your opinions on H and R block?

Answer 1

For Investments or Taxes??

I think they are mediocre at both. If you want average results at reasonable prices, go H & R Block. But there are better options, especially with investments.

Answer 2

I worked for H&R Block in the 1970s, when they were new; and again in 2004. In between I had a career with a state revenue department. In the 1970s returns were all done by hand, a great deal of knowledge was required, and I feel H&R did about the best tax returns available to the ave middle class person. Even complicated returns if you requested the office manager, or went to the same preparer yearly. Good people working for H&R Block could make a lot of money and the percentage payment basis that they used, so people returned year after year and you had a mostly experienced work force. When I worked for them in 2004 it was entirely different. With the computer programs that they use, and their various products they get you to promote as part of the interview; a preparer can't make decent money. If people are not well paid for their work, and they are good at what they do, they will go elsewhere to prepare taxes and the level of experience at H&R goes down. I still think you can get an accurate tax return done by them, the program works and the training class is very good. I feel they are overpriced now on the simple returns, and that their refund anticipation loan is a total ripoff. Their prices on more complicated returns are reasonable. Then, though, there is the support. H&R will pay your penalties and interest if you are found by the IRS to owe taxes because H&R did something wrong. They represent you for free with the IRS, as it is in their best interest to do so. No CPA firm I know of offers this kind of guarantee.

Answer 3

It is true that they teach a class for a few weeks (6 or 8 or so) each year and maybe hire those that pass the test at the end. They are paid very poorly (hourly) plus commissions.

However, according to their commercials this year, they provide AUDIT support if the IRS comes calling. You are still the responsible one for ensuring that the information you provide to your tax preparer is correct. In other words, you must keeps receipts and records as required by the IRS, but perhaps H&R will go in for the interview with you or in your place if you give them authority to do so.

Not sure if the audit support is an extra cost or not. This was for their TaxCut software.

They do not hire outside tax preparers with their own business (well, why would they want the competition?).

Answer 4

I think they are expensive for what you get. I work at a CPA firm and I have seen returns from HRB that were 2x as expensive if we had prepared it.

Many of their preparers are knowledgeable, but some are not.

If you have a simple return (ie. W-2 and some interest) use tax software if you are comfortable with it. If it is more complicated seek a professional. A professional should have an EA (enrolled agent) or a CPA (Certified Public Accountant). Both will be able to represent you to the IRS if there is a problem, and they have licensing boards that you can file complaints against if they act unprofessionally.

Answer 5

They hire people that don't know what they are doing. The course they have to teach and then "hire" people is ridiculous. If you have more than a W-2, don't go there. I would NEVER go to H&R Block.

We have 20 years of experience and want to work part time. We thought it would be fun to do simple returns and it would be easy with all our experience. They wouldn't hire us unless we SOLD them our tax prep business. We are supposed to GIVE then a client who pays us $1,000 for a tax return and have a twit prepare it? I don't think so.

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Answer 6

I always advise against going to any franchise tax prep firm: H&R Block, Jackson-Hewitt, Liberty...they're all worthless.