EmailBest Reviewed
Tax Preparation Services
- Best storefront tax preparation service H&R Block *Est. $150
- Best alternative to storefronts IRS Free File Program *Est. $0
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- Almost 7,000 locations
- Less expensive than H&R Block for most returns
- Not as many locations as H&R Block
- Lower reputation for customer service than H&R Block
- Refund loans carry high fees, interest rates
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. Numerous complaints posted on the Consumer Affairs website are evidence of poor customer service and misrepresentation of refund-anticipation loans, which carry high fees and interest rates. When pressed, most experts will recommend using H&R Block instead, though they say the IRS Free File program or investing in a piece of tax software are much better options.
The Jackson Hewitt tax preparation service is discussed by numerous sources, including Consumer Reports, Consumer Action and SmartMoney. We found a large number of people posting negative comments about this chain on the Consumer Affairs website.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Consumer Reports discusses the good and bad points of different types of tax preparation. When it comes to national chains like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt, the magazine notes that many seasonal tax preparers are underqualified. The article also cautions against refund-anticipation loans, which carry astronomical interest rates.
Review: Should You Do Your Own Taxes this Year?, Editors of Consumer Reports, Jan. 2008
This article presents a summary of a joint report by the National Consumer Law Center and the Consumer Federation of America study on tax refund loans like those offered by Jackson Hewitt and H&R Block. The loans are said to have extremely high interest rates, and the chains are described as taking advantage of lower-income tax filers.
Review: Final Report on Tax Refund Loans Released, Editors of Consumer Action, Apr. 1, 2008
Janet Paskin looks at all sorts of tax preparation services in this article, and she has some criticisms of H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt, whose preparers are described as underqualified and prone to making frequent errors. She also looks at these firms' non-tax 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 Your Tax Preparer Won't Tell You, Janet Paskin, Feb. 19, 2008
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.
Review: Jackson Hewitt, Contributors to ConsumerAffairs.com
Tax Preparation Services Runners Up:
1 pick including: ConsumerAffairs.com, SmartMoney.com…
