theboyzmom Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 The only discounts I can find this year are for new customers...we had them do our taxes last year, so we're not new anymore anyone have any other discount codes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtraci Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 I would suggest that you find an individual to do your taxes. It has been my experience where I live in North Alabama that H&R Block will rip you off. Ask people you trust for referrals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyers12345 Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 H & R Block prices are ridiculous. The only coupons they typically offer are for new customers. I worked for them for years, and couldnt' believe the fees charged. Also, at our office, preparers really didn't know how much it would charge until the end. The computer adds costs for tons of little things. The average return costs between 150 and 250 to do. The cheapest I saw was for single people with one W-2. It was still around 90. Most smaller companies charge between 50 and 60 to file your federal and state. I charge 35 for Federal and 15 for State, as do many of the other CPA's in our town. I am an accountant, and most of the employees at H & R Block have had no training. Some take and pass the H & R Block course, but since it is given in September-October, only the people planning on working for them in January take it. When December rolls around and people are applying for the jobs, it is too late to take the course. The main reason that people will pay their outrageous fees is because they can be automatically deducted out of their refund check if they do the Rapid Refund. What kills me is that people will pay 300 to get their return done, plus another 150-400 in fees on the Rapid Refund, so they don't have to pay the 50 out of pocket somewhere else. If I didn't have the 50 dollars, I'd find a way to get it to save 600+ dollars! I just don't like to see people that need their money paying for H & R Block's newest advertising scams. This year, you can get a debit card with your refund on it, instead of a check. They even did early refunds for Christmas $$, charging horrendous fees. HTH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms_mckenna Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 We did our tax return at H&R for years! Well since DH and I have done our taxes together we have always done it at H&R. This year I finally talked him into going to someone else! I think it was because the system gave us 20 dollars off for being a loyal customer (8 or more years) and it poed him . I am so happy lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_jenni_jocelyn Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 I am trying to talk my dh into using turbo tax this year. last year we had them done at h&R block and cost us $250, but we had relocation expenses and 2 states, so it was a mess and at the time, i wanted to make sure they were done right so i didnt mind paying that much. but now we have a fairly normal return(with the exception of a tax deductible something-or-other from dh's schooling) and i want to use turbo tax. dh is not sure about it yet. He thinks it will miss something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyers12345 Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 I use TaxAct for personal and family returns. It is free, and super easy! I have used it for years, and have never had a problem with it. www.taxact.com It is so much better than turbo tax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninpa Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 We got the $20 off last year too for being loyal,lol. Our only other choice would be Jackson Hewitt and those people reallt rip you off! We only pay around $120 and get the rapid refund but not instant. They take it out of your check when you do it that way. We get back alot so I don't mind the $120 at all for getting my money quicker,lol. I need a van NOW!! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyzmom Posted January 11, 2007 Author Share Posted January 11, 2007 We used Turbo Tax for years, but 2 years ago we ended up being audited because we had higher charitable donations and medical deductions than most people. Thank goodness I am very good at saving receipts, etc, but it was an awful experience. Top the high medical expenses with 1 direct sales job and part of the year with babysitting money coming from the state (I sell a direct sales product and did babysitting for a friend), my dh also works in another city so the local taxes are messed up, along with the recent audit and we are a bit 'gun shy' about doing our own this year (next year for sure since I will have no babysitting state money and probably no direct sales money) And for the record, I agree that paying for rapid refund is awful...I won't do it, I'll wait 2 months for my check if need be...my bil though will pay whatever to get his money NOW there are no local preparers that I know of (ok, one, but he ended up costing a bunch of people a bunch of money a few years back...so I have no idea if he's still in business), the lady at HR that did ours has been there for about 10 years...but last year we got a gift certificate to have ours done for FREE!!! So I'm ok with paying to have ours done, but I was really hoping to find SOME sort of discount Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby82 Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 h& r also takes competitors coupons and we also recieves the 20.00 discount as well i been going there for 6 years now and have always been satisfied i use the coupons that come in the mail for the smaller business or my grocer prints coupons on the back of our receipts they take any bodys coupon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elena_398 Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 I stopped going to H&R Block. Total rip off. They did the same tax system that you can buy anywhere and charge ridiculous amounts. The lady 3 years ago actually told us to not pay. lol. She said that she actually felt bad about the total but had to charge that price. With them after taxes are done, you have the option to say yes or no when they tell you the price to complete your taxes. The lady even printed out some forms for us that she already filled out! So really, do them yourself or go to a private person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyers12345 Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 We used Turbo Tax for years, but 2 years ago we ended up being audited because we had higher charitable donations and medical deductions than most people. Thank goodness I am very good at saving receipts, etc, but it was an awful experience. Top the high medical expenses with 1 direct sales job and part of the year with babysitting money coming from the state (I sell a direct sales product and did babysitting for a friend), my dh also works in another city so the local taxes are messed up, along with the recent audit and we are a bit 'gun shy' about doing our own this year (next year for sure since I will have no babysitting state money and probably no direct sales money) And for the record, I agree that paying for rapid refund is awful...I won't do it, I'll wait 2 months for my check if need be...my bil though will pay whatever to get his money NOW there are no local preparers that I know of (ok, one, but he ended up costing a bunch of people a bunch of money a few years back...so I have no idea if he's still in business), the lady at HR that did ours has been there for about 10 years...but last year we got a gift certificate to have ours done for FREE!!! So I'm ok with paying to have ours done, but I was really hoping to find SOME sort of discount Call your local CPA's. I only know of a couple out of hundreds that do not do taxes. Even if I wasn't licensed, I would feel just as comfortable with myself as I would most of the H & R Block people. The ones that have been there 10+ years can be pretty good. Also, at H & R Block, they will not assist you with an audit unless you pay for that POM (Peace of Mind) plan. They can answer questions, but that's it. They will also not pay ANY penalties or interest for a preparer's mistake unless you pay for the POM plan, and trust me, there are millions of them. Also, if it is a mistake on your reporting, such as a lost receipt, they will just laugh you out the door. A CPA will back up their work and assist you through an audit. BTW, if you don't have the receipts, don't claim the donations. That seems to be the biggest target for an audit. I would never claim ANYTHING if I didn't have the receipt on hand, because with my luck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby82 Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 theyve always helped us out esp. with running an at home business find all of the ways to get us the most back they have found things for us that i didnt even think about and the peace of mind once you add up everything is not very much more i guess to each his own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CG480 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 We live in Wisconsin there is an H & R Block that is located in Cordon,In We take our taxes there and I swear by the lady that does ours. She has always treated us great and does her best to get us the best she can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtraci Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 We got the $20 off last year too for being loyal,lol. Our only other choice would be Jackson Hewitt and those people reallt rip you off! We only pay around $120 and get the rapid refund but not instant. They take it out of your check when you do it that way. We get back alot so I don't mind the $120 at all for getting my money quicker,lol. I need a van NOW!! lolThat $120 might have been what H&R block charged, but that's not all you paid for the rapid return. That probably ran you at least another $150. I think the cost this year is around $275 total. Of course that depends on how much your refund is. My Mom has been doing taxes for 15 years and while she does charge about $110 per tax return (includes state and filing electronically), if you get audited she gets everything together and sends it in for you. If you have to go in for an audit, she goes with you or for you whichever you prefer. You would not believe some of the stories she hears from people who have gone to H&R Block in the past. She had one client who after they told him how much it would cost, he decided not to have it done there. They wouldn't give him his tax stuff back so that he could go somewhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conj Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 I used to work at the tax dept - and in my personal experience most returns that were prepared by a 'professional' that contained errors were prepared by H&R block. This may not be accurate - or your experience - but I would never hire them due to what I saw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyers12345 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Most people associate a name with success. No, they are a company that takes advantage of clients who know no better. Their main draw is that no one has to pay up front to get them done. A couple of years ago, I was still under contract with them. They hired a girl, who knew nothing. I ended up fixing a $3000 mistake on a couple's return. Thankfully, the man was smart enough to catch it. She told them that they could not claim ANY deductions unless they made over 100,000 a year. I spent an extra 3 months cleaning up her messes. She eventually QUIT. They wouldn't fire her because they needed the help. Just because you think they work hard to find your deductions, doesn't mean they do. Did you know that an employee is required to have absolutely NO training in tax preparation? They only train them to use the software, which automatically computes your taxes. If there is another available deduction, chances are you won't get it unless the screen prompts them to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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