Unexpected tax return

The H&R Block office in Springfield had a $1,000 winner in their 1,000 Win $1,000 sweepstakes contest. The whole office joined in congratulating the winner.

www.eagletimes.com

Unexpected tax return Multiple local winners of HR Block contest By Allan Stein By Nancy A. Cavanaugh Newport resident Robert Brunt‎ (fourth from right) accepts a check for $1,000 as the first local winner of a tax season contest sponsored by HR Block. Brunt had his tax return prepared at the Claremont branch in January. From left are tax associate Jeremiah Franks, franchise operations director Karl Baker, tax associates Amy Lagasse and Nancy Ardino, tax associate Phyllis Gagnon, corporate mascot "Richard," a cardboard cut out, franchise owner Tim Targett, Brunt's daughter, Aeva, 8, and senior tax advisor Debbie Freeman. — ALLAN STEIN Newport resident Robert Brunt‎ (fourth from right) accepts a check for $1,000 as the first local winner of a tax season contest sponsored by HR Block. Brunt had his tax return prepared at the Claremont branch in January. From left are tax associate Jeremiah Franks, franchise operations director Karl Baker, tax associates Amy Lagasse and Nancy Ardino, tax associate Phyllis Gagnon, corporate mascot "Richard," a cardboard cut out, franchise owner Tim Targett, Brunt's daughter, Aeva, 8, and senior tax advisor Debbie Freeman. — ALLAN STEIN A Newport man received an unexpected return on his 2015 taxes as the first local winner of $1,000 in a nationwide sweepstakes contest sponsored by H&R Block on Friday. A Proctorsville woman was also awarded $1,000 from the bank's Springfield branch. At 9 a.m. Friday, Robert Brunt walked through the front door of H&R Block in Claremont to claim his reward in the form of a big check at a balloon and cupcake party held just for him. "I feel good. I was shocked," said Brunt, 35, accompanied by his daughter, Aeva, 8. Brunt, who is buying a new home, said he plans to deposit the money in the bank. "So, we helped you buy a house?" said Elysa James, manager of the Claremont retail branch of H&R Block, located at 126 Washington St. All it takes to play the sweepstakes promotion is to file a 2015 tax return, said Timothy Targett, whose H&R Block company franchise includes 12 retail branches, along with locations in Claremont, Newport, and Springfield, Vermont. Contestants also need to have an email address to play, he said. The H&R Block office in Springfield had a $1,000 winner in their 1,000 Win $1,000 sweepstakes contest. The whole office joined in congratulating the winner, Jacqueline St. John. From left to right: franchisee Timothy Targett, receptionist Jazmyn Sipe, tax professional Amber MacQuarrie, front desk Melisa Beaulieu, Samantha Girard, winner Jacqueline St. John, tax professional Rene Johnson, tax professional Lisa Moore, attending client Julie Raymond, tax professional Krystal Bosworth, manager Elysa Jame, and director of operations Karl Baker. — NANCY A. CAVANAUGH The H&R Block office in Springfield had a $1,000 winner in their 1,000 Win $1,000 sweepstakes contest. The whole office joined in congratulating the winner, Jacqueline St. John. From left to right: franchisee Timothy Targett, receptionist Jazmyn Sipe, tax professional Amber MacQuarrie, front desk Melisa Beaulieu, Samantha Girard, winner Jacqueline St. John, tax professional Rene Johnson, tax professional Lisa Moore, attending client Julie Raymond, tax professional Krystal Bosworth, manager Elysa Jame, and director of operations Karl Baker. — NANCY A. CAVANAUGH H&R Block will be pulling daily drawings — $1 million per day — for 32 days until all $32 million contained in the nationwide company jackpot has been awarded, Targett said. "There have been a number of winners in the area. It's the first one here," he said. Tax Associate Phyllis Gagnon, who prepared Brunt's tax return this year, said she was happy her client was a lucky sweepstakes winner. "I am pretty excited about it for him," she said. On Sunday, another client will be given a check for $1,000 at the Newport branch. In Springfield, Jacqueline St. John of Proctorsville was a winner. Her tax return was prepared by René Johnson. St. John, along with her daughter Samantha Girard, picked up her check late Friday afternoon. She was informed by email earlier in the week that she had been chosen as a winner. "It's great, helpful," said St. John. "I'm either going to use it for my car or save it. It was really unexpected. I never win at anything." H&R Block is the world's largest tax services provider, having prepared more than 650 million tax returns since 1955. There are approximately 12,000 company owned franchise retail locations in all 50 states and around the world. In fiscal year 2014, H&R Block had revenues of over $3 billion and prepared 24.2 million tax returns wordlwide, according to the H&R Block corporate website. Tax season this year began Jan. 4. "So many people are benefitting from this [sweepstakes contest]. It's really as easy as filing your taxes," said Calista Tanner, customer service professional for the H&R Block branch in Claremont.