H&R Block says tax returns prepared at its retail sites rose 4.3 pct in first half of March

H&R Block provides early March tax returns data

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — H&R Block Inc. said Tuesday the number of tax returns it has prepared at its retail sites rose 4.3 percent in the first half of March compared with a year ago, but are down 6.3 percent for the tax season as a whole.

Tax returns prepared in retail operations open at least a year climbed 7 percent for the March 1-March 15 period, the tax preparation company said.

It said the net average retail fee per tax return increased 2.1 percent.

The company said the improved results in the first half of March were due to an increase in overall return filing trends, a deceleration of assisted returns moving online and less market share loss in its retail and digital units.

For the tax season to date, the company said total tax returns prepared in its retail offices fell 6.3 percent and tax returns prepared in retail operations open at least a year dropped 5.1 percent. It said the net average retail fee per tax return rose 2.3 percent. Digital returns prepared by H&R Block slipped 3.4 percent, while online returns rose 2.6 percent.

Earlier this month H&R Block said its fiscal third quarter profit rose 7 percent, as lower costs offset a revenue drop from handling fewer returns.