Date: 2007-04-10
Jackson Hewitt® Encourages Last-Minute Filers to Get Organized Now
Millions Have Yet To File
Simple Tips for Getting Started ─ And What Not To Overlook
PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 10, 2007 – With just one week left to file a 2006 income tax return and beat the April 17th deadline, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service® urges last-minute filers to delay no longer. While getting started can be daunting for many, the company outlines simple tips to streamline the process.
“According to the IRS, in 2006 over 55 million returns were filed after March 15, with approximately 13 million coming in during the final week before the deadline*,” notes Mark Steber, Vice President of Tax Resources, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. “Clearly, many tax filers wait until the final countdown before diving in to get their paperwork organized and their taxes prepared. This year, we encourage tax filers not to fall into a false sense of security with the two extra filing days. You don’t want to wait until the last minute, rush to complete your tax return and possibly miss out on commonly overlooked credits and deductions, as well as one-time only refunds, such as the telephone excise tax refund.”
To help tax filers get ready for their tax prep session, a helpful “What to Bring” checklist is available at the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service web site –
www.jacksonhewitt.com. The checklist can simplify the process of getting organized – and ensure that consumers are not missing important items that they will need to bring to their tax preparer. Some of those items may include:
- Social Security Card(s)
- Driver’s License(s)
- Dependents’ Social Security Numbers & Dates of Birth
- Wage Statements - Form W-2
- Pension or Retirement Income - Form 1099-R
- State Income Tax Refund Amount - Form 1099-G
- Unemployment Income - Form 1099-G
- Information on the Sale of Stocks or Bonds - Form 1099-B
- Lottery or Gambling Winnings - Form W-2G
- Lottery or Gambling Losses
- Income and Expenses From Rentals
- IRA Contributions
- Alimony Paid or Received
- Child Care Expenses & Provider Information
- Medical, Eye Care, and Dental Expenses
- Receipts or statements noting both Cash and Non-cash Charitable Donations
- Mortgage interest paid – Form 1098
- Real estate taxes paid – Form 1098
- Investment income – Schedule K-1
- Bill of sale showing the total sales tax paid for purchase of car, boat or plane
- Sales receipts detailing sales tax paid for purchase of supplies to do home improvement or renovations
- Sales receipts for energy efficient home improvements such as hot water heater, oil furnace, windows, and doors
- Total of self-employment income – Form 1099-MISC
- List of expenses against self-employment income
- Total tuition and fees paid – Form 1098-T
- Total student loan interest paid – Form 1098-E
The April 17 deadline is also the last day when taxpayers who have not filed a 2003 tax return can submit their documents. According to the IRS, there is still over $2.2 billion** in unclaimed refunds available from un-filed 2003 tax returns, and more than half of the taxpayers who have not filed are due a refund of $611 or more.
To assist Americans in getting started, Jackson Hewitt offices offer extended hours, with many locations opening early and closing late, or staying open around the clock.
“We encourage last-minute filers to review our online checklist and make an appointment with a tax preparer, who can review all of the credits and deductions they may qualify for, as well as make sure that all necessary documents are completed and filed properly,” said Steber.
Information on getting started, as well as a list of some of the most common overlooked deductions and credits, can be accessed by going to the Tax Resource Center at
www.jacksonhewitt.com. To speak with a local tax preparer or find the Jackson Hewitt office nearest to you, call 1-800-234-1040.
* SOI Tax Stats - Filing Season Statistics / Taxpayer Usage Study, Cumulative through the weeks ending 04/08/05 and 04/07/06 and through the weeks ending 4/15/05 and 4/14/06
* * IR-2007-51, March 6, 2007
About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX), with over 6,500 franchised and company-owned offices throughout the United States during the 2007 tax season, is an industry leader providing full service individual federal and state income tax preparation. Most offices are independently owned and operated. The Company is based in Parsippany, New Jersey. More information may be obtained at www.jacksonhewitt.com. To locate the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service office nearest to you, call 1-800-234-1040.
Contact: Melissa Connerton, CooperKatz & Company for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc., 212-455-8001,
mconnerton@cooperkatz.com