Most taxpayers need to do nothing other than file their 2009 tax return as they normally would. The IRS will determine individual eligibility and the amount of your rebate check based on your 2009 tax return. Your payment will be issued to you by the IRS in the same manner your refund check was issued. Click here to learn more about the Economic Stimulus Plan and how it may affect you.

The cost of income tax preparation is based upon the complexity of your tax return. Fees are set locally at each Jackson Hewitt office. To learn more, please contact your local Jackson Hewitt Tax Service office.

When you file electronically and choose one of the free IRS Direct options, you can receive your refund directly from the IRS by direct deposit in approximately 8 to 15 days. You can also choose to have the IRS mail you a check in approximately 21 to 28 days. IRS Direct is free with paid tax preparation. We also make a variety of financial products available to qualified customers through our lending partners if you choose to receive money faster. Fees, terms and conditions apply. Ask your Jackson Hewitt tax preparer for details.

 If you filed your tax return through Jackson Hewitt Tax Service^®, then you can get a copy of your records at any Jackson Hewitt Tax Service office across the country. Otherwise, as long as you filed your tax return with the IRS, you can request a photocopy or a computer transcript (a line-by-line listing) of the information on your filed tax return. Photocopies and transcripts are free from the IRS. If you need an actual copy (not a photocopy), then you must complete Form 4506 and pay a $57 fee for each year requested, for your filed tax return and all related tax information, such as your Form W-2.

Items you may need for your tax interview include:

• Wage statements/W-2s
• Self-employment business income and expenses/1099-MISC
• Commissions received/paid
• Pension, retirement income/1099-R 
• Unemployment income/1099-G 
• Canceled Debt Amount/1099-C 
• Social Security income/SSA-1099 
• IRA contributions
• Statements on the sales of stocks or bonds/1099-B 
• Interest and dividend income/1099-INT/1099-DIV
• Lottery or gambling winnings/losses
• State refund amount/1099-G
• Income and expenses from rentals
• Alimony paid or received
• Record of purchase or sale of residence
• Medical and dental expenses
• Real estate and personal property taxes
• State or local taxes paid
• Estimated taxes or foreign taxes paid
• Cash and non-cash charitable donations
• Mortgage or home equity loan interest paid/1098
• Unreimbursed employment-related expenses
• Job-related educational expenses
• Educator expenses
• Tuition and Education Fees/1098-T
• Student loan interest/1098-E
• Casualty or theft losses
• Child care expenses and provider information
• Social Security card(s)
• Driver's license(s)
• Dependents' Social Security numbers and dates of birth
• Information concerning Stimulus payment check
• Last year's Federal and State tax return

Your employer should mail your Form W-2 to you by January 31. However, you may be able to download your W-2 even before it arrives in the mail. If ADP, TALX or CIC Plus issue W-2s for your employer, then ask your Jackson Hewitt tax preparer if you can use the free W-2 download program.

We have more than 6,000 offices throughout the United States. To find a location near you, use our Office Locator  or call 1-800-234-1040. Most of our offices have flexible hours, so you can stop in at your convenience or schedule an appointment to file your tax return. 

Use Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. If you get married or divorced, if a child is born, or if you no longer can claim a child as your dependent, you will need to complete a new Form W-4. When you begin to work at a new company, your employer must give you a Form W-4 to complete. You can also request a Form W-4 from your employer at any time to reflect a change in your tax situation.

After you pay for tax preparation, you will receive several Refer-A-Friend certificates from your tax preparer. Fill them out and pass them on to a friend who did not go to Jackson Hewitt Tax Service last year. When your friend redeems the Refer-A-Friend certificate at Jackson Hewitt, we'll send you a cash reward! There's no limit to the number of customers you can refer.

The Earned Income Credit (EIC) is applicable to low-income workers who may or may not have a qualifying child, or children, living with them. If you can take the EIC, then it is subtracted from the tax owed. The credit can be refunded even if you don’t owe any tax. If you have one qualifying child and your earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) are each less than $35,463 ($40,463 if filing Married Filing Jointly), then you could be eligible for a maximum credit of $3,043. The maximum credit is $5,028 if you have two qualifying children and your earned income and your AGI are both less than $40,295 ($45,295 if Married Filing Jointly). New this year, if you have three or more qualifying children and your earned income and AGI are each less than $43,279 ($48,279 if Married Filing Jointly) the maximum credit is $5,657.  You may still qualify for a maximum credit of $457 if you do not have children and your income is less than $13,440 ($18,440 if Married Filing Jointly). Ask your Jackson Hewitt tax preparer for more information. 

When you pay for tax preparation at Jackson Hewitt, you are automatically covered under our FREE Accuracy Guarantee  - it's our Basic Guarantee. It entitles you to reimbursement of penalties and interest charged by a taxing authority if a Jackson Hewitt tax preparer makes an error preparing your tax return. For an additional fee, you can purchase the Gold Guarantee^® for extra, worry-free coverage. If you purchase the Gold Guarantee and a taxing authority notifies you of an error on your tax return, contact Jackson Hewitt, present your Gold Guarantee Certificate, and we’ll work with you to resolve the issue, which may include reimbursement for any additional tax liability or reduction in your refund amount up to $5,000. Ask your tax preparer for current pricing of the Gold Guarantee and a copy of the Jackson Hewitt Commitment to Quality brochure which explains our guarantees and their terms and conditions.

Age is a factor in the qualifying child test, but a qualifying relative can be any age. 

As long as the following dependency exemption tests are met, you may claim him or her: 

• Qualifying child or qualifying relative test 
• Dependent taxpayer test 
• Citizenship or resident test 
• Joint return test  

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. The bill is intended to provide a stimulus to the U.S. economy in the wake of the economic downturn. The bill includes federal tax cuts, expansion of unemployment benefits and other social provisions, including domestic spending in education, health care, and infrastructure, including the energy sector.

If you claim your daughter as a dependent on your income tax return, she cannot claim herself on her income tax return. 

If an individual is filing his or her own tax return, and the individual can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, the individual cannot claim his or her own personal exemption.  

For 2009 the standard deduction is: 

If your filing status is :           Then your standard deduction is: 

Single                                       $5,450      

Married Filing Joint                 $10,900 

Qualifying Widower                 $10,900                   

Married Filing Separately       $5,450            

Head of Household                 $8,000        

Yes, however for 2009 the first $2,400 is not taxable.

If you paid real estate taxes on your residence located within the U.S. and you cannot claim itemized deductions you can add the amount paid up to $500.00 ($1,000 Married Filing Jointly) to your standard deduction.  

Deductible educational expenses include: 

Amounts spent for tuition, books, supplies, laboratory fees and similar items. They also include the cost of correspondence courses, as well as formal training and research you do as part of an educational program.
Transportation and travel expenses to attend qualified educational activities may also be deductible.  

Generally, you can claim the Hope Credit if all three of the following requirements are met: 

The Lifetime Learning Credit is a nonrefundable tax credit with a dollar limit per family that is available for qualified tuition and related expenses of higher education whether the student is at the undergraduate or graduate level, a professional degree student, or a student acquiring or improving their job skills. 

The Lifetime Learning Credit is calculated by taking a percentage of the qualified educational expenses paid.