Internet's first get-out-of-debt community - 123,000 members

tcs · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:11 am Subject: Tax Refunds??

Tax Time - was wondering - since I'm so messed up on finances - I seen where H&R Block will do taxes with your last paystub and get a refund (loan) that day.
Also seen some other companies on line that say money deposited in about 24hrs. I think that was Tax Brain??
Any feedback will really help
Happy New Year

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:13 am Subject:

NOOO! RUN FAST...RUN AWAY...DO NOT FALL FOR THIS!!

This is a BAD idea...your W-2 may vary from what your last paystub states....and this "loan" from H&R Block amounts to nothing more than a glorified payday loan!

PLEASE do not take advantage of this offer. I fear you will regret it in the long run. NEVER allow anyone to do your taxes based on your last paystub!

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:16 am Subject:

There was a thread the other day about early tax refunds. If you can hold out a little longer, you'll get your whole refund, not have to pay fees for getting it early. Sue is right. It's nothing more than a glorified payday loan. It's really not worth it. Please think twice about it.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:17 am Subject:

Tommrow is 1/1/07, I think we can all wait 30 days to get our w-2's and then do the tazes. Any debt we have can wait another 30 days. Please evereyone do not fall for these so called quick refunds. DID you all know that on the IRS website E-File that you can file quickly and rapidly for free. The program woks like many of these money mgmt programs.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:21 am Subject:

Sorry for my panicky sounding response Embarassed

- I just don't want to see anyone fall into this trap. I know so many people that have been taken by H&R Block's "anticipated refund" scheme - they go in, file their taxes with H&R, get their RAL (refund anticipation loan), then find out that H&R screwed up their taxes, and they have to not only pay back the amount of their refund, but even more, because of the error made by the tax preparer.

tcs · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:34 am Subject: tax refund

Thanks - maybe I'll just borrow from a family member
until I can get taxes done on my own.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:42 am Subject:

tcs - that's a much better idea. Sorry if we jumped all over this topic, but we have all been through the payday loan circle (which is basically all this is), and we hate to see anyone else fall into it, if we can possibly prevent it.

SplendidGoddess · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:51 am Subject:

You can file your income tax free online electronically and have your money quicker (the soonest I had mine was a week) then going to a tax place AND you will save yourself a ton of money. Why pay someone else to do it and take all that hard earned money.

I file my taxes at taxactonline.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:13 pm Subject:

Tcs, this is a much better choice. And Splendid is right. They have free electronic filing, and it's pretty easy. You just answer the questions, and the amounts are figured out for you. I've used it the last two years and wouldn't do it any other way.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:18 pm Subject:

Suebee, it has been a loooong time ago when I filed an anticipated refund with H&R Block last year I was sent papers from a law firm where H&R Block had to settle a class action lawsuite for these refunds. My take was a whopping $13 and some change! Not much for being taken for hundreds of dollars. That was the one and only time I ever did that, I was going through my divorce and needed the money yesterday. Since I have been going through the irs.gov site and doing them myself for free through TaxAct.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:47 pm Subject:

Amazing how they get away with paying the clients back such small amounts when they lost so much more, isn't it.

I used a small-time tax preparer years ago, and they screwed up my taxes twice. The second time, I went back to them and pointed out the mistake. They insisted, over and over that they did the taxes by computer, and the computer didn't make mistakes. I reminded them of the old "GIGO" phrase - "Garbage In, Garbage Out", and that the computer was operated by a PERSON, who in this case, definitely made a mistake. She wasn't happy about it, but she gave me the money to cover the screw up.

I've done my own taxes, and those of family and friends, for over 8 years now. I started out using the standalone software on my computer, but now I use the website. Buying the software was pointless when I could only use it one year anyway, and then it was useless after that. I see they still sell it, but I really think it's silly to buy it when I just end up throwing it away.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:53 pm Subject:

H&R Block ripped me off of some big tax deductions which I had no clue about. Major one being my HOUSE! My property taxes, my student loan interest. Instead of the whopping $120 federal refund minus the outrageious fees, I should've gotten back well over $1,000. It was an expensive lesson learned and money lost. I tell people not to waste their time and money with these tax preparer franchises, they are such a rip off.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:57 pm Subject:

Oh Steelers, that stinks! I'm so glad you got away from that scenario.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:02 pm Subject:

I just go online and do it for free. It's pretty much the same software used by these franchises and they send you alerts before you can submit the return. These programs are great and they are free. They do charge to do your state's tax return, but I just go to my state's website where they will let the citizen file their state returns online for free and get your refund direct deposited within 5-10 days. Same deal as with federal returns online, the program computes the numbers for you, you just need to input them.

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:19 pm Subject:

Steelers, TaxAct is the one I use, too. I've used it for two years now and love it. It's very self explanatory.

*Name:
*Email:
*Phone:
*Zip:
Debt

	* denotes required field

Internet's first get-out-of-debt community - 123,000 members

Tax Refunds??

Members Area

Free Debt Counseling

Ask the community

Featured Discussions

Featured Articles

Question of the Month

Useful Links

Recent Forum Discussions

Recent Blog Post