2010 H&R Block Tax Software State Program
Windows Edition ReadMe File

Contents

1. Using H&R Block Tax Software State Program With H&R Block Tax Software Federal Program
2. Purchasing Additional State Programs
3. Customer Support
4. State Filing and Payment Deadlines for 2010 Tax Year
5. E-Filing Information
6. Workarounds and Other Notices
7. Printing
8. Keeping Your Tax Information Secure
9. Thank You

1. Using H&R Block Tax Software State Program With H&R Block Tax Software Federal Program

To use the state program(s):

1. Complete the federal Interview.
2. Begin your state program. Much of your relevant federal return information will automatically transfer into your state return(s).
3. Complete your state Interview, which takes you topic by topic through the tax forms in your state.

2. Purchasing Additional State Programs

1. Click State in the H&R Block tax software program.
2. Click Buy State and follow the instructions.

3. Customer Support

We provide a variety of resources to help answer your questions about H&R Block tax software.

Help Central – This is the main resource for answering your product-related questions. In the program:

1. Go to the upper-left Help menu.
2. Select Customer Support.

If you can't find the answer to your question in Help Central, go to www.hrblock.com/software/2010/support for free support options, including:

• Answers to common questions about:
  • How to use the program
  • Your order status
  • Problems downloading from our online store
• Solutions to H&R Block tax software-related technical issues
• Free customer support options, including chat and phone

Phone support – Call 800-HRBlock (800-472-5625) for free technical support on product-related questions.

Customer support services – For quick, easy access:

1. Go to the upper-left Help menu.
2. Select H&R Block on the Web.
3. Select Online Taxes Customer Support.

Program updates – Go to www.hrblock.com/software/2010/updates for the latest information about H&R Block tax software program updates. You can download the latest updates at this site.

You can also download the latest updates within your H&R Block tax software:

1. Go to the upper-left Tools menu.
2. Select Update The Program.

4. State Filing and Payment Deadlines for 2010 Tax Year

Most states follow the IRS's filing and payment deadline for paper and e-filed returns — midnight April 18, 2011. (The IRS extended the deadline this year due to the District of Columbia's Emancipation Day holiday on April 15.)

However, not all states have adopted the April 18 deadline. Learn about your state's filing deadline at www.hrblock.com/software/2010/state_tax_info. You'll find links to all state tax office Web sites.

5. E-Filing Information

For state programs with e-filing, the earliest you can e-file is Jan. 6, 2011. However, your state tax office won't begin processing returns until Jan, 14 or later.

These tips can help you when you e-file your return:

• We recommend printing and reviewing your return before e-filing it. This will allow you to confirm you've entered all your information before e-filing.
• Update your H&R Block software programs before e-filing. We'll remind you when you get to File.
• Not every return can be e-filed. Some state tax offices don't accept certain forms electronically. We'll guide you through the qualification process for e-filing your return.

6. Workarounds and Other Notices

No support for paid preparers – H&R Block tax software state programs don't support:

• Paid preparers
• Electronic return originators (EROs)

7. Printing

We recommend you print a test page from your return before your taxes are due. This lets you resolve possible printing problems before filing your taxes.

To print a test page:

1. Go to the upper-left File menu
2. Select Print. The print dialog box opens.
3. Under Select what to print, select Selected forms / materials.
4. Select My Forms.
5. In the forms box, check a form to print.
6. Click Print.

If you have difficulty printing and can't resolve the issue:

1. Go to the File menu.
2. Select Save As PDF and print the PDF.

8. Keeping Your Tax Information Secure

Since we take your security seriously, we offer tips to help ensure your personal tax information remains private.

When you prepare and file your taxes using an H&R Block tax program on an Internet-connected computer, the e-filing process transmits data in encrypted form to the IRS. So, those transmissions are secure.

We also recommend you take these security precautions for the home or office computer where you prepare your return:

• Activate your computer firewall and a hardware firewall on your network connection. If you don't, hackers might be able to see the contents of your hard drive.

• You might want to invest in anti-virus software for your computer. Though unlikely, the possibility exists that your computer could become infected with a virus or similar malicious software. This can give third parties access to your passwords and other files.

• Be careful not to download spyware to your computer. If you accidentally or unknowingly download spyware, you might transmit your personal information to third parties.

• Avoid installing Internet file-sharing programs used to exchange music and other digital content. These programs might make all or part of your hard drive's contents available to others. Such file-sharing programs include:
  • Acquisition
  • LimeWire
  • XFactor

You can also password-protect your return in the program:

1. Go to the upper-left File menu.
2. Select Password Protection and follow the instructions.

Also, you might be storing your personal tax information on the same computer you're using to prepare the return. If so, don't store this information in a folder that's shared or password-protected by your H&R Block tax software program.

By keeping your tax information folder and your tax program separate, it helps ensure that other users of your computer can't open and view your tax file without your permission.

For more information about how to determine and set folder properties:

• Check your computer operating system's built-in help files.
• Check with the operating system vendor. Microsoft information is at www.microsoft.com.

9. Thank you for choosing H&R Block tax software.