Best Tax Software · head-to-head
TaxAct vs H&R Block
A sourced, side-by-side comparison for tax software. TaxAct has the lower entry price. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it.
At a glance
- Price: TaxAct $0/mo vs H&R Block $0/mo — TaxAct is cheaper to start.
- Free tier: TaxAct Yes; H&R Block Yes.
- HIPAA: TaxAct —; H&R Block —.
Side by side
| TaxAct | H&R Block | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $0/mo (Free) | $0/mo (Free Online) |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA (BAA) | — | — |
| SOC 2 | — | — |
| GDPR | — | — |
| Best for | Cost-conscious DIY filers comfortable without a mobile app | Filers who want the option to switch between DIY online and in-person assistance |
Sources — TaxAct: taxact.com (verified 2026-06-14). H&R Block: smartasset.com (verified 2026-06-14).
Key features
TaxAct: SmartFile AI in-product filing assistant; Step-by-step guided filing for all complexity levels; $100,000 accuracy guarantee; Maximum refund guarantee; IRS extension filing support; Prior year tax filing support; Xpert Assist: unlimited CPA/EA sessions for $45 flat add-on; Xpert Full Service: complete return preparation by US-based professionals; MFA via mobile phone or Google Authenticator; TRUSTe Certified Privacy and Trustwave Trusted Commerce seals
H&R Block: Refund Reveal: shows why estimated refund changes as you fill in data; Six years of prior return storage for returning customers; Prior year return import from any provider; Maximum refund guarantee with competitor comparison offer; 100% accuracy guarantee with reimbursement for errors; Free audit consultation for all filers; In-person filing assistance at 10,000+ physical locations globally; AI-assisted online filing (digital + optional expert hand-off)