H&R Block Canada - recommendations for taxes?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 02-14-2012, 12:10 PM

This year, we've decided to bite the bullet and get our taxes done at H&R Block here in Canada.

Has anyone Canadian used their service and has an opinion of it?

The main reasons are as follows:

We don't want to be reassessed again and end up owing when somehow, someone miscalculated somewheres.

We bought a house and we're not sure how to fill out the moving expenses form, considering it was just a move from one suburb to another city (this was us moving from staying with the inlaws to buying our house two weeks into the new year).

We also had medical expenses from last year and some other items that I'd really like to include, but just do not have the patience for.

We tried Quicktax two years before last year and ended up owing somehow after the reassessment. We used an accountant last year and still ended up owing (somehow).

I do not want to get burned by Canada Revenue yet again.

**Libby** · 02-14-2012, 01:35 PM

I think, with all the special scenario's you guys have to account for - using H&R is a great idea. I've used them in the past and never had any issues, was able to make extra claims b/c of medications and being unemployed etc. And if the accountant goes MIA the company will still cover your butts for you.

Having said that, this year b/c I have stepped into dad's finances to help him manage...I think I will need to go to his accountant - which btw is way less then H&R. He's used this guy for years. Plus my scenario is very simple and straight forward.

**brennasmom** · 02-14-2012, 01:38 PM

We are using a CPA this year due to a complicated inheretance issue. I have never used H&R block but it sounds like a good option.

**djbout** · 02-14-2012, 04:41 PM

RUN RUN RUN from H&R Block as fast as you can....even though they "supposedly" have a guarantee about reassesments there are numerous bad reviews against them when the time comes for them to stand up and back there work. even though H&R files for you here in Canada you are ulitmately the one resoponsible for them doing there job right which you will find out if you have any dealing with Revenue Canada. There are so many "frugal" tax software packages out there where you just input your information and then E-file, I would research these packages and see if any fit your needs.

**djbout** · 02-14-2012, 04:46 PM

Just wanted to add.....I do my own taxes every year on paper (old school, yes I know) LOL....I have needed to calculate medical expenses every year, it is a very simple formula.

Here is info on moving expenses, what criteria you need to meet before claiming tax credits

Line 219 - Moving expenses

**monkeywrangler71** · 02-14-2012, 05:48 PM

Did you already claim your moving expenses from Calgary to Edmonton? Wouldn't your move from the inlaws be part of that, not a separate move? It's allowed to stretch out over more than one year.

When you say you owed last year when using an accountant, do you mean that you were reassessed and the accountant had made a mistake? Or that when he added them up, you owed money?

**low-1** · 02-14-2012, 07:10 PM

We've had decent experiences with H&R. We have Northern allowance, northern trips, medical trips, etc to deal with, as well as apprenticeship and trade allowances, education credits, etc etc. I definitely could do it myself, but WAY less stressful to get someone else. The guy we had went to with H&R used to live in the North, so he knew the ins & outs. For the last few years we've gone with a local guy who's good with numbers and knows about our specific deductions.

I have nothing against them.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 02-14-2012, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Did you already claim your moving expenses from Calgary to Edmonton? Wouldn't your move from the inlaws be part of that, not a separate move? It's allowed to stretch out over more than one year.

When you say you owed last year when using an accountant, do you mean that you were reassessed and the accountant had made a mistake? Or that when he added them up, you owed money?

We did, but it didn't include the purchase of the new residence. We moved to my inlaws on December 18th and sold the house in Calgary on December 21st, but didn't purchase a new home in Edmonton until January 14th.

We cannot deduct the cost of the storage or moving of our items because it was paid for by DH's company.

We didn't owe last year, but DH received a letter from Canada Revenue about moving expenses and that's when we had the accountant come in and check that part out. That, then, led us to owing because of a few things that DH couldn't really claim (but we somehow got screwed over anyways). So when he redid the taxes, we ended up owing something like $390.

**Libby** · 02-14-2012, 09:23 PM

If its moving expenses related, can you get any back up documentation needed from DH's work? Would that help?

**monkeywrangler71** · 02-14-2012, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

We did, but it didn't include the purchase of the new residence. We moved to my inlaws on December 18th and sold the house in Calgary on December 21st, but didn't purchase a new home in Edmonton until January 14th.

We cannot deduct the cost of the storage or moving of our items because it was paid for by DH's company.

We didn't owe last year, but DH received a letter from Canada Revenue about moving expenses and that's when we had the accountant come in and check that part out. That, then, led us to owing because of a few things that DH couldn't really claim (but we somehow got screwed over anyways). So when he redid the taxes, we ended up owing something like $390.

You will always, always, get a reassessment when you claim moving expenses. It's just one of the red flags that they always take a closer look at. But I don't understand why you wouldn't go back to the accountant, it sounds like all he did was fix the errors, not make them.

Typically an accountant will be more knowledgeable, and charge less, than H&R Block.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 02-20-2012, 11:03 AM

Well he did and he didn't. But that's neither here nor there anymore.

We decided to go to H&R Block this week when DH has his vacation. The accountant charged us $50 and H&R Block does it for only $10 more.

I would really, really like to prevent having to re-pay $900 between DH and I this year. That's why we're going to H&R Block because I don't really want to have to deal with something the second time if it can be helped the first time.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 02-28-2012, 10:53 AM

Ok, so here is our experience with H&R Block Canada:

We went on a Friday before we went to Ikea and took everything with us. The woman who did the return told us to come back the next day and sign the papers to have it filed. She asked us if we wanted to do CashBack (and at that time, we did)...

so we didn't get in Saturday because we were snowed in. We decided to go Sunday.

We went in Sunday and the woman who was there Friday was not there on Sunday. So, we went through and signed papers with someone who did work there and walked out, assuming DH would be picking up his cheque on Monday after work.

Monday comes around and he goes to pick up the cheque. The woman who was there Friday was there yesterday and spent another hour with DH getting everything fixed (because apparently something went wrong on Sunday). In the end, they wanted to charge us $104 for both returns to be prepared (and I don't see how still, considering I didn't have any income and DH claimed me as a dependent) AND they wanted to charge us 10% of our refund for CashBack. Yeah, DH said no thanks to that one...

so he gets home last night and shows me the return.

It turns out that the dumb woman filed for the home buyers' credit, even though we told her it wasn't our first house. She gave us the credit anyways, which TOTALLY means we're getting reassessed this year AGAIN (which is what I wanted to avoid). *sigh*

In the end, it was honestly worse than last year and I doubt I'll ever be going there again. Ugh.

**Libby** · 02-28-2012, 01:22 PM

Wow...I'd be going back and asking for the manager to handle your case AND have them correct everything NOW even though its just been filed. Their mistake, they pay. When I used them, I use the same person and same person only no matter what. If that persons not there, I usually get the manger.

The cashback thing, I knew it was 10% cut to them and it comes on a debit card - no thanks...I can wait for the regular mail. (We don't count on tax refunds as part of the budget - its extra cash until it lands in my account to be used)

Sorry about your bad experience. I'd be writing a letter to head office to complain. They need to know that the one branch is hiring people that are NOT paying attention which in turn is earning them a bad rep.

**savvy_sniper** · 02-28-2012, 03:55 PM

When I have taxes done by ANY agency they have always gone over everything with me prior to submitting, explaining everything, and then I sign/pay. I do know there is a basic fee and then when you have additional items that cause additional forms to be used there is an additional fee for each form.

**TheKeswickBlogger** · 02-29-2012, 09:35 AM

MTTB - I have our taxes myself for the past three years using a free online program called StudioTax - it's CRA approved and allows for Netfiling or Telefiling (as long as you have your CRA code). Never had a problem or been re-assessed and as long as you have all your paperwork in order, it's quick, quick, quick to use! Just something to maybe file away for next year

Sorry about your experience with H&R