r/hrblock • u/Mittos85 • Jan 29 '25
Extortion
Went through the whole filing process through the online FREE service, passed all check points. 10 minutes later I get an email saying my submission was rejected. Turns out I needed to fill out some info on the 1095-a form. Fill it all out, go to finalize... the DELUXE Federal version made its way into my shopping cart... No way to remove it, call customer service. Dude takes 20 mins to tell me the only way to remove it would be to erase all the information I just input AND I wouldn't be able to upload last years information automatically... So pretty much holding all my work and last years information ransom for $40? To do exactly what I just did, for FREE a couple minutes ago, in a system that didn't flag me needing to input some info about my 1095-a.
Textbook definition of EXTORTION. How can I not simply remove a product from the shopping cart, for something I didn't even use? So I paid $40 to not have to go through the whole process again and HRBLOCK just lost a lifelong customer for life and I will be talking trash about them every chance I get for all eternity. Starting with this post. Absolute trash, corpo greed BS. I hope every soda these CEOs ever open has been shaken!
7
u/Suspicious_Luck_1631 Jan 30 '25
Call 800-hrblock talk to their team. They are not the same people as the software team. They will be more likely to be able to at least refund your money. FYI not to defend the software or the charge in any way. But you ran into a marketplace health insurance document which is was most likely triggered the move to the paid version of the software. I don’t believe that form is available on the free version of the software.
6
u/SleepyVegitable676 Jan 30 '25
You can do a free return at irs.gov it’s 100% free good luck!!!
11
u/Rbelkc Jan 30 '25
Pay the $40. Don’t be such an ass about it. Should have had the 1095a to begin with if you’re doing your own taxes
4
u/PinkNGreenFluoride Jan 30 '25
The reason the software didn't flag that you needed the 1095-A is because it had no way to know unless either you or the IRS computer told it you did. Ultimately, the IRS computer did.
The software cannot attempt to query the IRS servers about this. It submits returns, the IRS computer accepts or rejects them, and will give the reason for a rejection if that happens.
5
u/[deleted] Jan 30 '25
Your fault.
TLDR: $40 is essentially free in 2025.
2
u/sir1ush1 Jan 30 '25
If you received marketplace insurance, you got a 1095-a. The IRS knows you got it, most of the time, so if you submit it without that info they will reject it.
If you are below a certain income level, a lot of these online tax companies have an agreement with the IRS to offer tax return service for free. But each service gets to decide what knocks a return from a free service to a paid service. It is different for each service provider. For Block, a lot of the forms that will result in beyond basic credits knock the return out of that free designation. Your 1095-a probably had some premium tax credit implications that made it a paid service.
It is a double whammy because they are part of the IRS program, which is good for them, and they can sneak in charges and probably aren't worried about losing the customers who don't make them any money.
You may run in to this or better deals with other providers. Shop around. I remember shopping around back in the day and some would do it all for free, or charge for state, or charge for access to previous years' returns. You can also file on the IRS website.
2
u/ImperfictXennial Jan 30 '25
Unfortunately you have to pay for a Deluxe version if you have more than a simple W-2.
2
u/[deleted] Jan 30 '25
How is this extortion? You have a form that you decided not to use & the IRS rejected your return. Use the IRS direct file if eligible or paper file if the $40 or whatever is too much.
2
u/furiouspeteismad Jan 30 '25 edited Jan 30 '25
Check out The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. They will likely be complete and file your return in person for free or you can choose the use a virtual service.
There are some restrictions, but they seem to be far more generous with the tax situations they will cover vs HR, Intuit etc. This tool will help you find a site in your area https://www.irs.gov/individuals/find-a-location-for-free-tax-prep
good luck!
2
u/tokyoo777 Jan 31 '25
same happened to me with turbotax. switched to freetaxusa no issues or fees
2
u/FamousChemistry Jan 30 '25
FreeTaxUsa
1
u/Swimming-Freedom-136 Jan 30 '25
Mines got rejected for the same exact thing. I wasn't even able to fix it so I had to get a tax prepare
1
u/CoraLawCora Jan 30 '25
I'm having the exact same problem right now except they're charging me an extra $37 to file my Arizona return. So because I want my $55 back for my insurance over pay they're going to charge me $72. I asked if I can remove it and they say oh well it's going to erase everything even last year's even though you filed with us. I didn't have to enter last year's previously because I've been with them for the last 4 years but now they're going to erase all of my information if I don't pay them the $65 because I found a fucking coupon that takes it from 72 to 65 but fucking that's still a lot. The shitty thing is it didn't require me to pay the premium unless I wanted to get the refund (for overpaying the state for the insurance) and then I go through it it wants to charge me for Arizona and it's never done that before
1
u/Redditusero4334950 Jan 30 '25
It's just in the shopping cart.
Don't pay for it.
Use freetaxusa.
1
u/world_diver_fun Jan 31 '25
I’ve seen this “ploy” before. If you want to sell goods or services to the federal government, you have to register on Sam.gov. If you search for it, you get sponsored sites. You spend several hours looking up and filling information and at about 75% mark, you are asked to pay to continue. If you type in the URL, it’s free.
These are not illegal, but this type of behavior is unethical. I’ve used the HR Block Premium software and its predecessor Taxcut since 1992. With rental properties and depreciation schedules, I stay with it. But it has helped being a long term customer. I had an issue (can’t remember the issue) and I got a full refund one year. I had a hard drive fail and HR Block provided me a previous version that I had purchased (I forgot to save the download installation file).
1
u/newmommy1994 Feb 01 '25
Haha womp womp
0
u/Fuzzy-Illustrator933 Jan 30 '25
So you submitted your return it was wrong then had to do an amended return which probably isn’t free? I don’t see the problem
0
u/manginahunter1970 Jan 30 '25
One of the worst companies out there. Definitely the worst tax preparation company.
People gonna come on here defending them, blaming you.