BECKLEY — H&R Block, a new member of the Beckley-Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, hosted one of the organization’s long-standing tradition of Business After Hours at its Beckley Crossing location Thursday evening.

This tradition is meant to provide casual networking opportunities for the business community and provide an outlet so businesses can spread awareness of the goods and services they offer.

Although new to the Chamber, H&R Block is the oldest and largest tax preparation business with over 50 years of service.

And with tax season upon us, the timing to host this event couldn’t be better, Trudy Taylor, district manager, explains.

“We have much to offer a client. We are a tax preparation business but we also do electronic filing and have products we offer, where we are willing to verify any prepared return for free,” she said.

Through the “Second Look” program, H&R Block will review a prepared tax return. If the return is correct, they place their standard guarantee on the tax return, she explained.

The guarantee provides that if the IRS ever questions the return and there is a penalty and interest charged against the return, H&R Block will pay that, she added.

A tax return has a life of three years, she explained, and H&R Block’s standard guarantee covers the return for life.

By choosing H&R Block, Taylor said you can rest assured your taxes are in the hands of consummate professionals.

“Every year Congress passes laws pertaining to taxes and you have to stay abreast of those,” she continued. “To do that we offer classes to our tax professionals so they can keep certified in order to be able to prepare taxes.”

Because each tax return is different, Taylor is unable to give a price quote for tax preparation.

“We can’t quote a standard price for returns because it is a case-by-case basis,” she said. “It depends on what the client has, but we have bundled pricing that we can give as a guideline and then a more specific quote once information has been reviewed.”

Taylor says the business brings value to its clients through its expertise.

Thursday’s event was catered by Chick-fil-A, she added. 

One lucky person received a free tax return, as well.

H&R Block has five Raleigh County locations: Crab Orchard; Ritter Drive and The Plaza n Beaver; Bypass Plaza; and Beckley Crossing. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

“I think it is very important to become part of the community, and we feel this is a good way to display that we are, and to let the public to know we are here to serve them,” Taylor said, encouraging those interested to drop by or call.

For more information, visit www.hrblock.com or call 304-253-1030.

— E-mail: kvanpelt@register-herald.com