Business & Finance

Kansas City, MO--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - PRNewswire)--January 28, 2008--As part of its commitment to better serve the Hispanic community during tax season 2008, H&R Block is unveiling 257 new Latino offices in 18 markets nationwide starting Jan. 2, 2008.

Staffed by Spanish-speaking, bilingual tax professionals, these new offices have been designed to provide a family-friendly and culturally inviting environment for Latino clients. The offices feature work by local Hispanic artists, a children’s play area and magazines, all designed to make clients’ overall tax preparation experience easier and less stressful. The new offices will be located in top high-density Hispanic markets, including Albuquerque, Atlanta, Castroville/Monterey, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, El Paso, Ft. Myers, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tucson.

The Spanish-speaking, bilingual tax professionals at H&R Block have received the latest training on all the recent tax law changes and will guide the clients, in the language of their choice, to file their returns and claim the relevant credits and deductions they are entitled to. In addition, they have been trained to help recently arrived taxpayers better understand the U.S. tax terminology and process.

“H&R Block has been helping taxpayers comply with their tax obligations for more than 53 years,” said Maria Stanco, Director of Multicultural Marketing at H&R Block. “We recognize that the U.S. tax requirements can be very different from those in their home countries, while the second language can add to the complexity. From experience, we know that our Spanish-speaking clients prefer to have complex financial discussions in their language of choice, and we are ready to provide them an easy- to- understand tax experience.”

Through these offices, taxpayers who do not have or qualify for a Social Security Number can also process their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), a 9-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax purposes only. As an authorized acceptance agent for the IRS, H&R Block can facilitate the application process for taxpayers by preparing and submitting their ITIN paperwork, as well as filing their returns, all in their language of preference.

Aside from tax preparation, other relevant products and services offered at participating offices include the H&R Block Emerald Prepaid MasterCard(R), which allows taxpayers to directly deposit their refunds to it so they can use the funds anywhere MasterCard(R) prepaid cards are accepted; money transfer services offered through Western Union at a discounted rate for our H&R Block Emerald Card customers; and a special $49 offer for the preparation of one 1040 EZ form.

As part of the new office opening celebration, H&R Block will make a $1,250 donation in select cities to a Latino charity that shares the company’s mission to enhance the lives of Latinos in the United States.

No matter how long taxpayers have been in the U.S. or how complicated their tax situation is, the trained H&R Block professionals at these new Latino offices will make them feel at home while they take care of their tax and financial needs in their own language.

Visit http://www.hrblock-espanol.com to find more information about H&R Block’s new and existing products and services as well as to locate a Latino designated office near you.

About H&R Block

H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is a leading provider of tax, financial, and accounting and business consulting 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 (brokerage services, investment planning and related financial advice along with full-service consumer banking). 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 http://www.hrblock.com.