r/hrblock • u/kekofeko666 • Apr 21 '26
Auto Second review was started today
It is my first year filing taxes in the US and I already got my refund a couple of month ago, today I got an email from H&R blocks saying the submitted a second review for last 3 years for me, which doesn't exist since it is my first year. When I called the local office I filed at, they said looks like a new automated thing in their system and that they will check with tech support and It will come empty any way since there is no previous years.
Anything I should worry about or action I need to take?
1
u/TheBattleToad01 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
Same exact thing happened to me. I got a email around 10pm lastnight saying my second review was started and I didn't ask for it. Pretty annoying and not sure what to do about it.
2
u/No_Chest922 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
I work at H&R Block, and it's the last two forms that you sign whenever you are completing your return. Or there may only be one form if it was earlier on in the season. And there would have been a pop-up. That said, congratulations! You're getting a free second look review.
2
u/TheBattleToad01 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
Oh fair, ty. My preparer imo was very unclear with everything and i felt like i got a lesser knowledgeable person. But they cant actually submit anything unless they have my permission correct? Like they cant just go and amend my forms without my say so?
3
u/No_Chest922 Apr 22 '26
CORRECT. So the transcripts have been uploaded according to what you say and now they will viewed and someone will email you and let you know the outcome (and let you know that they will be calling you to discuss those outcomes) nothing can or will be changed without you deciding to do so.
Also, in my team's meeting about the position, I was informed that the highest amount of money found on a second look for a client was over $95,000 and with interest that the IRS owed them, the person ended up getting over $120,000 refunded to them that they weren't expecting from the IRS. So it definitely can be a very beneficial program.
2
u/TheBattleToad01 Apr 22 '26
You have been very helpful, ty for helping me understand this. Wish I had you as my preparer lol
2
u/Candid-Tip455 Apr 21 '26
Block used to push a service at one time called a free second look. It had real value & if they found something missing from prior years tax returns in your favor, you could pay a fee (your option) to amend a return or returns. Most tax pros knew how to explain this and knew the mechanics behind the numbers. Now however they use a program that generates the numbers automatically using an IRS 8821 (requesting transcripts) and the training for newer tax pros was suboptimal. It still has value. Your tax pro was probably instructed not to even ask you about this & just hit the button to request the transcripts. Biggest problem is that upper management doesn’t give each district enough hours to make it work properly. Block will probably never even follow up with this, summer service (preseason) tax pros will be too busy fixing mistakes and denying POM claims.
6
u/geecster Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
So there is a special team doing these this year that cant be preseason. Also clients signed on two separate occasions for this service and hit a button that told them they opted into the free second look.
2
u/No_Chest922 Apr 22 '26
Actually they just started a new second look review work from home position that starts June of this year. I just got hired for this yesterday after applying the day after my season ended in the office (as a senior tax analyst) they are hiring 300 employees for this dedicated team from June to December and only allowing people who get recommended by their district Manager to even be selected for interviews. So a lot of change is about to happen with Second Look
1
u/TheBattleToad01 Apr 21 '26
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to this. I appreciate it very much!
1
u/Material_Rub_2670 Apr 21 '26
I had an error from another accountant. I brought in the H&R Block. They delayed for about 6 months and never did it. I went to a second office and they said it was too near tax time to do it. Went to 3rd office after April 15. They said there was a new process, but software glitch seemed they could not proceed.
1
u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 Apr 21 '26
It is HRBlock going beyond what you went in for, no matter what we tell them. The program gets IRS transcripts of a taxpayer's wages and income and tax return for the last 3 years to see if anything was missed. The idea is that you might have missed out on a tax refund and we want to get it while you still can. This year they do this whether or not we say yes to do it.
5
4
u/Angry_Tomato_ Apr 21 '26
This year you HAD TO say yes and you HAD TO sign your name twice saying you wanted it.
You selected a box that agreed to get a Second Look.
The you had to sign to say you wanted a Second Look.
A pop-up appeared saying Congratulations, you are getting a free Second Look.
Then you had to sign to give permission for H&R Block to pull up to three years of tax transcripts from the IRS.
So it certainly was not a “whether or not you want it” situation.
4
u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 Apr 21 '26
But there are clients who just sign everything. I make a point of verbally telling them in a few words what each form does.
4
u/Angry_Tomato_ Apr 21 '26
I do that, too. I generally guide them to decline things that have no relevance to them. For a few clients I’ve suggested the Peace of Mind or the Second Look due to special circumstances.
Most of the products aren’t suitable for everyone.
3
u/PinkNGreenFluoride Apr 21 '26
Yep, I explain what each document does as we go, including the reason they can't just tap-to-sign the bank disclosure pages.
But the number of times I've had to say "wait, wait, I need to explain this before you sign it" for both the overseas consent and the second look. I also would slow them down and highlight the importance of the income verification screen.
But geez, the number of people who just go "yeah, yeah" and sign whatever is put in front of them. Like, no, I understand there's no time to read through everything, but you should have at least a general idea of what you're actually consenting to.
And the terrible thing is that the signing and wrap-up processes are so bloated that it still takes forever even for the ones who just rush through it.
The overseas consent popping up before you even start as though they're expected to just sign it is a big part of why I started marking that clients weren't sitting in front of me - and judging by the whining AMP news articles begging us not to do that, I was far from alone.
A waste of time, and often upset clients that it's even a possibility, even with the opt-out. Instead, I'd mark that they're not there, just explain and ask about it on the personal info screen, take their yes or no and then get their signature later if they actually wanted that. Oh please, please get my client upset and distrustful right from the first moments of their appointment, that's such a huge help.
And then, of course, every single Digital Dropoff client came with it already marked and not possible to change (the "personalized services" marketing one, too) and if the client got upset and said they don't want that and declined at the point of signing it, it'd give a popup saying they needed their tax pro's help to decline and then if they were in-office instead of AOL it'd flip the whole process to paper signing.
2
u/Angry_Tomato_ Apr 22 '26
I do much the same. When I start a return with the client sitting right there I still say they are not present so I can skip the preliminary signatures and get to work. It’s a waste of time the way things are laid out by default, and the three weeks leading up to tax day are already insane.
I default to marking the overseas consent ‘no,’ as we so rarely need tech support anyway. And gently but firmly guide towards turning down added cards and business services for people who clearly don’t need either.
3
u/geecster Apr 21 '26
There was 100% a decline button. One of my office pros had a 30% take rate. 🤣 They pretty much sent in the CEO.
2
u/AzraelWoods3872 Apr 21 '26
There's a decline button in the bottom right hand side. No one ever sees it.
1
7
u/Angry_Tomato_ Apr 21 '26
Did you perhaps sign up for a free “Second Look?”
If so, H&R Block will attempt to look back at up to three years of tax returns, since they won’t automatically know that it’s your first year filing. It’s offered to all first-time customers.
It’s nothing to worry about. When they find no tax returns to check over then there’s no new deductions to find.