H&R Block spends $500,000 in 4Q lobbying gov’t on consumer protection, tax preparer regulation

H&R Block spent $500,000 lobbying in 4th quarter

NEW YORK — H&R Block Inc. spent $500,000 during the fourth quarter to lobby the federal government on the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency and potential tax preparer regulations.

The $500,000 spent compares with $475,088 paid to lobby the government in the third quarter and $230,000 during the final quarter of 2008.

In the final three months of 2009, Kansas City-based H&R Block lobbied Congress, the Internal Revenue Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission about potential laws and regulations that would create a new agency to oversee consumer banking and financial products, ban certain abusive credit practices and protect underage consumers. It also lobbied on IRS proposals to regulate the training and practices of tax preparers.