H&R Block Self-Employed 2026 Review: Is $85 Worth It vs TurboTax?

H&R Block Self-Employed costs $85 for federal filing + $37 per state in 2026. That is significantly less than TurboTax Self-Employed at $129 + $49. The question for freelancers: does H&R Block cover the same Schedule C scenarios, and is the $56 savings worth switching?

Short answer: H&R Block Self-Employed is excellent for most freelancers — it handles Schedule C, 1099 income, home office, vehicle, and self-employment tax with an interface that nearly rivals TurboTax. The main thing TurboTax does better is the QuickBooks integration.

H&R Block Self-Employed Pricing 2026

Versus TurboTax Self-Employed: | Product | Price | |---------|-------| | TurboTax Self-Employed (federal) | $129 | | + State return | $49 per state | | Total for 1 federal + 1 state | $178 |

H&R Block saves you $56 per year compared to TurboTax, assuming one federal + one state return.

Early-season discounts: H&R Block frequently offers 20–25% off through early March. Filing in January or February saves another $17–$21 on top of the standard lower price.

What H&R Block Self-Employed Includes

### Schedule C Support H&R Block's Self-Employed tier covers every Schedule C scenario: - Net profit/loss calculation with full income and expense entry - Home office deduction: Both the simplified method ($5/sq ft, max 300 sq ft) and the actual expense method - Vehicle and mileage deduction: Standard mileage rate ($0.67/mile in 2026) or actual vehicle expense method - Depreciation (Section 179): For equipment and assets used in your business - Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction: Up to 20% deduction on net self-employment income if eligible

### 1099 Income Import H&R Block Self-Employed imports 1099 forms from: - Employers/clients who issued 1099-NEC forms - Gig platforms: Uber, Lyft, DoorDash (connect directly) - Payment processors: PayPal (1099-K), Square, Stripe - Marketplace sellers: Etsy, eBay, Amazon

### Self-Employment Tax H&R Block automatically calculates: - Self-employment tax (Schedule SE): 15.3% on net self-employment income - The 50% SE tax deduction (reduces your adjusted gross income) - Estimated quarterly tax payments for next year (shown at the end of filing)

### Audit Support H&R Block Self-Employed includes in-person audit support — you can visit any H&R Block office for face-to-face help with an IRS notice. This is a genuine advantage over TurboTax (which charges extra for Audit Defense).

### AI Tax Assist (Optional $10 upgrade) For $95 federal (vs the standard $85), H&R Block adds an AI assistant that answers tax questions in plain language, reviews your return for potential issues, and explains each form field. This is H&R Block's answer to TurboTax Live Assist — but at a fraction of the cost.

H&R Block vs TurboTax: Side-by-Side Comparison

Key difference: TurboTax integrates directly with QuickBooks Self-Employed — your income, expenses, and categories transfer automatically. H&R Block has no equivalent integration. If you use QuickBooks, TurboTax is the better choice. If you do not, H&R Block wins on value.

Who Should Choose H&R Block Self-Employed?

H&R Block is the better choice if: - You do not use QuickBooks Self-Employed (no integration advantage for TurboTax) - Your Schedule C is moderately complex — home office, standard mileage, basic deductions - You want in-person audit support without paying extra - Saving $56 matters to you - You file in January/February when discounts reduce the price further

Stick with TurboTax if: - You use QuickBooks Self-Employed — the seamless QB import is worth the premium - You want the most polished, guided interview experience in consumer tax software - You are filing a more complex return with depreciation schedules, multiple income sources, or rental income alongside freelance income

H&R Block Self-Employed for Independent Contractors

For independent contractors (1099-NEC recipients), H&R Block Self-Employed handles: - All freelance income from clients and platforms - Business expenses (tools, software, home office, vehicle) - Self-employment tax (Schedule SE) - Quarterly estimated payments owed (calculated at year-end, not tracked throughout the year) - Standard deductions vs. itemized deductions

The guided interview is clear and comparable to TurboTax for typical contractor returns. Both ask the same questions; TurboTax's interface is marginally more polished, but H&R Block's is functionally equivalent.

H&R Block vs FreeTaxUSA for Self-Employed

FreeTaxUSA charges $14.99 for federal Schedule C filing. For simple returns, it works.

H&R Block is worth the extra $70 over FreeTaxUSA if: - Your Schedule C has home office, vehicle, or depreciation (FreeTaxUSA handles these but with minimal guidance) - You want audit support - You prefer a guided interview over a form-filling experience

Is H&R Block Self-Employed Actually $85 in 2026?

Yes — H&R Block Self-Employed is priced at $85 for federal filing in 2026. This price covers: - Unlimited federal filing attempts (you can file amendments) - Schedule C, Schedule SE, all self-employment-specific forms - Guidance through every section of your return

This $85 price is significantly below TurboTax Self-Employed ($129) for functionally the same Schedule C coverage.

The Verdict

H&R Block Self-Employed at $85 + $37 state = $122 total is one of the best values in self-employed tax filing software. It covers every deduction a freelancer or independent contractor needs, includes in-person audit support, and saves $56 versus TurboTax.

For more on your tax filing options, see: - TurboTax Self-Employed review — is $129 worth the premium? - H&R Block vs TurboTax for freelancers — full head-to-head comparison - QuickBooks Self-Employed Tax Bundle — bundle QuickBooks + TurboTax for $25/month - Self-employment tax calculator — know what you owe before you file