H&R Block opening of more than 250 New Latino-Focused Offices Nationwide.

H&R Block is unveiling 257 new Latino offices in 18 markets nationwide starting Jan. 2, 2008.

Staffed by Spanish-speaking, bilingual tax professionals, these new offices have been designed to provide a family-friendly and culturally inviting environment for Latino clients. The offices feature work by local Hispanic artists, a children’s play area and magazines, all designed to make clients’ overall tax preparation experience easier and less stressful. The new offices will be located in top high-density Hispanic markets, including Albuquerque, Atlanta, Castroville/Monterey, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, El Paso, Ft. Myers, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tucson.

The Spanish-speaking, bilingual tax professionals at H&R Block have received the latest training on all the recent tax law changes and will guide the clients, in the language of their choice, to file their returns and claim the relevant credits and deductions they are entitled to. In addition, they have been trained to help recently arrived taxpayers better understand the U.S. tax terminology and process.

“H&R Block has been helping taxpayers comply with their tax obligations for more than 53 years,” said Maria Stanco, Director of Multicultural Marketing at H&R Block. “We recognize that the U.S. tax requirements can be very different from those in their home countries, while the second language can add to the complexity. From experience, we know that our Spanish-speaking clients prefer to have complex financial discussions in their language of choice, and we are ready to provide them an easy- to- understand tax experience.”