H&R Block

H&R Block at 1354 Lyell Ave in Rochester, NY, is a tax preparation office serving individuals and small businesses in the Lyell-Otis neighborhood on the city's west side. The office operates under both the H&R Block and Block Advisors brands, with Block Advisors providing specialized support for small business clients. H&R Block was founded in 1955 by brothers Henry and Richard Bloch and has since grown into one of the largest tax preparation companies in the country, with this Lyell Avenue location serving as one of several branches in the Rochester area.

This location provides a range of tax and financial services for both individual and business clients:

• Individual and small business tax preparation
• ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) application assistance, offered free with tax filing at participating locations
• Payroll services for small businesses
• Bookkeeping services
• Second Look Review of prior-year returns to check for missed deductions
• Tax audit support

The office is designated as small business certified, meaning its tax professionals have completed additional training focused on business tax needs. Appointments can be scheduled by phone at (585) 647-1486 or through the H&R Block website.

This branch carries H&R Block's small business certification, which distinguishes it from standard tax preparation offices by combining personal tax filing with year-round business services like payroll and bookkeeping under the Block Advisors name. The ITIN application assistance also makes it a resource for residents who need a taxpayer identification number to file federal returns.

The office sits along Lyell Avenue in the Lyell-Otis neighborhood of west Rochester, a corridor with deep roots as the historic center of Italian-American life in the city. In 2019, the Rochester City Council adopted a symbolic proclamation recognizing part of Lyell Avenue within the Edgerton and Brown Square neighborhoods as the "Little Italy Historic District." The area is accessible by city bus routes that run along Lyell Avenue, and the neighborhood includes nearby Jones Square Park and several community organizations. The Flatiron Building mural, located at the intersection of State Street and Lyell Avenue, is a recognizable local landmark depicting Italian-American cultural figures.