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Posted by composty on March 27, 2007, 1:02 am
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I had recently been to HR Block for tax filing purposes, but
I am absolutely dissatisfied with my experience - the tax
prep professional lacked knowledge and I dont think I should
have to pay for the service.
I know they make you sign some service agreement clause etc,
in the beginning, and right now, even though I have not
filed the tax papers and not had to pay yet, they still
retain my W-2 forms and make it sound like unless I pay, the
papers are going to stay with them. Is this really the way
it supposed to be or are they cheating the system?
Has anyone else been in such a situation and gotten out of
it easily?
Thanks
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Posted by Paul Thomas, CPA on March 28, 2007, 5:34 pm
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> I had recently been to HR Block for tax filing purposes, but
> I am absolutely dissatisfied with my experience - the tax
> prep professional lacked knowledge and I dont think I should
> have to pay for the service.
>
> I know they make you sign some service agreement clause etc,
> in the beginning, and right now, even though I have not
> filed the tax papers and not had to pay yet, they still
> retain my W-2 forms and make it sound like unless I pay, the
> papers are going to stay with them. Is this really the way
> it supposed to be or are they cheating the system?
>
> Has anyone else been in such a situation and gotten out of
> it easily?
It's called "W-2 hostage", and it's illegal for them to
retain your records such that you can't file a timely
return.
Now, they may still have the option to come after you for
the fees. You can always claim the return was incomplete,
incorrect, etc.
I hate when people professing to be professionals do things
like this.
--
Paul Thomas, CPA
paulthomascpapc@bellsouth.net
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
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Posted by bono9763@yahoo.com on March 28, 2007, 5:34 pm
Please log in for more thread options compo...@gmail.com wrote:
> I had recently been to HR Block for tax filing purposes, but
> I am absolutely dissatisfied with my experience - the tax
> prep professional lacked knowledge and I dont think I should
> have to pay for the service.
>
> I know they make you sign some service agreement clause etc,
> in the beginning, and right now, even though I have not
> filed the tax papers and not had to pay yet, they still
> retain my W-2 forms and make it sound like unless I pay, the
> papers are going to stay with them. Is this really the way
> it supposed to be or are they cheating the system?
>
> Has anyone else been in such a situation and gotten out of
> it easily?
I work for Block. The policy is, if you are not satisfied
with your return, you can take your forms and go elsewhere.
Why are you dissatisfied? Have you asked the office manager
to look over your return or refer you to a more experienced
tax preparer? If none of these remedies satisfy you, then
ask for your W-2s back and go somewhere else.
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
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Posted by Bill Brown on March 28, 2007, 5:34 pm
Please log in for more thread options compo...@gmail.com wrote:
> I had recently been to HR Block for tax filing purposes, but
> I am absolutely dissatisfied with my experience - the tax
> prep professional lacked knowledge and I dont think I should
> have to pay for the service.
>
> I know they make you sign some service agreement clause etc,
> in the beginning, and right now, even though I have not
> filed the tax papers and not had to pay yet, they still
> retain my W-2 forms and make it sound like unless I pay, the
> papers are going to stay with them. Is this really the way
> it supposed to be or are they cheating the system?
>
> Has anyone else been in such a situation and gotten out of
> it easily?
H&R Block is not covered by the legal requirements imposed
on attornys and Certified Public Accountants. They are not
covered by the code of ethics of the professional
organizations of attornys, CPAs or Enrolled Agents. They
are not covered by federal circular 230 (which applies to
attornys, CPAs and EAs).
Therefore, only regular state laws of contracts can be
called upon to govern their behavior. In most states, my
guess is, they have the power to put a mechanic's lien on
your tax documents until you pay up.
I see three options which are not mutually exclusive. (1)
Pay up. (2) Sue, or threaten to sue, them for breach of
contract. (3) Find out if a reporter for the local paper's
business section sees a story worth printing.
In the future I suggest you engage the services of a CPA or
EA to complete your tax return.
Moderator:
Every court in every jurisdiction of the United States
when presented with the question has held that original
records must be returned regardless of any conflict
between parties. There are narrow circumstances where
copies are allowed.
There is no way that Block would refuse to return the
W-2's without payment. The OP needs to talk with the
manager of the Block office. I suspect the manager will
ask for the opportunity to alleviate the OP's concerns
about the quality of the tax return. If that fails, I'm
certain the W-2's will be returned.
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
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Posted by Stuart A. Bronstein on March 30, 2007, 3:56 am
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> H&R Block is not covered by the legal requirements imposed
> on attornys and Certified Public Accountants. They are not
> covered by the code of ethics of the professional
> organizations of attornys, CPAs or Enrolled Agents. They
> are not covered by federal circular 230 (which applies to
> attornys, CPAs and EAs).
Why not? At least in California tax preparers are required
to be one of those three.
Stu
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
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