Canadians rely on family members to get them their best tax refund, but relatives fall short

CALGARY, Feb. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Family members are the go to 'tax expert' for 16 per cent of Canadians aged 18 -34, according to a recent survey conducted by H&R Block. And while it may be convenient to have a family member file your taxes, discrepancies can cause strife for a family. Many Canadians leave tax refund money on the table – money that's rightfully theirs – and is dad to blame for this?

A place for family members
Family members can be trusted to help with many things; maybe they are gardening or woodworking hobbyists and can provide support in your own endeavors, but tax filing is a vocation people study to build expertise. A tax expert is the only way to guarantee you get the maximum refund and file your taxes correctly.

A great example of dabbling over expertise can be seen in DIY programs. Though these shows have become increasingly popular, DIY rescue has become equally as popular. It's one thing to 'wing it' with a dresser purchased off Craigslist, but an entirely different thing to have anyone but a tax expert help you with your taxes.

"We see it all the time, where someone's had their taxes completed by a parent for years, and then check previous years' with an H&R Block tax expert and we find money left on the table. In fact, last Fall H&R Block found an average of $1,400 extra on an individual's old returns*" says Lisa Gittens, spokesperson for H&R Block, Canada. "If you file your taxes online with H&R Block Tax Software you always have the option to get an Expert Review, where your return is reviewed live with one of our online Tax Experts. Alternatively, coming in to an office is just as convenient as having a family member file for you, but with the added bonus of working with true experts."

Where family members may fall short in the tax department, a highly-trained tax professional, like those you find at H&R Block, can help you get what's yours.

To see if your previous tax return left money behind, bring it into an H&R Block office and have a Tax Expert check it out. And our Tax Expert could even help you with that DIY project you've been working on, in the form of a refund!

*Average result for 109 participants in our $10 for 10 promotion held November 8, 2017 to December 31, 2017.  Not everyone receives a refund. See www.hrblock.ca/legal for details.

About H&R Block Canada
For over 50 years, H&R Block Canada is Canada's tax leader, with over 1,100 locations across Canada, and free do-it-yourself Tax Software. H&R Block's comprehensive education program, Tax Academy, trains experts and continually updates their skills. Learn more at www.hrblock.ca or 1-800-HRBLOCK.

SOURCE H&R Block Canada Inc.

H&R Block, Amanda Federchuk, Ketchum Public Relations, 416-355-7431, [email protected]