Can I actually get a tax refund advance completely online?

You can start online. TaxShield Service offers an online pre-qualification form that lets a Memphis filer begin from a phone or computer, but the advance itself runs through a prepared return. A tax professional still calculates the refund using your actual documents, and for the funded Shield Advance the IRS has to accept your e-filed return first, which usually happens within about 24 to 48 hours. So the online form is the starting point, not an instant deposit, and the advance amount depends on the refund your return calculates.

How much is a tax refund advance, and does it cost anything?

There are two products. The Holiday Advance runs up to $500, is available earlier in the season before the IRS opens, and is offered at no charge. The Shield Advance is available after the IRS accepts your return, starts at $500 and goes higher, and carries specific bank fees that the preparer discloses upfront before anything is processed. Which one fits depends on your refund and timing, and you can decline any advance and simply wait for your full refund.

Why is my refund held until mid-February if I claim the EITC?

Federal law, the PATH Act, requires the IRS to hold any refund claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit until mid-February, and the hold applies to your entire refund, not just the credit portion. For the 2026 season the IRS opened e-file on January 26, the hold lifted in mid-February, and most affected direct-deposit refunds were expected by early March. That gap between filing and deposit is the main reason Memphis households look at a refund advance in the first place.

Privacy Policy