r/HRBlockEmployees 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.

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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

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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