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Jackson Hewitt tax refund advance review
Access up to $4,000 with 0% APR — or $6,000 if you're willing to pay a fee.
Bottom line: This tax preparation service offers advances as early as December 14 to help you cover holiday expenses. But it’s not available in every state — and you have to apply in person.
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Details
| Product name | Jackson Hewitt No Fee Refund Advance |
|---|---|
| Maximum advance amount | $4,000 |
| Minimum advance amount | $500 |
| APR | 0% |
| Turnaround | Same day to receive funds on a prepaid card, 1 to 5 days for direct deposit |
| Tax preparation fee | Not disclosed |
| Application deadline | February 21, 2021 |
| States serviced | Only available at participating branches |
| Requirements | Considers identity verification; payment history with the IRS; status of your student loans, child support and tax liens |
Pros
- 0% APR on advances up to $4,000
- Advances up to $700 available in December
- Get funds sent to your bank account or on a prepaid debit card
Cons
- Not available in every state
- Must apply in person
- 2.5% fee on advances over $4,000
Types of Jackson Hewitt tax refund advances
Jackson Hewitt offers three refund advances in partnership with MetaBank.
- Early Refund Advance. Small advances of $200, $300 or $700, which were available on December 14, 2020 for returning customers, and December 16, 2021 for new customers. Applications closed January 17, 2021.
- No Fee Refund Advance. Advances of $500, $750, $1,000, $1,250 and $2,500 and $4,000. These are available from January 2, 2021 to February 21, 2021.
- Go Big Refund Advance. These larger advances of $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $4,000, $5,000 and $6,000 were available between January 31, 2020 and January 31, 2021.
How it works
You can see if you prequalify for a Jackson Hewitt tax refund advance online. But you’ll need to visit a participating Jackson Hewitt store or Walmart to file your taxes and fill out the advance application.
If approved, funds are available within 24 hours if you choose to receive them on an American Express Serve Card. Otherwise, it could take one to five business days to have the advance deposited into your bank account.
To pay back your advance, Jackson Hewitt automatically deducts the amount from your tax refund once it’s processed by the IRS — which means no extra work on your end.
Jackson Hewitt tax refund advance costs
Jackson Hewitt’s Early Refund Advance and No Fee Refund Advance don’t come with interest or fees. But the Go Big Refund Advance comes with a fee of 2.5% of the loan amount. This translates into something close to a 30% APR for most advances, though it depends on how long the IRS takes to send Jackson Hewitt your refund.
You’ll also have to pay a tax preparation fee to use Jackson Hewitt’s services. This fee started at $48 in 2020, but we weren't able to verify the cost in 2021. And the fee will vary depending on how complicated your taxes are.
How to qualify
Jackson Hewitt’s tax refund advance is offered in partnership with MetaBank. While it doesn’t disclose exact requirements, it looks at the following criteria to determine if you qualify:
- Identity verification
- Payment history with the IRS
- Status of your student loans, child support and tax liens
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Jackson Hewitt reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.3 out of 5 stars, based on 48 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score | 4 out of 5 stars, based on 24 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 08 February 2021 |
Jackson Hewitt gets mostly negative customer reviews and complaints. Some people are pleased with their experience. But one customer claims they were charged as much as $600 in tax preparation fees — which they wouldn't have paid if they didn't need the refund. Other customers report they were denied for a loan or that there were errors on their taxes.
How to apply
Jackson Hewitt requires you to visit a branch to have your taxes prepared and apply in person. But you can see if you prequalify online by following these steps:
- Visit Jackson Hewitt’s website and navigate to the Refund advance page.
- Click See if you prequalify.
- Enter your federal tax refund amount from last year and select if you received the full amount.
- Select if you had money taken out of your taxes for childcare, back taxes or student loans.
- Select if you filed through Jackson Hewitt last year. If not, select how you filed.
- Enter information about yourself, including your Social Security number and full address.
- Read the disclosures and click I agree to see if you prequalify.
If you prequalify, you will see your estimated advance amount. You will still need to set up an appointment at a Jackson Hewitt branch to file your taxes and finalize your advance.
Will applying affect my credit?
No, Jackson Hewitt won’t check your credit when you apply for any of its refund advances. And while MetaBank runs a credit check, it relies on a soft credit pull that doesn't affect your score.
What documents do I need to apply?
When you visit a participating Jackson Hewitt branch, you will need to bring the following information:
- Proof of income
- Current W-2
- Social Security number
- Government-issued photo ID or equivalent
Depending on your other income and debts, you may be required to bring more information. Contact your local Jackson Hewitt branch to discuss any other documents you may need.
Need a larger loan amount? Read our guide to tax refund advances to explore other options available. Or, check out the alternatives to tax refund advances.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about Jackson Hewitt tax refund advances.
Am I eligible if I'm self-employed?
Yes. If you can verify your income, you’re eligible for a refund advance through Jackson Hewitt.
Is the Go Big Refund Advance available in every state?
Almost. The Go Big Refund Advance is available everywhere except Connecticut.
Review by
Kellye Guinan
kellye.guinan@findercrew.comKellye Guinan is a seasoned financial writer with over 500 articles under her belt spanning all things loans from auto to personal to business and everything in between. With four years in the field and five years of research experience, she's able to make complex personal finance decisions easier for anyone to tackle. When she's not up to her knees learning about the latest trends in lending, she spends her time improving her own financial literacy and expertise — and maintaining a Duolingo streak of over 1,300 days.
Expert review
Jackson Hewitt offers the best of both worlds: You can see if you’re eligible for a refund advance online, then visit a Jackson Hewitt store for personalized tax advice. And since it offers direct deposit alongside a prepaid card option, you won’t be stuck with another card in your wallet if you don’t want it. Its smaller advances are interest free, and it also offers a larger option up to $6,400 if you’re willing to pay a fee.
However, you still need to visit a branch to officially apply — there’s no online application. And direct deposits can take up to five business days to hit your account. It also considers the status of your student loans, child support and tax liens when deciding if you qualify.
Not sure Jackson Hewitt is right for you? Consider taking out a personal loan instead.