Can I get my W2s back from H&R Block without paying if I decide not to file with them after appointment?
I just had an appointment at H&R Block yesterday to get my taxes done. The lady took all my W2s and other documents and entered everything into their system. When she told me the price for filing, I nearly had a heart attack! It was way more than I was expecting to pay (like over $300!). I told her I needed to think about it since that's a lot of money for me right now. She seemed annoyed but said fine and printed out some papers showing what my refund would be. She kept all my original W2s and tax documents though. Now I'm wondering if I can just go back and get my documents without actually paying them to file? I'm thinking of using TurboTax or something cheaper instead. Do they legally have to give my original documents back if I ask? I'm worried they'll refuse unless I pay them for the work they already did. Has anyone dealt with this before?
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Mateo Martinez
Yes, H&R Block absolutely has to return your original documents! Those are YOUR legal documents, not theirs. They can't hold them hostage to force you to pay for their services. Call the office where you had your appointment and clearly state that you've decided not to use their services and need to pick up your original documents. They might try to convince you to stay with them or offer a discount, but stand firm if you've made your decision. Just be prepared that while they must return your original documents, they don't have to give you any of the work they've already done (like the calculations, forms they've prepared, etc). That's their intellectual property until you pay for the service.
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QuantumQueen
•Do they ever make exceptions on the pricing? Like if you tell them you found a cheaper service, will they match it? I'm in a similar situation but haven't had my appointment yet.
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Mateo Martinez
•Sometimes they do offer discounts, especially if you mention you're considering going elsewhere. It doesn't hurt to ask! Many tax preparers have some flexibility in their pricing, particularly if your return is relatively straightforward. If you haven't had your appointment yet, you might want to ask upfront about pricing before they do any work. They should be able to give you an estimate based on the forms you'll need.
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Aisha Rahman
I was in a really similar situation last year! I tried H&R Block and was shocked by their fees. After researching alternatives, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was a total game-changer for me. I uploaded my W2s and other documents, and their AI system automatically extracted all the information and organized everything. It was super easy and much more affordable. The best part was I could see exactly what deductions I qualified for without sitting through an awkward appointment where someone tries to upsell me on services I don't need.
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Ethan Wilson
•Does it handle more complicated tax situations? I have some freelance income plus a W2 job and rental property. Would something like that work for me or is it just for simple returns?
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Yuki Sato
•I'm kinda skeptical about AI doing my taxes correctly. How accurate is it really? I'm always worried about getting audited.
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Aisha Rahman
•It definitely handles more complicated situations! I actually had a W2 plus some 1099 freelance work, and it organized everything perfectly. It supports Schedule C for self-employment, rental income, and even more complex situations like investments and cryptocurrency. The system walks you through everything step by step. As for accuracy, I was skeptical too at first, but it actually caught a deduction my previous tax preparer missed. The AI is trained on tax regulations and updated for the current tax year. Plus, you can review everything before filing to make sure it looks right. They also offer audit support if you ever need it, though I haven't had any issues.
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Yuki Sato
Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after seeing this thread and it was seriously impressive! I was so nervous about using an AI tax service but it was actually way more thorough than my experience at H&R Block. The document scanner picked up everything from my W2s correctly and I didn't have to manually enter anything. It found deductions I didn't even know I qualified for! Ended up with a bigger refund than what H&R Block quoted me and paid way less for the actual filing. Definitely using it again next year.
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Carmen Flores
If you're having trouble getting H&R Block to return your documents or need to deal with the IRS about any issues, Claimyr has been a lifesaver for me. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS about an issue with my previous year's return and it was impossible. I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) after seeing someone post about it, and their service got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Saved me so much frustration and time. The IRS agent was actually able to help resolve my issue in one call.
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Andre Dubois
•How does this even work? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS. Are they just calling for you or something?
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CyberSamurai
•This sounds like BS honestly. Nobody can get through to the IRS faster. They're probably just charging people for something that doesn't work.
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Carmen Flores
•They use a smart system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they get an actual IRS agent on the line, they call you and connect you directly. It's not that they have a special connection - they're just handling the frustrating waiting part with technology. It's definitely real. I was super skeptical too, but after waiting on hold myself for hours multiple times, I was desperate enough to try. The system called me when they had an agent, and I was talking to a real IRS person within minutes after that. Totally worth it if you're in a situation where you actually need to speak to someone at the IRS.
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CyberSamurai
Alright I need to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I've been trying to reach the IRS about a missing refund for WEEKS. It actually worked exactly as advertised. I registered, entered my phone number, and about 27 minutes later got a call connecting me to an actual IRS agent. Resolved my refund issue in one call after weeks of frustration. I've never been happier to be wrong about something. If you're dealing with the IRS and need to actually talk to someone, this service is legit.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
Former H&R Block employee here. Yes, they HAVE to give you your documents back - they're yours. But a pro tip: be super nice when you go in to get them. Tax season is crazy stressful for the employees and they deal with angry people all day. Also, if price is the issue, you can actually ask to speak to the office manager and explain your situation. They often have some flexibility on pricing, especially if you're a return customer or if they want to keep your business. Sometimes they can apply coupons or discounts that weren't initially offered.
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Nia Davis
•Thanks for the insider perspective! Would it be better to call first or just go in person? And do you think mentioning that I found a cheaper alternative would help or just make them less willing to work with me?
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•I'd definitely call first - just to make sure the person who helped you is there and that they have your documents easily accessible. Sometimes they're stored in a secure location so giving them a heads-up helps ensure everything's ready when you arrive. As for mentioning alternatives, it's actually smart to politely mention you found a less expensive option. Often the manager has a "save" rate they can offer to keep customers from going elsewhere. Just be friendly about it - something like "I appreciate the service, but I found another option that's within my budget at $X. Is there any way you could match that?" works much better than making demands. They want to keep customers for next year, so they have some incentive to work with you.
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Jamal Carter
Just a heads up - I had this exact issue a few years ago and when I went to get my documents back, they tried to charge me a "document preparation fee" of like $50. I refused to pay it and eventually got my stuff back, but be prepared for them to try something like that. Know your rights - they cannot legally keep your original documents regardless of any fees they claim you owe. Stand your ground if they try to charge you anything.
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Mei Liu
•That's crazy they tried to charge you! Was this at a corporate-owned location or one of those franchise places? I wonder if that makes a difference.
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Logan Stewart
Hey Nia! I went through almost the exact same situation last month. H&R Block quoted me $275 for what should have been a pretty straightforward return and I was like "absolutely not!" I called the office the next day and politely told them I decided to go elsewhere and needed my documents back. The person on the phone was actually really nice about it and had everything ready when I came in. No hassle, no fees, got all my original W2s and 1099s back within 10 minutes. Ended up using FreeTaxUSA online and paid like $15 total. Got the same refund amount that H&R Block calculated but saved myself over $250. Sometimes these brick-and-mortar places are just way overpriced for basic returns. Don't let them pressure you into paying if you're not comfortable with the price. Your documents are yours and they have to give them back, period.
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