Give clients a pay-by-refund option with the Refund Transfer

A prior-year Refund Transfer is a payment option that lets taxpayers pay their tax preparation fees directly from their refund, rather than paying out of pocket. It applies to returns e-filed for a previous tax year.

A prior-year refund may be used if the tax return's original filing deadline was within the past 3 years.

Eligibility depends on several factors, including whether the prior-year return has been e-filed, whether a refund is expected, and whether it falls within the 3-year lookback window. Check with your software provider for availability.

No. The tax preparation fee is deducted directly from the refund once it is received from the IRS and/or state. There is no out-of-pocket payment required at the time of filing.

The standard Refund Transfer fee applies and is deducted from the tax refund along with all associated tax preparation fees. Each tax year is filed as a separate Refund Transfer application, so the $44.95 fee is charged for each tax year filed.

For example, if federal and state returns are filed for one tax year, a $44.95 fee is charged for the first refund received, and a $14.95 fee for the second refund received. If a return is also filed for a prior tax year, a $44.95 fee will be charged for the first refund received for that tax year.

Timing depends on IRS and/or state processing. When selecting the Refund Transfer, taxpayers may elect to receive refund status notifications by email and/or text message. *

*Message and data rates may apply.

Taxpayers may elect to receive their refund by direct deposit or as a cashier’s check printed from the tax professional’s office.

Yes. If a client has multiple years of unfiled returns, each eligible year may be processed separately, and the associated preparation fees for each return can be handled through the Refund Transfer for that respective year.

If the IRS offsets, reduces, or denies the refund (for example, due to outstanding debts or audit adjustments), the taxpayer remains responsible for any unpaid tax preparation fees.

No additional steps are necessary. Once a tax professional has successfully enrolled in the sbtpg Refund Transfer program through a participating software provider, the tax professional can offer the Refund Transfer to clients filing current and prior-year tax returns.

Yes. As long as a refund is expected from the prior-year return, it can be used to pay for tax preparation with the Refund Transfer. It doesn't matter whether the taxpayer is receiving a refund or owes taxes in the current tax year.

Yes, taxpayers may add Fast Forward to the prior-year Refund Transfer to receive their tax refund up to 5 days early.*

 * Fast Forward by sbtpg is provided by Green Dot Bank. Fast Forward enables taxpayer to receive federal tax refund up to five (5) days early for an additional fee of $25.00. Terms apply. To be eligible, taxpayer must have a Refund Transfer for a federal tax refund that is no more than $10,000. Availability of Fast Forward is subject to the taxpayer's bank participating in Real-Time Payments, IRS pre-notification of pending refund deposit, and availability of funds. $25.00 fee is not charged if the taxpayer is ineligible. If a new Green Dot card is selected in the tax office, the taxpayer will receive the federal refund up to five days early without being charged the $25.00 fee. If a cashier’s check is selected as the disbursement method, the exact timing the taxpayer will receive their federal refund is dependent upon when the tax preparer prints the check. Check with transmitter for availability.