Steber outlined Jackson Hewitt's Top 5 Year-End Tax Tips:

1) Get Smart About 2009 Tax Changes: 2009 heralded a range of new 'pro-taxpayer' credits, including the First-time Homebuyer credit and the Making Work Pay credit. In addition, other popular tax benefits were expanded, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and two credits related to energy-saving home improvements (the Non-Business Energy Property Credit and the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit).

"Knowing what deductions and credits you may qualify for, and accurately claiming them on your tax return, can make a big difference in an expected refund amount. Checking in with a tax preparer before year-end can give you a jumpstart to help ensure you don't miss important tax benefits you may be qualified to receive," said Steber.

2) Make Advance Payments: Pre-paying expenses for college tuition, a mortgage or a quarterly state estimated tax payment now - rather than waiting until January - allows taxpayers to include any related deductions or eligible interest on a 2009 tax return, which, in turn, means additional savings.

3) Help Others - and Yourself: As the year comes to a close, many people make donations to a favorite charity. Keep good documentation when donating gently-used furniture, clothing or other items, given that the "fair market value" of these donations may be deductible.

4) Take Advantage of Job-Related Benefits: Most flexible spending or health savings programs require funds to be used by December 31 of each year and cannot be rolled over. Make sure to use that pre-tax money for approved expenses like daycare or medications, or for scheduling any medical appointments you've been postponing.

5) Deduct Taxes Paid for That New Car: If you're in the market for a new vehicle, or if you made a new car purchase after February 16 of 2009 (and before January 1, 2010), don't forget that you can deduct state and local sales and excise taxes, as long as you're the original owner.

For more information on the above-mentioned tips and other deductions and credits, please visit: http://www.jacksonhewitt.com/Resource-Center/Tips-and-Deductions/Tips or call 1-800-234-1040 to find the nearest location.

About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX), with approximately 6,600 franchised and company-owned offices throughout the United States during the 2009 tax season, is an industry leader providing full service individual federal and state income tax return preparation. Most offices are independently owned and operated. Jackson Hewitt is based in Parsippany, New Jersey. More information may be obtained at www.jacksonhewitt.com. To locate the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service(R) office nearest to you, call 1-800-234-1040.

Contact:

    Melissa Connerton                   Jorge Lavina
    CooperKatz & Company                CooperKatz & Company
    917-595-3039                        917-595-3047
    mconnerton@cooperkatz.com           jlavina@cooperkatz.com

SOURCE Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

http://www.jacksonhewitt.com

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About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX), with approximately 6,600 franchised and company-owned offices throughout the United States during the 2009 tax season, is an industry leader providing full service individual federal and state income tax return preparation. Most offices are independently owned and operated. Jackson Hewitt is based in Parsippany, New Jersey. More information may be obtained at www.jacksonhewitt.com. To locate the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service(R) office nearest to you, call 1-800-234-1040.

    Contacts:

    Investor Relations:                   Media Relations:
    David G. Weselcouch                   Sheila Cort
    Vice President,                       Vice President,
    Treasury and Investor Relations       Corporate Communications
    973-630-0821                          973-630-0680

SOURCE Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

http://www.jacksonhewitt.com

Steber highlighted several things first-time homebuyers racing to meet the midnight deadline of November 30 should keep in mind:

    --  The Internal Revenue Service considers the purchase date to be the date
        when the home closing takes place and when the title to the property is
        transferred to the new owner.  "This is an absolutely critical factor to
        consider, given the length of time it typically takes to close and the
        fast-approaching deadline," said Steber.

    --  To be considered a first-time homebuyer, an individual must not have
        owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the
        purchase.  "This means if you are married and both or one of you
        purchase a home, neither one of you can have owned a principal residence
        in the previous three years to qualify for the credit," he cautioned.

    --  This credit allows single taxpayers, or those who are married and file
        jointly, to claim 10 percent of the purchase price of their home, up to
        $8,000.  Those who are married and file separately can claim up to
        $4,000 on each return.

    --  Those who filed a 2008 income tax return before purchasing a home within
        the allotted timeframe can claim the credit by amending their 2008
        return, or by waiting to claim the credit when filing a 2009 tax return.

    --  First-time homebuyers should also be mindful of the income limits that
        define eligibility.  Single taxpayers who exceed $95,000 in annual
        income are not eligible, nor are those married taxpayers who file
        jointly with an annual income over $170,000.

    --  The credit for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before
        November 30, 2009 does not have to be repaid unless the home is then
        sold within 36 months of the closing date.

* http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html

More information about the first-time homebuyer credit and other home-related tax considerations is available online 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.

About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX), with approximately 6,600 franchised and company-owned offices throughout the United States during the 2009 tax season, is an industry leader providing full service individual federal and state income tax return preparation. Most offices are independently owned and operated. Jackson Hewitt is based in Parsippany, New Jersey. More information may be obtained at www.jacksonhewitt.com. To locate the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service(R) office nearest to you, call 1-800-234-1040.

    Contact:
    Jorge Lavina                         Melissa Connerton
    CooperKatz & Company                 CooperKatz & Company
    917-595-3047                         917-595-3039
    jlavina@cooperkatz.com               mconnerton@cooperkatz.com

SOURCE Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

http://www.jacksonhewitt.com