H&R Block Deluxe + State 2025 Review: The TurboTax Alternative That Costs Less

Why H&R Block still matters in 2025

TurboTax dominates DIY tax software by mindshare, but H&R Block's desktop Deluxe + State has quietly matched feature-for-feature for years — at roughly 40% less in 2025 pricing. The 2025 edition (for filing 2024 returns) keeps that formula.

What's included

• Federal + one state filing
• 5 free federal e-files (TurboTax: 5 on desktop; no advantage there, but H&R Block doesn't upsell you on "audit alert" add-ons the same way)
• Schedule A, B, C, D, E coverage — itemized deductions, interest/dividends, self-employment, capital gains, rental income
• HSA, Solo 401(k), and SEP contribution guidance
• DeductionPro — itemized deduction finder with Goodwill-style valuation tables

Where it beats TurboTax

• Price — consistently $20-$40 below the equivalent TurboTax Premier tier
• In-person audit support — optional add-on connects you with a real H&R Block office (7,000+ US locations)
• No upsell lock-in — H&R Block doesn't gate key features behind Live versions the way Intuit does

Where TurboTax wins

• UI polish — Intuit's interview flow feels smoother, especially on complex returns
• Crypto import — TurboTax has broader exchange-direct import; H&R Block handles CSV manually
• Prior-year import from TurboTax — only one-way (TurboTax → H&R Block import is fine, but going back is harder)

Who should buy Deluxe

• W-2 filers with mortgage, charitable giving, and HSA contributions
• Single-property landlords with Schedule E
• Investors with brokerage 1099-B and modest crypto activity
• Self-employed side-income filers under ~$20K gross (for higher complexity, Premium tier is a smaller jump than TurboTax's equivalent)

The verdict

For the majority of DIY filers, H&R Block Deluxe + State 2025 hits the sweet spot: enough power to handle real complexity, under $60 all-in with state filing. The software isn't flashier than TurboTax — it's just cheaper for the same outcome.