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    #16
    saying the same thing

    >>if someone seems down and out, I generally adjust my prices for them<<

    Another way of saying the same thing is, if someone seems better off, you bump up your prices for THEM.

    Either way, it's an admission that your work has no value in itself. You will wring out whatever you can get your clients to pay.

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      #17
      Hrb

      someone (very likely someone who works for Block) has reacted and has brought their entire organization to the forefront.

      All of us in the tax prep industry have friends who work with Block, or have done so in the past. In particular, Gary from Phoenix posts often on this board and I don't think we have finer people than him -- incidentally a former nuclear physicist. Those of us who think Block has toilet cleaners and handmaids who have taken 14 hours of training and are now sitting behind an HRB desk need to remember that there are nuclear physicists as well.

      As far as believing an HRB preparer took these ridiculous deductions? Sure I do. Some of the sloppiest work I've seen in the business have been done by HRB preparers, particularly in small towns where the office is franchise-owned and local talent is thin. In fact, when you consider many of these preparers are paid close to minimum wage plus a year-end bonus (based on number of returns, mind you), it's a wonder it's not even worse.

      I think the answer is HRB has a great quality control program that prevents many neophyte returns from getting out of the office. In every Block office there is at least one excellent tax preparer - in some cases MANY excellent preparers. The expertise seems to get better with larger towns where they can be more selective about employees and HRB actually runs the office instead of a franchisee.

      Those of you who have 10 years experience, a CPA, established EA practice, etc. can be expected to do a better job than most Block preparers, especially in areas such as tax planning. Although you might point out a few exceptions to this, I think all of us believe this is generally true. Yet Block continually successfully challenges us in the market with every device ranging from discount food tickets to same-day RALs.

      Bottom-line...Block KNOWS THE PUBLIC, and they know enough about taxes to do the job. They target the public en masse with big advertising dollars and offer them the things what they think they want! I don't know a single HRB office who wants to prepare a few international 1120s for the millionaire on the hill. They want to do 1040A's for the thousands in the general populace and they want to MAKE MONEY doing it. They are closer to General Motors, Citibank, and Exxon than they are to our corner tax prep offices and they don't really care whether we like it or not.

      Don't paint HRB as the consummate evil and incompetants in our industry, or defend them as patron saints either. Recognize them for what they are. Don't allow them to determine our agenda for us. We surely will not succeed in changing theirs.

      Comment


        #18
        Brass Cajones

        You talk pretty tough for an Unregistered Guest. Grow some grapes and sign up. As for H & R Crock...er um...Block I love them. I produce more amended returns out of HRB offices than all other CPA's, EA's, preparers combined. Thank you for making me wealthier HRB.
        I would put a favorite quote in here, but it would get me banned from the board.

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          #19
          Hrb

          I work for HRB and have turned away clients. I had one whose return I completed when he told me that he had some income under the table. I told him that I could not finish his return unless he reported it on a schedule C and he did.

          Gary

          Comment


            #20
            HRB screws up their own tax return

            Hot of Yahoo news:

            CHICAGO (Reuters) - H&R Block Inc. (NYSE:HRB - news), which provides tax advice to millions of Americans, made an embarrassing confession on Thursday. It goofed on its own taxes.

            The company, which is in the middle of its make-or-break season preparing other people's tax returns, said it had underestimated its own "state effective income tax rate" in previous quarters -- meaning it owes another $32 million in back taxes.

            As a result, H&R Block said it would restate previously reported earnings going all the way back to 2004.

            "It wasn't particularly material," said Alexander Paris, an analyst at Barrington Research in Chicago. "And it's not particularly unusual. A lot of companies are going back and reviewing their controls because of Sarbanes-Oxley and finding tax errors. But for a company like H&R Block, it was particularly embarrassing."

            The company also cut its forecast for full-year 2006 earnings, blaming, among other things, "a slower start to the tax filing season than in previous years."

            But it acknowledged it compounded the problem by introducing a new technology that went haywire -- and sent a quarter of a million customers to rivals.

            H&R Block shares went sharply lower in extended trading after the company issued its earnings report -- which was a disappointment in itself.

            The Kansas City, Missouri-based company said fiscal third-quarter net earnings fell 69 percent to $28.8 million, or 9 cents a share, from $92.3 million, or 28 cents per share, during the comparable quarter last year. Revenues for the quarter rose 12 percent to $1.2 billion, the company said.

            Analysts expected H&R Block to report earnings of 26 cents a share on sales of $1.19 billion.

            "It was definitely a disappointment," Paris said.

            The company said its poor performance in the fiscal third quarter resulted from legal settlement costs related to its controversial early refund program and from a smaller-than-expected seasonal surge in filings by U.S. taxpayers.

            But in a conference call with investors, Mark Ernst, the company's chairman and chief executive, said the slow start was exacerbated by "self-inflicted wounds."

            Ernst said software-related technology problems left the company unprepared for a surge in January filings by taxpayers expecting refunds and "created a hole out of which we're working to climb."

            He said the problem "cost us 250,000 clients" that were "unable to be recovered."

            The company said a new software distribution system introduced in January had caused its offices glitches that would be fixed for a day, then pop up again. It said the problems left some offices unable to process taxes.

            That isn't the only hole H&R Block dug for itself. The tax-related goof and restatement will also drag down previously reported results for 2005 and 2004 by an estimated 9 cents a share, the company said.

            H&R Block, which also provides home-loan and investment services, also cut its 2006 earnings forecast to a range of $1.65 to $1.85 a share, down from its previous range of $1.90 to $2.15 per share. It blamed the slow start to the tax season, as well as continued weakness in the mortgage market, for the reduced forecast.

            H&R Block shares fell $1.87, or 7.4 percent, to $23.32 in after-hours trading on Inet.
            "A man that holds a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way." - Mark Twain

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              #21
              Hrb

              "It wasn't particularly material," said Alexander Paris, an analyst at Barrington Research in Chicago. "And it's not particularly unusual.

              Wonder if that will work with the RA on my next audit? Could remove penalties maybe?

              And in March we'll read about the errors that Turbo Tax, Taxcut, etc. make in calculating returns, just like last year.
              "A man that holds a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way." - Mark Twain

              Comment


                #22
                It just depends on the preparer at HR Block. I know alot are like Gary and are good preparers. Some are not. Its not just HR Block, it could be any tax preparer weather associated with a large company or out on their own.

                I had a ambulance driver leave this year because I would not deduct meals. He had told me the previous year the amounts he gave was what they all had to give into the fund. This year I found out from another driver it wasn't true. They worked at the same company. It happens.

                Comment


                  #23
                  Competition

                  I never worry what the competion will do or will charge for their services. I set my fees and if someone complains, so be it. I don't lose any sleep over it.

                  I am considerably higher in my fees that the other tax preparation firms in my immediate area. But with those higher fees, I am number 1 in service. That is worth something. I lose more clients to the local funeral homes than to my competition.
                  Jiggers, EA

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Originally posted by Unregistered
                    Not entirely true. However I don't see your actions as being noble, even though you do. My services are valued based upon what I deliver, NOT HOW MUCH YOU CAN PAY.

                    I have never understood this idea that wages/fees/etc should be based only upon what someone else can pay. Just bizarre.

                    As for HRB, maybe you and they should just become charitble organazations? Hmm, you don't like that idea I bet.
                    Well I really dont care (when it comes right down to it) what Block does or what YOU do for that matter.
                    As for me, yes I do believe in charity. I give 10 per cent of my income to charity. I have compassion for the poor people of this country.

                    I do not base my fees entirely on what I think a person can afford, as a matter of fact, if I think someone might be a little "strapped for money", I generally just say I will cash their check when they get their refund in the bank. I file everyone electronically so I generally dont have to hold on to it too long.

                    But once in awhile (if I think the case warrents it) I WILL give a person a break on the price.
                    One tax customer was not getting a refund this year, as a matter of fact, he owed quite a bit and seemed pretty depressed, so I did his taxes for free.
                    SHOOT ME!!

                    Like I said before I KNOW Block doesnt do that sort of thing and apparently you dont either, but thats your business. Have a great tax season.
                    ken

                    Comment


                      #25
                      Whether 'tis nobler in the mind...

                      Well, gosh, Unregistered; I think he's kinda noble. Especially as opposed to your notion of "rules are rules" and, I guess, "company prices are company prices," circumstances be...well...you know. I've cut prices for a few pore folks in my time and it gave me a nice fuzzy, warm feeling. You should try it some time--might take some of that starch out of you.

                      As to HRB, I agree that they probably aren't any more likely to take the duck than some others. Still, as you say, they can hardly be regarded as charitable organizations.

                      P. S. ARMANDO--I've been poutin' for a couple of months about that delete, but I guess I'm over it now.
                      Last edited by Black Bart; 02-24-2006, 09:37 AM.

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Originally posted by Black Bart
                        P. S. ARMANDO--I've been poutin' for a couple of months about that delete, but I guess I'm over it now.
                        Nice to see you came back. Armando has been reprimanded for his sloppy use of the delete button. He was trying to delete someone else's post for inappropriate language when he took out half the board along with the offender's post. Yours got deleted along with the rest.

                        Sorry.

                        Comment


                          #27
                          Originally posted by Black Bart
                          Well, gosh, Unregistered; I think he's kinda noble. Especially as opposed to your notion of "rules are rules" and, I guess, "company prices are company prices," circumstances be...well...you know. I've cut prices for a few pore folks in my time and it gave me a nice fuzzy, warm feeling. You should try it some time--might take some of that starch out of you.

                          As to HRB, I agree that they probably aren't any more likely to take the duck than some others. Still, as you say, they can hardly be regarded as charitable organizations.

                          P. S. ARMANDO--I've been poutin' for a couple of months about that delete, but I guess I'm over it now.
                          It's not easy running herd on a bunch of trash-talking accountants. Like I always say, "It's not for saying whether you're up or around, never do a turn that puts you upside down."

                          Good to see you back Mr. Bart.

                          Actually, there were several innocent posts that got the button. There was a mild but pointed epithet on one of the posts, and that got deleted. The deletions of the innocents were those who had quoted the initial comment (most were pleas for more reasonable discourse). All posts containing the epithet, whether in quote or in text, were deleted.

                          Back on task? Grannie taught me how to do taxes (say a Hail Mary and send it in). She also taught me a great way of handling the less fortunate clients. You can do all the returns you want for free, but no discounts. You get to help out folks if you think they really need it, and you don't devalue your work or the work of other tax preparers. You also don't need to explain why you doubled their price when they got back on their feet, or why you charged your loyal client of 10 years three times what you charged that guy down the street.

                          Sure makes things less complicated.
                          Last edited by Armando Beaujolais; 02-24-2006, 02:19 PM.

                          Comment


                            #28
                            Originally posted by Brad Imsdahl
                            He was trying to delete someone else's post for inappropriate language when he took out half the board along with the offender's post.

                            That reminds me of when I got our first computer back in 1988. An XT with a 20 Meg HD. You know, the kind you needed to know DOS.

                            I think it must have been the very first week. I was trying to delete something when I typed the command:

                            del C:/*.*

                            The early years of computers....those were the days...

                            Comment


                              #29
                              Xt

                              XT was used to process returns and then pick them up in Blloomington, MN until 1992. It is still strange to think about how tough it once was, but yet I am still spending as much time today.

                              Comment


                                #30
                                Good old days

                                Remember how easy it was when tax returns were prepared with pencil, paper, tax chart calculator and copier?
                                Those were the days my friend, those were the good old days.
                                Run out of forms then just trot down to the good old IRS Service Center and
                                pick up additional ones.

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