H&R Block Announces Tax Season Results Through Feb. 15

By: H&R Block | 0 Shares 89 Reads

KANSAS CITY, MO (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) today announced preliminary tax season results for the interim period through Feb. 15, 2010. Same-office tax returns prepared in retail operations fell 5.6 percent compared to the prior-year period. Total tax returns prepared through Feb. 15 were down 6.3 percent.

Total retail returns prepared year-to-date fell 8.2 percent, while the net average retail fee per tax return increased 1.9 percent. Total digital returns prepared by H&R Block (consisting of H&R Block At Home(TM) online and desktop software products, excluding Free File Alliance returns) were down 1.8 percent. Total online return growth of 3.1 percent was more than offset by a 7.6 percent decline in software-based returns. Total digital returns including the Free File Alliance fell 1.4 percent.

In light of the foregoing preliminary tax season results, the company's previously announced guidance for fiscal 2010 will not be reached.

"We believe industry filings are down significantly due to the recession and sustained, high levels of unemployment," said Russ Smyth, president and chief executive officer of H&R Block. "The weak economic conditions have also contributed to a greater shift to do-it-yourself tax preparation methods among first-half clients. We still have millions of clients to serve in the second-half of the tax season, which we are aggressively targeting," added Mr. Smyth.

Additional commentary will be available when the company reports fiscal 2010 third quarter financial results on Monday, March 8, after the New York Stock Exchange market closing.

About H&R Block

H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world's preeminent tax services provider, having prepared more than 500 million tax returns since 1955. In fiscal 2009, H&R Block had annual revenues of $4.1 billion and prepared more than 24 million tax returns worldwide, utilizing more than 100,000 highly trained tax professionals. The Company provides tax return preparation services in person, through H&R Block At Home(TM) online and desktop software products, and through other channels. The Company is also one of the leading providers of business services through RSM McGladrey.



(in thousands,

 except net           YTD       YTD      %         YTD         YTD      %

 average fee)       1/31/10   1/31/09 Change     2/15/10     2/15/09 Change

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

Total returns

 prepared: (1)

  Company-owned

   operations          2,292     2,467  -7.1%       4,402       4,854 -9.3%

  Franchise

   operations          1,347     1,451  -7.2%       2,638       2,815 -6.3%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

    Total retail

     operations        3,639     3,918  -7.1%       7,040       7,669 -8.2%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

  Digital

   software              635       780 -18.6%       1,138       1,231 -7.6%

  Digital online         719       643  11.8%       1,469       1,425  3.1%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

    Sub-total          1,354     1,423  -4.8%       2,607       2,656 -1.8%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

  Digital Free

   File Alliance         201       178  12.9%         412         406  1.5%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

    Total

     digital tax

     solutions         1,555     1,601  -2.9%       3,019       3,062 -1.4%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

                       5,194     5,519  -5.9%      10,059      10,731 -6.3%

                   ========= ========= =====  =========== =========== ====

Net tax

 preparation fees

 - retail: (2)

  Company-owned

   operations      $ 469,911 $ 498,470  -5.7% $   876,271 $   953,282 -8.1%

  Franchise

   operations        244,184   251,818  -3.0%     463,598     478,051 -3.0%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

                   $ 714,095 $ 750,288  -4.8% $ 1,339,869 $ 1,431,333 -6.4%

                   ========= ========= =====  =========== =========== ====

Net average fee -

 retail: (1,3)

  Company-owned

   operations      $  205.06 $  202.15   1.4% $    199.06 $    196.56  1.3%

  Franchise

   operations         181.20    173.60   4.4%      175.70      169.85  3.4%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

                   $  196.23 $  191.58   2.4% $    190.31 $    186.75  1.9%

                   ========= ========= =====  =========== =========== ====

Same-Office

 returns prepared:

 (1,4)

  Company-owned

   operations          2,249     2,335  -3.7%       4,339       4,606 -5.8%

  Franchise

   operations          1,292     1,376  -6.1%       2,530       2,672 -5.3%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

    Total retail

     operations        3,541     3,711  -4.6%       6,869       7,278 -5.6%

                   ========= ========= =====  =========== =========== ====

Same-Office tax

 preparation fees:

 (1,4)

  Company-owned

   operations      $ 466,519 $ 482,530  -3.3% $   876,677 $   925,252 -5.2%

  Franchise

   operations        235,255   241,324  -2.5%     451,161     461,215 -2.2%

                   --------- --------- -----  ----------- ----------- ----

    Total retail

     operations    $ 701,774 $ 723,854  -3.1% $ 1,327,838 $ 1,386,467 -4.2%

                   ========= ========= =====  =========== =========== ====

(1) Prior year numbers have been reclassified between company-owned and

    franchise operations for offices which were refranchised during either

    year.

(2) Amounts include gross tax preparation fees less coupons and discounts.

(3) Amounts are calculated as net retail tax preparation fees divided by

    retail tax returns.

(4) Same-office returns represent returns prepared at 6,997 company and

    4,160 franchise offices open in both fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year

    2009.



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