Unfortunately, federal income tax refunds are expected to be smaller this year for millions of Americans.
Wouldn’t it be nice to double your refund?
That’s the idea behind a new sweepstakes contest from Jackson Hewitt, the second-largest tax preparation company in the U.S. (The biggest is H&R Block.)
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the company is holding a weekly “Double Your Refund” sweepstakes from now through April 2 — and you don’t even have to file your taxes with Jackson Hewitt to enter the drawing.
Over 12 weeks, 40 grand prize winners will get their federal tax refunds matched, to a maximum of $15,000. Even if you’re not getting a big refund, the minimum prize if you win is $1,500.
Additionally, every week 40 runner-up entrants will be randomly selected to win $400 apiece. How’s that for a nice tax season surprise?
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To Enter the Sweepstakes, Do Your Taxes
There are two ways to enter the sweepstakes, and you can enter only once.
The most straightforward way is to have your income taxes done by Jackson Hewitt, which prepares 2 million tax returns a year at 5,600 locations all over the U.S. You’ll automatically be entered into the contest that way.
But maybe you’re doing your own taxes instead. Hey, no problem! In fact, here’s our ultimate guide to filing your taxes in 2023.
There’s another way to enter the sweepstakes, and you don’t have to be a Jackson Hewitt customer. You do have to physically mail something, though — and you have to do your taxes.
You mail in an entry, and you have to do it by the Monday following the week that you file your federal tax return.
This is kind of a way to encourage early tax filing. Winners are chosen weekly in random drawings during the 12-week sweepstakes period. So the sooner you enter, the more chances you have to win.
The contest runs through April 2. The IRS begins accepting tax returns Jan. 23, and this year’s tax deadline is Tuesday, April 18. Here’s our guide to the 2023 federal tax deadlines.
How to Enter the Sweepstakes by Mail
Mail your entry with your name, address, email address, phone number and the date your tax return was filed, stated as “Federal Tax Return Filed on XX/XX/23.”
Your entry must be in a No. 10 business envelope (a standard business envelope) with proper postage addressed to “Jackson Hewitt Double Your Refund Sweepstakes,” P.O. Box 16470, Rochester, NY 14616. Write your filing date on the envelope stated as: “Federal Tax Return Filed on XX/XX/23.”
All winners will be notified by email, phone or mail. For full rules, terms and conditions of the sweepstakes, go here.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The SS.
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