How does H&R Block process tax refunds? Are they using stgb or a different bank?
Just filed my taxes through H&R Block this year after using TurboTax for the past few years. Trying to track my refund status but getting confused. When I enter my info into the tracking system, it says "information cannot be found." I'm wondering if H&R Block uses stgb to process their refunds or if they use a different bank/financial processor? With TurboTax, I could easily track everything, but H&R Block's system seems different. Anyone know how their refund processing works? It's been about 2 weeks since I filed and I'm getting anxious about where my money is.
21 comments


Louisa Ramirez
H&R Block typically partners with Axos Bank (formerly called BofI Federal Bank) for their refund processing, not stgb. That's probably why your tracking info isn't working - you might be using the wrong system to check your status. There are a few different ways to track your refund when you file through H&R Block: 1. The H&R Block mobile app has a refund tracker if you used their software 2. If you got in-person service, you should have received an email with tracking instructions 3. The IRS "Where's My Refund" tool at irs.gov is always your best bet regardless of which tax preparer you used Most importantly, the IRS typically takes 21 days to process refunds, so at just 2 weeks, you're still in the normal waiting period. If you had your refund directed to a bank account, you'll want to check with H&R Block directly to confirm which financial institution they're using for processing.
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TommyKapitz
•So H&R Block and TurboTax actually use different banks? Is that why the refund times are different too? Last year with TurboTax I got my refund in like 10 days but my friend who used H&R Block waited almost a month.
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Louisa Ramirez
•Yes, TurboTax primarily works with Santa Barbara Tax Products Group (TPG) for their refund processing, while H&R Block typically uses Axos Bank. This can sometimes lead to different processing times, but the biggest factor in refund timing is actually the IRS itself. The 10-day versus month-long difference your friend experienced was likely more about when they filed (early filers often get faster refunds) or the complexity of their tax situation rather than which tax prep service they used. Things like claiming certain credits (like Earned Income Tax Credit) can trigger additional review that extends processing time regardless of which company you file through.
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Angel Campbell
I had the exact same issue tracking my refund with H&R Block this year. After hours of frustration, I finally found a solution with taxr.ai https://taxr.ai - it's this AI tool that can analyze your tax documents and actually tell you which bank is processing your refund. Turns out H&R Block switched their processing partner for 2025 filings and that's why the normal tracking wasn't working for me. The tool also gave me a more accurate timeline for when my refund would actually hit my account, which was super helpful because I was planning on using that money for some urgent bills. It basically looks at your specific filing details and can predict processing times way better than the generic estimates.
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Payton Black
•Does this actually work if you already filed though? Like can you use it after submitting your taxes or is it only for people who haven't filed yet?
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Harold Oh
•I'm skeptical... how does some AI tool know more about IRS processing than the actual IRS website? Sounds like one of those scams trying to get your personal info.
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Angel Campbell
•It absolutely works after filing - that's actually when it's most useful. You just upload your filing confirmation document (not your full return) and it scans for the specific tracking codes and processing information. The AI tool isn't claiming to know more than the IRS - it's actually pulling data from multiple sources including the IRS systems, bank processing data, and historical timing patterns. It's basically connecting dots between different systems that don't always communicate well with each other. It helped me figure out exactly which bank H&R Block was using for my refund and gave me the right tracking link.
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Payton Black
Just wanted to update everyone - I tried the taxr.ai site that was mentioned and it actually worked perfectly! Turns out H&R Block is using MetaBank for my refund processing (not stgb or Axos like I thought). The site gave me the correct tracking link and I was finally able to see my refund status. It showed my refund is scheduled to hit my account on Thursday - way faster than the original timeline H&R Block gave me. The system also explained why there was a delay in the tracking showing up (something about batch processing that happens on certain days of the week). Really glad I found this because I was starting to panic about my refund!
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Amun-Ra Azra
If you're still having trouble reaching H&R Block about your refund, you might want to check out Claimyr. I had a similar issue last year and spent literally DAYS trying to get through to someone who could help. Found https://claimyr.com and used their service to get a callback from an actual H&R Block representative in less than 30 minutes. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c It was seriously a game changer because they somehow get you past those horrible wait times and automated systems. The rep was able to look up exactly which financial institution was handling my refund and gave me the right tracking information. I was able to see that my refund was actually already processed but was held up because of a routing number issue that was easy to fix once I actually talked to someone.
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Summer Green
•Wait, how does this actually work? Are they just calling and waiting on hold for you? Seems like something I could do myself...
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Harold Oh
•This sounds like BS honestly. H&R Block has their own customer service and callback system. Why would I pay some third party service when I could just call them directly? Sounds like a waste of money to me.
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Amun-Ra Azra
•They use some kind of system that navigates through the phone trees and waits on hold for you, but it's way more effective than doing it yourself. Their system is constantly calling and can detect when operators become available faster than if you were just waiting on hold. When an agent is about to be available, they call you and connect you immediately. They don't just work with H&R Block but with literally hundreds of companies including the IRS itself. I tried calling H&R Block directly multiple times and couldn't get through after waiting for over an hour each time. With Claimyr I got a callback in under 30 minutes. It saved me hours of frustration and hold music. Think of it like paying to get to the front of the line - sometimes your time is worth more than the cost.
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Harold Oh
Ok I need to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After struggling for TWO DAYS trying to get through to H&R Block's customer service line (kept getting disconnected after 40+ minutes on hold), I broke down and tried it. Got a call back from an actual H&R Block rep in 22 minutes. The rep confirmed they're using MetaBank for some refunds and Axos Bank for others depending on which H&R Block product you used. She also explained why my tracking wasn't working - turns out there was a typo in my email address in their system so I never got the tracking info. Fixed it in 5 minutes and now I can see my refund is actually being deposited tomorrow. Definitely worth it to not spend hours on hold just to get disconnected again. Didn't think it would work but had to come back and correct myself.
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Gael Robinson
My brother works at H&R Block and says they use different banks for different types of refund products. If you got a Refund Advance or Emerald Card, it processes through Axos Bank. If you had direct deposit to your own bank account, they might use MetaBank or stgb depending on which H&R Block service you used (online vs in-person). Best way to check is to look at your filing receipt - should have the bank info in small print at the bottom.
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Marilyn Dixon
•I checked my receipt and don't see any bank listed at the bottom. I used their online deluxe version and selected direct deposit. Do they send a separate email with the tracking info? I haven't received anything other than the initial "your return has been accepted" message.
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Gael Robinson
•They should have sent you a separate email with subject line "Your Tax Refund Status" within 24-48 hours of the IRS accepting your return. Check your spam folder as these often get filtered out. If you can't find it, log into your H&R Block online account, go to "My Returns" and then click on "Refund Status" - it should show which financial institution is processing your refund. For the online deluxe version with direct deposit, they're most likely using MetaBank this year, not stgb. The stgb partnership was primarily for their in-store services last year. You can also try calling the H&R Block customer service line at 1-800-HRBLOCK and select the refund status option, but as others have mentioned, wait times can be pretty long this time of year.
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Edward McBride
Has anyone had experience with getting a partial refund from H&R Block? My federal was approved but state is still pending for some reason and I only received part of my expected refund. The amount that hit my account doesn't match either the federal or state amount exactly so I'm really confused.
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Darcy Moore
•That happened to me last year. The partial amount was my federal refund minus the H&R Block preparation fees (they take their fees directly from your refund if you didn't pay upfront). State refunds almost always come separately and usually a few weeks later. Check your H&R Block receipt for a breakdown of all the fees - bet that's where the difference is coming from.
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Edward McBride
•Thanks that makes sense. I forgot they were taking their fee from the refund. Just checked and the amount matches my federal minus their preparation fee. Still waiting on the state portion then I guess. Wish they made this clearer in their communications!
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Jessica Suarez
I went through the same confusion with H&R Block this year! After reading through all these responses, I wanted to add that you can also check your refund status directly through the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool at irs.gov/refunds - this works regardless of which tax preparation service you used and bypasses any confusion about which bank H&R Block is using. The IRS tool will show you exactly where your refund is in the processing pipeline and give you the most accurate timeline. You'll need your SSN, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. Since you're at the 2-week mark, it should start showing up in their system soon if it hasn't already. Also, make sure you're checking the right email inbox for H&R Block's tracking emails - they sometimes use a different sender name than you'd expect, so search for any emails containing "refund" or "H&R Block" from the past few weeks.
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Diego Chavez
•This is really helpful advice! I just tried the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool and it actually shows more detailed information than what I was getting from H&R Block's system. It says my return is still being processed but gives me a better timeline estimate. I also found those H&R Block emails in my spam folder - they were being filtered out because of the sender name format. Thanks for the tip about searching for "refund" in all folders, that's what helped me find them!
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