SBTPG Funding Amount vs Actual Refund - What's the Difference?

I went through this exact situation last month! The SBTPG (Santa Barbara Tax Products Group) portal will show the full amount that was sent from the IRS initially. Then it will show a separate line for any fees that were deducted before they sent the money to your bank. Last year, my portal showed $3,452 received from IRS, then $39.95 taken out for filing fees, and final deposit of $3,412.05. If there's a big discrepancy beyond your filing fees, something else might be going on.

OMG this is such a headache. SBTPG can be super confusing w/ all their diff statuses. I had to call the IRS 3x last yr bc SBTPG showed one amount but I got less. Turns out IRS had offset part of mine for old debt but SBTPG didn't show that! Wasted hrs on hold trying to reach anyone. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got thru to an agent in like 20 mins who explained everything. Def worth it when ur missing $$ and need answers ASAP.

Listen, SBTPG is just a middleman. They receive your full refund from the IRS, take out any fees you agreed to when filing (tax prep fees, filing fees, etc.), then send the rest to your bank. If money is missing, it's either: 1) SBTPG fees you agreed to, 2) an IRS offset for debt, or 3) a mistake. Don't wait around - check your SBTPG account for the "fees" section right now and see exactly what they took out. You need to act fast if something looks wrong.

The discrepancy you're describing could be attributable to multiple factors within the Refund Transfer (RT) process. SBTPG's system displays the Anticipated Refund Amount (ARA) based on IRS acceptance data, but this may not account for post-submission adjustments or offsets. I've found https://taxr.ai invaluable for deciphering these discrepancies - it analyzes your transcript codes to identify exactly where reductions occurred. In my experience, transcript code 776 often indicates an offset, while 971/570 combinations may signal adjustments that SBTPG wouldn't necessarily display accurately.

I think everyone's missing something important here. There are multiple places to check: • SBTPG portal - Shows what they received from IRS and what they're sending you • IRS transcript - Shows the ACTUAL refund amount approved • WMR tool - Sometimes shows different info than transcript You need to check ALL THREE to figure out where the money went. Don't just rely on SBTPG's info. They're just passing along what they got from the IRS minus their fees. Frustrating that none of the tax prep companies explain this properly!

According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions), refund transfers through third-party processors like SBTPG can have several fees deducted. I've documented everything in my spreadsheet for the past 3 tax seasons, and here's what I've found: 1. Tax preparation fees (if you didn't pay upfront) 2. State filing fees 3. Refund transfer fees 4. Audit protection if you added it You can also check the IRS 'Where's My Refund' tool and compare that amount to what SBTPG shows. If the IRS amount is higher, then SBTPG took fees. If the amounts match but you got less, your bank might have fees or holds. Just want to confirm I've got this right?

As someone who's been through this process multiple times, I can confirm that SBTPG will show the exact amount they received from the IRS, then clearly list any deductions. However, there's one important thing everyone should know - SBTPG receives your refund AFTER the IRS has already taken out any offsets for things like back taxes, child support, or federal debts. So if your expected refund was $4,783 but the IRS only sent $4,500 to SBTPG due to an offset, SBTPG's portal will show they received $4,500 (not $4,783). This is why checking your IRS transcript is crucial - it shows the original refund amount AND any reductions before it even gets to SBTPG. The good news is SBTPG's fee structure is usually pretty transparent. Most people see fees between $25-50 depending on their filing method and any add-ons they selected. If you're missing significantly more than that, definitely check for IRS offsets first.