The time has arrived! Tax Season 2014 officially opens today. By now you should be receiving your W-2s and other pertinent forms. If you're not one for procrastinating, then you are probably gathering everything together to sit down and complete your return. Even if you are a procrastinator or need to wait to finish filing while you accumulate information, it doesn't hurt to decide which online tax preparation service to use and get started. Filing your taxes online is not only the best way to ensure a speedy refund, but it can help alleviate some of the hassle, since you will be using intuitive software vs. printing and filling out the forms on your own. We decided to pit our top two tax prep services — H&R Block vs. TurboTax — against one another to determine which is the best choice for you.H&R Block vs. TurboTax: Which is better?
Price: Of course, both services let you file simple 1040EZ returns for free. But if you need to upgrade because your taxes are more complicated, then you'll probably want to know which offers the best price.
H&R Block has the cheapest package prices, with three different options — Basic ($16.99), Deluxe ($25.49) or Premium ($42.49) — depending on what type of return you need to file. These upgraded packages include the ability to import forms and prior year tax returns, plus offer enhanced support options and extra guidance for specific situations, such as rental property income. The cost to file state taxes is $27.99 for those using the free federal file option or $36.99 when combined with one of the upgraded packages. H&R Block offers NextAdvisor users a special 15% discount that is applied automatically when you visit through one of the links on our site.
TurboTax offers package options similar to H&R Block but at steeper prices. The upgrades offered are Deluxe ($29.99), Premier ($49.99) or Home and Business ($74.99), and you can also get the Basic package for $19.99 if you want extra guidance and support in addition to access to prior year returns as a free filer. However, TurboTax is currently running a special 50% off discount on filing state taxes for free filers, making the cost just $14.99/state — a great deal when compared to H&R Block. If you are a premium user, the cost is $36.99/state.
Useability: Both services feature intuitive, easy-to-use interfaces that guide you through the process of filing step by step. While TurboTax is more streamlined and puts an emphasis on how little time you'll have to spend completing your taxes (they boast 10 minutes tops), H&R Block wins with an interface that offers up detailed help along the way and makes it easy to import documents to help speed up the process.
Support: H&R Block beats out the competition when it comes to support hands down. In addition to guided online support and an extensive resource section called The Tax Institute, it offers the ability to consult with tax professionals both in person and online. Block Live online connects you with a tax professional via a real-time, secure video conference or chat, and you can also schedule an appointment at your closest H&R Block office for an in-person consultation. While lacking the benefit of in-person support, TurboTax also offers robust support options with phone and web-based chat with certified tax professionals as well as its AnswerXchange community forum, populated by a mixture of experts and other TurboTax users.
Audit Assistance: Both H&R Block and TurboTax offer excellent audit support, but H&R Block's Worry-Free Audit Support guarantee puts them ahead of the game. With this guarantee, you receive assistance from an H&R Block tax professional in the case of a federal or state audit of your tax return — from preparation to attending the audit with you — completely free. TurboTax provides free one-on-one audit consultation year-round, including access to their Audit Support Center program. If you want representation, you can purchase their Audit Defense program for $39.99.
Bottom Line: When it comes to support — especially in the case of auditing — as well as price, H&R Block reigns supreme. However, if you're planning to file multiple state returns alongside your free federal return, you might want to take advantage of TurboTax's 50% discount on each state return. Both services offer impeccable guidance and intuitive, well-designed interfaces to make the process of filing your taxes less of a burden. No matter which choice you make in the battle of H&R Block vs.TurboTax, you're going to come out on top.
0 comments:
Post a Comment