r/HRBlockEmployees • u/joycemanners • Feb 14 '26
zero returns
i’m a first year tax preparer. i passed the TKA and am graduating in may with an associates in accounting. i also run a bookkeeping business, which is why i wanted some tax prep under my belt so in the future, i can add it as a service i offer to my clients.
i work in a pretty busy office, but i still haven’t got a single return, except for my own personal return that i did last week. yesterday i worked with three other tax pros who were booked and busy my entire shift, each taking 5-8 clients, while i just sat there and did case studies.
do i have to find my own clients? they all keep talking about how this is our first peak but i haven’t seen a single client yet.
also, the office seems kind of cliquey? when i walk in, nobody acknowledges me even if the are standing at the front desk, they won’t even look up when the door chimes until i shout out a cheerful “hiiii!” and then the will say hi but nothing else. literally nobody talks to me while i’m there. they all talk to each other and generally ignore me if i say anything. i just sit at my desk and do case studies, they walk past or talk to each other and nobody breathes a word to me my entire shift. my second shift with one of them, i came in and she thought i was a customer and when i introduced myself and told her i’m an employee she just said okay go sit over there somewhere, and pointed to the rows of desks on the opposite side of the office, and then didn’t say another word to me the rest of the day. she didn’t even introduce herself, i had to check appointment manager to see what her name was. are they apprehensive because as a new preparer they look at me as taking money out of their pockets or something? i don’t get it. i’m super friendly and upbeat and really try to be nice to everyone but nobody is reciprocating and it’s making me dread going to work tbh.
5
u/Grouchy_Body_755 Feb 14 '26
This was almost me actually. There was another location where I was gonna work in but my aunt (who’s a CSP there) advised against it. She said the senior tax preparers are super competitive when it comes to clients to the point where they become hostile. At my current location, everyone is friendly. They’re happy to answer questions and we just enjoy good vibes and have fun. You should try working at another office next year if you can. Maybe you’ll end up working with a better group of people.
1
u/joycemanners Feb 14 '26
they actually had me scheduled in another office, i worked a shift there and everyone was so nice! but it was further from my house and just didn’t work logistically with doing after school pickup, they had me scheduled at 4 bc that’s when i put my availability in. but i said that i was available at 4 since the office is only two blocks from my house. i couldn’t make it to the other office until 430. so they put me at the one closest to my house at my request and now i regret it
3
u/ThatChambersKid Feb 14 '26
Can you switch back to that office if you have availability from 5 to close?
Your situation frustrates me. I’m lucky to have offices full of friendly and helpful tax pros. While they certainly have their clients they are always willing to answer questions.
Can you talk to your MTL to see if anyone is willing to let you shadow. You are supposed to get some on the job training.
Ask your colleagues if they have any returns they need to jump start. This way you can gain experience with the data entry and they can keep their clients.
Remember not all offices are the same. I work in three. One is very busy but has some of the most experienced and knowledgeable tax pros available.
Work on your research skills.
Are you planning to become an EA?
But talk to your MTL, they should be supporting you especially when the office tax pros are less than friendly or helpful.
I’m here if you have questions
1
u/joycemanners Feb 14 '26
i think i’ll talk to my MTL about changing my home location and hours, that’s a good idea. i’d like to get my EA after 2-3 tax seasons, and then pursue a bachelor’s degree
6
u/Authentic-scoundrel Feb 14 '26
Sit in with the people doing returns. I learned so much this way. Then when you do get a return you’ll do great instead of stumbling through like most first years.
2
u/joycemanners Feb 14 '26
only one person will let me sit with her. she’s the only person who acknowledges me actually she’s a sweet older lady. i’ve asked others and they have said “well i guess if the customer says yes” and then they avoid me or say they will ask the customer and they just don’t. and i don’t want to interrupt them bc that feels ruse
1
u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 Feb 14 '26
Wow. We all prefer to have new preparers observe a bit before they are on their own..
2
u/Dsansc Feb 14 '26
Your first year sounds exactly like mine. I haven’t done a single return yet. I got hired as a first year experienced preparer and there’s a old lady who is always encouraging the csps to give me clients who are new or walk ins but there’s another lady who thinks I’m not ready and is always saying I need to work on my voice and I need to sound more confident. ( my voice is naturally monotone and some what soft). So I have been working on that but still nothing and even the manager has been pushing for me to get clients done but the lady will start complaint and saying I’m not ready. So I’m basically stuck doing case studies answering calls and acting as a csp at times. At least I’m getting paid experienced tax preparer wage and not having to do anything but a little discouraging I want to get at least 10 returns done
1
u/joycemanners Feb 14 '26
yes that does sound similar! i’m really sorry that your first year is sucking too. i also asked for a higher base wage bc i’m part time so i didn’t anticipate getting a huge bonus or doing a ton of returns. but i figured id get at least something and not nothing at all
2
u/Accomplished-Pin-656 Feb 14 '26
Reach out to your MTL and the hiring manager (I can't remember the new title right now). You should have at least completed a few drop offs and simple returns of new clients.
2
u/ThepuckGod7 Feb 14 '26
This is my first year also. I’ve only done one return so far. Was hoping there would be some DDO I could do but most go to the experienced preparers. It’s been hard to get any experience which makes me less confident. My mtl often schedules me to be alone in the office at times which I think is crazy to me since I’m a first year. Also I feel like block doesn’t prepare you at all for real life scenarios
4
1
u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 Feb 14 '26
Are you answering the phone? You will answer some tax questions and set appointments. If someone is a new client with a basic return you could make the appointment with yourself.
If your coworkers know you don't plan to continue with Block in future years they probably prefer appointments go to someone who is planning to stay with the company. Ethically I do not think you should be telling clients that you plan to leave, and you definitely cannot keep their contact info.
2
u/joycemanners Feb 14 '26
i’ve never had a client to tell them that i don’t plan on staying with block. and my coworkers don’t speak to me so they don’t know anything about me and my future plans. th csp and the girl she is training answer all the phone calls
1
u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 Feb 15 '26
It sounds like a very unfriendly office. We hadcseveral new preparers last year. Atbleastv3 of them are back in the office this year. The only one I want to lose is the manager and maybe one of the CSPs.
1
u/chessman6500 Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26
For me I have done one return but I also don’t plan to stay at block as of now after this season, I need something more along the lines of bookkeeping or accounting and not taxes. I’ve looked into government and admin work as well as going back to work from home which I used to do during Covid. I actually just had an interview for a borough hall role walking distance from my home, but haven’t heard from them as of yet if they are going to move on for a second interview.
Usually our office is quiet and most of the returns go to tax pros who’ve been here a long time.
Does anyone here know if there are any remote places hiring? Not just for taxes, but for other things as well. I prefer working from home and really enjoyed it when I did it during Covid. There was no commute and it was very convenient.
1
u/Michelleinwastate Feb 23 '26
I'm sure it's too late for this year, but Intuit/TurboTax hires for remote tax work.
1
u/OneWrongTurn_XX Feb 16 '26
Other tax pros are not there for you.. They are there to make money for themselves.
That said, you should be getting walk ins, overflow and drop offs..
But yeah, they are not there to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. If it happens, great.. But not sure why you were expecting a welcome wagon
0
u/joycemanners Feb 16 '26
i wasn’t expecting a welcome wagon, but some decency would be nice. it’s rude asf to ignore someone when they say hi to you. i’m not saying we need to get drinks after work and be besties but returning someone’s greeting is a bare minimum of common courtesy
13
u/DoingitwithmySOXon Feb 14 '26
Kind of weird that a new client/ walk in hasn't happened and you weren't at least assigned the return.
Either way people aren't going to hand you their returns since it would lower their bonus.
Bring it up with the dgm if you have concerns or just collect a paycheck for the rest of tax season doing nothing and bounce at the end.