H&R Block spent $500,000 in 2nd qtr to lobby on consumer financial protection, tax prep reform

H&R Block spent $500,000 lobbying in 2nd quarter

NEW YORK — H&R Block Inc. spent $500,000 in the second quarter to lobby the federal government on the creation of a consumer financial protection agency and other issues, according to a disclosure report.

That’s up from the $290,000 that the nation’s largest tax preparer spent in the year-ago period, and 25 percent more than the $400,000 it spent in the first quarter of 2010. The Kansas City, Mo.-based company also lobbied the federal government on legislation involving other aspects of the financial regulatory overhaul and on changes to tax preparer regulation, according to the report filed July 20.

Refund anticipation loans, or loans based on expected tax returns that the company facilitates, were also on the agenda, along with consumer credit protection.

In the April-to-June period, H&R Block lobbied Congress, the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service and Securities Exchange Commission, according to the report filed with the House clerk’s office.