What the Lawsuits Allege
A series of proposed class actions filed against H&R Block, along with Meta and Google, allege that the tax preparation company embedded tracking code, known as the Meta Pixel and Google Analytics or Google Tag, on portions of its website where customers entered highly sensitive financial information. According to the complaints, this code transmitted data including names, filing status, adjusted gross income, refund amounts, dependents, and inquiries about specific tax situations to Meta and Google without adequate consumer consent.
The allegations followed a July 2023 congressional investigation and report that found tax preparation companies, including H&R Block, shared more extensive customer data with these tech platforms than had previously been disclosed. Plaintiffs argue this violated federal and state privacy laws, and one complaint framed the pattern as a violation of federal racketeering law. H&R Block, Meta, and Google have not admitted wrongdoing.
Why Most Claims Have Gone to Arbitration
A significant complication for plaintiffs is that H&R Block online services agreement contains a mandatory arbitration clause and forbids class actions. In April 2024, a federal judge ruled that a plaintiff in one of the lead cases had to pursue his claims individually through arbitration rather than as part of a class action, finding he had agreed to the arbitration terms and had not shown the agreement was the product of fraud or was otherwise unenforceable.
Separately, a court has also dismissed several of the privacy claims brought specifically against Meta in a related case, narrowing what claims survive against which defendants. As a result of these rulings, much of this litigation now proceeds, if at all, as individual arbitration claims rather than a single consolidated class action.
Where Things Stand
There has not been a public settlement or judgment resolving these tax data sharing allegations against H&R Block. Attorneys pursuing these claims have said they are representing consumers in individual arbitration proceedings rather than through a certified class, given the enforceability of the arbitration clause.
For someone who used H&R Block online tax preparation and is concerned about this issue, the practical path is generally an individual consultation with an attorney to assess whether arbitration is a realistic option, since a traditional class action is unlikely to be the vehicle for resolving these particular claims.
How to Get Legal Help
If you used H&R Block online tax preparation and are concerned your data may have been shared, review the privacy notices in your account and understand that H&R Block terms of service generally require individual arbitration rather than a class action lawsuit for most disputes. An attorney can advise on whether arbitration is a viable path for your situation.
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H&R Block Lawsuit: The Tax Data Sharing Claims: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about this case and your legal options.
What does the H&R Block lawsuit allege?
That H&R Block used tracking code, the Meta Pixel and Google tools, on parts of its website where customers entered tax information, transmitting sensitive data like income, refund amounts, and dependents to Meta and Google without adequate consent.
Is this a class action?
Mostly no, in practice. H&R Block online terms of service contain a mandatory arbitration clause and forbid class actions, and a federal judge ordered at least one lead plaintiff to arbitrate his claims individually in April 2024.
What triggered these lawsuits?
A July 2023 congressional investigation and report found that H&R Block and other tax preparers shared more extensive customer data with Meta and Google via tracking pixels than had previously been disclosed.
Has H&R Block admitted wrongdoing?
No. H&R Block, along with Meta and Google, have not admitted wrongdoing, and courts have also dismissed some of the specific privacy claims brought against Meta in related litigation.
What can I do if I am affected?
Consult an attorney about pursuing an individual arbitration claim, since the enforceable arbitration clause in H&R Block terms of service means a traditional class action is unlikely to resolve these claims for most affected customers.