…mandatory field on tax form left blank
Marketwatch.com — H&R Block, the nation’s largest tax preparer, confirmed that its software failed to fill out a mandatory field on Form 8863, which is used to claim educational credits. The IRS would not say what percentage of the roughly 600,000 faulty returns came from H&R Block (US: HRB), but the company received thousands of complaints on its Facebook page and on Twitter.
Tax Filing Errors: What You Need to Know
I’d be really frustrated if this happened to me. My wife and I have been using TurboTax for over five years to prepare and file our taxes. It has always been smooth and simple.
Before that, I used H&R Block, but I remember their expensive “instant refund” loans. I thought those high-interest refund loans were gone — but they’re still around. Today, they’re called RALs or RACs (Refund Anticipation Loans/Checks).
What Are Refund Anticipation Loans?
A Refund Anticipation Loan is a short-term loan taken against your expected tax refund. These loans often come with very high interest rates, sometimes reaching loan-shark levels. Even the “good” ones can have an APR of 40%. In addition, the tax prep fee is deducted from your refund.
The good news is that RALs might soon disappear. Federal regulators are pressuring lenders, and the IRS is making refunds faster and easier to get — without extra fees.
Why H&R Block Customers Are Frustrated
The main issue is cost and accuracy. Many people pay $150 or more for 30–40 minutes with an H&R Block “tax consultant.” If you’re paying that much for professional help, you expect a flawless tax return.
However, this year, H&R Block made a big mistake. They failed to update their software to match the new IRS rules for Form 8863, which handles student tax credits.
In previous years, you could leave some fields blank for “no” answers. But now, you must type “N” instead. H&R Block submitted thousands of returns before learning this change, causing delays of 21 days or more for many taxpayers.
A Common-Sense Lesson
When filling out any government form, never leave blanks.
If something doesn’t apply, write “N/A” or “No.”
It’s basic logic — something a trained tax professional should already know. Mistakes like these affect thousands of people waiting for refunds.
TurboTax Isn’t Perfect Either
Even TurboTax had issues. The Minnesota Department of Revenue recently warned against using it because 10,000 returns had errors. They even paused processing until the company fixed the problem.
Luckily, I don’t live in Minnesota. And honestly, I wouldn’t be too angry because I know TurboTax is self-service software — I’m the one responsible for my return. It’s very different from paying a professional.
How to File Taxes the Right Way
If you want to ensure your taxes are filed correctly, hire a certified accountant or bookkeeper. They know the latest rules and can prevent costly mistakes.
In the end, remember this golden rule:
👉 You often get what you pay for.
