TurboTax Early Refund Deposit Failed - Questions About SBTPG and Refund Timing

What you're experiencing is actually quite common with tax prep services that offer refund advances or processing options. I've seen this same scenario play out many times over the years. When you opt for the early refund option through TurboTax, your refund is typically routed through Santa Barbara Tax Products Group (SBTPG), which is TurboTax's bank partner. When the IRS shows a deposit date (3/6 in your case), that's when they'll send the money to SBTPG, not directly to your bank. SBTPG then deducts any fees you agreed to (tax prep fees, etc.) and forwards the remainder to your bank account. This process usually adds 1-2 business days to the timeline, though I've occasionally seen it happen same-day. I'd suggest planning for your actual deposit to arrive around 3/7-3/8, just to be safe.

Did you pay for your TurboTax fees using your refund? This is a key detail because it determines which Electronic Return Originator (ERO) processing path your refund follows. The Santa Barbara TPG site typically shows a status of "unfunded" until they receive the deposit from the IRS, at which point it transitions to "funded" status before disbursement to your account. Some users have reported difficulty accessing the SBTPG portal when using certain refund advance options.

I probably should have been clearer in my original post... I'm fairly certain I did select to have the fees taken out of my refund, though I'm trying to remember all the details from when I filed. I believe the alternative to SBTPG might be Republic Bank or MetaBank depending on which specific TurboTax option was selected. I'm thinking my best approach might be to just wait until the 6th and see what happens, rather than trying to track it through multiple systems that may not even show my information correctly.

I've helped several clients navigate this exact situation with TurboTax and SBTPG this tax season. Here's what you need to know: • The IRS date (3/6) is when they release funds to SBTPG, not to your bank • SBTPG typically takes 1-2 business days to process and forward funds • You may not be able to access SBTPG's tracking system due to your specific product selection • TurboTax customer service is notoriously difficult to reach for clarification When my clients faced similar issues trying to get information about their refund status, several had success using Claimyr to reach the IRS directly (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). They were able to confirm exactly when the IRS sent the funds to SBTPG, which at least provided some peace of mind about where their money was in the process. This can be particularly helpful if your refund doesn't arrive within 3 business days of the IRS date.

Has anyone compared the timing between using TurboTax's refund transfer option versus just getting direct deposit to your own bank? I'm filing late this year and wondering if I should avoid these intermediary banks altogether. Is the processing time difference really that significant compared to what you'd experience with H&R Block or other preparers?

I was in your exact situation last month. According to the IRS2Go app and Where's My Refund tool, my deposit date was 2/15, but I had opted for TurboTax's refund transfer. I couldn't access SBTPG either, which was frustrating. The good news is my refund hit my account on 2/17 - so just two business days after the IRS date. The TurboTax support page (https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support) has a specific section about refund transfers that explains this timeline is normal. Hang in there!

If you can't access SBTPG, you might try contacting your bank directly. Many larger banks can see pending ACH transfers 1-2 days before they post to your account. Just tell them you're expecting an ACH deposit from "SBTPG LLC" or "TurboTax" and ask if they can see anything pending. This worked for me when I was in a similar situation - my bank could see the pending deposit a day before it actually posted to my account.