H&R Block does not currently offer a first responder discount. ID.me, the verification service H&R Block partners with, states plainly that it is not aware of one.
H&R Block is a national tax preparation company offering both online filing software and in-person tax pro appointments. Some lists still describe a first responder benefit here, and that is worth explaining rather than just correcting.
Why Some Lists Say Otherwise
During 2020 and 2021, H&R Block ran a free tax preparation program for frontline workers, covering police, firefighters, EMTs, and healthcare workers, as pandemic-era relief tied specifically to that period. That program has ended. Anything describing free or discounted H&R Block tax prep for first responders today is describing a benefit that no longer exists.
There is a generic cashback route worth knowing about instead. Fluz offers roughly 1.5% back on an H&R Block gift card, the same rate it offers at most retailers rather than anything specific to H&R Block or to first responders.
Q&A
Q: Does H&R Block have a military discount instead?
A: This post covers the first responder question specifically. Check H&R Block’s own site directly for military-specific terms.
Q: I saw a site advertising free H&R Block filing for first responders. Is that real?
A: It is very likely describing the 2020 to 2021 pandemic-era program, which has ended. Confirm any current claim directly on H&R Block’s own site before relying on it.
Q: Should I use a different tax software if I am a first responder?
A: TurboTax currently verifies first responders through ID.me for 20% off federal products, which is worth comparing.
More Information:
Checked against ID.me’s own current H&R Block listing rather than a search result. A police-industry news site’s article about the frontline-worker program, published near the start of the pandemic and never updated since, still ranks for this search today, which is very likely the source of any list still describing this as a current benefit. A published date on a source is worth checking before trusting what it says is still true.
Related: TurboTax, Financial Planning Basics for First Responders, and 5 Financial Benefits for First Responders.