hrblock.com's First Filer Program Allows Teen Taxpayers to File for Free via the Web; ``Dude -- Where's My Refund?'' Billions of Dollars in Tax Refunds Go Unclaimed

Feb 22, 2002
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb 22, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Average Refund for H&R Block clients 18 years old and Younger: $482

         IRS Estimates 1997 Unclaimed Refunds at $2.4 billion

	   Who: First-time tax filers 18 years of age and younger as of
         Jan. 1, 2002
	   What: H&R Block, the nation's leading electronic tax filer, offers
          free online stax preparation services for the federal tax
          returns of first-time filers 18 years old and younger as of
          Jan. 1, 2002. The First Filer program educates and informs
          teenagers about taxes.
	   Why: Billions of dollars go unclaimed by taxpayers eligible for
         refunds. The average refund for H&R Block clients under the
         age of 18 was $482 in 2000. The Internal Revenue Service
         estimated that $2.4 billion went unclaimed in 1997.
	   How: H&R Block's First Filer Program guides teenagers through a
         simple process that asks questions about their tax situation.
To qualify for the free federal tax preparation online using H&R Block's online tax program, users must be 18 or under as of January 1, 2002. Offer applies to self-prepared federal return only. Additional fees may apply for additional or supplemental products or services. State return preparation available in most states, for an additional fee. This offer is only valid online at hrblock.com and not available in any H&R Block office, and not valid for H&R Block's TaxCut Software products, H&R Block Professional Review, H&R Block's online tax plus product or H&R Block's online professional tax service. User must complete tax return and file by April 15, 2002. Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Void where prohibited by law. 

CONTACT:          H&R Block
                  Tom Linafelt, 816/932-8418
                  tlinafelt@hrblock.com
                  or
                  Boasberg\Wheeler Communications
                  David Gunasegarem, 816/960-3126
                  davidg@bwcom.com

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