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Jackson Hewitt tax refund advance review
Last updated:
Access up to $3,200 with 0% APR — or double that if you're willing to pay a fee.
- Best for checking if you prequalify online before filling out a full application in person.
- Pick something else if you've defaulted on your student loans or have past tax liens — you might not qualify.
Starts at $48
Tax preparation fee
0%
APR
February 23, 2020
Application deadline
Details
| Product name | Jackson Hewitt No Fee Refund Advance |
|---|---|
| Maximum advance amount | $3,200 |
| Minimum advance amount | $200 |
| APR | 0% |
| Turnaround | Same day to receive funds on a prepaid card, 1 to 5 days for direct deposit |
| Tax preparation fee | Starts at $48 |
| Application deadline | February 23, 2020 |
| 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 |
Expert review
Review by
Kellye Guinan
kellye.guinan@findercrew.comKellye Guinan is a writer and editor with Finder and has years of experience in academic writing and research. Between her passion for books and her love of language, she works on creating stories and volunteering her time on worthy causes. She lives in the woods and likes to find new bug friends in between reading just a little too much nonfiction.
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.
Jackson Hewitt tax refund advance requirements
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
How Jackson Hewitt’s tax refund advance works
Jackson Hewitt offers three refund advances in partnership with MetaBank.
- Early Refund Advance. Small advances of $200, $300 or $500, which were available on December 16, 2019, for returning customers and December 18, 2019, for new customers. Applications closed January 19, 2020.
- No Fee Refund Advance. Advances of $200, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,250 and $3,200. These were available from January 2, 2020 to February 23, 2020.
- Go Big Refund Advance. These larger advances of $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $4,500, $5,500 and $6,400 were available between January 2, 2020 and February 2, 2020.
You can see if you prequalify for each online, but you’ll need to visit a participating Jackson Hewitt store to file your taxes and fill out the advance application. If you already took out an early refund advance, you can still apply for a larger advance once they become available, if you qualify.
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.
How much does it cost?
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% of the loan amount. This translates into something close to a 29% 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 starts at $48, but will vary depending on how complicated your taxes are.
Pros and cons
Jackson Hewitt may offer a handful of options when it comes to getting your refund early, but consider these potential drawbacks before applying.
Pros
- Small advances available for the holiday season
- No fees for most advances
- Get your advance on a debit card or sent to a bank account
Cons
- Not available at every branch
- 2% fee on advances over $3,200
- Must visit a store to apply in person
- Defaults on your student loans may impact approval
Jackson Hewitt reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 1 out of 5 stars, based on 43 customer reviews No reviews |
| Trustpilot Score | 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 15 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 12 October 2020 |
Jackson Hewitt doesn’t have many online customer reviews. But the few that are there are mixed. Many customers had a seamless tax preparation experience. But any others also reported errors on their tax returns, or being charged more than Jackson Hewitt originally quoted.
3 tax prep sites Jackson Hewitt
| Refund advance amount | APR | Tax preparation fee | Deadline | Online application | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H&R Block | $250 to $3,500 | 0% | Yes, but not stated | February 29, 2020 | No | Read review |
| Intuit TurboTax | $250 to $2,000 | 0% | Varies | February 7, 2020 — or until funds run out | Yes | Read review |
| Liberty Tax Service | $500 to $6,250 | 35.99% | Not stated | February 28, 2020 | No | Read review |
Not what you’re looking for? Compare other personal loan options
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How do I 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.
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 personal loans to explore other options available. Or, check out the alternatives to tax refund advances.