With W-2s Delivered or on the Way, Filing Early Pays Off for Winning Taxpayers
KANSAS CITY, MO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/02/16 --
As H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), the world's largest consumer tax preparation company, is starting the third week of drawings for its 1,000 Win $1,000 Daily Sweepstakes, a critical juncture in Refund Season has been reached: W-2s have been received by or mailed to taxpayers.
"When it comes to your tax return, at this point, time is money," said Kathy Pickering, executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block. "By law, W-2s, which report income earned, must be postmarked by Feb. 1 this season. This means that in days, everyone should have this information in their hands."
The IRS says eligible taxpayers likely will be getting their refunds within 10 to 21 days after they file their returns. At H&R Block, sweepstakes winners could have an extra $1,000 within five days of filing their tax returns.
"With W-2s out, people shouldn't wait to file. The earlier they file the more chances they have to win $1,000 in our sweepstakes," said Kathy Collins, H&R Block's chief marketing officer. "Many sweepstakes winners are saying the extra grand in their hand has made all the difference for them. We know that the money has come at sad times, happy times and, very frequently, just in the nick of time for these lucky winners."
Hope springs eternal and it's where some winners live
The actual odds of winning a sweepstakes can be explained mathematically, but no matter the odds, some winners knew they would put the winnings to good use -- and quickly. Proving that timing is everything, winners shared their stories about what they would do with the extra $1,000 when they won:
- One winner's car was about to be auctioned off by a repair shop because he wasn't able to pay the repair costs and the daily storage fee. He said that with his winnings he would able to get his car out of the shop and wouldn't have to walk the 10-mile round trip from home to work any longer.
- One winner said she would be able to attend her sister's wedding across the country only because she won $1,000.
- Some winners have been faced with having to decide if they would pay their bills or their rent first, and winning meant they could pay their bills and rent on time.
- Multiple winners have had a baby on the same day they were notified they were sweepstakes winners. One couple brought their new baby in with them to claim their check and one woman responded to the notification email while she was in labor. That's a $1,000 child tax credit on top of the $1,000 prize.
For some winners, hoping was a matter of geography, as they live in these cities:
- Hope, Ark.
- Hope Mills, N.C.
- Hopewell Junction, N.Y.
- Hopewell, Va.
- New Hope, Ala.
H&R Block is giving away $1,000 to 1,000 winners for 32 days, for a total of $32 million. The first drawing for the sweepstakes was Jan. 16. Anyone who files their taxes in a participating H&R Block office by Feb. 15 can be automatically entered into the sweepstakes. This interactive map shows the states where the winners live.
For more information, including official rules and other ways to enter, taxpayers can visit www.hrblock.com/grand, watch this video or join the conversation on social media and share how they would use an extra $1,000. Just use the hashtag #MyGrandPlan.
Clients can set an appointment with a local H&R Block tax professional or find the nearest H&R Block office by visiting www.hrblock.com or calling 800-HRBLOCK.
About H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world's largest consumer tax services provider. More than 680 million tax returns have been prepared worldwide by and through H&R Block since 1955. In fiscal 2015, H&R Block had annual revenues of nearly $3.1 billion with 24.2 million tax returns prepared worldwide. Tax return preparation services are provided by professional tax preparers in approximately 12,000 company-owned and franchise retail tax offices worldwide, and through H&R Block tax software products. H&R Block also offers adjacent Tax Plus products and services. For more information, visit the H&R Block Newsroom at http://newsroom.hrblock.com/.
Abbreviated Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
For Official Rules and Alternate Method of Entry click here. Open to legal U.S. residents (50 states + DC & PR) age 18+. Entry Period: 1/4/16 - 2/15/16. One entry per taxpayer with paid federal tax return. Daily drawings 1/16/16 - 2/15/16 + final drawing on 2/19/16. 1,000 winners per drawing; 32,000 winners total. Total ARV: $32,000,000. Void where prohibited.
For Further Information
Gene King
816-854-4287
gene.king@hrblock.com
Source: H&R Block
