H&R Block Fees

[confettiandkale]

Hello, I am hoping for some input. I am interested in filing my taxes at an H&R Block office this year to take advantage of the no-interest refund advance they are offering. I normally file my taxes using their online services so am used to paying $50-ish every year as my taxes are pretty straight forward.

How much do they charge for an in-office session? When I look them up there are no prices listed and google tells me in ranges from $125-$170. Is it really that much of a jump?

Thanks for any info!

 

[eeyoreandtink]

In my experience yes, at least $150. More like $200 if you have other income, capital gains ect.

 

[kymom99]

A friend works for them. She says it can cost $500 if you have extra firms to file. Not sure about a basic return.

 

[Princess Minnie321]

I always paid $150 online. I had a bad experience with the online accountant who was supposed to review our return so I went to an office. I asked for a price before sitting down and was told $150. She did the return and told me I owe $395. I said you told me $150 and she did not answer. I left and went to a local accountant who charged $250 and got me a bigger return.

 

[usnuzuloose]

We own a business and use a really good taxman. He charges us 200.

 

[Alesia]

When I look them up there are no prices listed and google tells me in ranges from $125-$170. Is it really that much of a jump?

Thanks for any info!

I'd say that's pretty conservative. I went there once. It took 2 hours and they tried to charge me about $400. I'll stick with paying $50 online and getting the exact same results.

 

[redsonja76]

I loathe H&R Block. They way overcharge and miss loads of things. I have been using the same CPA now for 15 years and even in our most complicated year she never charged us more than $150. Get yourself a proper CPA at a local tax firm.

 

[lovin'fl]

I used them, well Block Advisors who are part of H&R Block, the past two years and they messed up both. First year we weren't yet aware was messed up so we went back to same gal for second year. That got messed up right away. We went in early to get refund early but because of issues we got part of refund several months later and then rest was a couple more months later. And the gal has been super unresponsive. In fact the first year that got messed up is still not resolved and uncle Sam is on our butts saying we owe $6K.

They are expensive too. We paid like $350 both times. And in looking into the office and gal we used, we discovered that the tax folks there do not have to be actual accountants or CPAs.

So I do not recommend.

 

[confettiandkale]

Thank you all! I'm not thrilled with using them either, and my parents actually have a really awesome tax guy but i specifically want to use them for the refund advance they are offering. I'll look into it further.

 

[pklein09]

What's so great about the tax advance? If you electronically file and opt for direct deposit, you should see your money in about 2 weeks, maybe sooner. I looked online to see get details on the tax advance and it says it's a line of credit of up to $1250.00. I would personally just wait for direct deposit. Just my two cents from this side of the computer. You need to decide what's best for you in your situation. Best of luck as you figure it out.

 

[tvguy]

I loathe H&R Block. They way overcharge and miss loads of things. I have been using the same CPA now for 15 years and even in our most complicated year she never charged us more than $150. Get yourself a proper CPA at a local tax firm.

I'd hang onto that CPA. I use one, but I haven't paid only $150 since about 1982. He runs $800 to $1,000, but when you reach the point in life I am at where you are dealing with parents estates, and trusts, and write offs that you have to take over 5 years etc, online software and H & R Block just don't cut it. Sad our tax code is that complicated.

 

[Madteaparty001]

I tried doing my taxes through a H&R branch a few years ago, way to expensive. Tried their software, it wouldn't let me file my local city taxes. I always end up using turbo tax, easy to understand and quick to file. Tax return amount was always best through turbo tax as well.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

What's so great about the tax advance? If you electronically file and opt for direct deposit, you should see your money in about 2 weeks, maybe sooner. I looked online to see get details on the tax advance and it says it's a line of credit of up to $1250.00. I would personally just wait for direct deposit. Just my two cents from this side of the computer. You need to decide what's best for you in your situation. Best of luck as you figure it out.

The only reason I can think of to use it is a critical need for cash that cannot wait.

 

[happily single]

The only reason I can think of to use it is a critical need for cash that cannot wait.

I used their "rapid refund" or whatever it was called about 12 years ago. It was a total waste of my tax refund. First, they charged an outrageous "fee" which was several hundred dollars. I was only getting back less than $2k at the time. Then....You have to wait 3-4 days for the CHECK to issue. THEN it took my 5 days to clear my bank. So basically the same amount of time if I had just done direct deposit. Lesson learned.

Maybe things have improved over the years, but I doubt it. They hire people with little to no tax experience and offer them a quick crash course. I use Tax Act and have been very happy

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I used their "rapid refund" or whatever it was called about 12 years ago. It was a total waste of my tax refund. First, they charged an outrageous "fee" which was several hundred dollars. I was only getting back less than $2k at the time. Then....You have to wait 3-4 days for the CHECK to issue. THEN it took my 5 days to clear my bank. So basically the same amount of time if I had just done direct deposit. Lesson learned.

Maybe things have improved over the years, but I doubt it. They hire people with little to no tax experience and offer them a quick crash course. I use Tax Act and have been very happy

I use tax slayer. I would not use a refund loan service either, I was just saying that the only reason I could come up with for someone wanting to is a need for the cash now. I am pretty sure they direct deposit them now and it is much faster.

 

[Sadie22]

I have been using Turbotax Home and Business, purchased on CD/DVD, for years. It handles business return with depreciation, personal returns, estate returns just fine.

 

[brockash]

Hello, I am hoping for some input. I am interested in filing my taxes at an H&R Block office this year to take advantage of the no-interest refund advance they are offering. I normally file my taxes using their online services so am used to paying $50-ish every year as my taxes are pretty straight forward.

How much do they charge for an in-office session? When I look them up there are no prices listed and google tells me in ranges from $125-$170. Is it really that much of a jump?

Thanks for any info!

It really depends on what all you have etc., however I'd say $125-$170 is on the low end. We used to use them and always paid over $300, but we had a lot of investments etc. We stopped and I now do them using turbo tax...much much cheaper. You're really only talking about a week or 2 difference from when you efile to when you'll receive your tax return if doing direct deposit.

 

[Moramoon]

Does anyone know how the H&R block software compares to Turbo Tax? I used H&R block last year because it was offered for free with our bank, but have also used turbo tax in the past. I'm wondering which would offer the greater refund. Our taxes aren't too confusing. I work while husband watches the kids and goes to school. We will actually be able to apply health expenses this time. We also do donations, but that's about the extent of our extras.

 

[Anthony1971]

Does anyone know how the H&R block software compares to Turbo Tax? I used H&R block last year because it was offered for free with our bank, but have also used turbo tax in the past. I'm wondering which would offer the greater refund. Our taxes aren't too confusing. I work while husband watches the kids and goes to school. We will actually be able to apply health expenses this time. We also do donations, but that's about the extent of our extras.

They are both are about the same but Turbo may have better guidance or in better wording... Both require you have an idea as to what you are doing with taxes.

 

[runwad]

I paid around $150 to use H&R Block in the 90's. Every piece of paper of yours they touch; W2, 1099 etc there is a charge for. Ridicules. I learned to do my own taxes not too long after that. And when turbo tax came out I started using that and haven't looked back.