*By Chloe Aiello* Between changes in the tax code and the government shutdown, H&R Block knows tax season will likely be stressful for many, but CEO Jeff Jones said a few simple steps can put taxpayers in control of their financial health. "The thing that I'm most focused on now is refund size. And we know that not enough people this year changed their withholdings," Jones told Cheddar Tuesday. This year marks the first tax season since President Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into full effect and it [has implications for every taxpaying household](https://cheddar.com/videos/tax-filing-season-opens-as-irs-comes-back-to-massive-backlog). An estimated 73 percent of Americans should expect refunds, but about 21 percent ー or roughly 30 million Americansー will owe, according to [a report from the Government Accountability Office](https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/693582.pdf). That's up from about 18 percent the year before. Jones said it's important to change the amount withheld from taxes to ensure you don't fall into that 21 percent. "People think about taxes and they just think about their refund and their return. But you're actually in control of this, you can really impact the outcome," he said. Another concern on the minds of many taxpayers is the government shutdown and how it might delay their returns. As tax season kicks off, the IRS is just returning to work after a 35-day shutdown that could very well pick back up after Feb. 15. While there really is no way to control whether the government shuts down again or not, Jones said the best way to ensure a speedy return is to file early ー and electronically. "File early because you get earlier in the queue. We didn't really know yet exactly how the shutdown will impact processing," Jones said. "Make sure you're e-filing and make sure you do direct deposit, and all of those things are key to getting your refund faster." In addition to his tax tips, Jones said [H&R Block ($HRB) is offering](https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/newsroom/filing/tax-preparation-and-services/upfront-transparent-prices/) a few new products and services to facilitate an easier and more transparent tax filing experience. Upfront pricing uses artificial intelligence to inform customers about the price of services before the tax prep process begins and during the process if anything changes. A price preview feature offers the same for customers who choose to file on their own. The company is also offering new ways to file. Tax Pro Go gives clients access to a tax professional without coming into the office, and Tax Pro Review ensures a tax professional reviews the forms of do-it-yourself filers before submission. Customers can also just drop their forms off at an H&R Block location and have their tax filings prepared for them. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/h-and-r-block-ceo-jeff-jones-helps-kick-off-tax-season).

Share:
More In Business
Michigan Judge Sentences Walmart Shoplifters to Wash Parking Lot Cars
A Michigan judge is putting sponges in the hands of shoplifters and ordering them to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot when spring weather arrives. Genesee County Judge Jeffrey Clothier hopes the unusual form of community service discourages people from stealing from Walmart. The judge also wants to reward shoppers with free car washes. Clothier says he began ordering “Walmart wash” sentences this week for shoplifting at the store in Grand Blanc Township. He believes 75 to 100 people eventually will be ordered to wash cars this spring. Clothier says he will be washing cars alongside them when the time comes.
State Department Halts Plan to buy $400M of Armored Tesla Vehicles
The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase. A State Department spokesperson said the electric car company owned by Musk was the only one that expressed interest back in May 2024. The deal with Tesla was only in its planning phases but it was forecast to be the largest contract of the year. It shows how some of his wealth has come and was still expected to come from taxpayers.
Goodyear Blimp at 100: ‘Floating Piece of Americana’ Still Thriving
At 100 years old, the Goodyear Blimp is an ageless star in the sky. The 246-foot-long airship will be in the background of the Daytona 500 — flying roughly 1,500 feet above Daytona International Speedway, actually — to celebrate its greatest anniversary tour. Even though remote camera technologies are improving regularly and changing the landscape of aerial footage, the blimp continues to carve out a niche. At Daytona, with the usual 40-car field racing around a 2½-mile superspeedway, views from the blimp aptly provide the scope of the event.
Is U.S. Restaurants’ Breakfast Boom Contributing to High Egg Prices?
It’s a chicken-and-egg problem: Restaurants are struggling with record-high U.S. egg prices, but their omelets, scrambles and huevos rancheros may be part of the problem. Breakfast is booming at U.S. eateries. First Watch, a restaurant chain that serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, nearly quadrupled its locations over the past decade to 570. Fast-food chains like Starbucks and Wendy's added more egg-filled breakfast items. In normal times, egg producers could meet the demand. But a bird flu outbreak that has forced them to slaughter their flocks is making supplies scarcer and pushing up prices. Some restaurants like Waffle House have added a surcharge to offset their costs.
Load More