H&R Block

I went to H&R Block because I moved from NJ to NYC this year and sold stock through an employee rewards program. I met with Janet on March 28^th. She made it immediately clear that she did not know how to account for the Stock Program but said that someone else in the office could help her. She quoted me somewhere in the neighborhood of $ 250. I left with the impression that she would get back to me in a few days with a price quote and refund info…
After not hearing anything for 2 weeks, I called over to her on April 10^th. I left a message with the Secretary at noon who said she would call me back. After not hearing from her, I called again at 6:30 pm, at which point the Secretary told me she would call me as soon as she was done with her customer. I received an email at 8 pm with the subject of «2012 yaxes» and it just said that it will cost at least $ 350 and to let her know if I want to stop by and pick up my paperwork.
I have never experienced customer service that poor in my life. I picked up my forms and needless to say I am going to attempt to do it myself on Turbo Tax. If you go to the H&R Block at 920 Third, do yourself a favor and ask for someone other than Janet.

Tax season is here. Unless your stuff is super complex — jobs you didn’t pay tax on before, multiple states of residency, itemized deductions you don’t know what to do with — DO IT YOURSELF. Even if you struggle with an online program like TurboTax, you will save yourself HOURS of frustration dealing with the incompetence of so-​called «professionals.» I am convinced all my tax prepper did was taken an online quiz to get certified. He was long winded and did not listen to my concerns. I went in to get my taxes amended from last year after getting notice of a work error; I just was a little confused by the form and thought a pro could help me out.
It took a month and a half — 45 days — to get this done, and was an hour process for him to talk through each screen. And I was charged excessively — $ 215 for the fix (I was charged for each section, like my donations, W2s, education forms, etc. Seemed a bit ridiculous to me.
The receptionist was nice each time, but my guy was 15 minutes late the first time I went in and 28 minutes late for my appointment the second time. He did not clearly communicate what he needed from me to complete the forms, and he was slow moving.
I have never been so rude to a customer service person as I have been to him — something I regret and apologized for. However, the service was so poor, slow, and frustrating that I feel it was a small victory to have not flipped his desk over on my way out.
It is not easier to have someone else do it for you. At least not here. If you make under a certain amount, you can have your taxes done for free at various locations in NYC. Check
for details, and save yourself a few dollars and blood pressure points.