Barry C. Melancon
\nPresident and CEO
\nAmerican Institute of CPAs
\n1211 Avenue of the Americas
\nNew York, New York 10036-8775<\/p>\n
Dear Barry:<\/p>\n
I received your letter of March 11 expressing AICPA\u2019s concern.<\/p>\n
First, I\u2019m heartened that CPAs acknowledge H&R Block has a place in the tax preparation category. That\u2019s an interesting admission, considering the Bloch brothers essentially invented it 61 years ago.<\/p>\n
Just so you have a more complete understanding of what we\u2019re doing, we launched Block Advisors early this year with almost 300 locations nationwide. This is a new and separate brand, designed to provide services that our clients have told us they need and want \u2013 in a nutshell, an alternative to their CPAs. Block Advisors features some of our most experienced tax pros and serves clients who need tax planning throughout the year \u2013 those with more complex tax situations or small business owners.<\/p>\n
But to the larger point of your letter, the issue AICPA has raised is really about healthy competition and giving taxpayers a choice. Our promotional video<\/a> does an excellent job of explaining Block Advisors and I have no intention of pulling it down. Further, our overall marketing campaign is telling taxpayers they now have a great new alternative, one that can serve clients with the most complex tax situations, and do it at very competitive prices. That message is striking a chord and I\u2019m confident about the future of Block Advisors.<\/p>\n I\u2019m so confident that just today I have directed my marketing team to increase the media buy for Block Advisors. Soon we\u2019ll be airing in additional markets, telling exponentially more taxpayers about Block Advisors. And we\u2019ll be doing it with a special offer: Anyone who comes to Block Advisors by March 31st<\/sup> will get half off what they paid a CPA or anyone else to do their taxes last year.<\/p>\n Competitive services at competitive prices \u2013 that\u2019s giving taxpayers additional choices. That\u2019s what this is all about, and it\u2019s the right thing to do for taxpayers.<\/p>\n Thank you again for your letter, Barry.<\/p>\n Bill<\/p>\n