FERPO:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- H&R Block, the world's largest tax preparer, has shut down it's online filing system after discovering that some people's financial information may have been mixed with others. H&R Block idnentified fewer than 50 people affected among more than 300,000 tax returns but expects the program to remain shutdown until the weekend while it makes sure no other people are affected, said spokewoman Linda McDougal.

The company is conintung to audit returns, and will not restore the program until it is sure that returns are accurate, McDougal said.

Tax offices of H&R Block and its software program TaxCut are not afrfected, McDougal said. H&R BLock is offering free downloads of the TAXCUT program.

"We got what we think is a very rare circumstance and confined to our internal system," McDougal said.

H&R Block said Feb. 3 that it expected to process about 650,000 returns over the internet this tax season. Last year, the INernal revenue Service said 10.29 million taxpayers filed their returns online by Feb. 12, up 17.7 per cent from 8.74 million in 1998.

-- end of story. Hope this wasn't already posted.

-- Squirrel Hunter (nuts@upina.cellrelaytower), February 16, 2000

Answers

Funny thing happened with us a few weeks ago when we filed with another tax service (not H&R). We were told they would E-file our return but suggested we have a check sent instead of automatic deposit. When we asked why, we were told there had seen several recent instances of refunds going to the wrong accounts! Hmmmm...

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), February 16, 2000.

Can't say I've had a problem. Efiled Jan31...direct deposited on Feb 14.

-- Electman (vrepair1@tampabay.rr.com), February 16, 2000.

Poor H&R Block. These parasites have a vested interest in a tax code that is as complicated as possible. I wonder which presidential candidate they are surreptitiously supporting.

-- (RSVP@Boston.TeaParty), February 16, 2000.

I'd like to add something here about H&R Round, my daughter files her taxes with them ,and she asked about the people who say,we don't need to pay taxes. H&R Round told her ,because of a Court case,the Judge indicated because the majority of people pay taxes,then everyone will pay taxes.

I thought it was very interesting comment made by H&R Round.

-- Furie (furieart@webworkz.com), February 16, 2000.

Which presidential candidate is H&R Block supporting? All of them except Keyes and the Libertarians (no income tax) and Forbes (flat tax). There may be other Republicans who support flat tax, I don't spend much time on politics.

-- rebel (with@ina.cause), February 17, 2000.