The main places offering refund advances online

Most refund advances come from tax preparation companies and online lenders, not from the IRS itself. The companies that prepare your taxes—TurboTax, H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and others—offer refund advances directly through their platforms. You can also find refund advances through standalone online lenders that specialize in short-term loans, though these typically charge higher fees.

The process is fastest when you use the same company to both prepare your taxes and request the advance. They already have your tax information and can move money to your bank account within one to three business days in many cases. If you go to a lender outside your tax preparation company, you will need to upload copies of your tax return or documents showing what you expect to receive.

A few tax preparation companies also offer advances in physical locations—H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt have offices nationwide—but the online versions of these same services are usually faster and available around the clock.

Key Takeaways

  • Tax preparation companies like TurboTax, H&R Block, and Jackson Hewitt offer refund advances through their websites, usually with funds arriving within one to three business days.
  • Online lenders outside the tax preparation world also offer refund advances, but typically charge higher fees and require you to upload proof of your expected refund.
  • Using the same company to prepare your taxes and request the advance is fastest because they already have your information.
  • Refund advances are loans you repay from your actual tax refund, not information programs, and the fees reduce what you ultimately receive.

Tax preparation companies with online refund advances

TurboTax offers a refund advance called the "Refund Advance Loan" through its website. You prepare your return in TurboTax, and if you meet their requirements, you can request the advance before you file. The money goes to your bank account, and the loan is repaid automatically when your refund arrives. TurboTax charges a fee for this service, which varies by year.

H&R Block offers "Refund Advance" through its online tax software and through H&R Block offices. Online, you can request it while preparing your return on their website. H&R Block also partners with certain banks to offer advances, so you may see options when you log in to prepare your taxes.

Jackson Hewitt advertises refund advances on its website and through its tax preparation software. You can request one while preparing your return online, and they market same-day funding in some cases, though this depends on when you submit your request and your bank's processing speed.

Liberty Tax and 1st Global Inc. (which operates under various brand names) also offer refund advances through their online platforms. The process is similar: prepare your return, request the advance, and the lender funds it before your actual refund arrives.

Standalone online lenders for refund advances

If you did not prepare your taxes with one of the major companies, or if you want to compare options, standalone online lenders offer refund advances. These are companies whose main business is short-term lending, not tax preparation. Examples include MoneyLion, Earnin, and various smaller lenders that advertise refund advances.

To use a standalone lender, you typically upload a copy of your tax return (or a document showing your expected refund), provide your bank account information, and answer questions about your income and employment. The lender reviews this information and decides whether to fund the advance. Processing usually takes one to five business days.

Standalone lenders often charge higher fees than tax preparation companies because they have less information about you upfront and take on more risk. Some charge a flat fee; others charge a percentage of the advance amount. Always read the fee disclosure before you agree to the loan.

What you need to have ready before you explore

Whether you use a tax preparation company or a standalone lender, you will need your bank account information so the lender can deposit the advance and later withdraw the repayment. Have your routing number and account number available—you can find these on the bottom left of a check or by logging into your bank's website.

If you are using a tax preparation company, you may not need anything else because they already have your tax information. If you are using a standalone lender, have a copy of your tax return ready to upload, or be prepared to answer detailed questions about your income, filing status, and expected refund amount.

Some lenders ask for a photo ID to verify your identity. A driver's license, state ID, or passport works for this. A few also ask for proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, though this is less common for refund advances than for other types of loans.

How fees work and what they cost you

Refund advance fees are not standardized—they vary by lender and change from year to year. Some companies charge a flat fee (for example, $15 to $50 for an advance). Others charge a percentage of the advance amount (for example, 5% to 10%). A few charge both a flat fee and a percentage.

The fee is deducted from your actual tax refund when it arrives. If you were expecting a $2,000 refund and you take out a $1,500 advance with a $50 fee, you will receive $450 when your actual refund comes in ($2,000 minus $1,500 advance minus $50 fee). This is why it matters to compare fees across lenders before you choose one.

Some tax preparation companies waive the refund advance fee if you use their paid tax software or meet other conditions. Check the terms on the company's website or ask before you commit to the advance.

Timing: how long the process takes

The speed of a refund advance depends on when you request it and which lender you use. If you request an advance from your tax preparation company on the same day you file your taxes, you may see funds within one business day. If you request it before you file, it typically takes one to three business days after you file for the money to reach your account.

Standalone lenders are usually slower. They may take two to five business days to review your information and fund the advance, especially if they need to verify details or if you explore on a weekend or holiday.

Keep in mind that "business days" means Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. A request submitted on Friday evening may not be processed until Monday. If you need the money urgently, explore early in the week and during business hours.

Risks and things to watch for

A refund advance is a loan, not a gift. You are borrowing against money you expect to receive, and you will repay it from that refund. If your actual refund is smaller than expected—because of an error on your return, a change in your circumstances, or a tax law you were not aware of—you may owe money back to the lender.

Some lenders are more aggressive about collecting than others. Before you take out an advance, read the lender's terms about what happens if your refund is smaller than expected. Some will work with you; others may pursue collection action.

Be cautious of lenders that ask for upfront fees before they fund the advance. Legitimate refund advance lenders deduct their fees from your refund, not from your pocket before the loan is made. If a lender asks you to pay money out of your own account before they give you the advance, that is a red flag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund advance if I have not filed my taxes yet?

Yes. Most lenders let you request an advance before you file, based on your expected refund amount. You will need to provide information about your income, filing status, and deductions so the lender can estimate what you will receive. Once you file your actual return, the lender verifies that your real refund matches what you said, and the advance is repaid from it.

What happens if my actual refund is less than I expected?

You will owe the difference to the lender. For example, if you took a $1,500 advance expecting a $2,000 refund but your actual refund is only $1,800, the lender will take $1,500 plus their fee from the $1,800, leaving you with little or nothing. Read the lender's terms about what happens in this situation before you explore.

Can I get a refund advance if I owe taxes instead of getting a refund?

No. Refund advances are only for people who expect to receive money back from the IRS. If you owe taxes, you cannot use a refund advance. You would need to pay what you owe through the IRS payment plan or another method.

Is a refund advance the same as a tax refund loan?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but they can mean slightly different things depending on the lender. A refund advance is typically a short-term loan repaid directly from your refund. A tax refund loan might be structured differently. Always read the specific terms the lender offers to understand what you are getting.

Do I have to use the same company that prepared my taxes?

No. You can use any lender that offers refund advances. However, using the same company that prepared your taxes is usually faster because they already have your information. If you use a different lender, you will need to upload documents or answer more questions to prove your expected refund amount.