H&R Block Builds on Successful Employer Solutions Program
AOL Time Warner, Sprint, Countrywide Home Loans and Other Major Companies
Offer Block's Specially Priced Tax Services to Their Employees
KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tax services leader H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) today announced that 27 leading companies are participating this tax season in its rapidly growing Employer Solutions program. Now in its second year, Employer Solutions will reach more than 1.6 million employees with specially priced tax services and products. Participating employers provide a valuable benefit to employees to assist with the annual task of preparing and filing tax returns, or seeking professional tax advice, while their employees save money, with added peace of mind.
Participating employers receive more than routine discounts. Employers are provided a private online tax center for the exclusive use of their employees. At the tax center, employees can arrange for special pricing at one of H&R Block's offices, or prepare and file their own returns online or with H&R Block's award-winning TaxCut(R) software. Employees also have access to tax information and planning tools.
"As the cost of benefits skyrockets for both companies and their employees, we have found that the Employer Solutions program provides a great addition to the benefits mix at little expense to employers," says David Byers, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for H&R Block. "Managers and employees value a convenient tax service benefit, and we look forward to adding more companies to the program."
"The H&R Block program has been a distinctive enhancement to our benefits package for our employees at AOL Time Warner," says Mark Stavish, executive vice president of Human Resources, America Online, Inc. "By taking advantage of H&R Block's services, our employees can receive quality tax preparation to help them through any questions they may have during tax season."
Companies participating in H&R Block Employer Solutions include AOL Time Warner, Countrywide Home Loans, Federated Department Stores, Hallmark Cards, Hewlett Packard, Household, Interpublic Group, K-Mart, Mellon Financial Corporation, Moore, Pitney Bowes, RadioShack, Safeway, Sprint, the State of North Carolina, US Airways, Worldcom and the Association of Compaq Employees.
About H&R Block
H&R Block Inc. is a diversified company with subsidiaries providing a wide range of financial products and services. In 2001, H&R Block served 19.2 million taxpayers -- more than any tax or accounting firm -- through its more than 10,400 offices located in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. H&R Block served another 2.3 million tax clients through its award-winning TaxCut(R) software program and through its online tax preparation services. Investment services and securities products are offered through H&R Block Financial Advisors Inc., member NYSE, SIPC. H&R Block Inc. is not a registered broker-dealer. H&R Block Mortgage Corporation and Option One Mortgage Corporation offer a wide range of home mortgage products. RSM McGladrey Inc. is a national accounting, tax and consulting firm with more than 100 offices nationwide, as well as an affiliation with 550 offices in 75 countries as the U.S. member of RSM International. Quarterly results and other information are available on the company's Web site at www.hrblock.com .
SOURCE H&R Block Inc.
CONTACT: Janine Smiley of H&R Block, +1-816-932-4871, jsmiley@hrblock.com /