H&R Block Tax Advertising

MONTGOMERY, AL—January 26, 2009

As many of our members are well aware, for the past few years, H&R Block has sometimes engaged in aggressive advertising promoting their respective tax services at the expense of the CPA profession. When this occurs, the AICPA and the ASCPA respond accordingly.  

This year, as in previous instances, AICPA President & CEO Barry Melancon sent a letter to the CEO of H&R Block, Mr. Russ Smyth, asking H&R Block to discontinue running these ads immediately.   The AICPA is currently awaiting his response and we shall report to you the progress.

The AICPA has reason to expect a positive response, since Mr. Smyth’s predecessor had stopped placements in previous years as requested.  

Talking points for Members to external audiences via media  

•CPAs are honest, skilled, and competent tax professionals.  CPAs have college degrees, they pass rigorous exams, they are committed to continuing professional education; and they are certified, licensed, and regulated by state boards of accountancy.  

•CPAs are required to pass a rigorous professional exam after they complete their college education in order to be licensed by the states in which they practice. After they are licensed, mandatory continuing professional education requirements ensure that CPAs are current with regulatory and legal changes.  

•As members of the AICPA and ASCPA, CPAs are required to adhere to strict professional ethics standards. Additional ethics rules apply to CPAs who are tax practitioners.  

•If the IRS raises a question about a tax return, only CPAs, attorneys and enrolled agents are authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS.  

•CPA tax professionals often know a lot about your personal situation, so the continuity of service you receive from a CPA may be an important factor to consider.  CPAs are business people in the community who will be there for taxpayers year after year.  

•The AICPA and ASCPA are committed to ensuring that CPAs work in the public interest by providing the resources to best hone skills of CPA tax professionals and by regulating unacceptable professional conduct while advocating on behalf of the public and members an effective and efficient system of taxation.