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Have more questions about Pay-by-Refund?
Getting started with Pay-by-Refund
It’s not really. All you need to do is sign up with one of our participating banks, then e-File the client’s return as normal and include the Pay-by-Refund disclosures and application. Once the IRS issues the refund, the bank disburses the funds according to the Pay-by-Refund instructions. The bank collects their fee, you are issued payment for your fees then the client receives the balance via check, credit, or direct deposit.
Discuss the Pay-by-Refund option when you first talk with your client about the upcoming tax season. If your client applies for EITC or ACTC credits in Tax Year 2020, the earliest that they will receive their refund is the first week of March according to the IRS . Offering Pay-by-Refund helps clients file as early as possible to help offset any additional delays.
When you process the return, if you select Pay-by-Refund, your software will print out the necessary forms & disclosures that are required for your client to sign.
The bank receives the refund from the IRS and disburses the funds according to the Pay-by-Refund instructions. The bank collects their fee, your fees are paid to you, and you client receives their refund via an account created at the bank on their behalf.
You have a choice of two banks. Visit their web sites to decide which bank is right for you:
- Santa Barbara Tax Products Group (SBTPG): https://www.sbtpg.com
- Refund Advantage: https://www.refund-advantage.com
No, there is no expected delay resulting from using Pay-by-Refund.
Many clients enjoy the convenience of having their tax prep fees deducted right from their refund. It saves them from paying upfront — they can just wait and collect their net refund at the end. No need to write a check or use a credit card, which may charge high interest.
Contact our sales rep to discuss incentives (844) 708-9850
Payments and fees
The total tax prep and Pay-by-Refund bank fee is $64.90 for SBTPG and $59.90 for Refund Advantage.
The $64.90 or the $59.90 fee is for one federal return1. The fee will need to be paid again next year. State returns are extra (generally around $10 depending on the state and bank selected).
The $64.90 or $59.90 fee is for one federal return. There's an additional charge for Pay-by-Refund for a state return. Check with your bank to verify the amount.
You should expect to receive your fees right around the time the refund comes into the bank from the IRS. The bank immediately disburses the funds according to the Pay-by-Refund instructions.
During the bank application process you provide the routing and account information indicating where you want your funds deposited.
You request blank checks with the bank during the application process. Depending on the bank you should receive these in about a week. You can use these checks to issue your clients their net refunds.
You the preparer can print off the check in the office for their clients. You request the checks from the bank that you enroll with to issue Pay-by-Refund.
If your client owes back taxes or similar obligations, those will be deducted from the client's refund first. Depending on the amount owed and the refund amount, you may need to make other arrangements with your client to collect your fees.
Learn more about collecting past-due debts.
Tax software and returns
Pay-by-Refund works with ProSeries Tax, Lacerte Tax, and ProConnect Tax.
Intuit has reviewed its tax-related product offerings and services to ensure compliance with the IRC 7216 requirements. Specifically, only US-based employees have access to tax return information. In addition, all third party service providers who perform tax-related services are contractually required to comply with IRC 7216 and all other applicable laws. To the extent applicable, individual service providers will make available IRC 7216 compliant Use and Disclosure Consents to be used in connection with their services.
No. State Pay-by-Refund transactions can only be filed along with a federal return. The federal and state must also be transmitted at the same time to receive a state refund via Pay-by-Refund.
Yes. When you mark a federal return for a PBR, if you select direct deposit for the state return it will automatically also route to Refund Advantage as a Pay-by-Refund. You can only attach one state.
If you still have more questions, call us at 800-926-3796 to talk to a specialist.
Pay-by-Refund or refund transfer program (“Program”) participation available to eligible ProSeries, Lacerte and ProConnect Tax customers for a limited time only. Program participants (will be designated to an incentive category as determined by Intuit and), depending on the software used, may earn a credit or other incentive for every qualified federal funded Pay-by-Refund transaction as outlined in the table below (excluding Quick Collect transaction) that is filed from January 1 through the 1040 tax filing deadline of the then-current Tax Year through either of the following banks: Santa Barbara Tax Products Group or Refund Advantage through the 1040 tax filing deadline of 2022 (each a “Participating Bank”). To be eligible, participants must adopt industry refund transfer best practice principles by charging customary and reasonable processing fees, and federal returns must be transmitted to the IRS using a single account and EFIN. Federal returns that are rejected by the IRS, or deemed fraudulent, or a result of identity theft are not eligible for credit under the Program. For Tax Year 2021 only, if software and a user are eligible for credits, aggregate credits payment will be delivered from Participating Bank by August 31 of the current year. For all other Tax Year filings, if software and a user are eligible for credits, aggregate credits payment will be delivered from Participating Banks by May 31 of the year you are currently enrolled. A $59.90 one-time bank set-up fee applies to each federal Pay-by-Refund transaction. Additional fees apply to state Pay-by-Refund filings. Offer may be terminated or modified at Intuit’s discretion and Program and software terms and conditions, including available features, credits, pricing, and support are subject to change without notice. You must meet certain minimum funded Pay-by-Refund transaction thresholds in order to be eligible to qualify for free or discounted software.
- Incentive Criteria:
All ProSeries, Lacerte and ProConnect Tax customers eligible for credit incentive not specified by Tax Year indicated below.
- - Tax Year 14, Tax Year 15, Tax Year 16, Tax Year 17, and Tax Year 18 NEW customers eligible for FREE ProSeries software offers.
- - Tax Year 14, Tax Year 15, Tax Year 16, Tax Year 17, and Tax Year 18 NEW customers eligible for ProSeries Pay-by-Refund software offers.
- - Tax Year 19, Tax Year 20, Tax Year 21, and Tax Year 22 NEW to the franchise professional tax customers eligible for ProSeries, Lacerte or ProConnect Tax offers.
- - Tax Year 19, Tax Year 20, Tax Year 21, and Tax Year 22 NEW to the franchise professional tax customers may be eligible for FREE or DISCOUNTED ProSeries software offers based on qualifying volume from prior year returns.
- Incentive payment:
- - $10 on all federal funded Pay-by-Refund transactions filed through the 1040 tax filing deadline of the then-current Tax Year beyond the number of Pay-by-Refund transactions funded in the prior Tax Year.
- - $10 on all federal funded Pay-by-Refund transactions filed over 50 (for ProSeries 1040 Complete or ProSeries Power Tax Library) filed through the 1040 tax filing deadline of the then-current Tax Year.
- - $10 on all federal funded Pay-by-Refund transactions filed through the 1040 tax filing deadline of the then-current Tax Year.
- - $20 for each federal funded Pay-by-Refund transaction filed through the 1040 tax filing deadline of the then-current Tax Year. Offer valid for three consecutive tax seasons from initial tax season.
- - $20 for each federal funded Pay-by-Refund transaction filed over 50 returns (for ProSeries 1040 Complete or ProSeries Power Tax Library) when filed through the 1040 tax filing deadline of the then-current Tax Year. Offer valid for three consecutive tax seasons from initial tax season.
- New customers may be eligible to receive free ProSeries software by meeting the following eligibility requirements per licensed copy of ProSeries software using single EFIN:
- - Must show initial proof of minimum of 50 federal funded refund transfers transactions from the prior Tax Year.
- - Must complete a minimum of 50 federal funded Pay-by-Refund transactions through Participating Banks by the 1040 tax filing deadline each Tax Year covered under the Term of the agreement.
- - Must file the first federal Pay-by-Refund transaction within the 1st week of e-File each year of the Term.
- - Free software will be upgrade equivalent of the original software version purchased via the initial order Quote.
- - Filings are based on an individual site office. Multi-site offices won’t be aggregated towards the minimum thresholds described above.
- New customers may be eligible for ProSeries Pay-by-Refund software offers by meeting the following requirements:
- - Must show initial proof of minimum of 20 federal funded Pay-by-Refund transactions in the prior Tax Year.
- - Must complete minimum of 20 federal funded Pay-by-Refund transactions through Participating Banks by the 1040 tax filing deadline each Tax Year covered under the Term of the agreement.
- - Filings are based on an individual site office. Multi-site offices won’t be aggregated towards the minimum thresholds described above.
- To be eligible to receive any incentive compensation under this Program, the IRS requires Intuit to prepare a 1099:
You will need to provide Intuit with certain information, including: a) Tax Identification Number or Social Security Number, and b). Firm name, primary contact, address, phone number, and email address. Failure to provide any of this information may result in your incentive payment being withheld, delayed, or cancelled.
- Pay-by-Refund claim:
Based on blind survey of taxpayers who used a tax professional in the 12 months prior to June 2022.
- Cash Advance Disclaimer:
Intuit is not a party to any transactions you may choose to enter with Refund Advantage or Santa Barbara Tax Products Group banks and disclaims any liability arising out of such transactions. Visit Refund Advantage and Santa Barbara Tax Products Group’s websites for full terms and conditions. Intuit receives compensation from third parties, and the compensation may affect how and where such product offers appear to you.
- 1:
Based on Intuit refund transfer enrollments in tax year 2016.
- Insurance Disclaimer:
The Identity Theft Insurance is underwritten and administered by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, an Assurant company under group or blanket policy(ies). The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions, and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions. Review the Summary of Benefits.
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