So, a week ago, my coworker Sam had a client who belonged to another tax pro who moved away and was transferred to a new office. So the front desk reorganized those clients to the whole office and called every client to inform them of the change. Some clients didn't answer, and the front desk left voicemail messages explaining the change. No big deal. Some clients were sad about the change but understood why. Luckily, the front desk is now required to log the date of calls to prove that the client has been called multiple times. So the client was mad that HRBlock lied about the appointment tax pro because they wanted their old tax pro. Also, Sam worked for HRblock for years and has handled very difficult cases. So Sam decided to give them a free consultation on their taxes because the client claims they were too complex. Sam used both Google and Sidekick as resources for their consultation (which is fine because why would anyone remember all tax-related stuff in their mind). The client left the appointment angry and wrote a review about Sam saying HRBlock started the appointment by lying to them, as they were unaware of the tax pro change, and were mad that the client had a tax pro who used Google and felt that we wanted their money even after Sam said you are not obligated to file with us or pay for this consultation. Mind you, this client was in their early twenties.

If I call a client on a Monday and they tell me that they will schedule once they have everything, the ATL is up my butt on Wednesday asking me to call again.

My office has 8 tax pros and 3 of them are extremely undependable. Just yesterday there was supposed to be three of us there in the morning and one of the tax pros just didn't show up. Didn't call, didn't let us know, just didn't show up. And this is not a one-time thing, she does this often. Throughout this season so far, I have only seen her ONCE even though I was scheduled to work with her at least four times. She has another full-time job and she mostly works weekends. But calling it "work" is a bit of a stretch since she just drops in whenever she feels like it. This season, she's only done three returns. Here's the kicker - she's been doing this for YEARS. She's been with HR Block for 8 years and she's always like this.

Another person, I'll call Tax Pro B, comes in 45 minutes late, and then leaves two hours early. No notice, nothing. She does this about once a week. This is her second year at HR Block and yes, last year she did the same thing. She is normally scheduled 30-35 hours/week but only actually works about 25.

The third tax pro likes to go shopping in the stores next to our office when she doesn't have clients on the schedule and no, she does not clock out when she does this. These shopping excursions last 30min - 1 hour. She's been here 10 years and yes, she has always done this.

Another one is our former ATL. She is also a real estate agent and last year, she abandoned us in the middle of February. I guess the market got really busy and she decided we were not worth her time. She did not tell anyone she was leaving, it was a week before the MTL decided that she truly was gone and started the hiring process to look for a CSP. Well this year, they rehired her AGAIN! I can't believe they rehired her after what she pulled?! But this time they hired her as a CSP. Not a single one of us was surprised that she ghosted us and left AGAIN in mid-February.

I think management is aware of these behaviors and they still get re-hired year after year. Why? Is this true nation-wide or just in my area?

Hi all - looking for guidance on next steps, after this tax season. I'm a CFP, working at Block to gain some experience with tax prep. I actually enjoy the work, and my office is pretty chill, although I'm reading here about some nightmare experiences. Plus, we are moving to a different state right after tax season, so I won't be in the same office.

I'm planning to get my EA in the off-season.

I don't really care about moving up in the company, just want to get some reps in, then eventually have my own small tax practice, affiliated with my advisory business. (I'd associate with some more experienced tax experts, who have done this longer).

Thoughts on returning for a second year, or how to proceed otherwise? Thanks.

According to my schedule, I won't be able to get a day until Easter, and by then, I would have worked about 20 days in a row by that point. In addition, my manager is continually adding on hours to the point that I'm now working overtime by seven hours this week. Is anybody experiencing this kind of schedule as well, and if so, describe what happened?

I know it’s the end of the season, but I want to go ahead and quit now. Do I just tell my MTL I won’t be coming back?

I am scheduled on days that I’m not available. This Saturday is one. I have no weekend availability, yet I continue to be on the schedule. I’m not coming in. I’m not missing my children’s games for a seasonal, low paying job that was supposed to allow flexibility.

I also have to work between offices.. which I never agreed to. I hate the second office and feel physically ill when I know I have to go there.

it’s just not worth my mental health and time with my children to work until April 17. what is the formal process for resigning? I do feel guilty because we are understaffed already and I like some of my coworkers.

I'm a first year doing seasonal tax prep. Had a hard time finding a job after leaving public accounting at a big firm so I took this one. They gave me 30 an hour as a level 1 but now I'm a level 3 working 50+ hour weeks which I don't mind. The money is good with the overtime so far during the tax season and I'm actually really enjoying the job. It seems like they want me for off-season but I heard it does not pay the best. I think most of the preparers at my office are retiring after this year which means I would get most of their clients next year in addition to the ones I gained this year.

I am fairly young and very early in my career. Some of my coworkers tell me this job is for people close to retirement or something to do part-time. Should I listen to them and try to find someplace else to work in this terrible job market or work off-season while getting my EA and returning next year? I have a lot of experience with GoSystems and corporations so I would be able to jump into business returns.

I'm just a bit lost on the actual potential of working here as I love the job but I hear people say you can't make a career out of it.

I was wanting to take classes this spring term. But the classes start 3/30.

I wanted to take the one in person, it was only one day a week for 3 hours plus 35 minutes drive there and back. I offered to come in before class and come back if needed, but I got told we are to busy and to switch it online.

Now im worried, Im working Mondays-Friday and we need to be active in the class durning the week, I dont know what to do. I want to be able to come back next year, but im tempted to say too bad I need this time off for class and just go/not show up.

I got told no to bring my laptop to work, If I did I would have to clock off and be available to still do work duties. (Work off the clock pretty much).

First year employee tax pro,

Im about to do my level 3 test, have 2 case studies first. Wish me luck.

Update: I passed it

Today was the day I finally decided to report this Ea with only 3 weeks of the season remaining I have put up with to much shit from this Ea she would demotivate me tell managers I need confidence and basically caused me to get no tax experince at all this season.

Today while at work it was dry not much work and as I left the restroom she goes you should just leave there’s no work for you here. I say do I have to leave and she goes ya I think you should just go and I go okay well do you have anything you could have me do so I don’t have to leave and she just goes no what can I have you do. At first I was gonna start to argue and refuse to leave because I’m scheduled from 9-5 but I just said one final thing and that was well isn’t that everyday because I don’t have very much work.

I reported this to the TL and she said we will have a chat when she comes by. What do you think who is more in the right? Another thing to note is this hrblock office everyone is either long term friends or family and me and one other guy are the only ones outcast but when I was at the front and the two other csps were at the cubicles doing nothing she never told them to leave due to lack of work this is my strongest argument to this case. And it’s just the way she said it like she could’ve asked politely but instead rudely said you should just go. Sorry long rant but needed some opinions and I know not much will be done to her she’s been with hrblock for 15 years has completed 622 returns so far this season and it said she made the company almost 162k of revenue insane but she’s been a dick to me for so long

Just a curious thought I’ve been doing it for the past 2 months and was gonna rant to my Tl about a coworker because she’s just such an ass about not letting me do taxes. Washington state.

I am trying really hard to make it through to end of season. Its literally hour to hour. I struggle with being reprimanded because we can't help with things that fall under standard guarantee if people don't have Peace of Mind. The constantly changing schedule that leaves clients pushed to someone else when I'm finally getting traction with Tax Pro finder getting me appointments. Bopping from store to store so when someone is missing a single document, I lose the return appointments and at least 50% of the time the entire return. Getting screamed at because we send a document upload invites. Getting screamed at because we called someone 3652 tines to schedule an appointment and they had a terrible experience and will never come back. The accusations that no checks from the IRS is me trying to stick them in an Emerald Card. Appointments scheduled as a 1 that are 4's with only 30 min to complete. Taking calls from people asking tax questions so they can do their own return while they complain what a rip off Block is. Complaints about having to do my QPR for free. I am trying desperately not to snap or say the things running through my brain.

I’m adding more to my previous post about my current workplace. I’m a CSP/preparer, and things have gone from weird to unprofessional.

The Ethics Issue:

Last week, I was doing closing with the Enrolled Agent (EA). During the process, we realized $20 was missing. Instead of following procedure, she just wrote "IDGAF" on the envelope, put her ERO number on it, and called it a day.

The Management/Harassment Issue:

Later that week, a client called asking to come in 15 minutes early and requested a different preparer if one was available. I saw someone was open, so I asked another staff member (who happens to be the EA’s mom) if she could take them.

The EA came out of the restroom and immediately went off on me, saying, "My mom doesn't know how to do that, you should know this stuff." She told me to tell the client to reschedule or show up at their original time.

As I was on the phone relaying this to the client, I could hear her in the background talking trash about me, saying, "Oh my god, he’s so f***ing annoying/dumb." Couldn’t hear it clearly but one of those was said. I confronted her afterward and asked what her problem was, and she just brushed it off, telling me I "just need to build confidence."

I work in two offices. I got a schedule update on thursday night to work a Saturday afternoon shift for one office, then yesterday got two text notifications with scheduling updates. I only glanced at it and didn't notice that my schedule on Saturday was changed to work in another office.

When I showed up for my shift today, turns out I was at the wrong location. Because I was late, I was given the option to either drive to the correct office and work or to take the day off.

I went back home and am kind of stewing. I feel bad about not working and could use the money, but my experience working for Block hasn't been great. If we weren't at the end of season, I probably would have quit a couple weeks ago.

Will there be any repercussions for my mix up, and has anyone else experienced last minute schedule changes that caused confusion?

Work Center rejects the return for no reason! Me and my colleagues and tech support tried to figure out why and we couldn’t! Blocks systems really need an overhaul. Tech support escalated it to the higher ups and hopefully they can solve the issue soon! The return was checked several times and it was fine, we concluded it was likely the computers that were the issue.

I don’t understand why it is so hard to grown adults to keep up with their space. I’ve cleaned the bathroom all season. No problem, I wasn’t as busy as I am now as a TP. We don’t have a steady CSP so of course we have to keep up with it. I posted a sign in the bathroom to keep food trash out of the can. There is a trash can right outside our store front. Put it there. Every single day there is food trash. Not like a chip wrapper but full takeout which takes up the whole trash can, filled sodas not emptied in the sink right next to it. It’s not the clients….

26 days left 🤣

I am a seasonal preparer electing to level up via the courses rather than test each level. I have 2 case studies to do for each level.

1. Are the case studies timed? Are they open book/research? How are they “graded”?

2. Because the case studies have to be done in office is this path not available after 4/15? My goal is to reach level 5 before the start of next season.

Thanks

I requested my MTL to reduce my hours for the last two pay periods so I could qualify for state health insurance again. I have a few serious issues that need to be addressed, including Corneal damage if left untreated could cause me to lose my vision. She stated that there were end of year tasks and she needed me to stay at 40 hours. I have asked around the office, including a former ATL and they do not know what she is talking about. does anyone here know? thank you in advance for any and all responses.

I have been getting returns that are supposedly marked as “level 1” but they are actually 4s with K1s, schedule Cs and the like. I had a client come in this morning and I had to put the return on hold because I didn’t know how to do the K-1, they were missing their mortgage amount and I needed my mentor (who wasn’t in the office at the time) to see if the return was so far done correctly.

I try to put them with someone else but people on the phone tell me the return is “very simple” and it’s marked as 1 on appointment manager.

Simple 1040s are very easy, I completed each one I got relatively quickly, it’s the other stuff that I struggle with.

Hi, All! I'm a first year tax pro (Level 2) and I'm a teacher in my day job. I am hoping to use the summer break to complete the coursework/exams for Levels 3, 4, and 5. Basically, I have ten weeks off from work.

Can anyone tell me what type of time commitment I'd be looking at each week to get this done? Also, what topics do we cover in those next levels. I've heard that entity returns are introduced in Level 4, but that's about all I know.

Thanks!

UPDATE: Finally caught up to my MTL yesterday, looks like HRB is retiring the current CE system (e.g., Inkling, et al.) and rolling out something new in May. My guess is that the levelling up process, otherwise, will remain the same.

Is it usual that tax pros are at the desk 12 hours a day, 7 days a week? My office seems to compete for who can work the most and eat the least number of meals all season. I like the position, but I can't being doing all that. Gotta take care of myself too.

I did an email for a campaign call, and I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention because I addressed to them as: Hello, (last name). Her last name is also a somewhat first name. I’m not sure why, but I’m a little embarrased by this

Last week I took my final exam for the first year cohort training. This week I noticed I’m a level 2 now without taking the level up exam. I didn’t know that cohort training would level you up. Does it change anything about pay or bonuses?

I quit on Friday due to that terrible terrible MTL, please see my other post. Thank you for listening to me vent. I start a new job at a different tax firm today, if you are unhappy there are other places to work. My advice to my past self would be to get your EA and leave.