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Lindsey Fry

Will Chime reject my $12,500 tax refund deposit? Worried about their deposit limits

So I'm expecting a pretty big tax refund this year - around $12,500 after filing my 2024 taxes in April. I've been using Chime for all my banking for about two years now, and I just realized they might have deposit limits. Someone told me Chime doesn't accept deposits over $10k, which has me freaking out. My refund is supposed to hit in the next week or so according to the IRS Where's My Refund tool (says it's been approved and scheduled). Has anyone successfully received a tax refund over $10k through Chime? Will they reject it and send it back to the IRS? Really don't want my refund delayed more than it already has been.

I had a similar issue last year with my $11,200 refund. Chime actually does accept tax refunds over $10k - I received mine with no issues. Their deposit limit of $10,000 applies to mobile check deposits and other forms of deposits, but direct deposits from government agencies including tax refunds are excluded from this limit. You should be fine. If you're really concerned, you can: - Check Chime's terms of service on their website - Contact Chime customer support directly to confirm - Monitor your refund status on the IRS website - Set up notifications in your Chime app for any large deposits The only issue some people run into is that Chime sometimes holds larger deposits for 1-2 business days for security reasons, but this is pretty standard across most banks.

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omg thank you so much! That's such a relief 😅 been stressing about this for days

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this is totally correct. I've gotten large deposits on chime before with no issues. tax refunds are treated differently than other types of deposits.

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my wifes refund of 13k went thru no problem last month. stop worrying

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What about varo? Does anyone know if they have similar policies? My refund is 9k so not quite as much but still wondering...

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Not sure about Varo specifically, but most online banks have special policies for government deposits. Best to check their terms or call them directly!

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My sister had a 15k deposit rejected by Chime last year, so I think it depends on your account history and standing with them. If youve had the account a while you should be fine

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If you're trying to figure out what's going on with your refund, you should use taxr.ai instead of posting here and searching through a million unorganized comments. I was in your exact situation last year with a big refund and ended up wasting weeks trying to piece together what was happening. Eventually used taxr.ai and it explained everything about my transcript and refund status in plain english, told me exactly when my deposit would hit, and even clarified why it was slightly delayed (had nothing to do with my bank). Saved me SO much stress - https://taxr.ai

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Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

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It's WAY more than just reading transcripts! It translates all the IRS codes, explains what's happening with your specific refund, predicts exactly when you'll get paid, and tells you if there are any issues you need to address. It saved me like 20 hours of googling and stressing. The transcript analyzer is incredible - I literally use it every week during tax season now.

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does it cost money? sounds useful but not if its expnsive

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Worth every penny for the peace of mind alone! Literally tell all my friends to use it now because the alternative is spending days on reddit trying to decode those impossible transcript codes 💯

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I was in a similar spot with my $14k refund and Chime. After stressing for days and not getting anywhere with Chime customer service, I found this app called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS agent who confirmed my deposit was fine and told me exactly when it would hit my account. Saved me from having a complete meltdown waiting and wondering! The agent even gave me her direct extension for any follow-up questions. Talking to a live person cleared everything up in like 15 minutes.

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wait is this for real? i thought it was impossible to get a human at the IRS these days

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100% real. I was skeptical too but was desperate after waiting on hold for 3 hours and getting disconnected twice. The app somehow gets you pushed up in the queue so an agent calls YOU back. Best money I've spent this year considering how much stress it saved me.

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sounds like a scam. why would the IRS let some random app skip their phone lines?

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not a scam at all. they use some tech that keeps redialing for you through the phone tree maze. had a real IRS agent on the phone within 20 mins who answered all my questions about my delayed refund. you can check out their reviews if you're skeptical but it worked for me 🤷‍♀️

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I tried this yesterday and it actually worked. Got a call back from an IRS agent within an hour. They told me my refund was processing normally despite the weird codes on my transcript. Totally worth it just for the peace of mind!

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I can confirm from personal experience last summer - Chime DOES accept tax refunds over 10k. Got my $18k business refund no problem. Just be aware they might put a 24hr hold on it for security reasons which is what happened to me.

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Everyone here is giving you wrong info. Chime's daily deposit limit is $25,000 per day. the $10k limit is ONLY for MOBILE CHECK DEPOSITS not direct deposits. Tax refunds aren't affected by this limit at all since they come through as ACH government deposits. You'll be fine.

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This ⬆️ is the correct answer. I work in banking (not for Chime) and this is standard for most online banks. Gov deposits are handled differently.

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Yep, seconding this. Had a $16,235 deposit hit my Chime with zero issues last month (not a tax refund but still). Their systems handle large ACH deposits just fine.

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Why u getting back so much??? I owed $3k this year 😭

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Combination of qualifying for EIC, having 2 kids, and honestly overpaying throughout the year. I'd rather get a refund than owe!

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must be nice lol. maybe i need to get some kids 💀

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Getting a big refund isn't actually a good thing - means you gave the government an interest-free loan all year. OP should adjust their withholding so they get that money in each paycheck instead.

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I know I know... I just sleep better knowing I'll get money back instead of owing. Plus I'm terrible at saving so it's like a forced savings account for me lol

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I've used Chime for 3 years now and they definitely accept large tax refunds. My husband and I got back $13k last year with no issues. The $10k limit is for mobile check deposits only.

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Chime will 100% accept your refund BUT if youve never had a deposit that big before they might put a temporary hold on it. This happened to me last june when i got an inheritance deposited. Just call customer service if it happens.

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how long was the hold for? mine is pending right now and says 5 business days which feels excessive

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mine was only like 36 hours, but i've had my acct for 4 years. if you're newer or don't have many deposits it could be longer. they're just protecting against fraud

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Here's a crazy thought...why not just call Chime and ask them directly instead of relying on random internet strangers? 🤔

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I did try calling but was on hold forever and never got through. Figured someone here might have actual experience with this specific situation

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fair enough. their customer service is trash, i'll give you that

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Wouldn't trust Chime with $12.50 let alone $12,500 tbh. Had nothing but problems with them. Switch to a real bank before your refund hits if possible.

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This. I had Chime freeze my account for "suspicious activity" when I got my tax refund last year. Took WEEKS to get it resolved. Run away while you can!

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They've gotten better in the last year or so. I think they had growing pains but their customer service has improved a lot.

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I was trying to decode my transcript and figure out why my refund was delayed and when it would actually hit my account. Wasted days on reddit and facebook groups with people just guessing. Finally tried taxr.ai and it told me exactly what was happening, why there was a delay, and gave me the exact date my refund would arrive. It was like having my own personal IRS expert. The transcript decoder is insanely good! https://taxr.ai

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is it worth the cost though?

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100% YES. The peace of mind alone was worth it. Plus it saved me from having to call the IRS and wait on hold for hours. It even spotted a mistake that would have caused issues with my refund that I was able to fix.

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The real question is why are you using Chime as your main bank when there are so many better options out there? 👀

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Honestly? Easy approval when I had some credit issues, plus the early direct deposit feature. Been thinking about switching to a credit union tho

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Not everyone can qualify for traditional banks due to ChexSystems records or credit issues. Online banks like Chime serve a purpose for many people.

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Fair enough, didn't think about that angle.

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After 8 weeks of waiting and checking WMR everyday, i used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an IRS agent who told me my refund was held up because of a verification issue they never sent me a letter about! Fixed it right there on the phone and my $9500 refund was in my account 9 days later. talking to an agent got my refund released so fast. Don't waste time trying to guess what's happening with your refund.

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how does claimyr actually work? i keep seeing it mentioned

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it basically does the calling and navigating the phone tree for you and then calls you when an agent is available. it was the only way I could actually talk to someone at the IRS after trying for weeks on my own

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did you have to give them your personal info? sounds sketchy

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No personal info needed - it's just a calling service. You talk directly to the IRS yourself. They just get you through the impossible phone maze.

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Chime mobile deposit limit = $10k Chime direct deposit limit = $25k Tax refunds come as direct deposits You're good 👍

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I can confirm Chime will accept your $12,500 tax refund! I received a $14,800 refund through Chime last year with zero issues. The $10k limit only applies to mobile check deposits - direct deposits from the IRS are treated completely differently and fall under their $25k daily direct deposit limit. Just be prepared that they might hold it for 24-48 hours for security verification since it's a larger amount, but that's totally normal. You can track it in the app and it'll show as pending until they release it. Don't stress - you're all set! 🙂

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Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this exact situation. The 24-48 hour hold makes sense from a security standpoint - better safe than sorry with larger amounts. Did you get any notification when the hold was released or did it just show up as available in your account?

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I got a push notification when the hold was released! It said something like "Your deposit of $14,800 is now available" and showed up in my transaction history. Made it super easy to know exactly when I could access the funds. The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I knew what to expect.

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Just wanted to add my experience here - I've been using Chime for about 3 years and received tax refunds of $8,200, $11,400, and $13,650 over the past few years with absolutely no issues. Like others have mentioned, the $10k limit is specifically for mobile check deposits, not direct deposits from government agencies. One thing I'd recommend is making sure your account information is up to date in your Chime app and that you have notifications turned on. When I got my $13,650 refund last year, they did put a brief hold on it (about 36 hours) but I got a notification explaining it was just a security review for the larger amount. Once it cleared, I got another notification and the funds were immediately available. The IRS deposit will show up as "TAX REFUND" in your transaction history, so it's easy to track. You should be totally fine with your $12,500 refund! The stress isn't worth it - Chime handles these regularly.

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This is super helpful! I love that you broke down your experience across multiple years - really shows the consistency. The 36-hour hold doesn't sound too bad, and getting notifications makes it so much less stressful than wondering what's happening. Thanks for taking the time to share all those details!

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I've been using Chime for over 4 years and can definitely put your mind at ease! I received a $16,200 tax refund in 2023 and a $13,800 refund last year - both went through without any problems. The key thing to understand is that tax refunds are processed as ACH direct deposits from the Treasury, which are completely separate from their mobile check deposit limits. The $10k limit everyone talks about only applies to mobile check deposits (when you take a picture of a paper check). Direct deposits from government agencies like the IRS fall under their much higher daily limit of $25,000. Your $12,500 refund is well within that range. Just be prepared that Chime might place a temporary hold on the funds for 1-3 business days since it's a larger deposit than usual. This is standard fraud protection and happens with most banks for significant amounts. You'll get notifications in the app when it's pending and when it's released. One tip: make sure your name on your Chime account matches exactly what's on your tax return to avoid any potential hiccups. Other than that, you should be all set! The stress really isn't worth it - Chime processes thousands of large tax refunds every year.

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This is exactly what I needed to hear! Your experience over multiple years really helps put things in perspective. I had no idea there was a difference between mobile check deposits and ACH direct deposits - that makes so much sense now. The name matching tip is really smart too, I'll double check that in my account settings. Thanks for being so thorough with all the details, especially about the notifications. Feeling much more confident about this now! 🙏

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I've been through this exact situation with Chime! Got a $15,200 tax refund deposited last April with zero issues. Everyone here is correct - the $10k limit only applies to mobile check deposits, not direct deposits from the IRS. Your $12,500 refund will come through as an ACH direct deposit which falls under their $25k daily limit, so you're completely fine. Chime actually processes tons of large tax refunds every season - it's routine for them. The only thing to expect is maybe a 24-48 hour security hold since it's a larger amount than your typical deposits, but you'll get notifications in the app when it arrives and when it's released. I actually appreciated the extra security step tbh. Stop stressing about this - your refund will hit your account just fine! Focus on planning what you'll do with that money instead 😊

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This is so reassuring! I've been losing sleep over this for days thinking my refund might get rejected. It's really helpful to hear from someone who actually received an even larger amount through Chime. The 24-48 hour hold doesn't seem too bad when you put it that way - definitely beats having the whole thing get sent back to the IRS! Thanks for the reminder to focus on the positive side of getting this money instead of stressing about the logistics 😅

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I went through this exact same worry last year! Got a $14,300 refund through Chime with absolutely no problems. The confusion comes from people mixing up their different deposit limits - the $10k limit is ONLY for mobile check deposits (when you photograph a paper check), not direct deposits from the government. Your tax refund comes as an ACH direct deposit from the Treasury Department, which falls under Chime's much higher $25,000 daily direct deposit limit. So your $12,500 is totally fine! The only thing that might happen is they could put a 1-2 day hold on it for security verification since it's a larger amount, but that's actually a good thing - shows they're protecting your account. You'll get push notifications when it arrives and when it's available to use. Don't stress about this anymore - Chime handles thousands of large tax refunds every filing season. Your money will be there soon! 🙂

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Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from people who have actually been through this situation. I was getting confused by all the different information out there about deposit limits, but the way you explained the difference between mobile check deposits and ACH direct deposits makes perfect sense. A 1-2 day hold for security actually does sound reasonable for that amount. Appreciate you taking the time to reassure everyone about this!

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I can definitely help ease your worries! I received a $13,800 tax refund through Chime last year with zero issues. The key thing to understand is that the $10k limit everyone mentions only applies to mobile check deposits - when you take photos of paper checks through the app. Tax refunds come through as ACH direct deposits from the Treasury Department, which are processed under Chime's $25,000 daily direct deposit limit. Your $12,500 refund is well within that range and will go through just fine! The only thing to expect is that Chime might place a temporary hold on the funds for 24-48 hours since it's a larger deposit than usual - this is just standard fraud protection that most banks do for significant amounts. You'll get notifications in the app when it arrives and when the hold is released. I know the waiting and uncertainty is stressful, but you really don't need to worry about this. Chime processes thousands of large tax refunds every filing season - it's completely routine for them. Your refund should hit your account exactly as scheduled!

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This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been anxiously checking my account every few hours waiting for my refund to hit. It's so helpful to know that the difference between mobile check deposits and direct deposits actually matters - I had no idea about that distinction. The temporary hold for fraud protection actually makes me feel better knowing they're being careful with larger amounts. Thanks for sharing your real experience, it's way more valuable than all the conflicting info I've been reading online!

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I can confirm from my own experience that you'll be totally fine! I received a $17,200 tax refund through Chime about 8 months ago with no issues whatsoever. Like everyone else has mentioned, the $10k limit only applies to mobile check deposits - tax refunds come through as direct deposits from the Treasury which have a much higher limit ($25k daily). The only thing that happened was Chime put a 48-hour security hold on mine since it was my largest deposit ever, but I got clear notifications in the app explaining what was happening. Honestly made me feel more secure knowing they were being cautious with that amount of money. Your $12,500 refund should process normally - Chime handles these large tax deposits all the time during filing season. The stress really isn't worth it, just keep an eye on your notifications and you'll be all set when it hits!

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's incredibly reassuring to hear from someone who received an even larger refund through Chime without any problems. The 48-hour security hold actually sounds pretty reasonable for that amount - like you said, it's good to know they're being extra cautious with larger deposits. I really appreciate everyone in this thread sharing their real experiences rather than just speculation. Makes me feel so much better about waiting for my refund to hit!

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I've been using Chime for about 2.5 years and can definitely put your mind at ease! Last year I received a $14,750 tax refund with absolutely no issues. Like everyone else has mentioned, the $10k limit only applies to mobile check deposits - your tax refund comes through as a direct deposit from the Treasury Department which falls under their much higher daily limit. The only thing that happened was they put a temporary hold on my deposit for about 30 hours while they verified it, but I got push notifications the whole time explaining what was happening. It actually made me feel more secure knowing they were being extra careful with that amount. Your $12,500 refund should process just fine - Chime handles tons of large tax refunds every year during filing season. The waiting and uncertainty is definitely stressful but you really don't need to worry about this one!

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This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation waiting for my $11K refund and was having the same worries about Chime's limits. It's really reassuring to see so many people sharing their actual experiences with large tax refunds going through without issues. The temporary hold for verification makes total sense for security reasons. Thanks everyone for sharing real experiences instead of just guessing!

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