If H&R Block Can't Even Get Its Own Taxes Right...
from the ouch dept
It's getting to that time of the year again, when we all start procrastinating on actually filing our taxes, and we see a marked increase in the number of serious, trustworthy-looking actors pretending to be financial advisors in TV commercials. Many of those commercials will probably be from H&R Block, whose claim to fame is their ability to help you with your taxes. Apparently, those serious, trustworthy folks weren't used on the company's own taxes, though, because the company has now admitted it screwed up its own taxes. The timing on this, obviously, is not particularly good. Maybe they should just claim they went to a competitor...Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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No Subject Given
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$32 million???
How, exactly, do you "forget" $32 million in sales though? I guess if you keep your own records you should be ok filing with them...just don't use their accountant!!!
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No Subject Given
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Their loss, my gain
By the way, most people don't bring in a prior year return to be reviewed unless they think it was screwed up in the first place - usually from not claiming Earned Income Credit or not claiming a dependent that they could have claimed. (EIC credit can be as high as $4400 this year)
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No Subject Given
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Taxes Smaxes
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Re: No Subject Given
I used them for the past 5 years or so with no problems at all. In fact they saved me more than some other place I used prior to them so they had my loyalty at that point. This year I did my own online with TurboTax (which will not get my business again) because it was supposed to be cheaper and I have nothing complicated to fill out. The Block may end up with my business again next year because they have always been good to me - even if they are a bit more expensive.
One man's treasure is another man's trash, I guess.
Funny that they screwed themselves on their filing though. That has to cost them business since it is peak time. Wonder if they guaranteed their filing...
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Re: $32 million???
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Re: No Subject Given
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H & R block taxes
freak3dot
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Re: H & R block taxes
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FairTax
Some other interesting points....
-The tax code is filled with loopholes that are manipulated by high-priced lobbyists for their clients, and by other special interests.
-The complexity of the current income tax code is an open invitation to those with the means to manipulate the tax code.
-There are more lobbyists registered in Washington for taxes than for any other issue.
Maybe if we adopted the FairTax we wouldn't have to worry about all this tax filing buisness. Get your whole paycheck.
fairtax.org
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HR Block
She told me that there were two big jokes there.
- People who claimed their occupation was simply "Executive" (making $5,000/year).
- People who used H.R. Block, which invariably got kicked out for dumb errors.
No matter WHO you use, whether it be a nationwide tax preparer or a simple CPA, go over the figures and add them up yourself. Electronic filing will catch the obvious mistakes, but you're still responsible for what you put your signature to.[ link to this | view in thread ]
H&R Theives
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Re: H&R Theives
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AHAHA
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F'd up more than that
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Re: No Subject Given
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Re: Their loss, my gain
Tip: You can go through the whole process with them, and then walk out at the last minute AFTER you see how much you should be getting back, and not pay a dime. Just like getting the answer key.
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Re: Their loss, my gain
They refused to give a refund.
Beware. Beware. Beware.
Cheers,
Kevin R.
Austin, Texas
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No Subject Given
Plus they hand me a check right there. Thats how they got your roommate. He probably told them he wanted to check the next day. If you wait a week the fees come down alot.
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Re: FairTax
This would have helped H&R Block too - If you don't owe as much, you can't underpay as much.
Of course this would have to go for the states as well. It was the state returns that messed up H&R Block.
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Re: No Subject Given
I used H&R twice - the first time and the last time.
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My father did mines with them?!
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Re: My father did mines with them?!
$150 later they had finished and were surprised I was upset. So I asked to talk to a manager. They made me wait for 45 minutes before talking to me. When I told him that his receptionist gave me false information, he went on to tell he how hard his job was, and how hard it is to keep his employees informed.
He basically told me that he wasn't actually doing his job, but somehow didn't realize what the words meant when they came out of his mouth. In attempt to calm my frustration, he gave me a phonecard. For a pay phone.
Don't go to H&R block. Please?
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Idiots
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Re: Idiots and all others
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Re: Idiots and all others
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No Subject Given
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Re: No Subject Given
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Re: Their loss, my gain
We are no longer going to do this.They won"t tell you how much it will cost till the forum is made out.
They charge way to much now than before.
They are ripping people off on there fees.
Butterfly
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Re: No Subject Given
Just because I don't have to trash the company to feel cool, doesn't mean I work for them either.
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Re: Idiots and all others
Good comment, while I empathize with legitimate claims, it was refreshing to hear an opinion from the "other side of the desk" on the types of people HR Block employees deal with. Some will never be satisfied. I know that I try my best when doing taxes, am very consciencious, but do make mistakes. When I do, I do my best to rectify them. This is not a black and white situation as some people claim.
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h&r block sucks
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Re: No Subject Given
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Re: Re: H & R block taxes
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Re: H&R Theives
Do you think that the person who owes money to the IRS gets them done for free?
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H&R BLOCK RIPS OFF EMPLOYEES TOO
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H&R Block cheated me out of $1,000!
I also have an IRA from them that is doing NOTHING and is about to be rolled over.
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Re: H&R Theives
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Re: Re: Their loss, my gain
Thanks for your selfish attitude and jacking my costs to have my taxes done professionally and guaranteed vs the IRS. I could do them cheaper myself but the security is great... if the fuk up they deal with it, not me.
p.s. not affiliated with Block but a loooong time customer and I have 0 complaints. Just like any other service industry it depends on the individual you have not the corporate name.
Do yourself a favor and ask questions!
Don't be intimidated by taxes, they're easy and IMHO it's well worth the extra 50 bucks or so to not have to worry about tax BS. My dude from Block takes care of everything for me, he's awesome.
Find someone good and stick with em..... Block or not. W/e helps you sleep at night.
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Re: Re: Idiots and all others
"I worked for Block for many years. A lot has changed about taxes. It's the governments fault ever since EIC came about and those loans, people have a severe entitlement attitude, especially those with low income. Most people would be shocked at the cheating,lying and basic scum of the earth that came in to demand "their" money. On the other hand, a lot of people down on their luck got helped by the very same thing. As for Block, like anyplace you go, some are good, some are not so good. I know they seem to spend non-tax season finding new ways they can screw the employees who work 3 1/2 grueling months for them. The other places aren't any better, and people will make mistakes"
Amen brother
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UNDER AGE Of 18 $3500 Lost becuase of H&R
i work all year and get taxed thousands of dollars as a minor,
and i only got $250 back plus.... they dont account for the 1500 RRSPs i put away!!!! if anyone can explain this to me please... please email me i will send you 50$ via paypal if you can give me the info to get that money!
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Re: Re: No Subject Given
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screwed out of more than $7000!
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Re:
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guarantee
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Tax places seem to side with the Government
They left out all of the property tax and interest I paid. I got back a measly $100 back out of thousands I paid. The government is suing Jackson Hewitt for cheating them. Oh, but the government won't help people like me. They need our money for all of those illegal immigrants pouring into this country. Government has to use our money to feed the orphans on our doorstep.(Illegals, that is)
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Taxcut Online will screw up your California Taxes
Their online service made an error last year on my California return that resulted in me paying more tax than I otherwise should have. (It disallowed SDI from my state deductions on form CA in addition to foreign tax paid in the federal "other tax" box on Schedule A.)
Since correcting the error results in a refund to me, and there were no penalties, the response from H&R Block is "so what?".
Well it's not going to take too long to file an amended return for 2006 but why bother to pay $40 to file your state return if it's going to make mistakes.
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Re: Re: No Subject Given
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Re: blaze
Expect a letter from the IRS, save that money to pay back what you owe!
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nightmare nightmare - avoid H&R Block
- had to deal with someone who had NO idea of what they were doing
- charged us $460 to do our federal and two state taxes
- did not do our state taxes - sent them to another office, who then lost them, then refused to file and extension (even though we'd scheduled to do taxes the week prior to the deadline)
- made us go through hell - we had to call & visit many offices to try and locate our paperwork (unsuccessfully) and we had to scramble to file our own extensions (California one sucks)
- made us feel like idiots - giving away our money to waste our time and do (not do) a very sh*tty job.
SAVE TIME AND MONEY - DO IT YOURSELF. DON'T TRUST THIS IRRESPONSIBLE COMPANY.
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HR Block
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Defending me
They said I couldn't itemize but couldn't explain why. This year I decided to take a tax course myself, I called H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt asking each of them questions about what I would be learning. Imagine my surprise when the company I had been using (JH) tells me don't worry it's easy, any body can pass it. I was even more amazed when the lady from H&R Block says, "I can't promise you'll pass the course but we have excellent teachers and are very thorough in our training."
And she was. My teacher was a retired colledge professor of finance. A graduate of Perdue she had more than 25 years experience and taught us things beyond the scope of the book. She was everything I could have wanted in a teacher.
I decided to work for block this year as a first year Tax Pro. I don't know everything, it's the first thing I'll tell you. (Have you seen all the different IRS Publications that deal with specific tax law? Check irs.gov for an eye-openner.) I also won't do a return I am not confident that I can handle. Do I question the abilities of others I have met? Absolutely. And there are a number of preparers I would never have handle my taxes but that should be how everyone feels. Honestly, there are good and bad everywhere. Turbotax cost a friend of mine 5,000 because of a glitch in software compatibility. An Independent Contractor I know went to a CPA for years then went to Block and had a competent preparer go over her last return only to find out the IRS owed her 7,000. Jackson Hewitt cost me an extra 300. There is no perfect system. Horror stories exist everywhere. This is your money, you should research people and options, don't settle for the next preparer on the list - especially if your itemizing, have investments or own your own business. Take the time to find someone that fits - someone that is competent and your comfotable with, then STICK TO THEM. If their good at their job and they really care about the people they help, they will give you, your concerns and your needs every consideration. I've been on your side of the table. I want to do this because I want to help people not only recieve the best tax liability and return possible (BY LAW!) but because I want to become a part of their investment in their own futures. And if you sit at my desk and I don't know how to help you - believe me, I would send you to someone who did.
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Fraud
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1st at H&R block.. Am I obligated to file with them?
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