Macclesfield took the lead in the seventh minute when the ball span off the defender Marlon Broomes and into the path of Matthew Tipton who chipped David Lucas from a narrow angle.
Lucas was soon taken off injured and his deputy Tepi Moilanen was immediately in the action making a double save to deny first Tipton and then Chris Priest.
Preston equalised on the half-hour when defender Danny Adams slipped on the six-yard line leaving Eric Skora to half-volley home from close range.
Former Toulouse winger Iain Anderson twice went close for the visitors either side of the break but the game only came to life again in the dying stages.
Tipton shot narrowly over the bar for the Silkmen while substitute winger Eddie Lewis forced a sharp reaction save from Steve Wilson.
The Macclesfield defence then went to sleep to gift Jackson a free header in the last minute.