Yup she did get ripped off. Ours were never that much but who knows what they will charge this year. Did they not tell her in advance what the charge would be?

That does seem like a lot. DH and I pay only $200-250 for our complicated joint return. That's NOT with a storefront manned by amateurs who have gotten a few quick weeks training on the forms, but with an actual CPA who has his masters in taxes.

It's obviously too late to do anything about her 2011 taxes, but perhaps you might suggest to her that in May, once the accountants have had a chance to relax and breathe, she visit a few, and inquire about their charges, AND solicit their advice about what she can do to legally limit her tax liability next year. Going to an actual accountant for advice, she should be able to save more than enough to pay his/her fee if she asks for and follows his advice. I know ours has saved us thousands of $$$ over the years.

We had H&R Block do our taxes once and they charged us a lot too. They charge extra for each paper piece... maybe she had a lot of little interest additions or something like that?

We go to Hewitt Jackson now and find their fees seem much more reasonable. Before we had a daughter in college, we were able to do our own taxes online for very little.. but with cashing in savings bonds for education it got pretty complicated. There are also some good coupons online for a discount when you do your taxes at HJ.

Perfect timing for this thread. Just talked to my DS today who does not make enough to live on, and H&R charged him $240 to do his taxes. My son said something about charging him $35 for each paper. Next year he will go to a local tax preparer, and maybe it will be the same, but it's always good to support small businesses in a community.

Yep H&R Block is a rip off IMO. DS was going to have his done there one year, because they said he'd get the biggest refund possible. Well excuse me, simple form, you are NOT going to get a better refund anywhere else. Going to pay more for that refund is all!

I usually do my own taxes so I avoid those fees. The only time I used an accountant, he made an error that I had to fix later. If you are trying to save money, use the software that is available at the IRS web site, or use one of the commercial software programs. They all walk you through it, and it will be either free or a lot cheaper than what she paid. Unless your gd's adjusted gross income is more than $57,000 a year, she's eligible to use this free option:

Here is a link that might be useful: IRS free file

A friend of our used to own an H & R Block franchise. He sold it. He says the company expects them to grow each year. And yes they do charge a bunch for each page. He now has an office in his home and charges less them half of what H & R Block does..

Her taxes are probably very simple and she could do them herself. I keep telling DS to do his own or send them to me and I will send them back done the next day.
H&R Block is really a rip off. I prefer TaxAct online.

I don't know why people go to that H&R Block ripoff, when they can use Turbo Tax Pro for less than $50.
Enter your own information on your computer, and with their extensive error checking and free electronic filing - you're home free.

My CPA used it, and when I retired, just did it myself.

our tax lady only charges $160 an hour...she's a former hrb, who got fed up at this craap....she's has masters, takes classes every year so we're not missing a thing...

Many tax programs are free for federal filing online - and they are pretty darned good. They usually do charge for a state income tax form, but my state doesn't have an income tax.

I've been using TurboTax for years, and have never had a problem. Their calculator doesn't make math mistakes, which I occasionally do.

I need more than the basic free on-line program, but the one I buy is still less than $50.

So, yes, your granddaughter was ripped off, in the sense that her taxes could have been prepared for possibly NO money.

The software programs all ask simple questions, and plug the numbers into the correct places. If this girl is in college, surely she is capable.

Did she happen to take that "loan"; they charge you a percentage of your refund and give it to you that day? Yes, they do charge for each form, does she get child support, etc.?? That is a lot of money; especially when it can be done so easily yourself!

I use HR Block on line and only paid $19.99..It would have been free but I was too lazy to reenter all of our information and with one click of a button they transferred it over from last years return. Well worth the $20..I also did my daughters and hers was free.

I do have friends that use HR Block and get charged out the ear, but they use the Christmas loan program so they have to give more to HR Block..

I used H&R Block online and only paid $29.95 for 2 states and federal.

I assume she does a simple return, no itemized deductions. Three hundred is way too much! By the way, she has three years to file an amended return, if another accountant can get her some money back (a refund).

She did not take out the loan and no she doesn't get child support. Just got duped.

We have a very complicated return and use turbo tax every year. Our return is probably 30 pages. Never had a problem.

WOW, our is that much but it's a very complicated return. If we didn't have all the self employment stuff and stock mess to deal with, we'd easily do our own for free! She needs to do her own taxes with a simple situation as her's is!

I do my own taxes on Turbo Tax and also have a very complicated return. I've never had a problem.

Wow -- that is outrageous!! Our Accountant
doesn't charge us that much -- and we deal with
several States forms.

Poor kid. I would think TurboTax would be ideal for her.

wow! we don't pay that much. with a cpa! DS's girlfriend spent $70 at hrblock. she has had 4 different employers and full time student,

I think that I'd be going to that H & R Beastly Block(head) office to do some major complaining - "300 BUCKS TO PREPARE A SIMPLE TAX RETURN?!?! UNCONSCIONABLE!!

Would they steal candy from a kid in a baby buggy? (Any answer but "Yes" ... is unacceptable)!

ole joyful

OMG, that's ridiculous! She should be throwing a fit. I used to go in to H & R Block and never paid that much (but that was about 5-6 years ago). Now I do Turbo Tax online...super easy, costed $29 I think, and it saves all your info from one year to the next. I spent less that 15 minutes doing my taxes.

$300 is out of control! Especially for simple taxes. I don't even understand how it could be that much!