TurboTax Refund Advance Option Missing - When Does It Appear?

I believe the refund advance option may not be available to everyone... From what I understand, TurboTax typically offers this based on certain eligibility criteria, including your refund amount, filing status, and possibly your credit score. It's usually presented before the final filing stage, but only if you qualify. I would be cautious about counting on it, as these advances often come with hidden fees or interest that reduce your actual refund. Have you tried clicking through to see if it appears on a later screen?

OMG I had this EXACT same issue last week!!! I was literally counting down the minutes until I could get that advance for my car payment that's due on the 15th. I found out that if you started your return before January 4th (when they officially launched the refund advance program) and then came back to finish it later, sometimes the system doesn't offer it to you! I had to start a completely new return to get the option to appear. It showed up right after my refund was calculated, before the payment options screen. Have you tried starting over? I know it's a pain, but it worked for me!

tbh I tried for DAYS to get that refund advance to show up in TT this yr. Called their cust svc like 5x and kept getting disconnected or 2+ hr wait times 🙄 Finally used Claimyr.com to get thru to an actual human at TurboTax (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and they explained that the advance has income limits and credit requirements. My refund was big enough but my AGI was too high for 2024. Saved me from starting over for nothing! If u want a definite answer, might be worth using their service to get past the phone tree hell.

Based on my experience filing on February 12th, 2024, TurboTax offers the refund advance at a specific point in the process. It appears immediately after your refund amount is calculated and before you select your payment method. However, there are several alternatives worth considering: 1. If you're filing with a paid version of TurboTax, you can receive an advance of up to $4,000 if eligible 2. Credit Karma Tax (now Cash App Taxes) offers a similar advance program with potentially fewer restrictions 3. H&R Block also provides refund advances from $250-$3,500 with no interest or fees If you're not seeing the option, it may be because: - Your expected refund is below their minimum threshold (typically $500) - Your credit score doesn't meet their requirements - You've already passed the section where it's offered - The program reached its funding limit (they don't advertise this but it happens

I'm not sure I'd trust these tax refund advances anyway... They're like those payday loans that look helpful on the surface but end up being a trap. It's like ordering express shipping but paying more than the item is worth! I've heard they take a percentage of your refund as a "processing fee" which can add up to a pretty high effective interest rate. Has anyone actually calculated what these advances cost in the long run??

I understand your concern about refund advances, but the TurboTax one is actually legitimate and can be helpful in certain situations. Here's how it works: 1. First, complete your tax return entirely in TurboTax 2. After your refund is calculated, you'll see an eligibility check for the advance 3. If eligible, you'll be offered between $250-$4,000 depending on your expected refund 4. The funds are loaded onto a prepaid debit card within 1-3 hours of IRS acceptance 5. There's no interest or finance charges on the advance itself The key is understanding that while there's no interest, there may be a fee for the paid version of TurboTax required to access this feature. For someone who genuinely needs funds quickly for an emergency, this can be a reasonable option compared to high-interest alternatives. Just be sure to read all terms before accepting.

So I actually work in financial services (though not for TurboTax, don't worry 😂) and can share some insider knowledge. For the 2024 filing season, TurboTax's refund advance program is particularly finicky. I helped my brother-in-law with his taxes last weekend, and the refund advance option appeared ONLY after he: 1. Selected the TurboTax Deluxe option ($59) or higher 2. Qualified for a refund over $1,000 3. Passed their soft credit check (which doesn't affect your credit score) 4. Reached the EXACT screen where you select your refund delivery method Here's the kicker - if you're using the free version, you won't see it at all. And if you're a higher income filer (over $100K AGI), they also won't show it regardless of your refund amount. It's like they're playing hide-and-seek with this feature! If you've already passed that screen, you might be out of luck unless you start over. But honestly, waiting the extra week for your full refund might be worth saving the upgrade fee.

I went through this exact same frustration last month! 😤 After reading through everyone's responses here, it sounds like there are several factors at play. I ended up calling TurboTax directly (took forever to get through) and they confirmed that the refund advance is only available with their paid versions AND you have to meet their eligibility requirements. Here's what I learned from my experience: - You need TurboTax Deluxe ($59) or higher - the free version doesn't offer it - Your AGI needs to be under $100,000 - Expected refund should be at least $500-$1,000 - It appears right after your refund calculation, before payment method selection - If you started your return before January 4th, you might need to start over I ended up just going with the regular direct deposit since I didn't want to pay the upgrade fee. Got my refund in about 10 days which wasn't too bad. Sometimes these "convenience" features end up costing more than they're worth! Hope this helps and good luck with your car repair! 🚗