In a Nutshell
Jackson Hewitt offers tax refund anticipation loans around the beginning of tax season. But to qualify, you’ll have do your taxes with Jackson Hewitt.Pros
- Tax-advance loans range from $500 to $3,500
Cons
- Jackson Hewitt must do your taxes in order to be eligible for tax refund loan option
Jackson Hewitt’s loan options
Jackson Hewitt is a tax advisory firm that offers tax refund anticipation loans around the beginning of tax season. Here’s a look at the options and how they work.
If it’s tax time and you’re ready to file
- Tax Refund Advance — Once you’ve filed your tax return with Jackson Hewitt, you could qualify to apply for a Tax Refund Advance loan. With this loan, available amounts are $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500 and $3,500. (For the 2025 tax year, Tax Refund Advance loans are available from Jan. 2, 2026, through April 15, 2026.) The Tax Refund Advance loan is paid back by your tax refund and has a 35.99% annual percentage rate. The loan’s cost depends on the amount of the loan you get and how long it takes to pay it back.
If it’s not quite tax time
- Early Tax Refund Advance — If you qualify, you could also apply for an Early Tax Refund Advance loan before you file your tax return (for the 2025 tax year, the window to apply is from Dec. 11, 2025, to Jan. 11, 2026). If approved, you can access $300, $500, $1,000 or $1,500. The Early Tax Refund Advance loan is paid back by your tax refund and has a 35.99% annual percentage rate. The loan’s cost depends on the amount of the loan you get and how long it takes to pay it back.
Other details about Jackson Hewitt loans
The tax refund advance loans are funded by First Century Bank, N.A.
Keep in mind that if you want a tax refund advance loan from Jackson Hewitt, you’ll need to do your taxes with the firm. This can be a drawback if you’re already comfortable with another tax preparer, want to do your taxes yourself, or may not want to pay tax preparation fees.
Who is a Jackson Hewitt tax advance loan good for?
If you think you’ll get a tax refund and want a cash advance on it, a Jackson Hewitt loan may be worth considering.
And since hiring Jackson Hewitt to do your taxes is a requirement for the tax refund advance loans, you may want to look elsewhere if you’d rather stick with your current tax preparation method.
How to apply with Jackson Hewitt
To apply for any Jackson Hewitt loan, you’ll need to visit a local Jackson Hewitt office.
To apply for the Early Tax Refund Advance loan, you’ll need to provide your most recent pay stub and a government-issued photo ID.
For the Tax Refund Advance loan, you’ll need to bring your W-2 form, a government-issued photo ID and all necessary tax documents to complete your tax return.
How can I get my tax refund fast?
Once the IRS accepts your tax return, most refunds arrive within 21 days. If you need money sooner, a refund anticipation loan may be a good fit.
Also known as a refund advance, this type of short-term loan lets you borrow against your expected federal tax refund while waiting for the IRS to process it.
The money you receive isn’t your actual refund — it’s a temporary loan. Once your refund is issued, the lender automatically deducts the borrowed amount and any fees, and you’ll get whatever remains.
TurboTax offers eligible e-filers a Refund Advance loan — a no-cost advance of up to $4,000 of your expected refund in your Credit Karma Money™ Spend account, which is free to open if you don’t already have one. For a higher limit, those who file with TurboTax Expert Full Service can get their full refund amount, up to $10,000.
Note that Refund Advance may not be available for all tax filers everywhere, so you’ll want to check out the full terms and conditions before you apply.
Credit Karma members also may be able to get their tax refund up to five days early through early refund access. It’s available for free when your tax return is deposited into a Credit Karma Money™ Spend account — no matter who prepares your taxes.
Keep in mind that if you pay your tax preparation fee from your federal refund or take out a Refund Advance, you won’t be eligible for early refund access.
*$0 loan fees, 0% APR. Terms apply. TurboTax loans issued by WebBank. IRS accepts returns starting late January.
*Approval Odds are not a guarantee of approval. Credit Karma determines Approval Odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Karma members who were approved for the personal loan, or whether you meet certain criteria determined by the lender. Of course, there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but knowing your Approval Odds may help you narrow down your choices. For example, you may not be approved because you don’t meet the lender’s “ability to pay standard” after they verify your income and employment; or, you already have the maximum number of accounts with that specific lender.