H&R Block customers and staff are greeting the new tax season in a new location.
After 35 years at its former downtown Tiffin office, the business has moved to 2497 W. Market St., near Tractor Supply Co.
The business is to celebrate the move with a grand re-opening celebration 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today. Refreshments are to be offered, as well as tours of the facility.
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PHOTO?BY?CATHY?WILLOUGHBY
Tax Advisors Cynthia Kinser and Grace Weiler stand in front of the new Market Street location of H&R Block in Tiffin.
Cynthia Kinser, senior tax advisor, said the business had been looking for new space for a few years. She said she learned of the Market Street location opening up, and settled arrangements for the move at the end of October.
The new office has been open since Dec. 1.
Kinser said much work had to be done to the office area.
Fact Box
H&R Block open house
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today
Where: 2497 W. Market St.
Refreshments, tours and Emerald Advance Line of Credit are to be offered during the event.
"We removed walls, moved doors, painted and re-carpeted the entire place and (added) new baseboards," Kinser said. "We did quite a bit of work."
The area only is about 100-square-feet larger than the previous space, yet Kinser said the business now has three private offices to meet with clients.
"We were in one space working with clients," she said. "And the parking is awesome, it's right out front. And we are handicapped accessible."
During tax time, Kinser said the Tiffin office has a staff of 10 people. Combined with her office in fostoria, she said she employs 22 people.
In addition to food and tours, the office is to offer a new promotion for the holidays, the Emerald Advance Line of Credit.
Clients may receive up to $1,000 on a debit card to use for holiday purchases. The amount is re-paid when the client receives their 2010 income tax refund, Kinser said. The card has been used before by H&R Block to disperse income tax refunds.
"It's through H&R Block Bank," Kinser said. "Clients go through the approval process through the bank.
The promotion continues through Jan. 15.
Kinser estimated close to 70 percent of the business' clients take the card during tax time.
Kinser said the Internal Revenue Service is to begin taking electronic filing Jan. 10.
"That's when we will be open for tax season," she said.
President Barack Obama and Republicans recently cut a deal to extend the Bush era tax cuts, which were due to expire at the end of the year. The proposed deal is to extend the tax cuts for an additional two years. It has yet to be approved by Congress.
Kinser said H&R Block employees are waiting for Congress to vote to make the deal permanent.
"It will be like night and day, the difference between 2010 and 2011 taxes, if something is not done by Congress," Kinser said.
The new H&R Block Tiffin office is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
