This post was created in partnership with H&R Block.
As a self-employed blogger and full-time employee, my tax season has always been confusing. I’m talking back to 2015 when I was just getting started! I can’t even remember the last time I had just one or two W-2s to fill out.
I have been using TurboTax since I got my first job. As the years went on and I increased the amount I was filing, I just wasn’t happy with my tax experience. For me, last year was the final straw! For 2018 taxes I vowed to absolutely not use TurboTax.
The struggle was real
And before you say anything… NO I am not exaggerating. Filing my Schedule-C and regular income tax forms with TurboTax for 2016 and 2017 resulted in letters from the IRS stating I owed more than originally expected. And, on top of that, TurboTax had trouble sending my payment. At that point, I decided it made more sense to send a paper check.
I thought everything would be good once the IRS received my tax payments. Yet, TurboTax ended up sending the payment out which resulted in my paying twice. You know what happens when you pay twice? You receive another letter from the IRS with a check for the amount you overpaid + another penalty on top of that.
Needless to say, the entire process was like a big fat joke.
Now for the good stuff
Not only is the H&R Block online filing platform easier to navigate and more visually appealing, I feel confident in their product so I can file my return without the stress of worrying about mistakes a few months out. No stress filing? Sounds like exactly what I need.
To truly compare the two, I opened all my previous returns with TurboTax and went through the process using both for my 2018 taxes. I wanted to give you a truly honest opinion of what made the processes different.
I started with TurboTax and was frustrated off the bat because their verbiage had me confused. There were a few points where I wasn’t clear on what they were asking for. Specifically, the Schedule C/Self-Employment section was not an easy process.
With H&R Block Online, I found the language easier to understand. Another point I loved was that they save your documents from previous years, so you don’t have to stack paper at home. You can easily sort through digitally to look at changes and reference back if, for some reason, you needed to.
What to write off as a blogger
My favorite part of the process with H&R Block was hands-down filling out my Schedule C. When it comes to business expenses, I get so confused. I have only had to fill this out two years in a row now and know I didn’t take as many deductions as I could have for 2017. H&R Block walks you through all of the options and gives suggestions based on what you enter.
For me, it’s about the peace-of-mind getting this done right. I searched the articles in H&R Block’s product to figure out what I could write off. When I got confused, I looked into each category for options to see which made the most sense for my tax situation. H&R Block clearly explained that I could write off business expenses like my laptop, software and even transportation.
A few of my suggestions when filling out your business expenses:
- Travel related to work (ie parking, plane tickets, Ubers, MBTA passes, etc.)
- Accomodations for trips (ie hotel stays, work-specific meals, tickets, etc.)
- Equipment used for work (ie laptop, computer accessories, camera, etc.)
- Props purchased for jobs (and only if they are used for work)
- Softwares related to business (ie Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office, apps, etc.)
There are many, many more so use H&R Block to look up which ones are the most relative to your business to make sure you’re getting the most money back each year!
Real tax pros get it done right
I think the best part about H&R Block is the real help from real people. It can be so frustrating when you have to get questions answered from outdated forums, automated messaging systems, and company Q&A sections.
With H&R Block, if you get stuck somewhere along the filing process you can live chat and share your screen with an expert tax pro, so they can actually walk you right through it. They helped me find my business code, file the Schedule C right (after I couldn’t figure it out), and gave me advice on what to include.
For a small additional fee, I opted in to have a real tax pro review and sign my return with their Tax Pro Review. This is a game-changer for me because I always stress so much over my taxes and worry when I don’t feel I’m doing things right.
As of now, my return is being reviewed by a tax professional and will either be 1) filed for me or 2) sent back with questions and clarifications which they will work on adjusting for me.
First time filing?
Don’t stress if it’s your first time filing. For those of you who are only filing a W-2 and maybe one or two other basic employment forms then you are golden. Seriously, the filing process with H&R Block Online is so easy that you barely have to think about anything after you’ve submitted your information and hit e-file.
Back when I only had a form or two I used TurboTax and it got the job done. That being said, I am so much happier with the way H&R Block guides you through process, walks you through the complicated sections of self-employment filing, and has experts standing by with advice so I have the satisfaction of getting things done right!
Look through the various options for filing to make sure you choose which is right for you. Whether you have a basic tax situation or have multiple income streams, it’s important to feel confident your taxes are going to be done right.
The BIG picture
H&R Block’s process felt much more personal. The explanations were easy to understand and the self-employment guidance felt very tailored to my circumstances. They make you feel more relaxed about the entire process, if you can believe that!
If you are an independent contractor, blogger, or other self-employed individual then I highly recommend trying the H&R Block service for yourself.
File your 2018 taxes with H&R Block this yearI