HRB Guarantee

[luke]

Bees

Bees hits a HOME RUN AGAIN!

[powerage]

$75 for a ez

I see your point, and I agree, especially after a non-client tried to explain taxes to me tonight. And I did want to ask her she since knew so much about taxes, what are you doing here? A PITA would be charged triple if it was up to me.

I'm basing the price I would charge for the area I'm in. I have already seen more W-2G's this year than I have in my previous 4 years combined. Unemployment here is over 11% and has been projected to get worse before it gets better. A lot of people don't have the money for professional tax prep. My girlfriend's Mom had her return done at the competition, where she has went for years, and she was there for 10 minutes and was charged $108. She was not happy with the price. I'm a little slower. I would have spent 15-20 minutes on it. Most clients like to talk. Let them talk, I find it helps with DD.

The reason why I mentioned Florida is because we only have the federal info to input. Saves a minute or 2. No state stuff to worry about. I have done state returns and city returns for people who are 1040-EZ. For that would be extra, guaranteed.

Seriously, most of the returns I do would be boring to y'all, though I've had a good share of more difficult returns. Yes, of course they would be more expensive.

I could start out at $75 and go down in price if needed.

[powerage]

gotta say...

Based on my interview with client tonight, her filing status has been wrong the last 3 years. The preparer messed up. I had the same thing last year with different clients. Amended the returns and got them another $1500, just by changing to the correct filing status.

I have a mission. I have a mission to tell the taxpayers who are filing in Florida that it is 97% of the time it is better to file jointly. But yet, I run across people everyday who file separate who leave thousands on the table. They usually where given wrong info for a family member co-worker yadda yadda yadda...it is amazing.

Are people really that ignorant when it comes to their taxes?

Taxes should be a year round deal. People need to realize that taxes affect their financial future.

[gkaiseril]

I just read somewhere that they charge a fee for direct deposit? That doesn't sound right, although the HRB fees in this case were deducted from the clients' refund. Would that provoke some charge?

If the client has a bank account, and the directly pays the fees there is no charge for the direct deposit for mail in or e-filed returns and has been none for about 5 years.

If the client does not have a bank account and selects the to have a 3rd party bank, not owned by H&R Block, establish a checking account for the deposit, the 3rd party bank charges an account set up fee and if the client want a check in the office, the bank also has a check fee. This applies to the Refund Anticipation Checks and Refund Anticipation Loans. And if the 3rd party bank processes the state refund the bank has another charge for that.

[MRPLOW]

I do just the opposite. In fact I routinely see people that have been filing MFJ for years, when in fact they should be filing MFS. Unfortunately for them I get to tell them about all the money they have lost over the years.

Here in Ohio 20% of my married couples save by filing MFS for Ohio and Fed vs. MFJ.

Had a couple earlier this year that saved over $1000.

[tpnl]

New client

Recently (within the last week) new client brought in a copy of last years return prepared by HRB. The guarantee price was $50 or $55 from HRB.

Our office has discussed the HRB guarantee several times over the years. Basically they are saying they can add and subtract, because if the client makes an error in the information they submit, the guarantee does not cover those types of mistakes.

Our office policy is if we make a mistake, we subtract the interest on any additional tax liability on the following years return. If the client makes the mistake, we still request on their behalf to waive any penalty.

[Burke]

If the client has a bank account, and the directly pays the fees there is no charge for the direct deposit for mail in or e-filed returns and has been none for about 5 years.

If the client does not have a bank account and selects the to have a 3rd party bank, not owned by H&R Block, establish a checking account for the deposit, the 3rd party bank charges an account set up fee and if the client want a check in the office, the bank also has a check fee. This applies to the Refund Anticipation Checks and Refund Anticipation Loans. And if the 3rd party bank processes the state refund the bank has another charge for that.

Thanks for this info. As it turns out, the fees were not deducted from their refund. It was just shown as a minus underneath the refund on a topsheet, I guess, to illustrate the net amt received after payment for preparation. Also, even though all the documents were in the client folder all 3 years, client swore she always refused the Enhanced Plan. (Are they regularly included even if not accepted?) No signature was on documents. So it was just a straight-up return, no extras.

[gkaiseril]

If the person goes to the Premium Tax Service, the Peace of Mind Fee is not billed separately but built into the form pricing, which is higher than the usual store front office.