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February 18, 2025
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PATH Act & “5 Days Early”

  • February 18, 2025
  • 22 replies
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I need a straight answer to this because TurboTax is SHADY:

 

If I get a direct deposit date this Friday, and it tells me 2/26, is TurboTax sending me my refund that same day? On Friday? Because that’s 5 days early. If not, this entire offering was a SCAM. 

Also, why am I reading now that if you opted to pay fees with your federal refund, you’re not eligible for the 5 days early deal? TurboTax offered BOTH to me and never once warned me that paying from my refund could affect this, so I expect that they would work together. If not, again, HUGE SCAM. 

Best answer by RobertB4444

Never using turbo tax again!!! 

I reached out numerous times to TT seeking the status for funds. The IRS confirmed that my refund was sent to cross river bank aka Turbo Tax on 2/20/2025. It's now 2/27/2025.

Why are my funds being withheld by TT? I also paid for the pay advance, what a joke! 


Thank you for reaching out to us. We understand you are encountering issues with cashing your TurboTax Up to 5 Days Early tax refund check. We are committed to ensuring you access your refund swiftly and smoothly. Please rest assured that your check is legitimate and contains several security features to facilitate a hassle-free deposit.

Tips to deposit (we recommend depositing your check to avoid delays) or cash your check:

  • Deposit at a bank: Depositing your check into your bank account is preferred over cashing it. Check-cashing locations may charge fees and be less likely to cash large checks like tax refunds.
  • Name Matching: For bank deposits, ensure the name on your check matches the name on the bank account where you intend to deposit it.
  • Bank Holds: Your bank may place a temporary hold on the funds until the check clears. This is a standard bank policy and is not an indication the check is fraudulent. We have no control over this process. 
  • Bank and check cashing limits: Many banks and check cashing locations have maximum limits on check amounts they will cash. Ask your bank or check-cashing location what their limit is prior to visiting to determine whether you can cash it there.
  • Check Cashing Tips: The person(s) whose name(s) are on the check must be present and present ID to cash the check. For example – if a check name says “John Doe and Jane Doe” on it, then both John Doe and Jane Doe need to cash the check together in person. Each person must bring a valid government-issued identification card – driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID card.
  • Enhanced Security: This check is issued with the highest security standards. If your bank or check-cashing service has any concerns, they can verify it directly with Intuit by calling 1-800-780-9247. A dedicated team is available to assist with verification.
  • Check Returns: If your check is uncashed after 90 days, we will void your check and return your refund to the IRS. You may then work directly with the IRS to receive your tax refund.

 

Your refund check contains security features to ensure a hassle-free deposit, including:

  • Magnetic ink that's only readable by special check cashing machines.
  • Reflective ink shows hidden words if the check is copied.
  • Images on the check that disappear if the check is copied.
  • Microtext printed on the check that is too small to see with the naked eye, and too small to be copied or scanned.
  • Check background printed with special ink that fades to white when copied and bleeds when it comes in contact with liquids.
  • Special test strips that react to check washing chemicals such as acetone.

 

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this period. 

 

Track your refund with TurboTax here.

 

Go here to figure out what direct deposit information you entered into your return when you filed.

 

[Edited 03/10/24   04:24 PM PST]

 

@LADY1101 

 

@LADY1101 

22 replies

Employee
February 18, 2025

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/when-to-expect-your-refund-if-you-claimed-the-earned-income-tax-credit-or-additional-child-tax-credit

 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/early-tax-refunds/

 

Remember that the “”5 day early” date is based on the date given to you on the IRS refund site—-not the date the TT site shows in your account.   If your refund does not come in five days ahead of the IRS date, they are supposed to cancel the $25 fee.

 

 

You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 35a of your 2024 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

 

 

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
otrpsAuthor
February 18, 2025

That doesn’t answer my question at all—that is just the same regurgitated response that you give to every single person who posts here. If I get an 846 Refund Issued 2/26 on my transcript on FRIDAY, am

I getting my money on FRIDAY—since that is 5 DAYS EARLY? That would be a date from the IRS. I’m not talking about the “Where’s My Refund?” tool. 

If Turbo Tax couldn’t truly make this happen for anyone who was affected by the PATH Act, why did they still offer it? Bad business. I want actual answers from someone. 

Employee
February 18, 2025

The date used for the "5 day early" refund is the date on the IRS refund site.  NOT a date you are seeing on a transcript.

 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/early-tax-refunds/

 

From the 5 day early offer page

 

To check if your refund has been approved, visit the IRS website and use their “Where’s My Refund?” tool for real-time updates. Additionally, if you file with TurboTax, you can track your refund status directly within the platform, providing you with peace of mind and up-to-date information.

 

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
CatinaT1
February 18, 2025

You have to use Where's My Refund. Your refund will come 5 days earlier than what is listed there. If the date on Where's My Refund says 2.26 then you should receive your refund on 2.21.

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February 19, 2025

But WMR ONLY reflects what’s on the transcripts. There won’t be a different date, so why is there an issue with people receiving their 5 days early?

February 19, 2025

So it's not based on WMR tool like everyone is suggesting. It is based off of the IRS pay instructions. Just like your work give pay instructions to your bank. A deposit comes into your bank along with the instructions like "this deposit is to be made on 2/24 at opening." Once your bank whoever that may be receives those instructions if you selected the 5 days early then you will receive it 5 days before the pay instruction date. It is sort of a scam in the sense that if your bank already offers 2 days ahead of time you are really only receiving it 3 days early. Or if the IRS does send out pay instructions just deposits and they are on top of it you may have already received it early anyways. Now if you don't receive it 5 days early you are supposed to get the $25 back if you paid that. If you get it deposited to credit karma you didn't have to pay the $25 to have the 5 days early option. I have never had WMR update before on me before I actually received the check, but I have always received my tax check 2-3 days earlier than my transcripts say. But the thing about taxes you need to know, its the government running it. It has never and will never be uncomplicated and straight forward, it will always have some curve ball, delay, inefficiency to it. I wish turbo tax would stop offering all these benefits they can't 100% control because it puts some desperate people in a tough spot like this.

February 21, 2025

Yes that is so true! If they can’t 100% control the process then don’t offer it just to get customers hopes up when they could have just did it the normal way and would have already had their refund by now!!! It makes no sense.. 

February 19, 2025

For starters,  don't use the link xmasbaby posted for you.  That will cause more confusion as it will not show on the site.  Since you opted for 5 days early, turbo tax will be using cross river bank,  not sbtpg or whatever it is. Because of the fee situation you were talking about being a huge problem,  this is why turbo tax switched banks for the 5day early returns.  So all now if you choose to have ur fees paid with your refund,  you are still eligible! Goodluck!

February 19, 2025

My tax refund transcript states 2/24. It’s now 2/19 I waited all day. Still have not gotten my refund and I paid for 5 days early. I’m just saying. 

February 19, 2025

Hello, I filed on Jan22 with path and child credit . I signed up for 5 days early and checked where’s my refund today 2/19/25 and it hasn’t moved from the received box yet . I just received my direct deposit just now from turbo tax before the IRS even approved . So this is definitely legit .

February 20, 2025

Wmr never updates right away always look at your transcript that will tell you first I always get mine before the wmr updates also

February 19, 2025

Hello, I filed on Jan22 with path and child credit . I signed up for 5 days early and checked where’s my refund today 2/19/25 and it hasn’t moved from the received box yet . I just received my direct deposit just now from turbo tax before the IRS even approved . So this is definitely legit . This is my second posting of this tonight. The reason I’m doing it is because I checked these forums because  I’m always wanting to get my return as quick as possible. I’m definitely glad I spent the $20 or $25 whichever it was to get this early. It’s well worth it

February 20, 2025

Yes I signed up for the 5-day earlier and that was a lie so TurboTax is ripping people off there was nothing on their saying if you pay by your refund you would not get the five day earlier that is a rip off

February 20, 2025

Wait, wait, wait a minute!!!!

the fact that we had the fees taken out of our refund is what’s holding our refund up?! 
you’d think that would make it quicker! They already have their money!!!!

February 20, 2025

Agree it says est time 2/18 but have yet to receive it and then got a notification that they couldn’t do the 5 days early & didn’t charge me but they charged me for deluxe when I filed with the free & they charged me 40.00 for money transfer fee that was not even there when I filed so idk where that charge came from, I’ll never use intuit again!! I’ll go back to other sites at least they tell you what they are charging me  

 

 

February 20, 2025

It was a bait and switch tactic. They used the same gimmick on me. “5 day promise” said refund was sent and approved on the 19th and a ddd of 2/24 turbo said they will refund me. Then why tell me you can do it and precharge me for it… real real shady. Plus my bank already releases it early I just found out so I had I just filed with my bank id probably already see it like some other people I know who did that.