Who offers refund advances and where to find them

Refund advances come from tax preparation companies, online lenders, and some banks—not from the IRS. The companies that offer them most visibly are the same ones that prepare your tax return: H&R Block, TurboTax, Jackson Hewitt, and Liberty Tax all have refund advance products. Online lenders like MoneyLion, Earnin, and Dave also offer them, usually through their apps. Some credit unions and regional banks offer them too, though availability depends on where you bank and what state you live in.

The mechanics are straightforward: you file your tax return through the provider, they estimate your refund amount, and they lend you money against that refund before the IRS sends it. The loan gets repaid automatically when your refund arrives. The catch is that you pay for this speed—through fees, interest, or both—and the terms vary widely between providers.

Key Takeaways

  • Tax preparation companies like H&R Block and TurboTax offer refund advances as part of their filing services, usually with fees ranging from $0 to $150 depending on the loan size.
  • Online lending apps like MoneyLion, Earnin, and Dave offer smaller refund advances with lower fees, but may require you to be an existing user or member.
  • Credit unions sometimes offer refund advances to members, often at lower costs than commercial tax preparers, but you need to check with your specific institution.
  • The loan is repaid directly from your tax refund when it arrives, so you do not have to make a separate payment, but the IRS delay means you wait weeks for the money to actually reach you.

Tax preparation companies and their refund advance products

H&R Block calls theirs a Refund Advance and charges a fee that ranges from $0 to $150 depending on the loan amount and how you file (in-office filing costs more than online). You can borrow up to $15,000, though most people borrow much less. The money goes into your bank account within one business day if you file online.

TurboTax offers a Tax Refund Advance Loan through a partner lender. The fee structure is similar—$0 to $150—and the maximum is $15,000. You file through TurboTax, and if you're approved, the money arrives within one business day. TurboTax also offers a free version for straightforward returns, but the refund advance is only available if you pay for the full product.

Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax both offer refund advances with comparable terms: fees from $0 to $150, loans up to $15,000, and funding within one business day. Jackson Hewitt's product is called a Refund Advance Loan; Liberty Tax calls theirs a Liberty Loan. Both require you to file your return through them to get the loan.

The fee structure at all four companies depends partly on how much you borrow. A $500 advance might cost $0 to $50; a $5,000 advance might cost $75 to $150. Some companies waive the fee if you meet certain conditions—like direct deposit or filing online—so ask before you commit.

Online lending apps and fintech platforms

MoneyLion offers a refund advance through its app, but only to members of its paid subscription service (MoneyLion Plus). The advance is usually smaller than what tax preparers offer—typically $100 to $1,000—and the fee is lower too, often $0 to $20. You still need to file your tax return separately; MoneyLion doesn't prepare taxes, it just lends against your expected refund once you've filed.

Earnin works similarly: it's an app-based lender that offers small cash advances, including refund advances, to existing users. The advance is usually $100 to $500, and Earnin charges no fixed fee—instead, you pay what you think is fair through a "Pay What You Want" model. You file your return through another service and then request the advance through Earnin.

Dave is another app-based option. It offers refund advances up to $500 with no interest, but you pay a membership fee ($1 to $20 per month depending on the tier) to use the service. Like Earnin and MoneyLion, Dave doesn't prepare your taxes; you file elsewhere and then request the advance through the app.

The advantage of these apps is lower fees and smaller loan amounts, which suits people who only need a few hundred dollars. The disadvantage is that you have to be an existing user or member, and the advance is smaller than what a tax preparer will offer. Also, none of them prepare your taxes, so you're paying for tax preparation elsewhere and then paying again for the advance.

Banks and credit unions

Some credit unions offer refund advances to members, often at lower cost than commercial tax preparers. The terms vary by institution—some charge no fee at all, while others charge $15 to $50. The advance is usually smaller than what H&R Block offers, typically $500 to $5,000, and funding is usually within one business day.

To learn about your credit union offers a refund advance, call or log into your account and ask. Credit unions are not required to offer them, so availability depends entirely on your institution. If yours does, it's often the cheapest option available to you.

Traditional banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) rarely offer refund advances anymore. A few regional banks still do, but you have to ask. If you're a customer, it's worth calling to see whether your bank has a product.

What to compare when you're shopping

The fee is the most obvious thing to compare, but it's not the only one. A $100 fee on a $5,000 advance is 2 percent; a $100 fee on a $1,000 advance is 10 percent. Calculate the percentage, not just the dollar amount.

Funding speed matters if you need the money urgently. Most providers fund within one business day, but some take longer. H&R Block and TurboTax are fastest if you file online; in-office filing is slower.

Maximum loan amount matters if you expect a large refund. Tax preparers typically go up to $15,000; online lenders typically cap at $500 to $1,000. If your refund is larger than the maximum, you'll get the advance for part of it and wait for the rest.

Whether you have to file through them is another factor. Tax preparers require you to file with them; online lenders and credit unions usually don't. If you already have a tax preparer you like, or if you want to file for free, an online lender or credit union might be cheaper overall because you're not paying for tax preparation twice.

How the repayment actually works

When you take out a refund advance, the lender files a tax transcript request with the IRS to monitor your refund. Once the IRS processes your return and issues the refund, the money goes to the lender first, not to you. The lender deducts the loan amount plus any fees and sends the rest to you.

This happens automatically—you don't have to do anything. The lender has a legal claim on your refund, so they get paid before you do. The whole process usually takes 2 to 4 weeks from the time you file, depending on how long the IRS takes to process your return.

If the IRS rejects your return or reduces your refund amount, you still owe the lender the full loan amount. This is rare, but it happens—usually because of a mistake on the return or a discrepancy with information the IRS has on file. Before you take out the advance, make sure your return is correct.

State restrictions and availability

Not all refund advances are available in all states. Some states restrict the fees lenders can charge, and a few states have banned refund advances altogether or made them so expensive that lenders don't offer them anymore. New York, for example, has strict limits on fees, which is why some providers don't offer refund advances there.

When you start the process with any provider—whether it's H&R Block, TurboTax, or an online lender—they'll tell you whether the product is available in your state. If it's not, you'll find out before you're asked to pay anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund advance if I owe back taxes or child support?

No. If you owe back taxes, the IRS will intercept your refund to pay what you owe, which means there's no refund for the lender to claim. If you owe child support, the state can intercept your refund the same way. Most lenders check for these issues before approving the advance, so you'll find out early.

What happens if my refund is smaller than the loan amount?

You still owe the lender the full loan amount. If your refund is $2,000 but you borrowed $3,000, you'll owe the lender $1,000 out of pocket. This is why it's important to estimate your refund carefully before you borrow. Most providers show you an estimate before you commit.

Can I cancel a refund advance after I've taken it out?

It depends on the provider and how far along you are. If you haven't filed your return yet, you can usually cancel and get your fee back. Once your return is filed and the lender has submitted the transcript request to the IRS, cancellation is harder or impossible. Read the terms before you sign up.

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

They're the same thing. "Refund advance" and "refund anticipation loan" are different names for the same product. Some companies use one term, some use the other. The mechanics are identical.

Do I have to file my taxes through the same company that gives me the advance?

It depends. Tax preparers like H&R Block and TurboTax require you to file through them. Online lenders and credit unions usually don't—you can file through any service and then request the advance separately. Check the provider's terms to be sure.