My shocking experience with H&R Block tax preparation - what you need to know

Is there any recourse when this happens? Like can you report them to the IRS or some professional board? I'm wondering because I had a similar but less extreme experience at a different chain.

Yes, there are several avenues for recourse. You can file a complaint with your state's board of accountancy if the preparer is a CPA. For tax preparers who aren't CPAs, you can file a complaint with the IRS using Form 14157 (Complaint: Tax Return Preparer). Additionally, the Better Business Bureau and your state's consumer protection office can help address the price discrepancy issue. For the immediate tax situation, you might want to get a second opinion from an independent tax professional who can review what happened with your return and potentially file an amended return if there were actual errors. Keep all documentation from your original visits, including any quotes, receipts, and copies of your tax documents.

How does it handle more complex situations like self-employment income or rental properties? I'm always skeptical about AI tools handling complicated tax scenarios correctly.

I'm curious about the document part - does it just read W-2s and 1099s or can it handle things like investment statements and receipts too? My taxes are a mess of paperwork.

It handles self-employment income surprisingly well - it recognized all my Schedule C deductions and even pointed out some business expenses I hadn't considered. It compared my profit margins to industry standards and flagged areas where I might be leaving money on the table. For documents, it's pretty comprehensive. Beyond the basics like W-2s and 1099s, it can process investment statements, mortgage documents, charitable contribution receipts, and even medical expense documentation. It organizes everything by category and shows you how each document affects your tax situation. I was impressed by how it handled my brokerage statements and correctly identified qualified vs. non-qualified dividends.

Wait, how does this actually work? Do they have some special connection to the IRS or something? I've been trying to reach someone about my amended return for months.

Sorry, but this sounds too good to be true. The IRS phone system is a disaster by design. I find it hard to believe any service can magically get through when millions of people can't.

They don't have special connections to the IRS - they use a sophisticated call system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. Once they get through to an agent, they call you and connect you directly to that person. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you so you don't have to waste hours with your phone pressed to your ear. I was skeptical too at first. I figured it was either a scam or wouldn't work. But I was desperate after trying for three weeks to reach someone. The service called me back in about 27 minutes and connected me directly to an IRS representative who was actually helpful. They don't give you any special treatment with the IRS - they just solve the impossible task of getting through in the first place.

Thanks for the insider perspective. I'm curious - what causes such a dramatic change in refund amount after a rejection? Is it usually errors in the original filing or something else? And what should I have asked for specifically to prevent the huge price jump?

Dramatic refund changes after rejection usually happen when the preparer has to correct information that was entered incorrectly the first time. Common examples include incorrect filing status, missing income that the IRS already has on record (like a forgotten W-2 or 1099), or incorrectly claiming credits you don't qualify for. When these corrections happen, tax liability can shift dramatically. To prevent price jumps, always ask for a detailed price list before starting. Request a written breakdown of exactly what forms and schedules are included in the quoted price and what will trigger additional charges. Some offices charge per form rather than a flat fee, so things like reporting cryptocurrency transactions, self-employment income, or education credits can each add $50+ to your bill without warning. Get the pricing structure in writing and ask them to notify you before preparing any forms that would increase your originally quoted price.

This is absolutely correct. I work at a different tax firm and we CANNOT submit without a signed 8879 for each filing. It's a huge compliance issue and could get them in real trouble with the IRS. The practitioner risks losing their filing privileges.