Posted by LisaWI on 7/26/07 8:27am
Msg #201897

OT-Working for H & R Block-Questions

I'm thinking of enrolling in their classes this fall to work part-time Jan-April. Ive had one year of accounting with a tax course and have always understood income tax forms. And I enjoy doing taxes, believe it or not, LOL. My questions are to the folks who have done this in addition to loan signings:
Was the office you worked in pretty flexible with scheduling and did they respect that you are self employed?
Did they allow you to receive phone calls for signings?
And did you do notarizations while working there?
Any other comments or feedback is welcome
I will be doing some more research on this. Its something I want to be pretty sure of because you have to pay for the training and it wouldn't make sense to do that if you didn't follow thru with working there.
Thanx!!

Reply by ck_KY on 7/26/07 8:35am
Msg #201898

I haven't work for them, but my sister did. She sometimes worked 10 -12 hour days from Feb-April. I think it would depend on the individual office with scheduling. She didn't work anywhere else, so she didn't mind it. She also called me from her cell phone quite often, so they allowed her to keep this with her. I had thought about this as well, as Jan-April are not as busy for me with loan closings as other times of the year.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/26/07 8:43am
Msg #201899

I went through their course quite some time ago - at that time, at the end of the classes, they offered us a position at H&R Block at less than minimum wage - you were paid the hourly rate plus an amount per form you prepared - not necessarily very lurative. Be careful...MHO

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/26/07 8:44am
Msg #201900

Re: Dangit..correction - lucrative.. n/m

Reply by Stamper_WI on 7/26/07 8:53am
Msg #201902

Also

They do ask you to sign a non compete contract. My neighbor is in a big law suit with them right now. He's a retired Calculus Professor.

Reply by BetsyMI on 7/26/07 8:55am
Msg #201903

Well I didn't work at H&R Block but

I did work another part time job, and the owner was NOT flexible with my hours nor did she appreciate my cell phone ringing while I was at work. There were times she let me leave to do a closing and other times she said she couldn't spare me. When I got to the point where I was passing up a $100 closing to stay at my part time job I knew it was time to leave.

Guess it depends on the employer no matter what business it is.

Reply by LisaWI on 7/26/07 8:59am
Msg #201904

Re: Betsy, that is the problem with trying to supplement

your income in this biz. Ive tried job searches and checked into other jobs as part-time and its hard to find something that respects you are self employed.
Thats why I am checking into H&R Block because its very seasonal and during the slow months for me anyway.

Reply by BetsyMI on 7/26/07 9:02am
Msg #201906

Lisa

Good point, however looking at my calendar it was busier for me in those months than it is now.

Good luck to you...hey do you want to do my taxes come spring???? LOL.

Reply by LisaWI on 7/26/07 9:12am
Msg #201907

Re:Where is that crystal ball......

when you need it, dang it! Im trying to look into the future and with everything as rocky as it is right now, it cant hurt to be prepared. After all, this is our livelyhoods, but a questionable one right now.
Your taxes, hmmmmmm, my fee will be $XXX, are you going to meet my fee or look for someone cheaper??

Reply by BetsyMI on 7/26/07 9:21am
Msg #201909

Re: Re:Where is that crystal ball......

Of course I'm going to shop around until I find the very cheapest tax preparer I can find. ONLY THEN will I call you back to confirm...but of course your fee will have gone up by then right?

Reply by MistarellaFL on 7/26/07 10:49am
Msg #201934

My daughter did this through another company

Only on weekends, and did quite well only working on Sats/Suns.
Those days were the most lucrative in the office, and did not interfere with her M-F job.
FWIW, I rarely see brws on Sats, never on Sun.
It might be something to consider....just those 2 days.

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/26/07 9:20am
Msg #201908

Lisa - Take the classes and become a self-employed tax preparer. The easy ones are the ones that people usually bring to a person who can file online for them, etc.

H&R Block also wants you to sell their financial products while you are doing taxes. Here I think they pay around $10 an hour.

Reply by LisaWI on 7/26/07 9:31am
Msg #201911

Re: Now this would be ideal

I didnt realize you could take the course and then do taxes independently. When you say $10 an hour you are referring to working at the H&R Block office, correct? Not as an independent tax preparer.

Reply by Joe/AR on 7/26/07 10:08am
Msg #201914

Re: Now this would be ideal

Lisa, I have worked for H & R Block for the past two tax seasons and the one I work for is independently owned. He let's me work when and how long I want. He understands that I am self employed. You might want to find and privately owned operation. The owners of the independent tax offices can basically do whatever they want as long they follow the guidelines of the franchiser. I worked part time in the evenings and made a nice amount of money, I was paid by the hour and not commission. I didn't take any classes because I was already experienced with taxes and the owner paid for any training I needed to learn their system and way of doing taxes. I guess I found I good opportunity and made the best of it.

Reply by John_NorCal on 7/26/07 10:41am
Msg #201928

Re: Now this would be ideal

I took the H&R Block course many years ago. I never did work for them though. From what I've heard from people in my area it can be hit or miss as far as making any money with them. I've spoken with people who went to work with them and basically sat around twiddling their thumbs and then were allowed to do an amended return. But it all depends on the office. Check on licensing in your state, California is one of the few states that requires a state license to prepare taxes. As Brenda stated you can be an independent preparer, but make sure that you have taken more courses than what H&R teaches. I take over 100 hours continuing education every year and I also belong to the Society of Enrolled Agents. I currently work with a CPA as well as preparing taxes for my own clients. During tax season, signings take a back seat to taxes as my hourly rate is far more than what I make doing signings. So take everything into consideration and as we tell all the newbies, do your homework. Good luck, you can pm me if I can help you in any way.

Reply by Christine/NJ on 7/26/07 12:34pm
Msg #201974

Re: Now this would be ideal ( long)

I worked for H&R Block. The schedule was indeed flexible. I was paid on a draw vs commission basis. This means that they deducted the whole $7.50 an hour out of my commission checks. You definitely have to sell their other products and services. In our office you got evaluated in Feb/March and if you didn't sell enough of this or that they brought you in and told you if you didn't sell more you would be let go.

I did very well but figured out on my own that even if I sold their most expensive product/services after they deduct my draw, I would walk away with approximately $15 per hour. That is not very much to make in this area. It was a nice gig while I was pregnant and in between jobs. But I could not make enough money to live on it.

You also have to know so much more than tax. You have to learn their rules and their computer system, In our area I had to learn NY and NJ tax forms. You have to be personable, customer service oriented, and a killer salesperson in addition to knowing the tax laws. By the way people lie while giving you info too. I always find they look up at the ceiling when they don't know the answer to the dollar questions.

Anyway, in my opinion this was way too many skills for $7.50 per hour draw vs commission. I stopped working for them I went back to my Big 4 CPA firm and stayed there for 10 years and was very happy making way more money. Best of luck to you in your research.

Reply by WDMD on 7/26/07 12:39pm
Msg #201978

Re: Now this would be ideal

Another consideration if you decide to go the independent preparer route. Do not expect to get alot of clients your first few years other than friends and family. Most people when it comes to taxes find someone they are comfortable with and stay there. You may pick up some of the fast refund crowd if you offer those products, they have no loyalty to any preparer, they just go wherever they can get a fast check.

Reply by Christine/NJ on 7/26/07 12:44pm
Msg #201983

Re: Now this would be ideal

I also forgot to mention that I had to sign something saying I wouldn't do taxes for people within a 25 mile radius of H&R Block for 2 years. I never did any tax work for the CPA firm so it wasn't an issue for me to go back. But they make you sign this before you work for them. So don't work for them to get your experience and think you will do the whole independent tax thing. Because they can sue you if they find out.

Best of luck to you! The class was beneficial and you did not have to sign a waiver for it. Itw as worth the money. You also were not forced to work for them if you took the class.

Reply by LisaWI on 7/26/07 12:53pm
Msg #201991

Re: Wow......Thank You Everyone!!

You guys and gals are great! Yes, I will do my homework. I am a real big chicken on taking risks and dont like jumping into anything without knowing all the details. Just like this biz and the lady who kindly got me started stating how easy it is, LOL. I knew better after doing the research.
Thank you all for the feedback, its absolutely wonderful. Its all a wealth of information and I do appreciate it.

Reply by azanygal_CA on 7/26/07 3:30pm
Msg #202039

Lisa, I did the exact same thing you are asking about this tax season. I worked for an H & R Block tax office which was located inside a Sears store. The hours have to conform to the store hours so you will not have to stay late hours like the free-standing tax offices. The Office Manager was very flexible with my schedule so when I had signings, he would let me off early to do them. When the end of the month happened for signings, I asked for less hours that week and they were very flexible. They do pay on a draw/commission scale, and the longer you work for them the more comission you make. Count on just making around 9.00/hr your first two years with them, but it gets better the longer you stay with them. If you have any further questions, just pm me.