Jackson Hewitt Forms Strategic Alliance With Rent-A-Center Provides Cross Marketing Initiatives, Employee Discounts and In-Store Presence PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson Hewitt Inc. today announced an exclusive strategic alliance with the nation's leading rent-to-own company, Rent-A-Center. The alliance provides for exclusive cross marketing initiatives, employee discounts and in-store presence of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service in select Rent-A-Center locations nationwide. "Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has long been known for its retail relationships that allow us to more conveniently serve customers," said Michael Lister, President and COO, Jackson Hewitt Inc. "This new alliance allows both companies to promote our services to each other's employees and customers while providing exclusive savings on product rentals and tax preparation services. Rent-A-Center is a great match for our customer base, and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship." As part of the alliance, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service customers can obtain a coupon that will provide them with two weeks of free rental of an item at Rent-A-Center locations when they pay for two weeks on any new agreement and use their Jackson Hewitt Tax Service CashCard. The more than 15,000 Rent-A-Center employees nationwide will also reap the benefit of discounted tax preparation services at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service locations nationwide. Also during this inaugural phase of the alliance, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service will set up shop in select Rent-A-Center locations to provide tax preparation services throughout the upcoming tax season for the convenience of employees, customers and other nearby shoppers. "We are pleased to partner with Jackson Hewitt and to provide our customers a new level of convenience as well as expand our business through Jackson Hewitt's customer base," said Rent-A-Center Chairman and CEO Mark Speese. Jackson Hewitt CashCard is a MasterCard-branded, stored value card that is a convenient option to a cashiers check for those customers that electronically file and select a Refund Anticipation Loan or an Accelerated Check Refund. The CashCard can be used almost anywhere that accepts MasterCard, as well as to gain access to cash or make purchases at any PIN-based terminal or select ATMs. Rent-A-Center Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas, currently operates 2,605 company-owned stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico. The stores generally offer high-quality, durable goods such as home electronics, appliances, computers and furniture and accessories to consumers under flexible rental purchase agreements that generally allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed-upon rental period. For more information about Rent-A-Center, see http://www.rentacenter.com/. Jackson Hewitt Inc. is the fastest growing national tax preparation company and is currently the nation's second largest company in this category. With more than 4,200 locations in 48 states and the District of Columbia during Tax Season 2003, the company provides full service, individual federal and state income tax preparation through its proprietary computerized software system. Approximately 95 percent of all income tax returns filed through Jackson Hewitt locations are electronically filed (IRS e-file). Most Jackson Hewitt offices are independently owned and operated, and offer customers related tax preparation services such as Accelerated Check Refunds, Assisted Direct Deposit of refund checks, Refund Anticipation Loans and free electronic filing with paid tax preparation. To contact a tax preparer in your area, call 1-800-234-1040 or visit our website at http://www.jacksonhewitt.com/. DATASOURCE: Jackson Hewitt Inc. CONTACT: Sheila Cort of Jackson Hewitt Inc., +1-973-496-2702, Web site: http://www.jacksonhewitt.com/ http://www.rentacenter.com/

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