In preparation for the upcoming tax season, Jackson Hewitt Tax service has introduced its first mobile application to put tax-related information in customers’ hands and make it easy to locate find a Walmart location.

The new app also lets users estimate their refund, locate a Jackson Hewitt office, schedule an appointment, track the status of the user’s tax return. It is available to download for free for both iPhone and Anroid smartphones.

“Consumers are increasingly turning to their mobile phones to complete everyday tasks and as a valuable information source,” said Debra Dowd, chief marketing officer, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Parsippany, NJ. “With the launch of Jackson Hewitt Mobile, consumers will have ready access to valuable tax tools and resources on the go.

“We know that the tax season is a concern for many people and that it may be easy to get overwhelmed, but by working with Jackson Hewitt or accessing the resources that we are making available both online at our Web site or now via the mobile app, we want to empower taxpayers and give them the tools they need,” she said.

“The app, which is free and available to iPhone and Android smartphone users, enables us to bring the strong history of tax expertise found within our network of approximately 6,500 locations right into the palm of users by giving them the tools they need, whether it’s looking to find out how much a tax refund may be or how to locate a Jackson Hewitt office or Walmart kiosk in their neighborhood – using your iPhone’s GPS technology – and quickly and easily schedule an appointment.”

Added convenience
Once a return is filed, the app will also let taxpayers track their tax returns, so they can know the status and approximate payment date – if they are due a refund – at any time.

The new app is part of a new push from Jackson Hewitt in advance of the April 15 deadline for filing taxes that also includes a new ad campaign and a Facebook sweepstakes.

The Digital Dance-Off Facebook Game and Sweepstakes is hosted on the Jackson Hewitt Facebook page.

The game encourages players to match the dance moves of their customized animated digital dancer to the rhythm of the music. Instant winners will be randomly selected to receive Walmart gift cards and players can enter to win a grand prize.

Jackson Hewitt is promoting the new app through a variety of means, including via email, point of sale collateral, direct mail and on its Web site.

Jackson Hewitt has nearly 6,500 locations including kiosks inside 2,800 Walmart locations.

“Our goal for the mobile app – like our goals for many of our products and services – is to make the tax preparation process more convenient and efficient for consumers and to help them become more comfortable in playing an active role with their taxes,” Ms. Dowd said.

Final Take
Chantal Tode is associate editor on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York