H&R Block, in a swipe at TurboTax, says you should definitely do your taxes

Ogilvy spots urge you to be ‘fiscally responsible’ while poking fun at rival service’s ‘Don’t do your taxes’ campaign

Published On
Apr 10, 2023
A silhouette of a man with curtains behind him

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With eight days left until Tax Day on April 18, H&R Block is releasing some comic spots poking fun at rival TurboTax’s “Don’t do your taxes” campaign. The message from H&R: Definitely do your taxes.

Along with the longform spot below, there’s a bunch of :15s. They’re made in the style of anonymous silhouette interviews with folks who followed TurboTax’s advice, making room for other passions rather than doing their taxes. In the end, none of it worked out well for any of them.

 

See the :15s over at the company’s YouTube. To cover its bases, H&R does put fine print at the end of the spots: “In all seriousness, TurboTax isn’t saying you should ignore your tax obligations.”

“Despite what many have recently heard about not doing taxes, this public service message is for the 121 million people who are eligible to file,” said press materials. “And it serves as both a reality check and tax preparation advice, because doing taxes is the right and fiscally responsible thing to do.”

H&R Block even extended the campaign into consumer research, surveying 1,000 tax filers in March to get their thoughts on the consequences of not doing taxes. Among other findings, nearly 70% of respondents said you could go to jail for not doing your taxes, with 79% saying you could be fined and 60% believing your wages could be garnished.

Ogilvy’s first work for H&R Block broke in December, likening tax season to other celebratory times, such as Christmas, football season and Hollywood award shows.

Credits

Date
Apr 10, 2023
Client :
H&R Block
Agency :
Ogilvy
Chief Marketing & Experience Officer :
Jill Cress
Vice President Corporate Communications :
Angela Davied
Director of Advertising & Creative Studio :
Wendy Fitch
President :
Chris Beresford-Hill
Chief Creative Officer :
Menno Kluin
Group Executive Creative Director :
Steve Fogel
Group Executive Creative Director :
Doug Fallon
Creative Director :
Todd Bradley
Creative Director :
Harry Barron
Associate Creative Director :
Andy Truong
Associate Creative Director :
Sarah Arrington
Junior Designer :
Nathan Kim
Senior Creative Project Manager :
Juliana Leandra
Senior Producer :
Regan Wallace
Producer :
Jessica Ryle
Senior Business Manager :
Deborah Steeg
Executive Partner :
Stephanie Ricke
Executive Group Director :
Emily Maier
Executive Vice President :
Drew Warren
Senior Vice President :
Stefanie Schmit
Account Director :
Rebecca Taylor
Group Strategy Director :
Iris Coldibelli
Editorial :
Hogarth
Executive Post Producer :
Ned Martin
Senior Post Producer :
Jennefer Frangella
Editor :
Alexandra Smith
Animator :
Vanessa Di Staulo
Assistant Editor :
Magdalynn Nowotarski
VP Director of Audio :
Dante Desole
Senior Audio Engineer :
Colin Blendell
Associate Audio Producer :
Kyle St. Agathe
Associate Creative Director :
Zach Buckner

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