DALLAS – H&R Block’s 10,000 offices kick off the company’s 59th tax season. For the next 100 days, taxpayers can visit an H&R Block office or prepare their return with H&R Block online or software to meet the April 15 filing deadline. The IRS will start processing returns Jan. 31, but there is no reason for taxpayers to delay.
“Consumers don’t need to wait to prepare their returns. We will transmit it on their behalf. This ensures the return is completed before the IRS opens,” said Kathy Pickering, executive director of The Tax Institute At H&R Block.
No W-2? No Worries
More than 70 million W-2s are available now via H&R Block’s Early Access service. This means these taxpayers don’t have to wait for their W-2 to arrive in the mail. Taxpayers can visit this site to send an electronic copy of the W-2s to their H&R Block tax office for free. With many W-2s available now – the sooner taxpayers can access their W-2, the earlier taxpayers can file and get back a refund they may be due.
Three keys to this tax season
While the fastest way to receive a refund is to electronically file and use direct deposit to a bank account, many taxpayers do not have access to a bank account. For those clients, H&R Block can place a refund on the company’s Emerald Prepaid Mastercard. The Emerald Card, named one of the top prepaid cards by leading publications, provides control and flexibility to consumers managing their finances with fewer and lower fees than other prepaid cards.
H&R Block also offers every client a free tax and health care review. With the deadline for those uninsured to apply for health insurance on March 31, H&R Block guides clients through the intersection of health care in taxes. Then through the company’s online virtual health insurance marketplace – www.helpth.com – at no cost to them clients can understand their options, select the right plan for them and their family and enroll.
As with every new year, it is important for taxpayers to review their previous year for life changes that trigger tax implications and possible tax savings. Family friendly tax breaks such as education credits and deductions, the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are some of the most overlooked tax breaks costing taxpayers thousands of dollars in lost refunds.
For more information about filing an accurate tax return, contact a local H&R Block tax professional. To find the nearest H&R Block office, visit www.hrblock.com or call 800-HRBLOCK.
