Best Reviewed
Tax Preparation Services
- Best storefront tax-preparation service H&R Block *Est. $190
- Free, in-person tax help IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance *Est. $0
Get info about new reports and updates
- Almost 7,000 locations
- Some specific locations get great customer ratings
- Not as many locations as H&R Block
- Lower reputation for customer service than H&R Block
- Knowledge and experience vary among preparers
Aside from some scattered comments by customers on online bulletin boards, the reviews we found about the Jackson Hewitt tax-preparation chain are almost uniformly negative. Financial experts and customers warn about this chain's seasonal tax preparers, whose level of expertise and experience varies widely. User reviews don't paint a picture that's much more flattering. Due to a change in banking policies, Jackson Hewitt is offering refund-anticipation loans of up to $1,500 this year; the fee for a $1,500 loan is $61.22, which experts point out is a 149% interest rate. Jackson Hewitt also offers what they call Assisted Refunds, which take eight to 15 days -- or about the same time as e-filing with direct deposit in many cases. When pressed, most experts recommend using H&R Block (*Est. $190 for an average return) instead, though if you meet income limits, you also may qualify for free tax help through two government programs: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and, if you're age 60 or over, Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE).
The Jackson Hewitt tax-preparation service is discussed by numerous sources, including ConsumerReports.org, the National Consumer Law Center and SmartMoney magazine. Customer comments can be found at ConsumerAffairs.org and Epinions.com.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Mystery shoppers visit storefront tax-preparation services -- including Jackson Hewitt -- in two cities. Issues uncovered are reported, and advantages of large tax-preparation chains are explained. Advice is offered on what to do to ensure the best results.
Review: Is That Tax Preparer Really Qualified?, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, March 2009
2. National Consumer Law Center
This report is the result of an investigation by the National Consumer Law Center along with local consumer groups in Arkansas, New York and North Carolina. Investigators found that many paid preparers were out of compliance with the laws governing refund-anticipation loans in their states and that some made errors on returns or even encouraged tax fraud.
Review: Tax Preparers Out of Compliance: Mystery Shopper Testing Exposes Violations of Refund Anticipation Loan Laws in Arkansas, New York and North Carolina, National Consumer Law Center, April 2010
3. SmartMoney.comDetails/Subscribe
Janet Paskin looks at all sorts of tax-preparation services in this article, and she has some criticisms of Jackson Hewitt, whose preparers are described as under qualified and prone to making frequent errors. She also looks at these firms' nontax products and says that audit insurance is not necessary. The money you pay for this extra protection doesn't really add much to the free guarantee, she says.
Review: 10 Things Tax Preparers Won't Tell You, Janet Paskin, May 2009
A very large number of disgruntled customers post comments here about their dissatisfaction with Jackson Hewitt, citing numerous filing errors, poor customer service and misrepresentation of refund-anticipation loans. However, this site specifically looks for negative feedback and other tax-preparation services are not regarded any better.
Review: Jackson Hewitt, Contributors to ConsumerAffairs.com
5. Epinions.com
About 35 people rate and review Jackson Hewitt, giving it 2 stars out of 5 overall. There are some positive reviews, but many customers complain about the company's high fees and what they feel are deceptive business practices. Recent reviews complain that customers were not told that their refund anticipation loan might not be approved until after they'd had their tax return prepared.
Review: Jackson Hewitt, Contributors to Epinions.com
Tax Preparation Services Runners Up:
1 pick including: ConsumerAffairs.com, SmartMoney.com…
