This is a review about H&R Block in general and their standard service and excessive marketing. Perhaps I should pin the one star on myself for not evolving and educating myself about relatively simple tax preparation and the common software that can be purchased anywhere.
Over the years I have gone to this location when my taxes required a person considerably smarter about stock options and multiple income sources which felt a bit too much for me and eventually the one I call my ex (wife that be).
In the past I felt comfortable with their service and the peace of mind I had. Twice over a decade I had the IRS come down on us and both times H&R Block got the issues resolved and I had little or no stress knowing they would get the job done.
Now divorced and certain financial assets and revenue streams are no longer existent. Tax time is here and like a zombie crying out for "braaaains" I called and set up an appointment for the basics (W2, 1095, 1099 and interest statement from the bank). Not thinking to ask about the cost of such simplistic preparation, I walked in, answered a few questions, (btw, I knew I would have to pay a little to Uncle Sam) and get out in about an hour.
Pretty much all was copacetic with the exception of the cost of the preparation, $$$!!! for the basic shave and haircut! This wasn't complicated itemized to ad nauseum stuff, this was really as simple as it could be. Bad on my part for not asking about the price up front, so the one star goes to me.
Last year meeting the ex at the reception desk and having a bazillion forms of forms that had to be scrutinized I didn't blink at the cost and the prep work it took to make the government happy. This year, my manila envelope was "stuffed" with 4 pieces of common tax papers.
So people, especially us older folks that had such businesses worked on government forms in the past, if you are not itemizing every piece of paper in your possession or every mile you drive and your tax bracket falls well within boring, chances are a quick trip to a local retail store or a couple clicks on Amazon can get you a cheap piece of software that will get the job done and leave a few hard earned bucks in your bank acct.
Kudos... all those email prompts I got counting down the days and all those marketing ads via Internet, TV, radio and cell phone worked, bravo to H&R Block and one star back on them. Usually at tax time I feel screwed by the government, this time it was Mr. B. read more
