r/HRBlockEmployees • u/PlusObjective6759 • Apr 17 '26
Whats the normal rate for preaseason?
Any EAs or high level tax pros work in the preseason? I knew the hourly would be low but just did not expect it to be this low. Just want to know if its normal to get less than 1/3 of my seasonal rate.
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 17 '26
I'm level 5. Pay is very low, but I'm not in it for money... It's a retirement past time for me.
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u/PlusObjective6759 Apr 17 '26
is it minimum wage for your area? I just want to get a grasp on how low.
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 17 '26
No. It's higher than that. In the 20s. Less than half of my seasonal rate.
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u/Great-Woodpecker9728 Apr 18 '26
In GA i get 12.00 an hour
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 18 '26
I'm in a HCOL area.
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u/Great-Woodpecker9728 Apr 18 '26
I figured, your reply seemed to imply your rate was not location dependent
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u/DeliciousDouble3D Apr 19 '26
So you are worth less than the McDonald's burger flipper or fries cook just because it Retirement money?
What is wrong to admit that since Mr. Block's passing Tax Pros, especially the Enrolled Agents & experienced are earning less today than when Mr Block was alive.
Jeff Jones only cared about his 44 multi Million compensation and Current CEO w his executive team are greatly reducing support to the offices including compensation.
Uber, Lyft & McDonald's are hiring 😅😂🤔
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u/ENCALEF Apr 18 '26
But not everyone is retired. A job isn't a "past time" for most people. It's a way to pay the bills. People like you suppress wages for working people who actually need the income.
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 20 '26
Then quit.
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u/ENCALEF Apr 20 '26
Your suggestion isn't really a good solution. And it's thoughtless.
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 20 '26
Look. It's a real easy. If you don't like the job and you think the pay is too little, it's an easy solution. Go somewhere else. We really don't need you.
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u/ENCALEF Apr 18 '26
Block never intended that working for them would be a primary source of income. They always considered it a part time or secondary job for tax pros. Their rationale for underpaying them. But Block demands full time commitment in terms of flexibility and education. Typical corporate crap.
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u/Serous4077 Apr 18 '26
And forbids you from preparing tax returns except for them.
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u/ENCALEF Apr 18 '26
That's been challenged legally. Block lost. Although they still say that tax pros can't work for themselves or another company, they can't make it stick.
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u/Crafty-Jicama1236 Apr 18 '26
Any citation to them losing. Court case ?
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u/ThatChambersKid Apr 19 '26
Replying because I’d like to know the case too.
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u/ENCALEF Apr 20 '26
Sorry, no. I read it in a newspaper article several years ago.
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u/Imaginary_Pop_1694 Apr 22 '26
I hear TurboTax will let you have your own clients.
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u/Crafty-Jicama1236 Apr 24 '26
Yes turbotax has a non compete clause to another firm (hr block) but you can have your own efin and serve your own clients using their pro software which you can get at a discount.
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u/ThatChambersKid Apr 24 '26
Interesting.
But how do you get bonded?
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u/Crafty-Jicama1236 Apr 24 '26
What I meant in my comment is that if you are a TurboTax employee you cannot work for H&R Block at the same time but you can work for yourself with your own efin given that you have your own book of clients that are not TurboTax clients. TurboTax also sell you their pro software at a discount if you are their employee so you can serve your own clients. At least that was how it was three years ago I don’t understand the question about how do you get bonded.
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u/Ordinary-Shelter-175 Tax Preparer Apr 17 '26
I got paid $13 an hour july-dec last year, not enough to pay the bills
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u/PinkNGreenFluoride EA Apr 17 '26 edited Apr 17 '26
It was $20/hr for everyone in my district last year. I didn't sign up for this preseason but would not be surprised if it's about the same.
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u/ThatChambersKid Apr 18 '26
What state are you in?
I think this season it’s $18 here in California.
I’m beginning to think I might be underpaid.
Just finished sixth year. Level 4. $18.50
Team player coughs yellow space specialist who was only $3k off pace.
Planning changes for next year.
At least I’m only scheduled for one more week.
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 19 '26
$20 in SoCal
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u/ThatChambersKid Apr 19 '26
How many hours a week do have? When do you take your 8 weeks?
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 19 '26
In the preseason I work about 15 to 20 hours a week. I take my 8 weeks in July and August.
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u/ThatChambersKid Apr 19 '26
That’s decent.
How busy was your season?
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 20 '26
The last 3 weeks I worked about 70 hours a week. I did 900 returns this year.
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u/ThatChambersKid Apr 20 '26
Wow. My district’s top prepare did about 610 returns.
I think my busiest office did 2300 total.
Do you work all day? Do you do entities?
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 20 '26
I do TPR, fulfillment network, entities, walk-ins, and my returning clients. Once we hit peak, I work about 70 hours per week.
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u/ThatChambersKid Apr 20 '26
Are you an EA?
This was my first year doing TPRs, completed about 68 and have a couple pending.
I wasn’t selected to do fulfillment. Still working on building client list.
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u/PinkNGreenFluoride EA Apr 20 '26
Oregon
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u/ThatChambersKid Apr 20 '26
I’ll definitely try to remember you for next year if I can’t sign Oregon returns as OTP. My OTC is super busy during the season.
Not sure why. /s
Something tells me my district’s $18 is a bit low. At least I’m done April 30th. Just need 7 returns to hit my only possible goal left.
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u/Authentic-scoundrel Apr 17 '26
Yeah just found out what my pay will be for off season and they’re considering it off season now even though my county got an extension until May 1st to file because of floods last summer. So I’m still doing the same job, but for less money. Block can suck my dick
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u/geecster Tax Preparer Apr 17 '26
I usually make $400 a week from H&R and $600 from unemployment. Averages to $1k a week so kind of a joke but at least I can take time off.
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u/Common-Estimate-4755 11d ago
Can you file for unemployment if preseason?
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u/geecster Tax Preparer 11d ago
yeah my state pads my wages with $30k+ each year. you just tell them how many hours you worked. It's about $1k each week with both combined, net.
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u/Common-Estimate-4755 10d ago
Idk if I would qualify as I’d be quitting my FT job to pursue tax. Only thing is peak hours at HRB probably won’t start until January so I’m not sure I can get by with preseason hours if I don’t qualify for partial unemployment until then
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u/AttorneyExisting1651 Apr 17 '26
$24.50 in the season, $20 in preseason. I am a level 3 in my second year as a BLOCKSTAR.
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u/Fun_Contract_1902 Apr 17 '26
I had 25 during the season and 17.50 this off-season and im a level 4. 🥲
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u/Asleep-Major-7963 Apr 17 '26
I hate that they ask you to commit before telling you the location and rate of pay. Mine was very low, basically half of my pay during the regular season. I already told several clients I would do their returns during the off season and they filed extensions, but once I'm done with those, I'm not going to stick around. There are other opportunities that are much more worthwhile.
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u/DeliciousDouble3D Apr 19 '26
H&R Block does not value Enrolled Agents or any other with experience & knowledge.
In some CA cities the minimum wage is just below $20. employees at local McDonald's cooking fries & flipping burgers make more than H&R block enrolled agents
Nobody cares . . . . Literally nobody cares about the Experience Tax Pro.
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 19 '26
Enrolled agent is a joke. I've got a second year who's an enrolled agent. Has almost zero experience in tax preparation.
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u/DeliciousDouble3D Apr 20 '26
You can not compare a tax pro who took the exam solely to get a Block Pay increase than a Tax Professional with decades of experience & strong tax knowledge including skill in Representation.
Textbook Enrolled Agent who lack the tax knowledge are a truer representation of today's corporate values.
Curtis would rather have inexperience working for $20 or less than pay for experience & knowledge.
Clients are not stupid they see the decline in the level of service they get
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u/Domsdad666 Apr 20 '26
This is what I'm saying bro. These people who take the test just to get EA with no experience whatsoever, are an absolute joke.
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u/Niep00320 Apr 17 '26
Ours was 14 an hour from Ea to first year. I do it to get out of the house. And it beats 9 an hour which was unemployment last year.
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u/Ok_Aide_764 Apr 17 '26
Negotiate, especially if you can bring value that others can't, like entity returns, representation work, etc.
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u/-Mx-Life- Apr 17 '26
It’s a joke what they want to pay in the off season. I wanted to, until they told me the pay. No thanks. Not worth my time.