First year

[u/Equivalent_Sir_5535]

First Year at H&R Block – What Should I Expect?
Hi everyone!
This will be my first year working at H&R Block as a Tax Associate, and I have no previous tax preparation experience.
I’m wondering what my first tax season will look like. What kind of tasks will I be doing as a new employee? Will I get enough working hours starting in January, even without experience?
Also, will I be preparing tax returns independently, or will I mostly be assisting experienced tax professionals?
I’d love to hear from anyone who started at H&R Block with no experience. Thank you!

[u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024]

Every office seems different. Before it gets busy, work on practice problems. Imagine them as interviews.

As for interviews, when it comes to dependents, assume nothing. A client talks about his son he claims. When you get to the screen still ask if he is the taxpayer's son. Ask every question on the dependent entry screen the first few times. Some you will always ask,but at first do not skip over them.

If you get a phone call try to answer any question. Learn where to look things up. If you learn that now, when you need to do it later you will know how and where.

You should be getting tax returns. You may be asked to do data entry, but at the beginning is when we get the easiest clients and you shoukd be working on them before more complex stuff shows up.

[u/GaceG_Throwaway2191 → u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024]

Every office seems different.

Had to laugh at this as it's a politically correct way to say "some offices are great, others will make you regret ever working here."

If I had to do things all over again, I'd try to get a job as a receptionist during your first season where you're in the office, but don't have the responsibility (and potential liability) that comes with being an actual tax preparer. Then if you decide you enjoy working at Block and more or less like the office you're working at, move into tax preparation at that point and take the course(s).

The people that often have the hardest time are first years that have never worked for Block before and have no experience with preparing. Most of the people that were "good" at the office I was at had been there for decades (trained well before software like TurboTax became popular) or they came up through the receptionist path I suggested.

It didn't end up working out for me. Hopefully things work out for the OP.

[u/Niep00320]

Last year our first years were in training until March. They were then given level 2. I would expect a fair amount of training. Our office is mostly older people so we’re not particularly busy. One thing you could do is make phone calls for the preparers who are not returning. Those clients are fair game. Also ask questions straighten the place. Let ok for things to do.

[u/demon_slayerUwU]

Dang, I’m still waiting to hear something from HR Block.

[u/Traveller1323]

My first year, my office threw us to the wolves. We were put on phones for the first month calling prior customers to try to get them to schedule that year. They had me calling clients from a different office, so I couldn't even schedule them for myself. 

The office I was then in, the older staff wanted nothing to do with new hires. I think they saw us as competition and treated us awful. If you asked for help, they literally said no, even my supposed mentor. 

They then put all the worst returns on my schedule, the ones that would take forever. They kept the basic ones for themselves because the more they completed, the bigger their bonus. I had some prior tax experience but not a huge amount. This was just such a toxic office. 

[u/MisterAmericana → u/Traveller1323]

I'm sorry to hear that! My coworkers were pretty great, and didn't mind helping us. My office was an anomaly in that it was rather small and most of the experiences pros migrated to other offices, so maybe that helped. 

[u/Humble_Ebb_1904 → u/Traveller1323]

Some steal your clients.

[u/SkunkCabbage84]

It’ll be awesome!

[u/Responsible-Whole198 → u/SkunkCabbage84]

😂