H&R Block My refund was sent to H&R Block Bank and is still being held 19 days after IRS acceptance. Kansis City Internet

I filed our taxes on 1/11/08 using H&R Block Tax Cut Free File on-line. I was contacted by e-mail that the return was accepted by the IRS. I went to the IRS.gov website and saw that the return was accepted and I could expect my refund within 8 to 15 business days after 1/13/08 (the acceptance date).

After seven days I went out to IRS.gov web site to check on my refund and the projected date of direct deposit was 1/25/2008. I kept checking my bank account and the IRS website for any changes. On 1/25 I was greatly dissappointed becaue the money had not been deposited into my bank account.

On 1/26 a new date was posted. Now it seemed that my refund was to be deposited on 1/29/08. When the money did not get to my account on 1/29, I was more dissappointed. I contacted the IRS phone, email, and internet. I could not get more information. I went online and rechecked my return for mistakes, there were none to be found. The new date posted was 2/1/08 on the IRS.gov web site.

I then went on H&R Block.com to live chat on 1/31 to see if I could get more information. My first contact told me that the money was received at H&R block bank on 1/25 (the original deposited on the IRS web site). The refund should have been directly deposited into my bank account not H&R Block bank.

If contacted the tech support team by chat and they said the software was working and there were no error in my return. If H&R Block holds large refunds in their bank for more than a week, they stand to make a lot of money. This way they surely can afford to do Free File Tax Returns because they will make many, many times more than if they asked the customer to pay unfront. I have used Free File with another company and this did not happen. I had my refund in less than 10 days in my account as promised.

If your hold thousands or millions of refunds for just a few days, a LOT of MONEY can be made. The softwore seems to have indicated that I had a balance due, therefore the IRS would send the money to their bank first. Of course, there is no balance due on a Free File tax return. I feel so used and violated. I'm on medical leave, I have no personal income, and really need my money as soon as possible. I hardcopy documentation to support everyword.

Anonymous
Columbia,, South Carolina
U.S.A.