| | |  | Tax Preparation | Home » » » » H&R Block At Home 2010 Deluxe - Federal + State + Efile | | | | | | | Description: | | Guidance for all your personal tax situations. Federal forms and State forms. Step-by-step interviews guide you through a customized experience relevant to your tax situation. Everything you need to prepare your federal and state taxes in one complete program. | | | Features: | |
• Do-it-yourself tax software for investors and homeowners
• Everything needed to easily complete federal and state returns
• Customized interview process; user-friendly interface; audit support
• Guidance for reporting investments, dividends, home sales, and retirement income
• 5 free federal e-files; quickly import data; Maximum Refund Guarantee
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Weight:
| 0.2 pounds | | Package Length:
| 7.6 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.3 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.4 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.45 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 275 reviews |
| | | System Requirements: | | | Platform:
| Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows XP / Mac OS X | | Media:
| CD-ROM | | Item Quantity:
| 1 |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 275 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
215 of 221 found the following review helpful:
 Mostly Excellent. Some Flaws. Price is Nice.Nov 24, 2010
By C. MacPhail
I've used H&R Block's tax software every year since 2004. Always some annoyances, but most of it is excellent.
Price Dips: Below 25 buckss. Sometimes below 20. It went to 22.49 on Jan 12, 2011, for example. Amazon has always had the best price. There's an "Online Price Alert" that will email you whenever this or any amazon product dips below your target price. Google it. It's nicely done.
The Download Version is often a few dollars less.
Unlimited number of tax returns: (family members, what-if copies of your return, etc.) I think TurboTax also lets you do this now, but in the past TurboTax pulled some real nasty tricks with licensing/copy protection, and they continue to charge 18-45% more than H&R Block.
It includes unlimited paper filings for one state ($ 19.95 extra per state e-file). So, I just file state returns on paper.
"Free" tax softwares like TaxAct might be the thing if your return is very simple, but their better versions are almost as expensive as H&R Block at low tide, and not as good.
So far, the 2010 version is just like 2009. (I did a side-by-side run-through.)
Typical minor annoyances: (all carry-overs from 2009)
- Upgrade pitches: They weave it into the interview and make it sound as if "an upgrade to Premium is advised for your situation" even when it makes little or no sense for your situation. Sleazy.
- Unclear wording in a few places, although most wording is very clear and accurate.
- Privacy Policy: During install, you can hit a "View Privacy Policy" button, which as of Dec 8, 2010 does not work. Or go to a 37-character url (must hand type it...no copy-paste). You can then view their "Privacy Notice" or their equally obscure "Online Privacy Practices and Principles." Both have a reassuring tone while offering rather little privacy protection from marketing partners but your information will be used "in accordance with law."
- Copy...Paste from Interview screens. That would be handy at times. No can do. Can't print them either. Only way I found is ALT + PrintScreen, then paste the graphic into Word or a paint program.
72 of 74 found the following review helpful:
The e-File price annoyance.Jan 12, 2011
By Waeqh's Wife
"Catholic Momma"
Every year I go through the same thing. TurboTax and H&R Block are both perfectly acceptable programs to file my taxes with but the prices quoted aren't all inclusive and finding out how much the programs actually cost is a huge annoyance. I went with H&R Block this year and last because they had the best price once again, but it took 2 trips to different stores to find out the real price. TurboTax and H&R Block both charge $19.95 extra to e-file the available state returns. If you use their online counterparts the extra charges explode to $37.95 and $34.95 respectively. So pick your poison carefully! I hope this review saves some people some time and energy.
36 of 36 found the following review helpful:
Errors in current version, updates to come...Jan 14, 2011
By crouchingtiger
"Japanese learner"
This review (as of 1/13/11) is to note that there appears to be at least one glaring error in the program, in terms of calculation of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). The program was telling me that I owed thousands of extra dollars in taxes due to the AMT, but my own calculations based on the IRS worksheet 6251 as well as other web calculators all suggested this should not be the case.
I dug up a thread on H&R Block website in which a customer service representative states that they are aware of this issue -- in fairness, it is not completely H&R Block's fault, as the legislation to continue the AMT "patch" was not passed and signed into law until late December. So, they had to use the "unpatched" numbers.
The program currently states that updates will be forthcoming on 1/17/11 so I will update this review at that time to make sure that these calculations have been fixed.
Without this issue, my general impressions are good. The program has been helpful in pointing out some deductions that I was not aware of (relatively minor, but still!). The interface is fairly clunky, but maybe that is something I will get used to. I think that the time savings will become more apparent over the years (importing previous years' returns, etc.). Also, a lot of the time saving functions (e.g. automatic electronic import of W2s and other forms) are not yet available until later in the month.
--update 1/17/11 --
As promised, the program has been updated and the AMT calculation has been corrected. I have adjusted from 3 stars to 4 stars.
My state return is not yet ready for download (2/3/11) so I will try to update this review after that date if I have any further comments (positive and negative).
Hope this helps!
34 of 34 found the following review helpful:
 Very Buggy ProgramFeb 07, 2011
By Jim M.
This review is for the Mac version. The actual software I purchased was the download version; however, H&R Block states the box version and download version is identical.
This is the first year I have tried the H&R Block program. I was tired of the Intuit games with their TurboTax program - in all the years I used TurboTax, I NEVER received a promised rebate and the State filing fees were getting out of hand. There were other unexpected charges too, but this review isn't the forum for that.
I decided to try H&R Block's software for a change even though I liked TurboTax. H&R Block was much easier to use for those who enjoy the step-by-step walk-through. In many ways, the explanation of the tax codes for decision points people reached were very easy to understand. It even took the TurboTax files from the previous year and flawlessly transferred the data to H&R Block's software for this year's return.
The one major flaw in this software is when one makes an itemized list for a field, the list can not be edited or even reopened once closed. Every time I tried to bring up an itemized list from any field, the program would crash with the dreaded "H&R Block quit unexpectedly" error. All data entered after the previous save was lost. This was very frustrating as there is no way to edit an itemized list once added. This was an every time event - no matter which field I entered an itemized list for - I even started an entirely new return to see if that would fix it. It didn't. I then went to the web site and found no way to provide feedback on the issue. There was no support area for this either. The only support areas were for tax questions and installation issues. I had to revert to using Excel for my itemized lists to add things up before entering the final number in the proper tax field. This software bug cost H&R Block two stars. I then attempted to access the forms directly. I opened the 1040 with no problem, but when I tried to access a link to another form, the wrong form kept popping up (tried to access Form 8863 (American Opportunity Credit) and instead it opened Form 8812 (Additional Child Tax Credit). And when a field is selected, the form jumps around. H&R Block sent me a link to a new, improved version. All the same issues remained in the newest version. Lowered to Two Stars.
In case you are thinking of switching to the download version to obtain the software more quickly, be forewarned - when I had decided I had enough of the buggy program and I wanted to return it, I found the 60-day guarantee, but no way to submit for it. I called H&R Block to obtain a refund. After about 20 minutes of looking on their database, the customer service representative said she could find no way to refund the money and that I needed to contact Amazon for the refund, but Amazon won't refund on a downloaded piece of software. After 40 minutes on the phone, information was taken and H&R Block said they would elevate it to the next level. Although very nice on the phone, the H&R Rep was clueless. The elevation to the next level consisted of an email stating I needed to send in the receipt along with the UPC label from the box (this was a software download purchase with no packaging). It did say I could send in the CD if I didn't have the UPC label. Sheesh! So much for the 60-day guarantee. Rating now one-star - wish there was a zero star rating. So if you decide to download it instead, kiss the guarantee goodbye.
Jim
21 of 21 found the following review helpful:
Despite the flaws beats the other alternativesJan 30, 2011
By Ali Julia
I've used H&R Block's tax software (formerly called TaxCut) every year since 1995. Several times when I saw a promotional deal I purchased both TaxCut and TurboTax to compare. I found that TurboTax did not do anything better than TaxCut while costing consistently more. In addition, I like the option of being able to file 5 free Federal e-files as I do taxes for other relatives who are less computer savvy.
H&R Block software also wins if compared to the free on-line options. I don't like using the on-line tax programs for two reasons (1) I don't want my financial data to be on someone's web site (2) free offers include the Federal tax only.
I prefer a boxed version rather than the downloaded version, so I will have the software available on CD if I need it years later. If you need to file an amendment down the line or have some other issue, you may not have the same PC which has the right version of the software already installed. So even if you have a back up of your return on a CD you will not be able do display the return itself. Having a CD version of the software allows you to do another install if you need it, so you can examine or edit your original return.
H&R Block tax software does a good job despite having a few flaws.
1. This year soon after you start the interview process the software annoys you with a sales pitch, recommending an upgrade from Deluxe to Premium even when it is not necessary.
2. Copy and Paste from Interview screens is not possible. Sometimes I wish to do it for some issue as a reminder to myself. My solution is to do PrintScreen (holding ctl key, shift key, and printscreen key at the same time). This generates an image of the screen, which I paste into paint or photo editing sofware which I can print or save for later.
3. Some forms (such foreign tax credit over the limit to be directly on 1040) require entering data manually. For some reason the software does not do this form automatically. This form is not that hard to do manually as this form does not change year to year.
4. I don't use the default location for the returns, as I want to my backup program to back up only the data not the software itself. The software does not seem to remember this new location on startup, I need to pick the return manually from the File menu, as it does remember recently used files.
5. I use large font option on my monitor display, and some forms don't display properly with this option. It is possible to work around, but most other programs are able to adjust the display characteristics where as H&R Block software does not.
6. I wish H&R did not change the name of the software. A short, concise, unique name like TaxCut is more convenient for a consumer than a mouth full "H&R Block tax software". Googling for the name brings other unrelated hits, which I suspect what H&R was after... however it is just as annoying as the sales pitch that start the interview.
7. H&R Block charges $19.95 to e-file each state return. Of course, this charge can be avoided by printing the forms and mailing them in.
8. I wish there were a cheaper version which did not include any e-files. Filing on paper has benefits.
9. In prior years I got a rebate offer from H&R Block for purchasing this software on Amazon. I was disappointed not to receive this offer this year.
10. In prior years the package include DeductionPro software. This year it became an online tool. As mentioned earlier I will not use software that requires me to put my financial data on their site, and this year's DeductionPro wants to import the data to H&R web site, so I will not be using it. Disappointing.
However, despite those few flaws I still recommend this software package. The interview process is helpful in reminding you things you might have forgotten. On-line help is useful. Despite the flaws this software beats doing tax forms by hand or paying a lot more by going to a professional tax preparer.
See all 275 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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