H&R Block Joins Major Banks to Accelerate Refund Lending Reform
Leading refund lending banks will work with tax preparation
company to
offer new, lower-priced products
For Immediate Release (August 21, 2007)
LAS VEGAS – H&R Block today announced
it has joined with leading refund
lenders to dramatically lower the cost of refund anticipation
loans (RALs) nationwide
to 36 percent APR both through H&R Block offices
and other professional tax
preparers.
Last year, H&R Block introduced the industry's
first 36 percent APR RAL
disbursed through H&R Block Bank's Emerald
Prepaid MasterCard™. This year, at its
12,800 offices, H&R Block will broaden access
to that type of RAL, making a 36
percent APR RAL available to all clients.
In addition, H&R Block will introduce access
to low-cost RALs through
independent tax preparers who use TaxWorks and 1040Works
software from RedGear
Technologies, a recent H&R Block acquisition.
These loans will feature a 36 percent
APR, available through this channel. H&R Block
is working with leading refund
lending banks as providers of the products.
“Over the past several years we've taken
important steps to drive change in
refund lending by lowering fees and improving and simplifying
consumer
information,” said Mark Ernst, chairman and CEO
of H&R Block. “We believe further
reform is necessary to ensure that consumers have more
choices to get a loan when
they need it and at more affordable prices.
“These steps demonstrate the commitment industry
leaders have to responsible
lending and promoting responsible practices within
the industry,” Ernst added.
“That's what the true professionals in
our business want.”
This approach to refund lending is designed to pass
economic benefits directly
to consumers, improve disclosures and provide even
greater transparency for refund
lending products. The new RAL pricing can save millions
of Americans money by
reducing RAL fees and eliminating electronic filing
fees at independent tax firms.
The new RAL pricing means clients of independent tax
preparers will pay $60
for a refund anticipation loan that last year cost
$127 (based on costs for an average
refund loan of $2,700 through professional tax preparation
software).
The loan products made available to professional tax
preparers through
TaxWorks and 1040Works will be branded ANEW™.
The ANEW product line will be
offered to professional tax preparers who support the
pricing and disclosure
standards.
“Millions of Americans use professional tax preparers
every year,” Ernst said.
“By joining with leading refund lending banks,
we can make this product available to
any preparer who supports the disclosure requirements
and pricing that will deliver
savings and transparency to their clients.”
H&R Block's recent purchase of TaxWorks
has enabled Block to provide
software solutions that include refund lending to the
commercial tax preparation
market for the first time. Block also recently acquired
ExpressTax, a 300-location tax
preparation franchise business. TaxWorks and ANEW products
will be available to all
new Express Tax franchisees in the 2008 tax filing
season.
For more information about the ANEW product line, please
visit
www.theanewcard.com. For more information about the
tax preparation software
used to offer ANEW products, visit www.taxworks.com
and www.1040works.com.
About H&R Block
H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is a leading provider
of tax, accounting, and related financial products
and
services. H&R Block is the world's largest
tax services provider, having prepared more than
400 million
tax returns since 1955. The company and its subsidiaries
reported revenues of $4.0 billion and net income
from continuing operations of $374.3 million in fiscal
year 2007. The company has continuing operations
in three principal business segments: Tax Services
(income tax return preparation and related services
and
products via in-office, online and software solutions);
Business Services (accounting, tax and business
consulting services primarily for midsized companies);
and Consumer Financial Services (tax-related
banking services along with brokerage services, investment
planning and related financial advice).
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., H&R Block
markets its continuing services and products under
two
leading brands – H&R Block and RSM McGladrey.
For more information visit our Online Press Center
at
www.hrblock.com.
Forward Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are any statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations of the company and there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made, the company's actual results could differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties relate to, among other things,