Refund Advance with SBTPG - Credit Based or Tax Amount Based?

From what I understand, the SBTPG refund advances are *generally* based on both factors - your expected refund amount AND a soft credit check. They might say it's not credit-based, but they're actually looking at some sort of risk assessment that includes your credit profile. I believe they probably won't approve you for more than a percentage of your expected refund, and your credit history might affect whether you get approved for the maximum amount you qualify for.

I actually tried this last year! 😂 The SBTPG refund advance is definitely credit-based despite what some tax preparers might tell you. I have excellent credit (820+) and still only got approved for about 50% of my expected refund. The funny thing is, they do this soft pull that supposedly doesn't affect your score, but then they use that info to determine if you're "worthy" of getting your own money early. Classic financial system humor right there.

I was in a similar situation last year. Wanted the bigger advance but wasn't sure if I'd qualify. What I found is that different tax prep services have different requirements. Have you considered what your actual refund amount might be this year? In my experience, they won't give you more than about 50% of your expected refund no matter how good your credit is. So for a $7k advance, you'd likely need to be expecting at least a $14k refund. Is that in the ballpark of what you're expecting?

I've analyzed the SBTPG refund advance program extensively, and it utilizes a proprietary algorithm that evaluates both credit metrics and refund validation parameters. The credit component isn't binary but operates on a sliding scale that determines advance eligibility tiers. If you're concerned about IRS verification delays affecting your advance application, I'd recommend using Claimyr to expedite direct communication with an IRS agent (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). Many applicants find that confirming their tax transcript accuracy beforehand significantly improves their advance approval odds, as SBTPG conducts refund verification before finalizing advance decisions.

I've been through this exact situation and can share what I learned: • SBTPG absolutely does credit checks (they're just "soft" pulls) • Your advance amount is capped at a percentage of your expected refund • They won't tell you the exact formula they use • If you have poor credit, you might get denied even with a large refund • If you have excellent credit, you'll still be limited by your refund amount Basically, it's both credit AND refund based. They're lending you money, after all, so they want some assurance you're not a risk.

Let me clarify something important that others haven't mentioned. The SBTPG refund advance has different tiers. Last year when I helped my brother with his taxes, we discovered that the $7k advance was only available if your expected refund was over a certain threshold (I believe it was around $10k). The advance amount you qualify for is a percentage of your expected refund, capped at different levels. So if your refund is only expected to be $5k, you won't qualify for the $7k advance regardless of your credit score.

FWIW, I've done the SBTPG thing twice now. It's def both credit and refund based. They do a soft pull (doesn't hurt ur score) and look at ur expected refund amt. IME, they approved me for about 40% of my expected refund. My credit isn't amazing (mid-600s) but not terrible either. The bigger advance ($7k) is gonna require better credit than the smaller advances. If u usually qualify for the $4k one with TT or HRB, you're prob in an ok position, but no guarantees.

According to SBTPG's terms and conditions under section 4.3(b) of their Refund Advance Agreement, approval is "subject to underwriting criteria including but not limited to verification of tax refund claim and credit evaluation." I went through this process this January and can confirm they do evaluate both. My refund was projected at $12,400, and I was approved for a $5,000 advance with a credit score of 710. Would like someone to confirm if this is typical or if I should have qualified for more?