I've just completed my first season with H&R Block. I enjoyed it and it's a good fit for me, but you need to consider a few things.
First of all, during the peak part of the season (Last third of January to about the middle of February), I worked every day (5-10 pm in the evening and 15 hours on the weekend). It was a bit hard on my family
Secondly, I (and everyone else) had to sign a non-compete clause, which stated that when I separate service I could not prepare a tax return for an H&R block client for two years within a 25 mile radius of the city limits of the town I worked in. Thus, if I didn't like working for them I can't just go work at a different tax company.
Also, at least last season, besides tax returns we had to prepare "IMAL's", which are basically paystub loans. Based on the last paystub, we would enter all their information as if we were doing a tax return. The computer would estimate their refund, then our partner bank would offer a loan on a portion of the refund. They would still return and have to file an actual tax return, which would repay their loan. The IMAL's generated no commission, but did require almost as much work as an actual tax return. The return appointments were scheduled as "general", so there was no guarantee you would ever get your commission off doing most of the work.
As I mentioned above, the job is commission based. They gave a small draw (approx $6.50 to $7 an hour) against your commission, however. Your actually compensation starts at 19?f the paid return volume, and 15?f the optional Peace-of-Mind insurance program. During last tax season, I completed approximately 110 returns and made $4000 gross. I also had a number of returns I could not complete because they either walked (due to the cost of preparation and/or they had already done it with a tax software program and just wanted a second opinion) or I refused to complete due to obvious fraud.
Least you think I'm negative though, It was a really nice fit for myself. I didn't have to worry about issues that might occur if I tried doing tax returns on my own, such as liability issues. I also didn't have to do marketing, and didn't have to invest my own money on expenses. When I ran into issues I had not dealt with before (IE, Indian exclusion) there were a number of seasoned preparers to consult and advise on how to handle the issue. I always tried to give my clients their money worth, and because of the little things I did (such as advice for the future) I was able to get about 60?o sign up for an appointment with me next tax season (a year in advance). These are clients I won't have to share with the other preparers in my office next year.
In order to get hired on, they'll require you to take both part 1 and part 2 of their basic income tax class. I've got coupons I'd be willing to send that work in Division 65 (Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas). You also can contact the local office and they may give you a discount on the class. I didn't know this and paid the full price, which was still well worth the money. The class is basically equivalent to a college level course, and requires several hours a week outside of class preparing and doing the exercises and returns in the class. Around here, the classes start in September.
We also had interns, which were basically college students majoring in accounting who were doing the returns for not only cash, but college credit as well. They were treated exactly the same as 1st year preparers, including being required to sign the non-compete agreement and the same compensation.
Hopefully this helps answer your questions. Feel free to contact me if you have any follow-up questions.
Answered By: edandyvonnemoore@sbcglobal.net - 5/17/2007 |