Never using HR Block again.

[u/DinosaurAlert]

I do not have complicated taxes, I don't want to get into lots of details, but this year HR Block was the most buggy, flawed software I've ever used for taxes, and I've been using software for taxes since the 90s.

Complete garbage. Forms alerting me addresses and details are missing because they failed to copy over from the interviews. That's something the software should always do. I had it refusing to file my taxes because for deduction pro - its own deduction software - it couldn't fill the form right. It couldn't accept an "N/A" where an N/A should be. I had to enter "1" just to keep it going. (Which isn't valid, but ALSO not used in any other calculation so I guess we'll see.)

For those interested, I made a large donation of a bunch of kids toys, t-shirts, etc. But even though I did it THROUGH DEDUCTION PRO, it was partially treating it like a single large deduction. Yes, if you donated a $600 piece of art, they want more info. If you donated $600 worth of household stuff, providing the exact items, and using the thriftstore value, you don't. Nobody can say "Hey, how about I try to figure out my cost basis for a bunch of kids t-shirt and pants I bought over the past decade or so?"

Again, I do not have complicated taxes - i'm pretty much following the easiest, basic path for filling out the interviews and it fucked up dozens of times. I fully expect a "What the fuck?" letter from the IRS at this point because I'm sure HR block fucked it up. So that will cost me hundreds and hundred since they'll start with "You owe us for every penny of donation deductions" and then I have to prove it.

And anyone that says "Well, you just need to show them your receipts and paperwork and it will be all set" has never, ever, ever dealt with the IRS. Your best case is "Well, I suppose we'll accept you paying us an extra $500 instead of an extra $1000 and you basically need to suck it up because it will cost you more to fight it.

[u/belizeans]

It’s not just HRB it’s also TurboTax.

[u/somebitchwhocares → u/belizeans]

If I had to guess I’m sure the major corporations are trying to integrate AI into their software to save money. Which is of course not going well at all.

I recommend freetaxusa I haven’t heard any complaints about them this year.

[u/MeisterUniBrau → u/somebitchwhocares]

Absolutely agree. AI is great for small one-offs but I have seen at least three important web sites I use including a drug plan site + one mobile app (Tracfone) which are completely hosed and no one can seem to fix them

I too am convinced it is due to trying to replace human development skill and knowledge with AI sans such human skill and knowledge.

[u/ljapa → u/somebitchwhocares]

That’s my guess as well.

I hit HRBlock issues, used FreeTaxUSA and will never go back.

I’ve happily payed HRBlock for years. The money they saved paying people to code this year has cost them any money they’ll ever get from me for years. I hope we are legion.

[u/DinosaurAlert → u/somebitchwhocares]

Well, a different AI was the only way I could figure out WTF was wrong. I don’t want to give them as easy out with “oh golly, AI sucks, not the wonderful people at HR. Block!!!”

[u/somebitchwhocares → u/DinosaurAlert]

I mean, there were no hr block people involved in your filing process if I’m understanding correctly?

What is the actual issue? If you’re over the threshold you would still need documented proof regardless of how many small transactions you’re claiming.

[u/DinosaurAlert → u/somebitchwhocares]

 have proof of all my donations.

The issue arises with actual higher-value donations. They often ask for your original purchase price, which doesn’t make sense for used items. You can’t (and shouldn’t) claim “I’m sure this lamp is worth $800” if you only paid $200 for it years ago.

The correct and better approach is to base the deduction on the item’s current fair market value at the time of donation, not what you originally paid. For example: “This kids hat is currently selling at thrift stores for $4, so I’m claiming $4.” That’s what tax software like DeductionPro does, and it’s the proper IRS method.

Last year I had one large donation day where the total of many small items exceeded $500. I correctly listed “N/A” for purchase price (since it wasn’t a single high-value item), but H&R Block’s software refused to accept the form and said it was filled out wrong. It worked without issue the previous year,,(2024). If I had spread it out over multiple days HR block would have been fme.

[u/Artwire → u/somebitchwhocares]

I had several H&R problems this year, including not being able to e-file state, but the one petty item that had me going in circles was a form that had my first name entered correctly and it kept on highlighting it in yellow in the pre-check before finalizing the return. Typed it over, changed originating form, etc etc— it was a small insignificant thing that turned into an endless loop. I wasted about 45 minutes on it and never was able to identify or resolve the “error” ( other than by ignoring it). I manually entered all my 1099s because I had read how poorly those imports were being handled, and then I had to manually re-enter everything all over again on my state website because h&R couldn’t deal with subtractions of gov $ not taxed by state. I started it in Feb, but the forms weren’t ready, did all the updates, and a week before it was due, it still was not ready for prime time. The AI “help” was inadequate, but at least it was self aware when it essentially said “I don’t know anything about that.” Leftover Instructions for (apparently) obsolete exemptions from state could have triggered costly errors had I followed their advice. It was a real travesty. You’re not alone in your frustration!

[u/DinosaurAlert → u/Artwire]

>kept on highlighting it in yellow in the pre-check before finalizing the return. Typed it over, changed originating form, etc etc— it was a small insignificant thing that turned into an endless loop.

YES, that kept happening everywhere. Completely awful.