H&R Block Sets New Standard With 100 Percent Free Federal E-File

Sep 23, 2008
All H&R Block Products and Services Will Include Federal E-File at No Additional Cost
KANSAS CITY, MO, Sep 23, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), the world's largest tax services provider, today announced that 100 percent of its products and services will now include federal e-file at no additional cost to the consumer.

H&R Block continues to be the industry leader and supporter of e-filing. Over 95 percent of H&R Block's more than 20 million U.S. tax clients have paid no e-filing fees at all. Dating back as far as 1986, H&R Block participated as a leading partner with the IRS in the first e-file pilot. We eliminated all e-filing fees in our more than 13,000 offices starting in tax season 2002, our online tax programs include free e-filing at every level of entry, and now all of our TaxCut desktop software will include free federal e-filing as well. Additionally, H&R Block eliminated all e-file fees in our TaxWorks professional tax preparation software for tax year 2007.

"This is a huge step forward for taxpayers no matter what H&R Block tax solution they choose," stated Russ Smyth, president and chief executive officer at H&R Block. "We are proud to continue leading the industry with our highly-trained tax professionals and our innovative products. With the inclusion of federal e-file at no additional cost in all of our products and services, we continue our strong heritage of guaranteeing our offerings and providing outstanding consumer value."

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the leading advocate in Congress for universal free e-filing, praised Block's initiative. "I am pleased to see that H&R Block is taking up the mantle of reform by banning all separate e-filing fees for all of their products, including tax software and in-store services. It is my hope that by next tax season all of the major tax software and tax preparation companies will follow suit and that e-filing will be free for all taxpayers, regardless of how they file their returns." The company thanked Senator Schumer for his leadership on this issue.

About H&R Block

H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world's preeminent tax services provider, having served more than 400 million clients since 1955 and generating annual revenues of $4.4 billion in fiscal year 2008. H&R Block provides income tax return preparation and related services and products via a nationwide network of approximately 13,000 company-owned and franchised offices and through TaxCut(R) online and software solutions. The company also provides business services through RSM McGladrey and certain consumer financial services. For more information visit our Online Press Center at www.hrblock.com.

For Further Information, Contact:
Denise Sposato
H&R Block
816.854.4547

SOURCE: H&R Block