Tax Refund Advance with Free Filing - Does It Still Go Through STPG?

Think of it like a loan shark who stands between you and your paycheck. Even with the free version, they're still fronting you the cash before the IRS pays them back. It's like getting an advance on your paycheck from those payday loan places - the money has to flow through their hands first. That's how they make their cut. The software might be free but that advance definitely isn't - they're making money somewhere in that transaction.

Yeah, ur refund def goes thru SBTPG if u took the advance. Free edition doesn't matter - it's the advance that triggers the 3rd party processing. Btw, they sometimes hold it for 24-48 hrs before sending to ur acct, so plan for that delay. Also watch for fees they might take out - sometimes there's a "processing fee" that wasn't super obvious when u signed up. Check ur agreement docs carefully.

The Refund Transfer process is EXTREMELY time-sensitive right now! If your refund is being processed through SBTPG, you need to monitor both your IRS transcript AND your SBTPG account for discrepancies. When I had issues with my refund being held by SBTPG last year, I wasted DAYS trying to get through to their customer service line. I finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to the IRS directly to confirm they had already released my funds. Armed with that information, I was able to get SBTPG to release my money within hours! Don't wait until you're desperate - time is critical with tax season delays!

I've researched this extensively. Yes, your refund will 100% go through SBTPG if you took the advance, regardless of using the free edition. Here's the exact process: 1. IRS approves and releases your refund 2. Refund is sent to SBTPG (typically takes 24-72 hours to process) 3. SBTPG deducts any fees and advance repayment 4. Remaining balance transfers to your bank account In my tracking of 42 different cases last tax season, the average delay between IRS release and final bank deposit was 2.3 days. However, 8% of cases experienced delays of 5+ days due to verification holds.

Let me clear this up for you. Yes, it still goes through SBTPG. The free edition only means you don't pay for tax preparation - it has nothing to do with how the advance works. When you take an advance, you're essentially taking a loan that gets repaid when your actual refund arrives. SBTPG is the middleman that handles this transaction. They front you the money now, then intercept your refund later to recoup their costs. This happens regardless of which edition you used or where your final deposit is going. It's all about the advance, not the software version.

Here's what you need to do: • Create an account on SBTPG.com using the same info from your tax return • Track your refund there AND on the IRS Where's My Refund tool • Call SBTPG directly at their customer service if nothing shows up after your WMR says refund sent • Consider opting out of advances next year - they're convenient but add complexity • Remember that "free edition" just means free preparation, not free financial products The advance is essentially a loan against your expected refund, so yes, it MUST go through the third party regardless of which edition you used.