The April 30 tax deadline is four weeks away, and while some people may be feeling rushed, others are urging Winnipeggers to pump the brakes.
Barbara Wesley filed her taxes at an H&R Block location in March and selected the company’s ‘Instant Refund’ option to help some family members.
Wesley said she received a prepaid Mastercard with her tax return loaded on it. However, when the pensioner tried to withdraw the money at the bank, the PIN number didn’t work.
“Apparently, my Mastercard was closed, and the money was still in the card, but I couldn’t have access to any of it,” Wesley told CTV News.
She went back to H&R Block, but said she was told there was nothing they could do.
“They told me I left the building with my Mastercard, and it was my fault,” she recalled. “I was really disappointed, and I was frustrated. There was no help.”
Wesley said she was concerned she was losing out on hundreds of dollars and opted to contact the Winnipeg Police Service’s financial crimes unit.
When she returned to H&R Block the following day, Wesley was issued a new card and was able to withdraw her money.
In an email, an H&R Block spokesperson told CTV News they can’t comment on a specific complaint but provided details on how the company’s Instant Refunds card process works.
“When an Instant Refund is received on a prepaid card, the PIN is not provided by H&R Block and would not be included in or on the envelope. If a client qualifies for Instant Refund, they must first register the card to then access the PIN,” the spokesperson wrote.
The spokesperson said clients must activate the card through a website, at which point they would be provided with a PIN.
“The envelope number is not related to the PIN,” they continued. “It is a reference number that H&R Block uses for internal tracking purposes.”
Wesley said the employee never explained that process on either visit and insists she was issued a PIN number with her card.
“Just be aware, you know, and ask a lot of questions,” she warned other tax filers.
Meantime, another H&R Block client is concerned the company isn’t being forthcoming with quoted prices.
Wendy Sutherland said she visited an H&R Block location and was told it would cost around $55 to file her taxes.
However, the cost went up to $275 during her appointment.
“This woman said it’s because [I was] claiming the primary caregiver amount, which is a credit for me,” Sutherland told CTV News. “And I said, ‘What does that have to do with anything?‘”
Sutherland explained she cares for her son, who is on permanent disability, and only files with a T5 slip herself. She chose H&R Block because she was locked out of her Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) account and couldn’t wait until CRA sent an access code.
“I was really caught off guard by that amount, and I couldn’t understand the difference in price,” she said. “A T5 represents a limited income, and for them to charge so much money – I think that’s very wrong.”
The H&R Block spokesperson told CTV News that clients are given a quote upfront, and the company’s starting price for filing a return is $53.99 plus tax. The spokesperson couldn’t comment on Sutherland’s complaint.
“We usually need to do an interview to understand a client’s unique tax situation before we can provide a quote, and the quote is based on the information that the client shares at that time,” the spokesperson wrote. “If it is later revealed through the tax filing process that the client has a more complex tax situation, it can then change the type of return being prepared and the level of work involved, which on occasion can lead to a change to the price that is quoted.”
Sutherland said she left H&R Block without filing her taxes and plans on visiting a tax clinic later this week. She is warning other people to do their homework ahead of time.
“There’s a lot of people that would just accept this because they would feel like they have no choice,” Sutherland said.
According to CRA’s website, Canadians have several avenues to file their taxes, including preparation services like H&R Block.
Other options to file taxes include using free websites like Wealthsimple or scheduling appointments with a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).
“It is probably the route that would give you the best peace of mind because you’re working with an accounting professional,” Geeta Tucker, president and CEO of CPA Manitoba, told CTV News. “They’re just held to a consistent standard and the public can rest assured that they’re in good hands.”
CRA also has an extensive list of free tax clinics throughout Manitoba open during the tax season. Tucker said many CPAs volunteer at these clinics to help people facing financial barriers.
“They’ll spend the time to understand your personal situation and make a recommendation that’s very specific to you,” she explained. “And I think there’s a real value in getting it right the first time.”
Tucker said her best advice to tax filers is to simply get it done ahead of the deadline.
“I know it’s not always fun, but gather up all your receipts, gather up your paperwork, check that box, and get it done.”
