What is TPG (Tax Product Group) and Has Anyone Had Funds Deducted From Their Refund?

TPG (Tax Product Group) is a financial service provider that handles tax refund transfers. Some important points to know: • They're often used when you choose to have your tax preparation fees deducted from your refund • They serve as an intermediary between the IRS and you • They DO charge fees for their services (typically $35-55) • These fees should be disclosed in your tax preparation paperwork • They're commonly used with TurboTax, H&R Block, and other preparers I would caution against assuming funds were "taken" - it's more likely these are the agreed-upon service fees, though sometimes they're not clearly explained by preparers.

Had TPG last year. They took their fee. It was disclosed somewhere in the paperwork. Didn't realize what I was signing up for. Got my refund 5 days after IRS sent it. Won't do it again. Paying prep fees upfront this year.

I had something similar happen with Republic Bank Tax Refund Solutions, which is basically the same type of service as TPG. They took out their fee plus an additional "processing charge" that wasn't clearly explained to me. When I compared my IRS transcript to what I actually received, there was about $75 missing. Took me three calls to figure out where it went. Have you checked your transcript to see the exact amount the IRS sent?

This TPG situation is making me FURIOUS!!! They've had my refund for 6 days now and still nothing in my account! Called their customer service line and was on hold for 1 hour and 47 minutes before getting disconnected. TWICE! When I finally got through using Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c), the rep told me it was "still processing" with no explanation why. Claimyr at least got me through to a human being who could check my status instead of that useless automated system. So frustrating that we need to pay extra just to talk to someone about our own money!

I'm concerned about the implications of using these refund transfer services. There are several potential issues you should be aware of: 1. First, they typically add 3-8 days to your refund timeline 2. Then, they deduct their fee (usually $35-55) 3. Next, they may deduct your tax preparation fees 4. Additionally, they might deduct any audit protection services you agreed to 5. Finally, some have been known to deduct fees for state returns separately The concerning part is that sometimes these fees stack up without clear disclosure. I've seen people lose $100+ from their expected refund amount without understanding why.

In my experience, which is admittedly somewhat limited to the past three tax seasons, TPG generally handles refunds in a predictable manner, though there are occasionally, I would say, unexpected delays. They typically, but not always, process refunds within approximately 24-48 hours after receiving them from the IRS, though this timeframe can sometimes extend to 3-5 business days depending on various factors such as volume of returns being processed or system maintenance. Regarding fees, they almost certainly will deduct their processing fee, which is usually, in most cases, disclosed somewhere in your tax preparation paperwork, though perhaps not as prominently as would be ideal for consumer transparency.

You need to review your rights immediately! Under IRS Publication 1345 (Rev. 3-2023), tax preparation companies must provide clear disclosure of all fees associated with refund transfer products. If TPG took funds without proper disclosure, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The deadline for disputing unauthorized charges is typically 60 days from when the transaction appeared on your statement. Don't wait - these companies count on people not understanding their rights!

I dealt with TPG on February 15th this year when they received my refund from the IRS. By February 18th, they had processed it and sent it to my bank. Then my bank held it until February 21st before it was available. So that's a total of 6 days from when the IRS issued my refund until I could actually use the money. They did take their $39.95 fee, which was mentioned in my TurboTax agreement on page 3 of the terms. I've been using them for years and the timeline is pretty consistent - usually 5-7 days total from IRS issuance to money in my account.