Press Release Details

    KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2005--

    High-Profile Reviews Praise Tax Advice, Ease-of-Use and Instant
      Access to H&R Block's National Network of Tax Professionals

H&R Block's (NYSE: HRB) TaxCut(R) software this year has won #1 ratings in three important tax software reviews, including those from The New York Times, the Associated Press and Barron's.

TaxCut's ease-of-use and extra help for complicated tax issues are highlighted in all of the reviews. Among the raves:

    --  "TaxCut (is) the best choice for taxpayers who need the most
        help with complicated returns," said The New York Times
        reviewer Paul Lim in a February 13 special section on taxes.
        "I was particularly impressed with TaxCut."

    --  "H&R Block's TaxCut was our preferred tax-preparation program
        for its look and feel," said Barron's reviewer Theresa Carey,
        who also pointed out that, "TaxCut added additional guidance
        for preparing Schedule D this year as well."

    --  "Choosing between the two, I'd probably give up on ...
        TurboTax(a) ... for the extra functionality of TaxCut," said
        Associated Press reviewer Heidi Vogt. "TaxCut asked me more
        questions about possible work deductions, reminding me of a
        few I had missed and bumping up my refund."

TaxCut offers the speed and convenience of computer-based tax preparation, backed by 50 years of trusted H&R Block advice and free client support. From 1040 EZ to Schedule C, the TaxCut line guides clients through the tax preparation process and provides the tools and information necessary to get the best refund to which they're entitled.

TaxCut can dramatically cut tax preparation time to about two hours with its plainspoken, click-through interview that simplifies taxes while guiding do-it-yourself taxpayers to credits and deductions they might otherwise miss. A typical return prepared via pen and paper takes an average of 10 - 12 hours to complete.

"TaxCut is a great deal this year, thanks to its price, clear and intuitive design, voluminous guidance and attention to detail, and family of products and services," PC Magazine said while giving TaxCut four-and-a-half out of five stars in its review of tax software.

By enabling clients to e-file their returns and electronically deposit their refunds, TaxCut cuts the time it takes to get a refund by about half, from 5-8 weeks for returns mailed in to the IRS to just 2-3 weeks for e-filed returns. E-filing also provides more accurate returns -- those who e-file are 40 times less likely to receive an error notice from the Internal Revenue Service than those who file paper returns.

More information is available in H&R Block's Digital Tax Solutions press kit at www.hrblock.com/presscenter.

    (a) TurboTax is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc.

    About H&R Block

H&R Block, Inc. (www.hrblock.com) is a diversified company with subsidiaries that deliver tax services and financial advice, investment and mortgage services, and business accounting and consulting services. H&R Block empowers clients to make tax and financial decisions by providing a unique combination of tax services, financial information and advice, and related products and services. The company's mission is to help clients achieve their tax and financial objectives by serving as their tax and financial partner.

As the world's largest tax services company, in 2004 H&R Block served more than 21 million clients in the U.S. and 12 countries. H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc. offers investment services and securities products. With approximately 1,000 financial advisors serving clients at approximately 360 branch offices, H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc. is a member NYSE, SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor. H&R Block Inc. is not a registered broker-dealer and is not a registered investment advisor. H&R Block Mortgage Corporation offers a full range of retail mortgage services. Option One Mortgage Corporation provides mortgage services and offers wholesale mortgages through large financial institutions and a network of 24,000 independent mortgage brokers. RSM McGladrey Business Services Inc. and its subsidiaries serve mid-sized businesses and their owners with tax, accounting and business consulting services, as well as personal wealth management services.

    CONTACT: H&R Block
             Tom Linafelt, 816-932-8418
             tlinafelt@hrblock.com

    SOURCE: H&R Block