[JenM76]

Today I just heard this radio spot for H&R Block where they question going to your CPA to get your taxes done. Ok, granted, most CPA’s do not specialize in completing tax returns. No harm with that statement. However, it goes on to talk about if you get to sit there while they do it, who is REALLY completing your return, and (this one really set me off) “will they stand up and defend your return in the event of an audit” (something like that). I almost wrecked my car I was so angry. So, maybe the actual CPA won’t be the one doing your return. It probably goes to one of the other accountants, or tax return specialists, in the office. Granted. BUT, the CPA does review and sign off on it. Especially if they are especially difficult. And, yes, you can and do schedule sit-down time at the CPA firm to go over your information in order to compile the return. Finally, yes your CPA will stand up for you and your return in the event of an audit.

How can they get away with saying this stuff? Ugh..so mad.

Ok, back to studying my favorite FAR.

BEC 2/25/2016 <70 (GRRRRRRR) - Retake in early 2017
FAR 5/31/2016
AUD 8/25/2016
REG 10/27/2016

[Skynet]

H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and Liberty Tax are really kidding themselves especially when they often hire a bunch of inexperienced preparers during tax season. I have seen lots of messed up returns that end up costing the tax payer tons of money. Honestly, you are better off doing it yourself with the number of software out there that will walk you step by step. Plus it is usually the manager/owners of these franchises the ones who actually know what they are doing.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Missy]

Problem is the type of people who use those services don't know or care what a CPA is. I'm doing jackson hewitt this year (never worked in tax and wanted some experience before I start charging for it). A client was arguing with me about saying something different than his last preparer (Was filling out a new W-4 for him and I said the worksheet is a waste of time, he relied on it last year and owed!) Kept telling me last year's girl said the irs wouldn't accept it if the worksheet wasn't completed. I told him the IRS never sees a W-4 and explained most people at Hewitt have had 40 hours total tax training but I am a licensed CPA. He asked what that had to do with taxes. True story. It's been interesting.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Skynet]

mla11692 – Wait until you deal with the ones with “But why is my refund different when I have virtually everything the same like last year” And even after you explain it to them it's still “But everything is the same like last year, yet my refund is different.”

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[JenM76]

I worked at Jackson Hewitt when I was in school for my Bachelor's degree. Since I was majoring in accounting, I was thrown all the “difficult returns” (ie, anything with more than 2 W2's, Small Business returns, Rentals, capital gains/losses, yadda). It is sad since the program is just like TurboTax and walks you through everything. Anyway, I can agree that the workers at this place go to “tax school” for a week and then are thrown in to doing returns. Then again, most people that have a complicated return will head to an actual accountant rather than the tax kiosk at Walmart.

BEC 2/25/2016 <70 (GRRRRRRR) - Retake in early 2017
FAR 5/31/2016
AUD 8/25/2016
REG 10/27/2016

[Missy]

Skynet that's my sister. Will not grasp the notion that she can't get EITC if she didn't….wait for it……EARN INCOME.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[makiu]

@OP
here you go. I felt the same way…
https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2016/03/21/aicpa-versus-block-advisors-in-spat-i-hope-they-both-lose/#3f0b7413498a

[golfball7773]

Skynet. I worked at liberty in my junior year of college. I agree that they charge based on refund amount.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 86
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 71, 73

BEC - 74, 86

REG - 77*

FAR - 57

*expired

(I have been trying to become a CPA since 2013). only one test down.......

FAR: 63, 55, 62
REG: 65, 77*
AUD: Fail, 64, 71
BEC: 72, 74, 81

*expired

[Skynet]

golfball7773 – If they were doing that, then they were charging a Contingent Fee which is something they can't do.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[golfball7773]

It was per form. IE. Earned income tax credit form….. Now that I think about it

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 86
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 71, 73

BEC - 74, 86

REG - 77*

FAR - 57

*expired

(I have been trying to become a CPA since 2013). only one test down.......

FAR: 63, 55, 62
REG: 65, 77*
AUD: Fail, 64, 71
BEC: 72, 74, 81

*expired

[Skynet]

It's not to say that these franchises don't have people who knows what they are doing though. I currently know an owner of one, yes only one, H&R Block who is very knowledgeable. Plus, she also hires and work with a couple of CPA's and a CFP as well too.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Jdn9201]

Yeah, I've found their ads to border on being deceptive at times. What makes me mad about the H&R Blocks, Jackson Hewitt's, etc. is that I have friends with 1040 EZ's who could file for free, yet they go to those places because “they don't like math”. At least from what I have seen, those firms are sneaky because they take their fee out of your refund, so you don't really know what you are being charged unless you understand that. Most of my friends who do this range in age from mid 20's to mid 30's, and work at Starbucks/retail/babysitting/etc., so they don't make a lot of money.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Missy]

Well no. Look I am no fan of block or hewitt but at least at Hewitt you walk out of there with VERY detailed paperwork showing your refund was x, your fees were y, you will see a deposit to your account of x-y. If you choose not to read all of the paperwork the preparer hands you, well then you were probably right to hand over such a simple task to someone else. The DECEPTIVE part is that they don't tell you until you're ready to pull the trigger and sign off on the file how much it cost to prepare. Ridiculous that a kid who has tuition expenses pays twice as much for filing service as a kid who only has his W-2 but eh, most kids in their 20s are idiots anyway and if they weren't blowing their money on their refund it would just be something else…. 😉

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[choffner]

I just helped a friend do her taxes. She had two W2s, student loan interest, and a 401k withdrawal including penalty. Beyond simple.

She had claimed Head of household on her W4. I explained this is why she owes money this year, as she's not HoH. She claimed she paid more than 50% of her household (she's single, no kids). When I finally got her to understand, she said it should be explained clearer on the W4. Um, it's right there on the worksheet, spelled out plain as day.

I think a lot of people are so overwhelmed by the idea of taxes, that they don't realize just how easy taxes are when you have so little to prepare.

BEC 75
REG 81
FAR 69, 75
AUD 71, 74, 84

[alboreland]

I was walking down the street and noticed business cards allover the sidewalk up and down the street. They were meant to look like a folder dollar bill. I knew it was bs, but I had to pick it up to see who it was for and it was Liberty Tax. There were people who jumped on them actually thinking it was real money.

Add that to the moron with the costume and sign outside and they are just the used car salesmen of the tax world.

[Stilgoin]

Edit- my posts are not working for some reason.

Stilgoin, CPA

There are enough critics. Be an encourager

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[Author]

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