H&R Block vs. Jackson Hewitt

H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt have extremely user-friendly tax software. They don’t force you to fill out complicated forms. Instead, they ask you questions about your finances and expenses. You only need to find the correct document and locate the requested information. Depending on your employer, you might not even need to do that. H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt can automatically upload the W-2s from many companies.

You will need to get a little more involved when it comes to deductions. Everyone will have unique answers that you have to enter manually. Even this task is simple unless you earned money from investments, contractor work, or a small business.

You can learn more about Jackson Hewitt’s online software by reading this review.

H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt take different approaches to price their online tax services. Explore those differences below.

H&R Block Prices

HR Block has plans and prices to meet pretty much any tax situation. You can even file your taxes for free or have a professional do all of the work for you.

Free Online

H&R Block Free Online doesn’t cost anything. It also only suits the needs of people with straightforward finances. If you only have income from unemployment or your employer, you can probably use the free option without worry.

Deluxe

Deluxe costs $49.99 for state taxes and $36.99 for each state’s taxes. Paying for the service means you can itemize your deductions and potentially save money by including HSA and childcare costs.

Premium

If you made money from rental properties, investments, or cryptocurrencies, you should choose the Premium edition. It costs $69.99 for federal and $36.99 for state taxes.

Self-Employed

Self-employed people include independent contractors, freelancers, and gig workers. If you earned at least $600 and received a 1040-MISC, you should choose this option. It will cost $109.99 for your federal taxes and $36.99 for each state.

Even if you have a relatively small side hustle that makes more than $600 a year, invest in the Self-Employed version.

In-Person Taxes 

In-person tax services from HR Block start at $80 for federal filing. State filing costs extra. The amount you spend depends on how many forms your tax professional needs to complete. The more complicated your income sources and deductions are, the more you will spend on tax prep. You might spend more money, but you don’t have to do any of the work.

Jackson Hewitt Prices

Jackson Hewitt charges a flat rate for its online services. Its in-person prices are a bit harder to estimate.

Jackson Hewitt Online

Jackson Hewitt claims that its online tax software only costs $25. That price includes filing federal and state income taxes.

You can get help from a tax professional while using Jackson Hewitt’s online software. It’s unclear whether the company charges for this service, in any case.

Jackson Hewitt In-Office

The prices of Jackson Hewitt’s in-office tax preparation services vary depending on the location and what you need. Unfortunately, you can’t predict the cost just by looking at its website. You will need to contact a local office to get a price quote.

H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt offer nearly identical customer support services. You can find helpful articles, guides, and FAQs on their websites. If you need help from an expert, you can communicate with someone via online chat, video, or phone. Of course, you can also visit someone at an H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt office.

H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt do more than complete and submit personal tax documents. They provide a range of services to meet the needs of households and businesses.

Tax Refund Advance Loans

Jackson Hewitt and H&R Block offer advanced loans against your tax refund. The HR Block Refund Advance loan can provide up to $3,500 with 0% interest and no fees. It doesn’t even impact your credit score. Jackson Hewitt offers a nearly identical service through a prepaid debit card.

H&R Block Tax Calculator

Would you like to see an estimate of your tax refund (or how much you will owe the IRS)? H&R Block’s website has a calculator that can do that. It’s essentially a simplified version of H&R Block’s online tax software. You provide basic information, such as income, marital status, and deductions, and get an estimate of what you will pay or get back.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Resolutions

Have you missed tax payments over the years? Do you need to amend an old return? Jackson Hewitt’s Tax Resolution experts can work with the IRS to reach a compromise. Jackson Hewitt gives you upfront pricing for the services you will need. Then, it does its best to lower your repayment amount and penalties.

Track Your Return

H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt offer online tax return tracking. You just have to log into your account to see whether the IRS has received your return. Then, you can follow every step of the payment or refund process. The feature can make you feel much more in control of a system that seems so large and impersonal.

H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt have decades of experience preparing and filing taxes. You can’t make a bad decision between the two. You should, however, review their prices and features to see which one gives you the right option at the right price.