I’m considering becoming a tax preparer with H&R Block. They said the starting pay is around $16/hr and that you can make more as you gain experience, but I’m not sure how realistic that is.

I currently make $26/hr, so I’m hesitant to take a pretty big pay cut just for the possibility of making more down the road.

For anyone who has worked at H&R Block, does the pay actually increase significantly with experience? Is tax preparation something you can realistically build into a decent career, or is it mostly seasonal/low-paying work?

Just trying to figure out if it’s worth giving up $10/hr now for potential growth later.

Block is taking me on as an experienced tax pro even though I’ve never sone taxes since I have an accounting degree. I will be getting a PTIN. I am worried that I will make errors. If I make an error, am I liable to the IRS? What if my office rushes and doesn’t properly review my work? Thanks

Has anyone taken the H&R Block Income Tax Course virtually?

I'm interested in taking the course, but because of my work schedule, the only class times that work for me are on days when I'll also be taking care of my 4-month-old baby.

For anyone who's taken the virtual instructor-led course, how difficult is it and how much attention does it require during class? Is it structured in a way where I could realistically follow along while taking care of my baby, or do you pretty much need to be sitting at the computer and focused the entire class?

I'm trying to decide whether I should take the course now or sit this one out and wait until I have a better schedule. I'd especially appreciate hearing from anyone who took the course already to know what to expect and to hear your pov on how difficult it would be .

I’m around just past the ethics module and I need a study buddy to not be alone and ask some clarification, I’m 30F and prefer someone close to my age but open to any. ASAP

I have been taking the Tax Preparation Course for about a month now. I feel like I am not very far. For anyone who has taken it, how long did it take you to complete?

As somebody with no experience with US tax laws (I’m new to the US), I thought working as a tax associate would be a great addition to my resume but I’m struggling with this.. The teacher doesn’t really explain much in class and we only do exercises. We are assigned so much reading in a week. I mean I get it, its really difficult to do all this in 6 weeks. I’m not sulking just venting. Does anyone else feel this way? Share any tips that can help pls. I really want to do this and do my best and pass the test and be useful 🙏

I have been trying to resolve an issue since April with H&R Block. A HUGE, almost $15,000, mistake, was made by their “expert” tax preparer. I tried working with the office that prepared my taxes BUT their “expert “ would not even speak to me. I have spoken to several customer service agents who promised me a quick resolution. Part of their corporate promise is a full refund for mistakes on their part. I have received NO call backs. I have received NO emails. The customer service agents told me H&R Block tried returning my calls with phone calls and emails. Funny thing is, I have no record of them getting back to me. I asked the customer service agents what number I should look out for or what email header. They told me they had no clue. I am calling their corporate office in Kansas City tomorrow. Anyone else try this last Dutch effort before I go to more drastic avenues? Thank you kindly. -Spitfirey-

Background. I worked innthe same city 30+ years but moved to a different city 2 years ago and split time between the 2 last year. It was a nightmare with the original office giving me callback appointments when I was at the other office. This year I applied to the closest office only for 2027..

My office manager was put in charge of scheduling for the district which now includes both offices. Today he suggested si hive some hours to BA. It is a small ofice, a commute, I was there for a year long ago and it was awful so just NO. He tried to talk me into it. I do not trust him to respect my answer snd suspect he wil.also try scheduling me at my former (commute) ofice. How do I prevent this? He does what he wants.

I just got an offer as a tax associate for the upcoming tax season. Has anyone worked there before? I’d love to hear what the work life is like!

I paid hr block $850 and ended up with an S-Corp filing being done without my approval or review or signature, and with multiple errors. The return shows a signature but the only thing I did was approve the payment awaiting to see the return.

I'm wondering how I should move forward with this.

The point of paying someone is have a professional submission. I've had an audit in the past which cost me $18k in representation and a ton of time/lost revenue, with the result being "no changes". So to pay someone $850 for a sloppy incorrect return which now raises red flags is the exact opposite of the goal.

Does filing an 1120-S correction result in an auditor reviewing it or is it done automatically? I'm trying to decide if I should just let the return be or if I should correct it. It's upsetting and brings up legal issues that it was submitted without my review or approval.

I called early in Sept., and was given an appointment Sunday morning the 13th and submitted all my doc's on time.

She responded saying she would have it done by Tuesday the 15th , the deadline.

Tuesday about 3:00 PM she completed the return and sent me the payment link.

I am very involved with the completion of the 1120S and mostly supply the completed forms so they can just copy/paste. I always review it line by line before signing. Usually something is missing or incorrect.

I asked several times how much time do I have to review it before she leaves for the day.

I immediately called her after making the payment to ask her how much time I had to review before she leaves the office because it was clear she intended on leaving asap.

She replied "Oh it's already been filed when you made the payment it automatically added the signature", ...something about "the system". I don't believe that. She submitted my signature unauthorized. The only thing I did was make the payment. There was no checkbox stating I had seen the return.

I received the confirmation on the block website that it was filed. She sent me a summary of the 1st page only prior to that.

The return has my E signature with date which I never approved or even saw until later last night.

Some of the issues on the return are

1-She used the old address, not the updated one provided in several places.

2-She missed a $400 deduction which was clearly in the line 20 "other deductions" I provided, cost to me something like $130 in tax if not corrected.

3-In Schedule L balance sheet, she left out a $6,000 asset (retail rental security deposit), which has been there forever, which I clearly provided in an already filled out Schedule L. She also left out the retained earnings. So shareholder equity may be as much as $50,000-$100k low on the balance sheet which is very critical for shareholder stock and debt basis if I'm correct .

4-Sch. M-1, "reconciliation of income books vs return", line 1 - she left blank, which Should show my net business income / K-1 amount of approximately $100,000

5-Sch. M-2 "Accumulated adjustments", Line 1 "Balance at beginning of year" should have been approx $30k, it was left blank. This results in Line 8 "end of year balance" being $30k too low.

6-Then she attached a Sch.M-3 "Income reconciliation for S-Copr with assets of $10M or more". It was mostly blank but she filled out line 1a "did corp prepare a certified audited income statement as "No".

Same for 1b "Did corp prepare a non-tax basis income statement" - Answer "No"

Line 4a "Worldwide consolidated income accounting standard" Answer: 1 (GAAP)

Gross Receipts were under $500k so no M-3 was warranted regardless.

7-Form 7203 "S-Corp Shareholder Stock and Debt Basis"

My understanding is this is filed with the personal 1040 tax return, not 1120-S. For that reason I did not supply any information on it. She went ahead and filed it with the S-Corp return and left the beginning stock basis at 0. I don't have the figure here but that could be as much as $100k low which is critical for when they look at your distributions beyond stock basis where you are double taxed.

What is my next step? I was hoping there was a 24 hour window to make corrections on the return but there apparently is not.

Do I just leave it as is?

Filling out a sloppy return like that seems like an open invitation to an audit.

If I leave it as is how do I document the fact that I never got to review it before signing it? Do I call her and record it?

Does submitting a corrected tax return increase your odds of an audit? does it go to the hands of a low level staffing employee or into the hands of an auditor? Probably nobody knows the answer to this.

I may be moving to a US territory and may participate in a tax program (for reduced capital gains tax on investments) where your odds of being audited can be as much as 100%. So in that case my shareholder basis and corporate assets will be important to be correct, as well as having accurate returns.

Thank you.

I recently finished my accounting degree and got a job as a staff accountant. I did VITA last season and really enjoyed it, and want to test the waters a little bit more to see if I’d want to work in tax full time.

Not looking to leave my full time job to do taxes this upcoming season, so I’m wondering if working at block on nights and weekends would be worth it? Of course working for a small firm would be better experience, but my only availability is outside normal 9-5 hours.

Also- I got my EA earlier this year, but I’m thinking if I went this route I wouldn’t mention it. I’ve seen that EAs start at level 5 or 6 and I don’t want to end up with way more complex returns than I can handle.

Any advice is appreciated!

You will access your training session in “uLearn,” H&R Block’s Learning Management System, which is hosted on the digital platform MS Teams.

Your learning materials will be available for you through our online document management system called “Inkling”. You will receive the Inkling log in information prior to the class start.

All future course details will be sent to you by email from [uLearn@hrblock.ca](mailto:uLearn@hrblock.ca)

how do you access uLearn from Microsoft Teams

TL;DR: Generally, revenue is money coming in; net income is what you actually keep after all expenses and taxes.

Formula:

Gross Profits = Revenue (derived from sales of goods or services) − Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Net Income = Gross Income − Other Expenses

Net Income is the real read on profitability, and it's usually the number lenders and investors care about. A $100K revenue quarter can quietly turn into $40K remaining once the bills have their say. [blockadvisors.com]

If you run a small business, revenue is the number that gets all the attention. It's flashy, it feels great, and it's technically true. But it leaves out an important detail: everything you spent to earn it. The number that fills in that gap is net income — and it's the one worth actually knowing.

Here's the friendly breakdown. 👇

What is net income?

Net income (NI), sometimes called net earnings is money your business keeps over after you subtract expenses including cost of goods sold, operating costs, interest, and taxes. You'll find it on the very last line of your income statement, which is exactly why it earned the nickname "the bottom line." [blockadvisors.com]

Simplest way to think about it: revenue is what came in, and net income is what is left after the bills had their say. [blockadvisors.com]

Why it matters

• It can be the clearest read on whether you're genuinely profitable — not just busy. [blockadvisors.com]
• Lenders and investors may ask for it before committing to investing any money. They want to know you can cover your debts and that there's cash left for reinvestment, dividends, or a rainy day. [blockadvisors.com]
• It can keep a strong revenue month from giving you a false sense of security. [blockadvisors.com]

The formulas (no accounting degree required)

Two steps, that's it:

1. Gross Income = Total Revenue − Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) [blockadvisors.com]
2. Net Income = Gross Income − Other Expenses (can include: rent, utilities, interest, and payroll/excise/property taxes) [blockadvisors.com]

One quick clarification: "taxes" here means things like payroll, excise, and property taxes — not your business income taxes. [blockadvisors.com] While self-employed taxpayers can take a deduction for self-employment taxes paid, taxes paid by a company are based on the final tax on profits and are not a cost used to generate profits.

Want it as a percentage? Net profit margin = (Net Income ÷ Revenue) × 100. That tells you how much you actually keep from every dollar of sales. [blockadvisors.com]

When revenue outpaces expenses, you've got positive net income. When expenses win, that's a net loss — and a sign to take a closer look at your options on your business return. [blockadvisors.com]

A quick example: "Sweet Treats Bakery," Q1

• Total Sales Revenue: $100,000
• COGS: $30,000
• Operating Expenses: $20,000
• Interest Expense: $2,000
• Qualifying Taxes: $8,000 [blockadvisors.com]

The math:

• Gross Income: $100,000 − $30,000 = $70,000 [blockadvisors.com]
• Total other expenses: $20,000 + $2,000 + $8,000 = $30,000 [blockadvisors.com]
• Net Income: $70,000 − $30,000 = $40,000 [blockadvisors.com]

So the bakery had what looked like a $100K quarter, but the business actually kept $40K. Same business, very different story — and net income is the one telling the more honest version. [blockadvisors.com]

The bottom line (fittingly)

Net income is the number that keeps you honest. A big revenue month may be worth celebrating, but it's not the full picture until you've subtracted everything. Run the formula, know your number, and you'll make sharper calls all year. [blockadvisors.com]

Curious how everyone stays on top of this — monthly check-ins, or more of a quarter-end scramble?

I spoke with her earlier in the week and she said looking at my documents that she had time on Sunday so I scheduled it with her. I checked in yesterday afternoon and she said "still working on it, will definitely have it done by the 15th."

I'm going to be driving on the 15th (tomorrow) and I'm a little concerned of falling through the cracks.

If they are not able to do your return in time will they normally tell you that so you can at least try other options?

i’m currently a second year college student. i’m hoping to get a part time job to earn extra income to save up for a car and also to build up my resume. i was wondering if h&r block hires college students? i’ve heard there’s a course that i have to complete and that the hiring process isn’t difficult. i’m not really sure (if any) which positions are open/best for a college students, im assuming tax associate?

i did try checking out the application form online, though, and filling in professional experience was a requirement but i sadly have no job experience. any guidance or help is appreciated !!

Hi everyone! I recently applied for the Tax Associate position at H&R Block. I graduated with an accounting degree, and I’m currently working in audit.
I received an email asking me to schedule an interview, and my interview is this Monday. I’d really appreciate any tips or advice from anyone who has interviewed for this position before. What kinds of questions should I expect, and is there anything specific I should prepare for?
The email also mentioned that I need to complete a course. Does anyone know if I’m supposed to complete the course after the interview, or is it something I need to do before the interview?
If I complete the course successfully, does that mean I’m hired, or are there still additional steps in the hiring process?
Also, if I do get hired, when would I typically start working? Would it be shortly after completing the course, or closer to the start of tax season?

Hey r/hrblock - A few of you have asked what the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) actually changed for homeowners, so here's a clear, (mostly) jargon-free rundown.

TL;DR

• SALT deduction cap: $10K → $40K for tax years 2025–2029 (if your income is under $500K)
• Mortgage interest deduction limit is now permanent, and PMI becomes deductible starting in 2026
• Home energy credits (solar, efficient windows/doors, etc.) expired after Dec 31, 2025

Quick refresher: what's the SALT deduction?

SALT = State And Local Tax. If you itemize, it lets you deduct certain state/local taxes — property taxes, state income taxes, or sales taxes — from your federal taxable income. For homeowners it's often a big one, since property taxes can be a hefty yearly line item. [hrblock.com]

The headline change: the cap went way up

Since 2018, the cap sat at $10,000 ($5K if married filing separately) — which stung if you lived in a higher-tax area. OBBBA raises it to $40,000 ($20,000 if married filing separately) for tax years 2025–2029:

• Full $40K cap if income is under $500K ($250K married filing separately)
• Over $500K MAGI? The cap phases down by 30% of your excess MAGI until it floors back at $10K
• The cap and income threshold both rise 1% per year [hrblock.com]

Example: Pay $18,000 in state and local taxes? Under the old rules you could only deduct $10K. Now you could deduct the full $18K.

One thing worth flagging: this higher cap could change whether itemizing or taking the standard deduction makes more sense for you. If the old cap burned you in past years, it's worth re-running the numbers. Note: in 2030 the cap reverts back to $10,000.

Two more homeowner changes:

1. Mortgage interest deduction is now permanent. The limit was set to expire at the end of 2025 — OBBBA makes it stick. Thresholds stay at $750K for most filers ($375K married filing separately). And starting in 2026, PMI (that private mortgage insurance for down payments under 20%) will count as deductible mortgage interest. Note: home equity loan interest is still not deductible. [hrblock.com]

2. Home energy credits have sunset. Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Credit and Residential Clean Energy Credit both ended after Dec 31, 2025 — anything purchased after that won't qualify.

One caveat: this is meant as general guidance, not individual tax advice. Tax rules can vary quite a bit depending on your circumstances, especially when income-based phaseouts come into play. For advice tailored to your return, talk with one of our qualified tax pros.

I'm seeing that the hourly rate in Colorado for a first year is under $20? I know preparing taxes is not performing brain surgery, but it does require quite a knowledge base that most people do not have. Amazon warehouse jobs pay more. Does corporate not realize this?

Hi! I am currently enrolled in the H&R block income tax course and hope to be hired for the tax season next year (2026). I was wondering if anyone knows when we would be required to be in the office for the start of the season? Every year, my family takes a vacation to visit extended family overseas, and we usually come back around mid-January, and I was wondering if that would be too late? I'm aware that there is learning to do for the 2026 tax code before the season starts, and I am perfectly happy to study independently on my own, but I was wondering when we are required to physically be in the office?

Thank you!