H&R Block

I’ll be going to this location next year during tax time. Angela Gottlieb is the one. She is very thorough and she takes her time with you. Definitely a recommend!

RECEPTIONIST IS UNPROFESSIONAL. They need a new receptionist at this location asap!
I visited this location last week, 4/​14, and while my taxes appear to have been done correctly, my experience arriving at the office was so unprofessional I about walked out several times. Here’s a recap of my experience.
— Walk in at 2:40pm, receptionist with her head down looking at something on her lap said a very forced/​unmotivated/​monotone ‘hi’, never looked at me one time.
— I walked up to the reception desk and told the receptionist I had a 3pm appointment. Then I proceeded to stand there about a minute of dead silence while she said absolutely nothing and never even acknowledged I was even there again. Confused, I just went over and sat down.
— Receptionist came over shortly with a folder and said «Here is some paperwork, have a seat». Keep in mind that I’m already seated.
— I arrived 20 minutes early, but my tax preparer ended up not being ready for me until 40 minutes after my actual appointment of 3pm. During this wait, the receptionist never spoke a word to me. No update on my tax person anything. Around 3:20 I asked her if there was any news and she said «He’s wrapping up».
— While I waited 8 other people walked in and were immediately helped. Two of those people I watched walk in and then saw them leave with their completed tax packets. Several of them said they were walk ins. Why was I not helped???
— When I inquired about coffee that these offices always have, she said a blunt «We’re out». Later I find out their «Weekly coffee budget was used up». Really?
— At exactly an hour of waiting, at 3:40pm, I got up and left the office to grab coffee next door. at which time the receptionist says to me «Wait… your tax person is ready now!»
I understand that tax appointments run over/​late, so I’m not so upset about that. Having an attentive receptionist that cares for their customers and keeps you up to date on when your tax person might be ready is an expected part of service at any business. Especially when I’m spending $ 600 to have my taxes done. After 9 years of using HR Block I’ll go elsewhere next year.

Let me just say: Angela is amazing and made this year’s tax experience really pleasant.
Despite having to file taxes for FIVE states (thanks consulting) and a move, Angela used her skills to make sure we filed correct information that also maximized my returns. She was SO sweet, and she also educated me (a bit, but didn’t overwhelm me) about the process so I felt informed and confident with what was going on.
Throughout the entire session I got consistent sensational customer service:
1.) I got a good movie recommendation («My Left Foot» because I’m a new Daniel Day Lewis fan) and
2.) she saw I had a bit of the sniffles and gave me tissues and an Emergen-​C packet.
Tip for everyone’s sanity: if you’re filing taxes for more than one state, let them know when you’re scheduling your appointment so they can pad for time.

Today, I have been proven wrong (which is not that hard, BTW). I went to the «hacks» at H&R Block and had them do my taxes, becuase my taxes are always complicated and was tired of fighting with TurboTax. I figured it was a bunch of «certified specialist», i.e. temps that took some dopey training and got some worthless certificate. Yep, I was wrong.
Maybe it is because I am in Midtown Manhattan and not all H&R Block locations are like this, but the people at this location are professionals. The H&R Block website asked me my zipcode and what specific things (business owner, real estate, investments, etc.) I needed help with, was directed to this office and was shown a list of the employees and their credentials. What a nice tool. Upon reading the bios of the people in this office, I saw lots of MBA’s, CPA’s, securities analysts, all with many years of tax experience. WTF? Most of the staff were older, seemingly retired people that had worked decades in various financial service fields. I is feeling more stoopider by the secondz.
The person I worked with was a former securities analyst who was friendly and professional. She worked her way through all my stuff in a methodical manner and found a few deductions that I had not even thought of in previous years. They printed all the paperwork, and e-​filed everything for me as well. Done and done. No more tax time stress for me. I am proud to have been proven wrong. I have found my new safe haven at tax time. It is H&R Block.