre-set schedule.)

H&R Block At Home Premium imports prior years' data easily from TurboTax and TaxCut, for W-2 and the various 1099 forms. The data can also be manually entered, or some combination of the two utilized. The slick new interface asks questions and uses the answers 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 software automatically checks returns for errors, and will efile up to five different federal returns. The user can also prepare, print, and file an unlimited number of returns, for friends, family, or organizations.

H&R Block At Home 2009 Premium: 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.

Users can experiment with different numbers and various tax scenarios, not only to maximize their savings but also to prepare for future years.

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.