[Sri]

Hi Friends,

I am planning to write REG by the end of this year. I just have a doubt. How is H&R block for a part time job? and is their tax course useful?

Thanks
Sri

[CPAwannab]

H&R Block sucks. You will not learn anything, except how to punch the numbers into their software. They don't know much about tax itself. I am fixing tax returns from H&R Block on a daily basis and some of the mistakes they make are just out of this world.

[Tncincy]

Bless your heart. H&R Block? to prepare for this exam? Well No. Just stick with your review materials. Don't even work for them they won't pay enough to give it a second thought. So get some real review materials and get to studying. Hope this helps 🙂

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Missy]

I've done both theirs and Jackson Hewitt and can tell you JH is more comprehensive. Neither is a great job but if you absolutely can't find anything else it's a step up from flipping burgers.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

If you don't have experience or another job, you can do H&R block for the experience to put on resume. It looks better than no relevant experience. I didn't take H&R or any other specific tax prep classes, but I would think they might not adequately cover all the topics (such as the business law side of REG) or covered too much in depth about one area (too much to remember and you might get confused). Maybe just stick to CPA prep for REG.

[Sri]

I am just looking for some experience to add to my profile. I have becker material and planning to do Ninja MCQs for REG.

Thank You. Your resonse was helpful.

[Sri]

Thank you

[Anonymous]

It seems that work experience has very little impact upon performance on the CPA exams. The most senior people at H&R Block probably couldn't pass REG unless they studied from a review course, I dare say. Unless they're already CPA's, and even then, they probably couldn't pass it again without some effort.

[Sri]

@ CPAwannab – I get your point. I just want to add some experience to my profile.
@tincincy – I am just looking for part time job. Just wanted to have an idea about their training course. I am preparing from Becker for my CPA exam. 🙂

[ellejay]

I took the H&R Block course for work. It was okay. This was before I finished college or took a taxation course. You will learn basic 1040 preparation, some schedule C. I took it in 2013, and a coworker just took it last year – they changed the course. It is not as comprehensive as it used to be, and the book is a lot thinner and not as nice of a resource as it used to be. I still have my H&R Block book from 2013 and I still use it on occasion when I need to refresh my memory on a basic tax rule.

As for working for H&R Block, they will pay you basically minimum wage. My boss who is a CPA now and owns her own firm started in H&R Block. She said it was okay as a starting point if you just want to get experience meeting with clients and preparing the most basic of returns.

If you aren't planning to go Big 4 or prestigious accounting firm I would say the experience would still stack up. I work for a small boutique tax firm and we would hire someone with H&R Block experience, and have used their tax course in the past to train people who don't have a degree to do basic data entry and return prep before review. I don't see much benefit for you on the CPA exam though. To be honest I'd use it as a last resort if you cannot find a position with a tax firm.

[Author]

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