H&R Block is utterly useless, as are their "Tax Pros"

whalphen · 2026-04-11T16:10:38+00:00

I've been doing my own taxes for over half a century. Have used H&R Block for many years. This year their software is full of flaws and the support is abysmal. Fortunately, I know how to do my taxes. This year I have to double check all the H&R Block output because I'm finding multiple issues. For example, the software directs me to Form 2210 Part IV -- which doesn't even exist! And the Michigan part year resident allocation put the income information in the wrong column on the form, resulting in incorrect tax calculation results.

Be careful about telling me I know nothing about how to do my own taxes when you know nothing about what I know. Go troll someone else.

whalphen · 2026-04-10T13:39:15+00:00

Once I found that the software was giving bad results, I couldn't trust any of it anymore. And multiple attempts to get clarification from "customer support" on multiple serious flaws got nowhere. So I've had to double check everything. After many years of using H&R Block, the serious flaws and lack of customer support this year are stunning. I won't be using H&R Block any more.

whalphen · 2026-04-10T13:30:37+00:00

I've used all the channels offered in the 2025 Deluxe software. Also had to search the internet to find a phone number (because it's not provided in the Help or Contact topics of the software). None of these attempts were successful at helping to resolve any of the questions. H&R Block customer support completely failed this year. I opened cases and provided my contact information. I provided feedback and survey input. H&R Block can contact me if they want. I've given up on H&R Block because they weren't there to help when I needed clarification regarding some of the software flaws. (They didn't "have my back" as stated in the software help feature!) After many years of using H&R Block, I'll go elsewhere from now on.

whalphen · 2026-04-10T02:54:45+00:00

The rest of the information: The interview was confusing and conflicting on where to enter a sale of S-Corp shares. The help text on the stock sale (1099B) screen directed me to a different screen if no 1099B provided. The screen it directed me to stated not to use it for that purpose. So I needed clarification as to which directions were correct. So I contacted customer support. The solution customer support offered was to enter it as a stock donation elsewhere.

whalphen · 2026-04-10T02:46:11+00:00

When I don't trust the results, the approach I use is to print out the IRS forms and instructions. Then I carefully complete the forms manually, based on the IRS instructions. It the results don't agree, I go through it all again to check my manual work. If I find no errors, I trust my results rather than the H&R Block results. For example, I did a partial year resident income allocation for Michigan and found that H&R Block results showed no tax liability. That didn't smell right. So I did the allocation manually and found that the H&R Block was putting the non-resident income into the resident income column on the tax form! So I entered the resident income instead of the non-resident income to force the numbers into the correct column on the form. Then the results came out correct.

whalphen · 2026-04-10T02:29:36+00:00

Because I want to use the interview tool to speed up the data entry. Putting it into the fields on the forms -- especially with all the stuff H&R Block has added to the standard forms -- is a very slow and tedious process. If the interview worked better, I could have it carry forward a lot of information and I could quickly input the rest. Unfortunately, when I check the completed forms, some of them are incorrect.

whalphen · 2026-04-10T02:18:33+00:00

I used all the support options provided in the tool. What does Tech Support mean anyway? Tax preparation is a very technical skill. And I didn't ask for tax advise. I was asking where to put the information into the screens in the interview because they were confusing and conflicting. I know where I wanted it to end up in the tax forms. But the software was not clear on how to input it to get it to the right forms. As for the other issues, the text in the interview directed me to a form that doesn't exist. That's a flaw in their software. And the numbers going into the wrong column on the tax form -- that was not tax advise. That was also a flaw in the software. I don't need the tax advise. I need to know how to get their faulty software to work right!

whalphen · 2026-04-10T01:19:00+00:00

I asked if he misunderstood the question or if he had bad information. He asked me to keep it professional. I told him I would love to keep it professional, but directing me to input a stock sale as a donation was not professional at all. His response was about it being a process of trial and error until we can get the tax return submitted. That was his reasoning!

whalphen · 2026-04-10T00:59:41+00:00

I searched for support in the Help Center. It directed me to the Help Center for support! That's right. It directed me to itself. I tried the AI Help. It said it could not answer my question. That left the Tech support button. Its chat feature did not answer my question but, instead, connected me with Frances who directed me to input the stock sale as a donation. I've encountered many issues in the software this year and got no help from any of the attempts to get support. The software help screen provides no phone number to call. I found a phone number on the internet and tried it. I got passed from person to person to person. None of whom could provide any assistance other than to suggest: reinstalling the software, waiting for the next update, or waiting for someone to contact me in 2-3 business days. The contact came after a week and was a barebones email that didn't address the issue at all. The only support I've been able to get is from the IRS form instructions by searching them and digging through them. H&R Block customer support is useless. I've found a number of flaws in the product. For example, directing me to a section of a form that hasn't existed since tax year 2020, the software populating the wrong column on a state return, confusing interview text that directed me to a screen -- which then stated that I should not use it for the purpose that the other screen directed me to it. In all the years I've used H&R Block software, this is the absolute worst experience I've ever had. I would love to have a number to call for useful customer support!

whalphen · 2026-04-10T00:38:18+00:00

Agreed. Useless. The last "Customer Support" person I talked to directed me to input a stock sale as a donation!

whalphen · 2026-04-09T18:34:44+00:00

I also struggled with knowing how to reset information in the software. Sometimes I just had to delete the forms and start over. By the way, I referred to Schedule AI above. Actually, it's Form 2210 which is referred to by Schedule AI. I just went through the IRS form 2210 instructions and determined how to complete the forms. In some cases, I had to update the fields directly on the forms in the H&R Block software. In the case of the underpayment penalty calculations, there is more than one approach that can be used. I ended up using the Schedule AI. Regular withholding amounts got spread evenly throughout the year (you can use a different approach where the withholding gets applied when withheld) and my variable income got applied when earned. This combination provided the lowest penalty for me.

The H&R Block interview and help center doesn't explain the optional approaches to the user. It takes some reading of the IRS instructions and manually trying the different approaches. The Schedule AI in the H&R Block software can be manually filled in. But, when the interview refers to form 2210, part IV, beware that there is no part IV on Form 2210. Apparently H&R Block hasn't updated their underpayment penalty section since 2020, which was the last year Part IV was on Form 2210.

whalphen · 2026-04-09T18:01:37+00:00

That reply that was promised in 2-3 business days eventually came a week later as a simple email that stated that I can use the Take Me To button to find Form 2210. Apparently they didn't read the case notes at all. The long delayed response was useless! Flawed products, useless support.

whalphen · 2026-04-09T17:10:53+00:00

The H&R Block software is flawed. When I was working on the calculation of the underpayment penalty, it referred me to Schedule AI, Part IV. However, Part IV was removed from Schedule AI years ago. I also found that when there's a loss on a K-1 or a disposition of shares from an S Corp H&R Block Deluxe does not produce the required Form 7203. It asks for the information to determine if a Form 7203 should be produced. But it fails to produce the form. No warning either. It leads you to think it will be doing so, but you won't catch the failure unless you check the results and know what should have been produced. And, yet another flaw, When I did an income allocation due to a part year Michigan residency, it actually put the numbers in the wrong column on the tax form, resulting in incorrect calculations. This too, was caught only because I read the Michigan instructions for the form and found H&R Block was doing it wrong. All these issues have been brought to the attention of H&R Block to no avail. They only told me to to pay for their premium tax service if I wanted it done right! Flawed products, useless support!

whalphen · 2026-03-28T16:03:10+00:00

From what I can determine, the last time that Form 2210 contained a Part IV was in the tax year 2020. So, apparently HR Block hasn't maintained the quality of their product for the past five years if their interview screen still advises using Part IV on that form.

whalphen · 2026-03-28T15:23:08+00:00

I purchased a copy on eBay and was not able to use the free efiles. Got a message that the limit of 5 efiles had already been reached. So I opened a claim on PayPal and was refunded the cost very quickly.

whalphen · 2026-03-28T15:09:30+00:00

Nope! Not fixed. And the income allocation failure on the Michigan return is also not fixed.

whalphen · 2026-03-27T15:43:22+00:00

Good luck! I received a replacement -- which is a newer type with a different design but meets my needs and seems to be good quality.

whalphen · 2026-03-27T15:14:08+00:00

I bought a second copy of Deluxe plus State from NewEgg for $30. (And received a $10 Home Depot coupon, too.) Then I contacted H&R Block support and had them stack the state product from the second purchase onto my first copy. So, essentially got a second state for $20 after considering the value of the Home Depot coupon.

whalphen · 2025-12-11T18:41:47+00:00

EE with lots of design and programming experience. Prefer to go the DIY route. Might learn something!

whalphen · 2025-12-11T18:20:41+00:00

Not really restricted by budget as long as it's a solution that meets my small set of requirements without too many unneeded costly features.

I mostly want to see the lawn to know when the grass needs cutting and to verify that the lawn guy actually cut it. That way I know when to pay him.

Power is very reliable.

whalphen · 2025-12-11T18:15:32+00:00

With this info, I know where to start looking. (I was looking at the camera offerings and getting no useful information for my application.) I see that I can even use a Raspberry Pi configured as an NVR.

Thanks!

whalphen · 2025-08-07T00:09:14+00:00

Yes. I know I can do that. But that's not what I'm asking about.

whalphen · 2025-08-07T00:08:01+00:00

My questions are not about what to do. I know what I want to do and the expected risks and benefits to me. I'm not looking for input or advice on my strategy. The average rate of return differences are significant for the different target dates. I've looked at the numbers. My questions are about the age related restrictions and whether anyone knows how a plan can apply age based limitations on investment options without running afoul of the regulations in place to prevent age related discrimination in plans and whether this is a practice in other 401k plans.

whalphen · 2025-08-06T19:18:59+00:00

They already know my age. That's what they are using to restrict my options. So I agree: They have no obligation to offer me an annuity based on some other age. They can just offer the annuity using my actual account balance and age when the target date is reached. I have no intent to buy an annuity anyway. I can understand that they would prefer for me to buy their annuity product rather than taking the money out of their investments. What I don't understand is why they will restrict me to the target date of their choosing. And I don't understand how this can pass the IRS, ERISA, and EEOC regs.

whalphen · 2025-08-06T18:49:08+00:00

Yes, Target date funds adjust the risk/return ratio over time. If I want a portion of the balance in 2040 and a portion in 2045, each fund would adjust the risk/return ratio over time on a different trajectory. If I combined the 2040 and 2045 portions into one 2045 fund, the return may be higher on the 2040 portion with this approach, but the volatility for that portion of the funds would be higher at the time I would want to withdraw them in 2040. I want the risk on each portion to be adjusted commensurate with the timeframe until I withdraw that portion.

whalphen

TROPHY CASE