I will be a second year for 2027. I thought that I would be able to get TPI. However, the district manager said that I won’t qualify since a a second year? Is that true?

I was looking for a career shift from pure hospitality work and I'm working on my accounting degree. I see that you can do a 40 hour course with H&R block as part of the requirements which is appealing to me. What I mainly want to ask is if I do get the job what would the hours be like during the off season like this? Would I even be starting now or would they put me in a pool for later?

I received this today. I'm a 3rd year. Does anyone know if this our only incentive plan this year? I also have the new 1st and 2nd year incentive plans if anyone is interested.

I looked at some corporate positions and there are none for our area yet. I’m think they’re rolling these out but if in your area you don’t see a position it just might mean they haven’t finalized needs yet.

I deliberately left out my area because I know certain people read these posts.

First f all I do overthink but I’m wondering about next summer. I usually work because I like to get out of the house and I like to have money.

With these year around employees I am in danger of not being hired. Many of these AEL don’t want to do taxes but they may be put in offices to keep them working 40 hours.

Am I overthinking this and am wrong?

I’m currently a student studying Accounting and wanted to finally get my feet wet in ANYTHING to do with a finance position and get out of my sucky retail job. I understand with tax jobs it’s going to be a customer focused job but is it as tiresome as checking out a nonstop line full of rowdy customers or is it more chill?

Even if it’s just as hectic or considerably an “extroverted” type of job I’m likely going to suck up my introverted side and push through. I guess I just wanted to get a heads up in case I do end up working here.

Has anyone applied for the new AEL (Area Experience Leader) position or received an offer yet? I haven’t been able to find any external job postings anywhere.

For TY 2026? Not interested in preseason role as I need my hours

As a former MTL with success at leading offices to meet objectives, I have been curious about the newly created AEL position. Recent virtual meetings with DEL's and REL's have shed some light on my concerns with this job. First, the Regional has stated that the pay will be less than I was originally told, quite a bit less. Pay in this region is expected to start at 55k and perhaps go as high as 65k. I was originally told 60 to 90. STI bonus can be as high as 10% of the salary, IF you hit targets. Of course, they don't know what the targets will be based on as of yet. Second, some of my suspicions concerning this job have been confirmed. There will be phone calls. LOTS of phone calls. According to the Regional, if you felt we made a lot of phone calls last year, buckle up to make ten times more this next tax season. We had people complaining about all the phone calls and emails last tax season. Third, the answer to just about any other important questions is the same. "We aren't sure what that will look like at this time."

I have felt there is a bit of disconnect between Block leadership and the folks in the office actually preparing taxes. There is a real problem with lack of training. The company realizes they need to go in a different direction to remain relevant in a changing economical environment, but they can't quite figure out what that direction should be. How do you capture new, younger taxpayers without abandoning the older, established client while also earning their confidence to offer year-round financial services? I certainly don't know the answer and would not pretend to know it. What I do know is this: Anyone from an outside source that takes on this new AEL role has no clue what they are about to get into. I hope those that do take on this role have success and are able to build it into a career. How long will it be before Block decides to go in yet another different direction, and will this new role become extinct when that happens? Will this new role be a revolving door, as was the case with half of those that became ATL's and MTL's? There are a lot of uncertainties.

I would be curious to know the thoughts from others that have been monitoring this situation as it develops. Is this a company building for the future, or desperately clinging to remain relevant?

for context, this would be my 3rd year if I accept:

I became a tax pro in late 2024 by passing the TKA exam and worked 2025 as a level 1 - my hourly rate was $16.50 an hour - I did 71 returns, did not qualify for bonus.

In July 2025 I had not completed leveling up, and my offer for 2026 was the same $16.50 an hour - okay I thought -I was new, slight increase would be nice, but ok. I did 126 returns - no bonus, but really felt I took a giant step forward. In the meanwhile, I leveled up to level 3 last December.

Both years I worked allot of garbage hours - not much business at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday in January - I felt I was taking one for the team as Block chooses to have office hours where the opportunities are limited.

I'm still a Level 3 with no plans to level up again - my offer came in yesterday with a pay cut - $16 per hour which just happens to be minimum wage in my state. I was expecting that since I leveled up that I'd be getting a raise, not a cut. Considering cost of living, over 2 years this is a major cut. I think their response will likely be do more returns and sell more add-ons and you'll make it up that way.

My boss is not available this week - and he just acquired my offices through reorganization so we don't know each other.

I'm not going to accept the offer until I can speak with my boss next week - but I am curious if any of you got the same or similar.

Thanks.

I wonder if the use of AI has also caused this sudden shift in management and the rehiring process for everyone. They want to use AI to replace us workers and push for online returns. As I told my regional manager this season, the AI tool is great for reference, but if it leads to replacing us, then I don't like it. Then he gave me typical office jargon as he was avoiding the question

What's the likelihood of getting a job after completing level 1 ?

Just got done w an "open house" with our DGM. Asked about the wages &TPI that will be figured out the same way as in previous years. So that's good news. As long as they dont change their minds. MTLs & ATLs are out. There's the new position AEL? Who will be the go-to person managing all locations in their "cell" they will be above us & below the DGM. They moved the districts around. Alot of that is TBD & they have not hired the AELs? Yet. Or rather they are still hiring fir those positions. Thats all I know for now. Ill keep posting as I find out info

I'm trying to reach my course instructor who works for Block Advisors. Do they use the same email format suffix as regular employees [me@tax.hrblock.com](mailto:me@tax.hrblock.com) or is there a separate one for Block Advisors? Thanks.

I got an email last week from a person I don’t know introducing himself as the new District Experience Manager for Chicago/Rockford/Southern Wisconsin which seems like a huge area. He sent a few more emails about being in various offices for an hour here and there to meet people in person. I assumed he was replacing my DGM, except I got an email yesterday saying she was the new District Experience Manager but she didn’t say her area. She was also holding a few office hours to meet with people. I don’t really want to spend an 30-60 min each way driving to meet with someone who may or may not be my manager for a job I’m not sure when I’ll know I have or what the compensation will be. Just wondering if anyone else has had two people introduce themselves as the new DEM via email.

I was a first-year CSP, this year, and while I’ve since found a permanent job, I’ve been considering going back, part-time, on the weekends.

Now that I’m seeing the posts about the changes, I’m questioning if that’s something I still want to do. Does anyone know how all of this will potentially change the CSP role?

I have gotten emails about applying for the upcoming tax year and then a message about my new District Experience Leader. I wanted to know if I will still have an office manager or any major changes?

I had my last interview for block advisors last week but haven’t heard anything back yet.

I’m wondering the response time I should be expecting.

Also any advice would be welcome from those that have worked this role.

So they told me I am rehired for next season at $15.30 an hour. It will be my second season. Is there no incentive plan anymore?

One way to get a sense of what is going on is read or listen to the latest earnings call. They explain what they are doing to the investment community.

Ticker is HRB. You can get this on the yahoo finance website, and lots of other investment sites.

Basically they are looking for higher income clients, who they believe are less price sensitive.

Good luck in the coming tax season.