Block's plans were announced in a press release Monday by CEO William Cobb. Block's brief announcement provided few details about the operation other than services will be provided through kiosks at the stores, which is the way its rival also operates through the big retail chain.

Jackson Hewitt was taken private after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this year and is the second largest tax chain in the country, much smaller than No. 1 Block. . A year ago, it had said it would operate about 2,000 Walmart sites during the 2011 tax season."We had an outstanding year in Walmart stores," according to Jackson Hewitt VP David G. Weselcouch. He says that his Parsippany, N.J.-based company is expanding its operations to 800 more Walmart stores for the 2012 tax season.