Why is it that just about the time you figure out you’ll be receiving a tax
refund the microwave goes crazy or the TV goes on the fritz?
More than seventy percent of filers will receive a tax refund this year and most
of us know how we’ll spend the money before the ink dries from our signatures
on our returns. So how can we gain access to our money more quickly?
The IRS has a few helpful recommendations:
First and foremost – making use of e-filing. You can make use of this technology
if you prepare your return yourself or if like more than half of us, you have a
professional tax preparer. (You can even e-file if you are not receiving a refund
– and at the same time schedule how you are going to pay your tax bill – maybe through
your CAF debt management plan?) All e-filers receive electronic receipt confirmation
for their returns from the IRS, so you don’t need to worry about your return
getting lost.
You can make use of
e-file even if you are
not receiving a refund
Secondly, if you have a checking or savings account, you can include information
to have your refund directly deposited into you account. The IRS says using these
two tools will cut your wait time in half from the usual six weeks to about three
weeks.
(However, in our informal poll of those that made use of e-file and direct deposit
here at CAF found that most received their funds in slightly less time - approximately
12 days from filing.) If you don’t have an account, check with a local credit
union as some are willing to help you set up an account for this purpose to use
now and in the future.
Are there faster ways to get your money? Actually, there are!
If you are receiving a sizable return, you may want to consider adjusting your payroll
withholding. The reduced withholding would shift the money otherwise received through
a refund once a year to an increase in monthly take-home pay to use now.
This may allow you more flexibility in a tight budget or allow you to place the
funds in savings (remember you emergency account?) or investments as soon as it
is earned rather than waiting for Uncle Sam to return it to you a year later with
no earned interest.
And of course, if you’re willing to essentially forfeit part of the money
coming to you by paying to receive a “rapid refund” loan, you can receive
your money in as little as one day up to a week.
But, don’t be fooled – these “rapid refund” offers from companies
are in actuality loans that are “theoretically” repaid by your refund.
Why doesn’t everyone use the quick refund loans? The most commonly mentioned
reason is cost.
Fees for most of these loans, calculated on a ‘sliding scale’, can run
from $25 to $200, and are deducted directly from your refund.
Even in an emergency situation these fees (including any other charges from your
tax preparer) are an extremely expensive way to avoid waiting two to three weeks
for your funds.
There are, unfortunately, other risks involved with fast refund loans, rarely mentioned
by the companies that offer them.
What happens if your refund is misdirected? You would be obligated to pay back the
loan (including penalties and interest) yourself.
What would cause a refund to be redirected? If you are in default with child support,
student loans or any previous year’s tax obligations your refund may be seized
to pay down these debts.
Even if you have entered into a repayment plan for a prior year tax debt (including
through your CAF debt management plan), according to your agreement with the IRS
any refund owed you, will be applied to the balance on your account. (And don’t
forget, if a balance remains after the refund is applied, you must continue making
your installment payments according to the agreement for the prior year debt.)
So, be a smart citizen, a smart consumer and save money, using e-file with direct
deposit and savor the anticipation of waiting for your refund this year. And remember,
if you send even part of your refund to CAF, it will go a long way to paying down
your DMP debt, save you money on interest charges and potentially shorten the length
of time until you can proclaim yourself “Debt Free”.