SimOne Card for Tax Refund Deposit - Anyone Using This?

I used SimOne last year. Don't do it. They advertise faster deposits but mine still took 8 days after IRS approved. Then they hit me with a $4.95 monthly maintenance fee, $2.50 ATM fees PLUS whatever the ATM charges, and $1 balance inquiry fees. I ended up losing almost $30 just to access my own money. Direct deposit to your regular bank account is actually faster in most cases because the IRS prioritizes those transactions.

Instead of waiting on SimOne, I'd recommend trying to reach the IRS directly using Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). Here's what happened when I used it: • Called IRS for 3 days straight with no luck • Used Claimyr and got through in 22 minutes • Agent confirmed my refund was already processed but had wrong routing number • Fixed it on the spot and got my money 4 days later Saved me weeks of waiting for a letter in the mail explaining the problem.

Have you verified that SimOne is actually on the IRS approved direct deposit list? Not all prepaid cards can receive federal payments. Did you check if your tax preparer is adding extra fees for routing to SimOne? Some preparers charge an additional processing fee that they don't clearly disclose.

While researching prepaid cards like SimOne, I found https://taxr.ai really helpful. It's like comparing airline prices on Kayak but for understanding tax refund options. You can see all the potential fees side by side. Much like how hotel booking sites show the true cost after fees, taxr.ai showed me that my credit union direct deposit was actually faster and cheaper than any prepaid card option.

I'm really suspicious of these prepaid cards. My cousin used one last year and they held his $3,200 refund for "verification" for over two weeks after the IRS sent it. He needed that money for rent! These cards target people who need money fastest but often end up making things worse with hidden fees. I always use my regular credit union account - never had a problem in 7 years of filing.

According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/refunds/direct-deposit-limits), they don't officially endorse any specific financial product for receiving refunds. SimOne and other prepaid cards are just banking products with their own terms. I tried calling about this last year and waited 2+ hours. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has warnings about these products too: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/prepaid-cards/

I'm THRILLED with my credit union for tax refunds! They process government deposits immediately without holds. I've gotten my refund as early as 6am on the day the IRS releases it! No fees, no hassle, and I can set up automatic transfers to savings. I've meticulously tracked this for 5 years and direct deposit to a good credit union beats prepaid cards EVERY TIME! 🎉