Block Advisors

I worked with Isabel De La Cruz, she went the extra mile and did a lot of work for me and sorting through the mess of receipts I brought in. I’m sure I wasn’t an easy customer as I am a small business owner and I brought in a half done spreadsheet of business records. She helped me sort through things and really spent a lot of time working with me to get an accurate return prepared and submitted. I had stalled for a while to get this done, so I was glad to have met Isabel and received her help.
If you need your taxes done, I would strongly suggest talking with Isabel about getting her help.

Melvyn cunliffe was our agent; she was terrific and very quick. Definitely we will request her for our future needs.
THANKS MEL

Terrible customer service. They will leave you waiting for an indefinitely long time after your appointment is supposed to start. I just don’t understand why someone would sit there and work on someone else’s (who is not present) return for 20 minutes while you are sitting there waiting. Highly unprofessional. Definitely recommend taking your business elsewhere.

This branch of H&R Block is super sketchy. Ultimately, I never had them do my taxes for the following reason: Just recently in March I saw their ad on TV for having your taxes done for the first time there for half of what you paid at a different vendor last year. I was willing to give them a try so I made my appointment online a week in advance and the only available appointment was for the last day of this promotion.
I went in with all of my tax documents for this year, plus all of my tax records and receipt for last years taxes. The gal started looking over my documents (only two W-2’s, one student loan interest doc and one sale of stock – very simple) and said this shouldn’t be a problem. She then asked if I was there for the half off promotion. I said maybe – I had a lot of tax documents last year so it was expensive last year ($ 290) and that I had very simple tax documents this year so H&R’s regular prices may be less expensive than the half off price from what I paid last year, but we could determine that at the end. She then asked for the receipt from last year and when she saw it, she quickly deduced that it would only be about $ 145 that she would make off of me, she told me that she did not have time to do my taxes that day. She said I could come back another time, but the promotion would be over so I would have to pay full price. I asked what she thought an estimate of costs might be based on the three tax documents I had for her and she said $ 300! yeah, I don’t think so. She then said if I come back later in the week she would talk to her manager and only have them charge me $ 300 since they couldn’t do my taxes on the last day of the promotion. I said no, you can charge me $ 145 which is half of what I paid last year and in accordance with your promotion or you can do my taxes now at our scheduled appointment. She said no, she had no time and to prove she had no time, she proceeded to show me her schedule on her calendar on her computer with her clients for the rest of the day (looked like two more clients and I was there at 11am). I told her I didn’t care to look at her confidential calendar and she could find someone else in the office to do my taxes. I then heard her go around to other tax preparers in the office (mind you, they just sit at cubes so you can hear everything) and she said «This customer is here for the promotion and I don’t have time to do her taxes, do you want to do them – she is asking for the half off promotion price and she only paid $ 290 last year so it would be half of that» Not surprisingly, ALL of the other preparers did not have time either.
When she returned to tell me this, I said I would be taking my business elsewhere. She said she sensed I was mad about something and I said, «Yes, I think your business practice is extremely unprofessional and that prior to knowing I was there for the promotion she was all set to do my taxes, but the minute I told her I was there for the promotion and she saw the receipt from my prior year, she suddenly did not have time to do them.» She countered with «well I showed you my calendar and actually, I had to ask you if you were here for the promotion, you didn’t volunteer that you were here for it.» I said «that shouldn’t matter, you either had time to do my taxes today or you didn’t regardless of whether I was taking advantage of the promotion or not. I feel that she realized that she wouldn’t make enough money off of me or meet a quota so she declined to help me» She then said «I don’t make a commission, I am a CPA just here doing taxes» I’m not quite sure what she meant by that, but I said «I didn’t say you were getting a commission, but you probably have goals or quotas to reach per day and this wouldn’t be too beneficial for you so you don’t want my business.» I then left.
Bottom line is that their promotions are a joke and if they don’t feel they can make an acceptable amount of money off of you with their overcharging, they will decline to do your taxes and not honor their promotions. If that’s how it’s going to be, they shouldn’t run any promotions because they clearly won’t honor them. I wasted my time that day and do not appreciate it. I would never go back to an H&R Block office again, let alone this one in San Carlos, and I would highly advise others against it as well.

DO NOT USE!
I had a bad experience last year with mistakes and unresponsiveness, but a friend assured me that that was just the SF office and that the people in Can Carlos are much better.
WRONG! Same crap. Got a letter and needed the help. Help that i had payed extra for. I simple question, send via email and a call. My tax person would not be back until November. Another guy said he would get right back to me and never did.
I have called and written but all i get is the receptionist saying they would call me back in an hour. They never do
Don’t waste your money

Horrible!!! Original tax reported was audited. Ammendment was still wrong. And they charge me for the ammendment. I would never recommend them.

First and foremost there was no disclaimer about how much the tax prep would cost.
Very disappointed in H&R Block. I had no problem telling them I’d never be back and would be filling my own taxes next year at the end of our appointment.
I have the worlds easiest taxes to file (2 W2’s and 1 Student Loan Doc). I came to H & R to see if they could get me more money then I was coming up with on Turbo Tax. 40 mins later and they charged me $ 140…for plugging in my name and SSN into a tax doc!!! I was completely sticker shocked. Their charge was literally ¹⁄₃ of my entire tax refund. Unbelievable.
Never again H&R Block.
Save yourself your hard earned money and go through Turbo Tax.

I am a hardworking father and husband. I usually do my taxes myself with Turbo Tax software.
While pondering this year before the tax day if I need to have some expert to double check my filling documents since I owe IRS some money, I heard the radio ad for the «free» second look service from H&R Block.
As instructed I called the H&R Block office in San Mateo on 41^st Ave. and a person named Joan answered the phone with the appointment set up. I have clearly stated that this is for the free examination of my 2012 tax return yet to be filed. She understood my situation and asked me to bring a copy of 2011 tax return to compare.
I took the time from my work and drove to their office on time. I sat in the waiting chair for more than 20 minutes before the «specialist» named Gary Auerbuch had the first glance at me. This arrogant employee then told me he had no time for free consultation. The manager of this office then told me if I would file my tax return through H&R Block they could take a look at my paper work. For a strange reason, Gary Auerbuch argued with his boss in front of me and insisted there was no point for him to look at my tax return. I have to walk away from this office since this «specialist» working at H&R Block was so unprofessional that I doubt I could trust him on my tax return examination.
I wish my experience will be certain of usefulness for customers for their future choice. I strongly sensed that H&R Block was playing bait and switch to lure its cash cows before the tax season.

Pretty good service and they saved me 1500 $ on my tax return! Glad I decided to have them file for me this year!

Admittedly I don’t have a complex return, but I do itemize and I have a few quirks to deal with. Regina Johnson is a pro. Very courteous, knowledgeable, and fast. I’m going back again this year.

Review for company online… but san carlos location is what came up on search. Maybe they can get website fixed? I would give them 4.5−5 stars, but wanting to file one complaint about their website and one comment about support.
Their website home page says (on «File Online Now» tab) that you Get one ask-​a-​tax advisor session free with «all online products.» However, if you look more closely, at the programs on «Compare All» page, the basic and deluxe do not include a session (only premium has one session and best of both has unlimited). Looks like home page is FALSE ADVERTISING to me. They should fix this because it is confusing, and apparently incorrect.
My other comment… it would be nice if their support personnel (phone support) and in-​office staff knew more about Online file-​from-​home process. My experience they don’t and really can’t speak to what you might encounter in online process.
I tried calling their support, and the person to whom I spoke seemed to have no idea what I was talking about. I told him I was doing online Deluxe, and it prompted me to upgrade for advice on investment and mortgage. I have since found out, the upgrade really only gives me the session mentioned above. Nothing further for mortgage or investment (only more for rental/​self-​employment). This prompt on deluxe wizard also seems misleading. It is really only giving you a session, which home page said I was already entitled to. Confusing.
Aside from this, I’d give them 5 stars. My experience over last two years with them has actually been quite good. Last year did online with Best of Both. Did most online then met with person in-​office that was cooperative. Their online wizard is pretty easy-​to-​use and helpful. Their rates are actually better than turbo tax. Last year did Turbo Tax and HR block to compare returns and they actually came out about even (think hr block might have been a couple dollars better, but I might have missed something when filling out TT). Pretty positive all around except they should fix thing on home page that says all online products come with ask-​a-​tax advisor session!
If their website had means for submitting feedback on it, i would do it there, but it didn’t so i turned to Unilocal.That should also be added to their website.

I’ve been going for Evana Lee at H&R Block in Belmont since 2009.
When I first visited the office to gather some info, a reception desk lady told me that «Evana is good», so I just took her word for it. Oh boy, Evana is very efficient, knowledgeable, and cares to find every possible way to benefit you.
I knew my 2010 tax return was going to be quite complicated, but she did it like a breeze — With her right hand, she commands the computer key board, and with her left hand, she plows through my papers, and she asks questions all at the same time. At the end of the session, she explained to me very clearly and thoroughly. It’s very easy to follow her explanation as the information is organized (ok, I should give a credit to H&R Block because the company’s systems/​tools allow her to generate comprehensive report)
Before I discover her, I used to use a personal tax guy for 4 years, which was extremely painful every year.
I just love the fact that she makes my life really easy. I’m no longer depressed when tax season approaches.

We’ve been using Block at this location for about four years. Our return is elaborate, and not everybody can do it. They have a couple ladies who are very competent. They can do everything for a personal return, or even a one-​man business. I think they draw the line at corporations though.
Block charges by the form, so it’s getting pretty expensive because we depreciate a lot of things. One form per item…

Horrible Horrible Horrible. I went to H and R block to do a 1040 form for me. I filled my return by myself. The lady I went to seemed like she knew what she was doing but boy was I wrong. They charged me 266.00 and I mailed my forms to the IRS. About 3 months passed and I get a letter from the IRS stating that instead of me getting an almost 6000 refund that HR block said I would get that I owe over 4000 in taxes. I am in shock how these people are still in business. I returned to HR block with my paperwork from the IRS and they apoliged and stated they will fix for free well I sure hope so and that the peace of mind is only covered with them fillling an orignal return not on any other document they prepare. Well its been over a week now and they are still «fixing» my paperwork I have called 3x and got no response. If you want your taxes done right and not have to pay interest and penaltiys to the IRS i suggest you not going here.

Today, I made an appointment with one of the accountants for the «2^nd look» tax review. The appointment was made online. At first, the lady was very nice to me and once she noticed that I was there for a $ 29 2^nd look tax review. Her face turned so quickly from nice to rude and felt very annoyed. She basically refused to do it. I noticed that and left.
Considering I felt I was not being treated right, I went back wanting to talk to the manager about this as I did not know that they’re expecting customers who pays more to do tax with them. The lady then turned her face again and said she would do it manually (very briefly) with me. She did turn into nice face and didn’t charge me anything.
My first experience with HR block was very bad. If they are only expecting customers who would pay more, they should not even have the ad campaign about $ 29 2^nd look service. It’s a complete waste of time.
I was so disappointed. Maybe others have better luck than me…

The women here are VERY rude and incompetant. I used an Accountant at a different H&R Block and he was nice, but now I’m going to switch. When your Accountants is no longer on duty H&R Block pushes you off to a different office where the admins or whatever the hell they are act like you are burdening them with your questions. Do not go through these people if you care about customer service.

Memorable Rating: 5 out of 5 (whoever forgets about «donating» to Uncle Sam)
I used to use a personal tax guy… somehow he disappeared off the face of the earth…
so I went with the norm and went to the Block… everyone else seems to go here… they have enough locations…
finding one of these locations … is like finding a B of A…
So my experience was good… I had all my questions answered… and I felt like everything was explained…
Svetlana was very nice and has always been there at her desk to answer any of my follow up questions!!! Thanks
enough said…