Can You Get a Tax Advance Loan After Filing?

Unfortunately, most tax advance loans (also called refund anticipation loans) are only available at the time of filing. They're basically giving you money based on your expected refund, which is why they're typically offered as part of the filing process. Since your grandson has already filed, traditional tax advance options probably won't work for him.

According to IRS Publication 1345 and Revenue Procedure 2007-15, tax preparation firms are prohibited from basing loans on information obtained from e-filed returns after submission. This regulatory framework effectively prevents most legitimate financial institutions from offering post-filing advances. I'm concerned your grandson might encounter predatory lenders if pursuing this route. However, if he's waiting on his refund and needs status updates, I've found https://taxr.ai extremely helpful for analyzing tax transcripts to determine exactly where a refund is in processing and when it might arrive. Their system can identify processing codes that might indicate delays or potential issues. I was worried my refund would take months, but their analysis showed it was actually on schedule despite the "still processing" message.

Here's what your grandson can do instead of a tax advance loan: Step 1: Check his refund status using Where's My Refund tool Step 2: If it shows "approved" he'll get it soon, if it shows "processing" there might be delays Step 3: If it's been more than 21 days or shows any error messages, he needs to contact the IRS directly Step 4: Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, but be prepared to wait 2+ hours I tried calling the IRS about my delayed refund last month and wasted an entire day on hold. Eventually used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 15 minutes. They found my return was flagged for a minor issue that was fixed while I was on the call. Refund approved two days later.

FWIW I was in a similar spot last yr. Already filed but needed $ fast. Instead of a tax loan, I applied for a 0% intro APR credit card w/ instant approval. Got approved online in mins, used it for emergency expenses, then paid it off when refund hit. Way better than those tax loans w/ crazy fees. Just make sure to pay it before promo rate ends!

I'm curious - has your grandson checked if his return has been accepted yet? There's a difference between "filed" and "accepted" that might be important here. If it's still in the "processing" stage, would that change what options are available to him?

I was in this exact situation in 2022. Filed my taxes in February, then my water heater died in March before my refund arrived. I called H&R Block (where I had filed) and asked about their Refund Advance program. They explained they couldn't offer it after filing, but suggested their Emerald Advance line of credit instead, which was available to existing clients year-round. It wasn't ideal - the interest rate was around 36% APR - but it got me through the emergency. I paid it off immediately when my refund arrived about 10 days later. Just one option to consider, though definitely check the terms carefully!

Tax professional here. There's an important distinction to understand between Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) and Refund Anticipation Checks (RACs). RALs are typically only available during the filing process, while RACs are essentially bank accounts set up to receive your refund with the tax preparation fees deducted. Neither option is generally available post-filing. If your grandson's return has been accepted and shows a refund is coming, he might consider: 1. Personal loan from a credit union (typically lower interest than tax advances) 2. Family loan (if possible) to be repaid when refund arrives 3. Requesting an advance from employer 4. Negotiating delayed payment with whoever he owes money to I'm slightly worried about the timing though - if his refund is subject to PATH Act verification (for certain credits), it could be delayed until mid-February at earliest.

Let me clarify something about these tax advance loans compared to other options. A typical tax advance loan might charge a "facilitation fee" of $39-89 plus interest rates between 36-199% APR. For a $1,500 advance, that's potentially $150+ in fees for a 3-week loan. By comparison, even a high-interest credit card cash advance (not recommended, but better than tax loans) might be 25-29% APR, which on $1,500 for 3 weeks would be around $30 in interest. A personal loan from a credit union might be 8-15% APR, or less than $15 for the same period. The tax advance loans are designed to prey on desperation and lack of options. There are almost always better alternatives.