BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores is again poised to offer comprehensive tax filing services, including refund check cashing, to drive traffic.
As the discounter approaches Jan. 16-22, the biggest tax filing week of the year, Wal-Mart is partnering with Jackson Hewitt and H&R Block to double its in-store tax kiosks and lower the cost for tax preparation services.
Jackson Hewitt will offer free federal Form 1040EZ filing at its Walmart kiosks throughout the tax season and H&R Block will offer a free federal Form 1040EZ until Feb. 29. H&R Block will have 250 kiosks in Wal-Mart stores, while Jackson Hewitt is adding approximately 800 kiosks, bringing their Wal-Mart footprint to 2,800.
Wal-Mart said that in the coming weeks Americans will file their taxes and start cashing approximately $31 billion in tax refund checks. Walmart will charge $3 and $6 to cash checks. Others charge on average between 1% and 3% of the total tax refund, which averages nearly $3,000.
“Customers need to make every dollar count in this tough economy, and that’s why we’re committed to helping customers pay less for their financial services during tax season and throughout the year,” said Daniel Eckert, vice president of Walmart Financial Services, in a press station on Monday.
