where can i file a complaint against HR block tax services on line?
I payed for an electronic refund and insurance . after many years filing head of household i was denied that filing status . after many weeks and months filing documentation on the advice of HR blocks local tax manager. i asked them to pay me for my claim they denied me for it was over a year after waiting on all responses from IRS and HR block told me too much time has passed.
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July 31st, 2010 at 7:29 am
If you filed using the incorrect filing status and, as a result, now owe additional tax, no tax prep company is going to pay that. It’s your debt to pay.
If you did it based on their advice, you MIGHT be able to get them to cover penalties and interest. But they may counter argue that you did not provide truthful information to them when they prepared the returns.
July 31st, 2010 at 7:31 am
In 2005, the IRS tightened the rules for head of household.
Previously, you could claim HOH if your adult child lived with you no matter how much money they made. Now, you must also be able to claim that child as a dependent and that meant their income has to be less than $3500.
Previously (for 1 or 2 years *only*), you could even claim HOH if you had a child that you treated as your own living with you all year. Now, that child had to be a qualifying child related to you by blood or marriage. The child of a roommate, girlfriend or cousin does not qualify.
While most preparers noticed and followed the rule changes, some didn’t. While most preparers quizzed their clients to ensure they actually met the rules, some simply heard I-did-it-last-year and did it again.
As for HRB, did you have the extra cost insurance that said HRB would actually pay for the mistakes, including tax, or just the regular professional courtesy that they would try to assist with an amended return and consider paying the penalties?
Ultimately, the tax return is your paperwork. Ultimately, the information on the return and tax bill are yours. If you owe higher taxes, then it’s yours to pay.
July 31st, 2010 at 7:48 am
The issue seems to be what your correct filing status should be. If the IRS is correct that HOH is incorrect you may want to be concerned about all the other years you filed incorrectly. The question concerning H&R is whether they did their required due diligence concerning your filing status. Did they ask the right question to determine what the correct filing status may have been or did they simply take the filing status previously used and apply it. Since 2005 there has been very specific conditions that must be present for one to claim HOH. The IRS has required increasing degrees of proof concerning those conditions.
July 31st, 2010 at 8:02 am
Sad to say but that is what happens when you go to places that a not well qualified. Go to a real tax preparer in the future. Sorry for your loss.
July 31st, 2010 at 8:46 am
There is no electronic link that you can use to file a complaint. You can call your district office and get the corporate headquarters, or look up the corporate headquarters in Kansas City.
In addition to the points made in the other answers, in 2008 the IRS imposed additional due diligence requirements for the head of household filing status. There surely were people who expected HoH but were denied that status based on the increased due diligence.
You appear to have presented documentation to the IRS and were still denied the HoH filing status. If that is the case you have no recovery from your tax preparer.
July 31st, 2010 at 9:07 am
How is it the fault of H R Block? Tax preparer file the taxes with the Information you provide them and use the filing status you request.
Next year when you have your taxes filed, ask questions, have the preparer explain the filing status to you, don’t sign a tax return until you fully understand the information on the return.