H&R Block, Liberty Tax Service, etc

[Angio333]

Has anyone took the training and worked as seasonal help for the tax prep services like H&R Block, Liberty Tax Service, and Jackson-Hewitt?

If so, I have three quick questions:

1) How was the training?

2) How many hours were you required to do per week?

3) What was the pay like?

4) Would it be a good resume builder?

Note: I am a full time medic, but I am working on a degree in accounting for a possible career change. I have no real business experience.

Thanks in advance.

[creditcardfree]

Interesting question. I'm curious, too.

[SnoopyCool]

I just started training with H&R Block last week, so I can answer some of these questions.

1) How was the training? So far, so good. Easy, open classroom discussion.

2) How many hours were you required to do per week?

6 hours per week, 2 nights a week for 12 weeks. As far as working for them, they request 15 hours from those who already work full-time somewhere else, 24 for those that do not (does not mean you have to work it, they just want you to be open to doing that)

3) What was the pay like? No Idea

4) Would it be a good resume builder? I don't know.

[wnlbutterfly]

I currently work for H&R Block. I have taken both Block and Jackson-Hewitt classes. Block has excellent classes (of course it depends on the teacher) and the class I took with JH was great also, but the work experience I had at JH was awful. HONEST...they had people doing taxes that had not completed the program. I saw it first hand. Now that might not be the case everywhere, but it left a very bad impression around here.

About the pay, it really depends on the area. Some offices are franchise, some (many) are cooperate owned. The franchise offices can set whatever pay they chose, the one I am with does a flat hourly rate (several $$ above minimum pay) and at the end of the year she gives us a bonus.

Many offices will do commission. This gets tricky. You work for minimum wage by the hour. But then you get a % of the fees of the returns that you do (minus the hrly wages you already were paid for). I don't like that concept because then some tax pros start picking and choosing the clients they want to do, our focus should be on helping all clients. You also have some tax pros that will only work the busy time, this makes that last bonus check look bigger but you need coverage all the time.

Here if you take the Block class you pay a fee for the books, but if you work for her the tax season she gives back that fee. Some of the others might be offering free classes, just have to check.

IRS has been discussing doing some kind of licensing for tax preparers and rumor has it they will use the Block format (testing and such). But who knows if that ever will get enacted. I personally would like to see that, I believe when a client walks into an office they assume that person behind the desk knows more than they do about taxes, and the law doesn't require that, ANYONE can set up a tax prep office.

The hours should be pretty flexible and it does provide a nice extra income (if you have a good boss or manager), and I do think it would look good on a resume for accounting. There are a lot of accountants that do taxes.

I wish we could find more tax preparers at our office, we are in desperate need!

[Taxplanr]

You ought to be able to take classes for free through one of those companies and you may be able to take them online from home if you do not require instruction. It will help build your resume but you will not make much money.

[wnlbutterfly]

If you want to work for them though you have to take a test and pass it, at least for Block. Block does have some online classes but I don't know if they have the basic class online, they are additional classes.

If you want to work at an office, I would call around to the different ones and ask about their classes, ask about their hiring, and the way they pay. They will all be different. When I took the JH I paid $200 for the class, that was back in 1996.

[devid fox]

If you want to work for them though you have to take a test and pass it, at least for Block. Block does have some online classes but I don't know if they have the basic class online, they are additional classes.

If you want to work at an office, I would call around to the different ones and ask about their classes, ask about their hiring, and the way they pay. They will all be different. When I took the JH I paid $200 for the class, that was back in 1996.

Do you refer any online institution for doing such course? I am interested about it. If it is possible to raise my knowledge sitting before my computer I really want to do that.

[arthurb999]

The pay is crap at first from what i hear... but gets better the longer you work there..

[huntfishandtruck]

I worked at H&R Block while getting at accounting degree. I thought the class they offered was better than the tax class I took at the university. The hours weren't too bad working, they varied alot during the season, and during slow times I was able to study while at work. Both years I worked there I made $14 a hour after my bonus/commission, which is paid at the end of the season. Get to know the district manager, and it will pay off. I did and was able to get a part time position at the year round office as well as be able to teach a class.

As for helping you in the accounting field I strongly recommend this. The CPA firm I work at now hired me b/c I was the only applicant with tax experience. At career fairs I have had employers say they weren't interested in giving me an internship until they got to Block on my resume, then they were happy to meet with me again. Working at Block made finding a job MUCH easier.

[creditcardfree]

I worked at H&R Block while getting at accounting degree. I thought the class they offered was better than the tax class I took at the university. The hours weren't too bad working, they varied alot during the season, and during slow times I was able to study while at work. Both years I worked there I made $14 a hour after my bonus/commission, which is paid at the end of the season. Get to know the district manager, and it will pay off. I did and was able to get a part time position at the year round office as well as be able to teach a class.

As for helping you in the accounting field I strongly recommend this. The CPA firm I work at now hired me b/c I was the only applicant with tax experience. At career fairs I have had employers say they weren't interested in giving me an internship until they got to Block on my resume, then they were happy to meet with me again. Working at Block made finding a job MUCH easier.

Thanks for your input. Great information!