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5 Call Contenders: Financial Stocks

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:39:18 -0400

Donald Yacktman Buys Microsoft, Coca-Cola Co, CH Robinson, Sells H&R Block, Research in Motion

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:07:30 -0400

Renowned value investor Donald Yacktman just reported his first quarter holdings. Yacktman Funds buys Microsoft Corporation, Coca-Cola Co, CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Sysco Corporation, C.R. Bard, Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation, sells H&R Block Inc, Research in Motion Ltd, Liberty Interactive Corp, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Medtronic, Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Equifax, Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Tesco PLC, United Parcel Service Inc (UPS), Viacom, Inc., Western Union Company during the 3-months ended 03/31/2013, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Yacktman Asset Management Co.

Should I Buy Intuit? 3 Pros, 3 Cons

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:00:36 -0400

Should I Buy Intuit? 3 Pros, 3 Cons

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:00:36 -0400

Intuit took a 12% one-day dip last week on revised guidance due to lower tax return revenue. Is now a time to get the stock for cheap?

H&R Block Offers Apology, Cash To Make Up For Filing Snafu

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:48:09 -0400

If you were one of the hundreds of thousands of taxpayers affected by the tax season filing snafu involving education credits - and you filed using H&R Block - you might be getting some relief.

The 15 Most Expensive Tax Breaks

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:46:12 -0400

Tax Geeks: Make Tax Filing Easy, Kill The Mortgage Deduction, Tax CPAs

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:46:12 -0400

If tax economists ruled the world, April 15th would get a lot easier. The tax code would be simpler and the Internal Revenue Service would fill in much of your 1040 for you. But before you vote to fire your Congressman and put the geeks in charge, know this: your mortgage deduction would disappear, you’d pay sales tax on your tax prep bill and your energy bills would rise, thanks to a broad based carbon tax.

Return Free Tax Filing? Sure, With An Insanity Free Tax Code

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:26:57 -0400

Late last month, ProPublica and NPR published a well-timed story detailing how TurboTax maker Intuit has lobbied against “free simple tax filing.” Today, I’m publishing two guest posts that take opposing views of the benefits and feasibility of such a system. The Case For Easy Free Tax Filing was written by two law professors; one of them, Stanford’s Joseph Bankman, helped bring return free filing to California. Five Fallacies About Return Free Filing is by economist Arlene Holen, a senior fellow of the Technology Policy Institute, a not-for-profit think tank supported by Intuit, along with a laundry list of big names in computers and telecom, including Amazon, AT&T, Google, Intel and Verizon.

The 15 Most Expensive Tax Breaks

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:26:57 -0400

10 Best S&P 500 Stocks of Q1

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:26:41 -0400

10 Best S&P 500 Stocks of Q1

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:26:41 -0400

Here’s a look at the 10 best performers in the S&P 500, as well as some thoughts about why they have rallied and what’s in store for them for the rest of the year.

FAFSA, Tax Return Delays Could Slow College Enrollment Decisions

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:19:22 -0400

The delay in processing forms 8863, Education Credits, at the IRS is causing more trouble than just slowing down refunds. The delay, which was formally addressed this week by the Department of Education, is the result of "a technical error with a limited number of tax filing software products" and has affected hundreds of thousands of taxpayers including many who filed with H&R Block. In terms of timing, the glitch has added weeks onto processing times for returns generally submitted and processed by mid-to-late February and is making it difficult for some students to timely submit the FAFSA, or Free Application for Free Student Aid.

H&R Block CEO Offers Apology For Education Credit Fiasco

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 09:01:49 -0400

As tax season heads towards the home stretch, hundreds of thousands of taxpayer refunds have been delayed. While taxpayers expected minor glitches associated with a late start to the tax season, the magnitude of the delays, especially those involving the form 8863 for education credits, took the tax world by storm. Angry taxpayers have been complaining about unusually long wait times and, perhaps most frustrating, a complete lack of information about the delays and the next steps. The form was delayed for processing initially by two weeks, a wait time that Forbes writer Janet Novack suggested could have been avoided.

The 15 Most Expensive Tax Breaks

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:27:40 -0400

Blame Congress, As Well As H&R Block And IRS, For College Tax Credit Mess

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:27:40 -0400

Far be it from me to let either the Internal Revenue Service or tax prep giant H&R Block off the hook for the current mess which has delayed refunds for more than 600,000 taxpayers claiming college tax credits by up to eight weeks. In addition to their operational missteps, both did a poor job (at least initially) of communicating with taxpayers who desperately need those refunds to pay tuition or other bills.

IRS, H&R Block Release Statements About Processing Delays

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:37:18 -0400

As anger continues to grow over delays with processing the federal form 8863, Education Credits, I reached out to the Internal Revenue Service, H&R Block and the Department of Education to answer your questions.

H&R Block Error Could Delay 600K Tax Returns

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 04:55:07 -0400

H&R Block Error Could Delay 600K Tax Returns

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 04:55:07 -0400

A software error for tax preparer H&R Block could delay up to 600,000 returns by up to six weeks.

H&R Block: Tax Filings Climbing, Profits to Follow

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:42:51 -0400

H&R Block: Tax Filings Climbing, Profits to Follow

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:42:51 -0400

H&R Block shares have risen 46% year-to-date, and a complicated tax season should only drive more profits to the company. Will the stock respond in kind?

5 Call Contenders: Financial Stocks

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:54:27 -0500

If You Qualify, File Your Taxes For Free

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 21:14:35 -0500

In this economy, every penny saved helps. If you're looking for ways to save at tax time, the Walmart Foundation may be able to help.

Sector Scan: Banks and Financials

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 06:01:03 -0500

Sector Scan: Banks and Financials

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:25:45 -0500

Yacktman Fund Buys Dell Inc, Stryker Corporation, Coca-cola Co, Sells H&R Block Inc, Research In Motion Ltd

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:33:41 -0500

Besides the 13F of Yacktman Asset Management and Yacktman Focused Fund, we also started to track the portfolio of Yacktman Fund. Yacktman Fund is the flagship fund of Don Yacktman. The fund has achieved 10.6% of annual return over the past 10 years. It heavily invests in high quality large caps. As of Dec. 31, the fund has 51% of asset in top 10 positions and 16% in cash.

Sector Scan: Banks and Financials

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 05:55:14 -0500

IRS Asks Judge To Suspend Injunction Barring Regulation Of Tax Preparers

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:30:26 -0500

The Internal Revenue Service plans to appeal a federal district court judge’s surprise ruling last Friday that it lacks the authority from Congress to regulate tax preparers and it has asked that judge to suspend his injunction blocking the regulations while it pursues an appeal. In a motion filed yesterday with Washington D.C. Federal District Court Judge James E. Boasberg, the IRS argued that it has a “reasonable likelihood” of winning on appeal and that the public will suffer “irreparable harm” if his injunction isn’t suspended. With the tax filing season due to begin on Jan. 30th, the filing said, the injunction will cause a “substantial disruption to tax administration” and “massive confusion” for both tax preparers and the public.

As IRS Tax Filing Season Begins, There's Bad News For Honest Taxpayers

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:44:28 -0500

With this year’s tax filing season set to begin in a week, there are ominous signs for honest folks who want to complete their 1040s and pay what they owe (not more or less) with a minimum of hassle.

15 Ways To Invite An IRS Audit

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:44:28 -0500

Federal Judge Shoots Down IRS Attempt To Regulate All Paid Tax Preparers

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:56:10 -0500

Should the Internal Revenue Service regulate Elmer Kilian, a retired Korean War Vet who hangs an “Eagle Tax Services” sign on his home in Eagle, Wisc. every tax season and prepares 80 to 100 income tax returns on his dining room table? It never did. Then, in 2010, after years of listening to complaints about the problems created by incompetent and dishonest unlicensed tax pros, the IRS decided to require all paid preparers to register with it and those who weren’t otherwise subject to national standards to pass a minimum competency test. Registration began in 2011 and preparers were supposed to pass the test by the end of this year.

Don’t Pay a Fortune to Profit from Bullish Financials

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 06:07:43 -0500

Lululemon (LULU): Look Out Below?

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:31:37 -0500

Trade of the Day: H&R Block (HRB)

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 01:00:29 -0500

H&R Block: Q4, Fiscal 2012 Earnings Fall

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:46:40 -0400

H&R Block posted fiscal Q4 net income down 11% from last year and 2012 income down 35% from 2011, but prepared 25.6 million tax returns for 2012.

H&R Block: Q4, Fiscal 2012 Earnings Fall

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:46:40 -0400

A Buying Opportunity at H&R Block

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:35:54 -0400

Why are investors viewing CEO Cobb's moves to fix the company's weaknesses as a negative?

A Buying Opportunity at H&R Block

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:35:54 -0400

H&R Block Shares Dive on Warning

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:16:41 -0400

After announcing sweeping job cuts, office closures and reduced earnings outlook, H&R Block shares fell as much as 16% in Thursday pre-market trading.

H&R Block Shares Dive on Warning

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:16:41 -0400

How to Screen for Stocks With Great Sales

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:09:03 -0400

Sales revenue is the lifeblood of a publicly traded company. Without growing sales it's impossible to grow the business - meaning your investment is suspect.

How to Screen for Stocks With Great Sales

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:09:03 -0400

The IRS’ 12 Tax Scams to Watch For

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:17:29 -0500

The Internal Revenue Service recently released its annual "Dirty Dozen" report ranking tax scams. Here's what taxpayers should look out for.

The IRS’ 12 Tax Scams to Watch For

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:17:29 -0500

5 Midsize Stocks With High Yield, High Growth

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:00:42 -0500

5 Midsize Stocks With High Yield, High Growth

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:00:42 -0500

There's more to investing than sitting on sleepy dividend payers. Get a little more aggressive by targeting these 5 midcap dividend stocks with room to grow.

The Tax Company Cometh on Strong

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:30:25 -0500

The Tax Company Cometh on Strong

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:30:25 -0500

H&R Block has had a strong run-up to tax season, but there's still plenty of reasons to buy -- especially for income investors.

Wal-Mart’s Free, EZ Tax Prep Services

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:43:59 -0500

Wal-Mart’s Free, EZ Tax Prep Services

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:43:59 -0500

Jackson Hewitt and H&R Block have begun offering free 1040EZ preparation at their kiosks in Wal-Mart stores.

InfoSpace Suddenly Gets More Profitable

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:59:56 -0500

InfoSpace gets aggressive with its purchase of TaxACT, which makes good money. It's a smart way to capitalize on its growing search business.