After your federal tax return is processed, the IRS will refund any overpayment you made during the previous year. That money doesn't come immediately, though: Even if you file electronically and set up direct deposit, it can take up to three weeks to get your refund.
Can't wait that long? Many leading online tax-prep companies offer a tax refund advance loan, often without interest or fees.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
The Deluxe plan comes with priority support and live chat, while the paid Pro Support tier adds access to a tax pro, phone support, live screenshare and assistance with federal and state returns
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
TaxAct Xpert Assist is available starting at $45
100% accuracy and maximum refund
Terms apply
Tax refund advances
What is a tax refund advance?
In essence, a tax refund advance is a loan using your expected tax refund as collateral. Tax-prep companies partner with financial institutions to lend you all or a portion of your refund weeks before your official IRS payment arrives.
It is a loan, so your return, your income and your credit history are considered. But since your refund serves as collateral, it's typically easy to get approval. Often, the money is available the same day you file and borrowers aren't charged interest or assessed fees.
Some providers do require you to accept the funds through a mobile app, prepaid debit card or checking account.
When the IRS issues your refund, the loan (and any fees) are automatically deducted. If there's money left, it's deposited into your account.
If your refund is smaller than expected or arrives late, you may owe a balance. Speak with any tax-prep company about its terms before signing up for a tax refund advance.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
The Deluxe plan comes with priority support and live chat, while the paid Pro Support tier adds access to a tax pro, phone support, live screenshare and assistance with federal and state returns
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
TaxAct Xpert Assist is available starting at $45
100% accuracy and maximum refund
Terms apply
How can I get a tax refund advance?
Many top online tax-prep companies offer tax refund advances, although their requirements and deadlines differ. The service is typically available starting in late January, when the IRS begins accepting returns, but ends well before Tax Day.
TurboTax
TurboTax partnered with WebBank and First Century Bank to offer zero-interest refund advance loans ranging from $250 to $4,000. To qualify, you must e-file with TurboTax, open or have a Credit Karma Money checking account and meet other underwriting requirements.
Funds are usually deposited into your Credit Karma account within 15 minutes of your return being accepted by the IRS. You can use the money immediately with a virtual debit card or wait up to two weeks for a physical card to come in the mail.
Availability: Through Feb. 28, 2026, or until available funds are exhausted.
TurboTax
Online plans
Do It Yourself, Expert Assist, Expert Full Service, Expert Assist Business, Expert Full Service Business
Free version
Federal and state returns (Form 1040 + limited credits). According to TurboTax, 37% of taxpayers are eligible.
Guarantee
Maximum refund and 100% accuracy guarantees
Live support
Expert Assist plan includes unlimited assistance and final review, while Expert Full Service adds a dedicated expert to complete and file your return.
Tax refund advance loan
Up to $4,000
Read our review of TurboTax tax software.
Pros
- Step-by-step guidance with easy-to-follow Q&A format
- On-demand advice and a final review from a tax expert
- Expert Full Service plan has a tax expert who can complete your return
- Offers tax refund advance loan
Cons
- More expensive than other tax-prep software programs
- May try to upsell you into getting pricier plan
H&R Block
H&R Block offers refund advance loans of up to $3,500 with no interest or fees. You'll need to open an account with the Spruce Mobile Banking app or get an H&R Block Emerald Card®, a prepaid debit card.
Availability: The refund advance loan is expected to be available through March 15, 2026.
H&R Block
Free version
Yes
Guarantee
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
Live support
Live chat available with all paid plans
Tax refund advance loan
Yes
Read our H&R Block tax software review
Jackson Hewitt
Jackson Hewitt offers tax refund advances with no fee and a 0% APR, with loans ranging from $250 to $6,500 through Republic Bank & Trust Company. You'll have to book an appointment at a Jackson Hewitt office, however, as the service is not available online.
Availability: Early tax refund advances were available through Jan. 11, 2026. A regular advance is available through April 15, 2026.
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
Cost
A flat fee of $25 for online filing
Free version
No
Mobile app
No
Live support
Free live chat support, plus an option to file in an office
Terms apply.
CashApp Taxes
Cash App Taxes doesn't offer refund advances, but filers can get their returns six days earlier if they arrange a deposit into a Cash App account.
Cash App Taxes
Free version
Yes
Guarantee
Guarantees 100% accuracy and maximum refund
Live support
No
Tax refund advance loan
No
Read our review of Cash App Taxes
Chime
Chime* offers free state and federal tax filing directly through its app, with simple returns completed in as little as 24 minutes. Members who set up direct deposit can get their federal tax refund up to six days early.
Chime® Checking + High-Yield Savings
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Chime® Checking (no interest), required to enroll in Chime High-Yield Savings 3.75% APY. *
Minimum balance
$0, no minimum deposit or balance
Fees
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees. SpotMe® service with eligibility for no-fee overdraft up to $200.*
Perks
Paycheck available up to two days early with direct deposit. Automatically save part of your direct deposits of $1 or more. Round Ups feature transfers spare change from purchases to savings. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. Generally, these funds are available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled paymedate.
Maximum transactions
Cash withdrawals from checking up to $515 per day at any ATM or as an over-the-counter bank withdrawal. $2,500 maximum daily spend, including any withdrawals, purchases and incurred fees.
ATMs
47,000+ in-network no-fee ATMs.*
Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
Mobile check deposit
Yes
Terms apply.
ATMs: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network. SpotMe: SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, ""SpotMe""). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member's Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners' discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won't cover non-card transactions, including ACH s, Pay Anyone s, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe terms and conditions. APY: 3.75% Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") applies if you maintain Chime Prime status, otherwise 3.00% Chime Plus APY (if eligible) or 0.75% standard APY will apply. APYs are effective as of 01/29/2026, are variable and subject to change. No min. bal. required.
Pros
- 3.75% APY on Chime High-Yield Savings
- No minimum deposit or balance required
- No monthly service fee
- No overdraft fee, transactions for unavailable funds are denied; SpotMe® for overdraft up to $200 with $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits over previous 34 days and an activated Chime debit card.
- Paycheck funds available up to two days early with direct deposit
- Automated transfer 10% of direct deposits of at least $200 to savings
- Purchases with Chime Visa® Debit Card rounded up to the next dollar and difference automatically transferred to savings
- Access to over 47,000 in-network ATMs for no fee, including MoneyPass ATMs in 7-Eleven and Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATMs
- Mobile check deposit
- Security features include blocking transactions for a lost card, providing daily balance updates, sending real-time transaction alerts and protecting from unauthorized charges with Visa *Zero Liability. *You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer.
Cons
- Chime checking account required to opening Chime savings account
- No APY on Chime Checking; Chime High-Yield Savings APY above national average but lower than other high-yield savings accounts
- Can't withdraw money directly from savings, must transfer to checking
- With checking, $2.50 fee for out-of-network ATMs and over-the-counter bank withdrawals
- Checking withdrawals limited to $515 per day at any ATM or as over-the-counter bank withdrawals using Chime Visa® Debit Card. $2,500 daily max spend, including incurred fees, withdrawals, funds withdrawn at a point of sale and purchases.
Pros and cons of a tax refund advance
- Immediate access to cash
- Easy to get approved
- Some providers don't charge interest or fees
- Not available through all of tax season
- May include fees or interest
- If your refund is held up or smaller than expected, you may owe money
Owe back taxes? See if a tax relief company can help
Alternatives to a tax refund advance
If a tax advance loan isn't right for you — or you miss the cutoff — there are other options:
Credit union loan
Many credit unions offer smaller short-term loans with reasonable rates and flexible repayment terms. Alliant Credit Union is one of our top picks for personal loans, with quick approvals, low APRS, no origination fees and a loan range of between $1,000 to $50,000.
Alliant Credit Union
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Starts at 10.49% APR
Loan purpose
Debt consolidation, home improvement, or emergencies
Loan amounts
$1,000 to $50,000
Terms
1 – 5 years
Credit needed
Not disclosed
Origination fee
None
Early payoff penalty
None
Late fee
Not disclosed
See our methodology, terms apply.
Personal loan
Banks, credit unions and online lenders all offer personal loans with lower interest rates compared to short-term loans or credit cards, especially if you have good credit. LightStream approves same-day loans of up to $100,000 through ACH or wire transfer, with no origination or late fees.
LightStream Personal Loans
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
6.49% - 24.89%* APR with AutoPay
Loan purpose
Debt consolidation, home improvement, auto financing, medical expenses, and others
Loan amounts
$5,000 to $100,000
Terms
24 to 144 months* dependent on loan purpose
Credit needed
Good
Origination fee
None
Early payoff penalty
None
Late fee
None
Terms apply. *AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Excellent credit required for lowest rate. Rates vary by loan purpose.
Refund anticipation checks
Tax-prep companies once offered refund anticipation loans (RALs), which turned a taxpayer's refund into a loan repayment. Eventually, those were replaced by refund anticipation checks (RAC), an alternative that doesn't require you to take on additional debt.
To get an RAC, you would need to open a short-term bank account that the IRS can direct deposit your refund into. The fee for the advance can be up to $60.
Cash advance apps
If money is tight, cash advance apps like Moneylion or Chime can provide a short-term loan until your return comes through.
Tax refund advance FAQS
How long does it take to get a tax refund?
If you filed online and set up direct deposit, the IRS says you can expect a refund within 21 days. If you mailed a printed return, it could take up to eight weeks.
How long can I get a tax refund advance?
Each preparer is different. Several tax-prep companies start offering these advances in early January and stop at the end of February or March.
Who offers the largest tax refund advance?
TurboTax partnered with WebBank and First Century Bank to provide zero-interest refund advance loans of up to $4,000, the largest of any institution we reviewed.
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