Jackson Hewitt Review: Do Your Taxes for an Affordable Flat Fee

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Whether you want to file your taxes online or with a tax professional, Jackson Hewitt® can help you. The tax preparation service offers one of the least expensive online tax products available, and even in-person pricing can be relatively cheap if you have a simple return.

The company also provides extra features, including a maximum refund guarantee, a tax refund advance loan, sweepstakes and more.

Types of Returns and Pricing

Jackson Hewitt offers both online and in-person tax preparation services. Here's a quick breakdown of each option.

Jackson Hewitt Online

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Jackson Hewitt Online offers one of the most competitive prices on the market. Users pay a flat $25 fee for federal and state returns, regardless of how complicated the return is. Considering some similar tax products charge double this for both federal and state filings, Jackson Hewitt customers stand to save a lot of money. While the online experience is more bare-bones than what's offered by competitors, so long as you're confident in your tax filing knowledge (or your return is relatively simple) Jackson Hewitt Online is a great cost-effective option.

Unlike other popular tax preparation services, Jackson Hewitt doesn't offer multiple tiers. Regardless of how complex your tax situation is, you pay $25 to file both your federal and state returns. The service provides step-by-step guidance through the online tax filing process, and you can use the live chat function to ask any questions you have along the way. 

Jackson Hewitt will automatically check your work during the process to help you spot potential errors. Other features include:

• Tax refund estimator
• Refund tracker
• Tax document checklist
• Desktop and mobile experience

Unfortunately, the average user can't import forms like their W-2, which is a common feature among other tax preparation services. And based on customer reviews, the online platform isn't as intuitive, especially if you have a more complicated tax return.

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Jackson Hewitt

Jackson Hewitt Tax Prep

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Jackson Hewitt's Tax Prep services offer customers a nice mix of flexibility and accessibility. Anyone who wants to meet with a Tax Pro in-person can do so at one of Jackson Hewitt's numerous nationwide office locations, which include participating Walmart stores. If you'd prefer to not be directly involved with your tax filing, you also have the option to drop off your documents and let a Tax Pro take care of the rest.

If your tax situation is complicated or you don't want to take the time to file yourself, you can work with a Jackson Hewitt tax professional in person. Simply drop off your documents at a Jackson Hewitt office or participating Walmart locations. Jackson Hewitt guarantees you'll receive the largest possible refund or you'll get your money back, plus an extra $100. Returns filed through this service are also backed by Jackson Hewitt's Lifetime Accuracy Guarantee®.

Before filing your return, the tax professional will schedule a 15-minute phone call to go over it and answer any questions. Then, you'll either e-sign the return or visit the office in person to sign it before filing. You can track the status of your return using your MYJH account.

Alternatively, you can visit an office or Walmart store and get full service in person. Pricing for hands-on service can vary depending on the complexity of your return. Unfortunately, Jackson Hewitt doesn't provide specific prices for in-person tax preparation, so if you're searching for the best price for your tax situation, you may have to do a little legwork to get an estimate.

Features

Jackson Hewitt provides many features that can make the filing process easier on you, including:

• Step-by-step guidance
• Automatic error checking
• List of supported forms
• Tax refund estimator and tracker
• Other estimators and calculators
• Document checklist
• Online resources and blog posts

Additionally, the company is running its second annual sweepstakes in 2024. Winners get their tax refund doubled, up to a maximum of $10,000, and if you don't qualify for a refund, you could still win $1,500. Runners-up can each get $200.

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Refund Options

Jackson Hewitt offers several refund options:

• Direct deposit: The easiest route and there's no fee for that option.
• Paper check: Have your refund mailed from the IRS.
• Card: You can get your refund on a Serve® American Express® Card, which is a prepaid debit card. You can get your refund a few days earlier with this option.
• Early Refund Advance: Jackson Hewitt can advance you up to $1,000 with this service, but you'll need a tax return of at least $2,600 to qualify. This is a secured loan that is paid back by your tax return.
• No Fee Refund Advance: This is a similar loan as the above option, but you can get up to $6,500 if you meet qualifications. This is also a secured loan paid back by your tax return.

Mobile App

Jackson Hewitt Online doesn't have a mobile app for its tax preparation services, but the website is optimized for both a browser and mobile experience. If you want to file from your mobile device, you can easily upload forms and documents by taking pictures or uploading them from your device's files.

Jackson Hewitt Online Support

If Jackson Hewitt Online users have a question during the filing process, they can contact Jackson Hewitt's support team by phone or live chat. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time.

If you want in-person support, simply visit your local Jackson Hewitt office or participating Walmart location.  Alternatively, you can peruse the company's frequently asked questions page for basic answers. 

Is Jackson Hewitt Secure?

Your tax return contains a lot of personal and sensitive information, so it's natural to prioritize security in the process. 

The company encrypts all of the data you transmit and gives you the chance to set up two-factor authentication to avoid a potential unauthorized login. If you forget to set that up or someone still manages to get past it, you'll also get alerts every time there's account activity to ensure that you know what's going on.

Jackson Hewitt and Audits

If Jackson Hewitt prepared your tax return and the IRS decides to audit your filing, you can contact the tax preparation service, and it will explain to the IRS how your return was prepared. 

If you're dealing with other tax issues, such as wage garnishments, tax liens, delinquent returns, offers-in-compromise and more, Jackson Hewitt provides tax resolution services with transparent pricing that include a free consultation. The company will work with the IRS on your behalf and help you find the right solution. However, it's worth noting that the company will not act as your legal advisor or representative before the IRS.

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Jackson Hewitt Guarantees

Depending on which product you opt for, Jackson Hewitt offers a few guarantees to give taxpayers peace of mind as they go through the filing process:

• (In-Store) Maximum Refund Guarantee: If you get a larger refund or a smaller tax bill with a different tax preparation service, Jackson Hewitt will refund your federal return fees and give you a $100 bonus.
• (In-Store) Lifetime Accuracy Guarantee®: If you have to pay interest or penalty charges due to an error caused by Jackson Hewitt, the company will pay it for you.
• (Online) Satisfaction Guarantee: If you're not completely satisfied with the online tax preparation experience, Jackson Hewitt will refund your filing fee. Just note that printing or electronically filing your return reflects that you're satisfied. 
• Accuracy Guarantee: If you end up having to pay the IRS interest or penalties due to an error in Jackson Hewitt Online's software, the company will cover those costs.

The Bottom Line

Jackson Hewitt offers online tax preparation with straightforward, inexpensive pricing. If you want in-person service, Jackson Hewitt outshines its competitors by providing easy access to professionals with almost 5,700 locations. Offices and Walmart locations are even open evenings and weekends for more convenient access.

However, Jackson Hewitt isn't transparent about its in-person services, listing tiers but not including the pricing for each, so you'll need to talk to someone to find out what you should expect. Also, because most offices are independently owned and operated, your experience may vary depending on which office or Walmart location you choose. 

Compared to other online services, you may need a little more experience or be willing to take extra time to file your return using Jackson Hewitt Online, particularly if it's a complex return.

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