Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Jackson Hewitt was founded in 1982 by John Hewitt, a former H&R Block regional manager. Today, the tax preparation service has over 3,300 franchised outlets and prepares more than 2.2 million tax returns annually. For taxpayers who don't want to go into one of those company outlets, Jackson Hewitt also provides low-price tax software. Read our full Jackson Hewitt tax software review to see if it's a good fit for you.
Jackson Hewitt
Best for: Free expert assistance
Pricing
Federal: $25 | State: $0
A great pick to consider for a myriad of return types. The same standard fee applies to different tax return needs and you can lock in pricing for three years.
Ease of Use
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Support
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Pricing
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Features
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Fair = Poor- Up-front, transparent pricing of $25, including federal and state returns
- Handy document checklist
- Live-chat customer support
- The program can be a little confusing
- Users can't import information from last year to save time
- No free edition available, even for simple returns
- Only one software option, although the one package supports all tax situations
Jackson Hewitt is a good fit for: Taxpayers who are happy with a no-frills option. It's also good for those with more than one state return to file.
Alternatives to consider
Offer
Rating
Pricing
Next Steps
TaxSlayer
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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TurboTax
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Full Jackson Hewitt review
Top features
Here are some of the perks of using Jackson Hewitt tax prep software.
Guarantees
Though guarantees have become an industry standard, Jackson Hewitt seems pretty serious about the protection it offers:
- Maximum Refund guarantee: If another tax filing finds you a larger refund or shows that you owe less, Jackson Hewitt will refund your prep fee and give you $100 (only for federal returns).
- 100% Accuracy guarantee: If Jackson Hewitt software calculations are not 100% accurate, the company will pay any IRS penalties and interest.
Easy access to software
You can purchase Jackson Hewitt's software in minutes by going to the company website and logging in.
Dependable pricing
You never have to wonder how much it's going to end up costing you to prepare your tax return. Jackson Hewitt's $25 flat fee takes the guesswork out of the annual cost of filing.
Price lock
Jackson Hewitt customers who purchase online tax software at $25 this tax season lock in that rate for two more years, meaning there's no chance of having to pay more until they file 2024 taxes in early 2025. All they need to do is save their Jackson Hewitt login information and use the same login each year.
Nearby offices
If filing online by yourself doesn't seem like a good fit, it's easy to get help in person because Jackson Hewitt has more than 6,000 offices nationwide -- nearly 3,000 of which are in Walmart stores. Or, if the taxpayer prefers, they can drop taxes off and allow a tax expert to finish them for as little as $59, depending on the complexity of their return and their tax situation
Jackson Hewitt support
Jackson Hewitt offers tax filers support via phone, online chat, or live assistance. While some taxpayers may miss the help forum provided by other tax preparation companies, Jackson Hewitt provides a blog full of up-to-date information that users may find helpful.
| Support Option | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes |
| Email Support | No |
| Help Forums | No |
| Online Chat | Yes |
| In-Person Branches | Yes |
| Access to Licensed Tax Pros | In person only |
Data source: Jackson Hewitt
Jackson Hewitt is right for you if:
- You're relatively comfortable completing your own state and federal return and don't require much handholding.
- You don't have a basic return that you could prepare for free through another company.
Read more: Best Tax Software
Our Taxes Experts
Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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