Tax Refund

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have my federal tax refund added to my spendwell account?

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Yes! With direct deposit, get access to your federal tax refund up to 5 days faster than a standard electronic deposit from the IRS¹. Your tax refund will be added to your account as soon as your return is processed and completed by the IRS. To check the status of your refund, please visit the IRS Where’s My Refund tool, IRS2Go App, or by calling the IRS at 800-829-1954.

If your state allows, you can direct deposit your state tax refund to your spendwell account. Please consult your state for instructions.

Why should I have my tax refund added to a spendwell account?

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Because you can get your tax refund faster¹! With early direct deposit, you won't have to wait to receive a check in the mail. And you'll get to keep your full refund - no need to pay to have your refund check cashed, it is free⁴ to receive your tax refund on your spendwell card. Once you have received your refund, there are many great ways you can use your refund – whether it’s making purchases in store or online, paying bills, or accessing cash.

What should I do before filing my taxes?

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• Make sure you have registered for a spendwell account. If you do not have an account, click here to see how to get a spendwell account.

• Verify your email address that you used to register

• Locate your spendwell account and routing numbers, which you’ll need when you file. You can find them by logging in to your account.

When can I expect to receive my tax refund?

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There are two ways that you can file your taxes, either electronically (e-file) or by mailing a paper return. According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in less than 21 calendar days. If you choose to have your refund direct deposited into a spendwell account, you could receive your refund up to 5 days faster than standard electronic deposit from the IRS¹. The IRS provides the most up to date information on the status of your refund. Use the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool, IRS2Go App or call the IRS at 800-829-1954 to check your refund status – spendwell account does not have information on the status of your refund until it has posted to your account. It will take 24-48 hours for your funds to be available on your spendwell account after your refund has been released by the IRS.

• If you have e-filed your tax return, you can start to check your status within 24 hours after the e-filed return has been received.

• If you have printed and mailed your tax return, you can start to check your status 4 weeks after you mail your paper return.

Where can I go for additional information about planning for tax season?

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Please consult the IRS Frequently Asked Questions for any other inquires specific to your tax refund.

How do I fill out my tax forms to have my refund added to my spendwell account?

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Follow the steps below to successfully add your tax refund to your spendwell account:

1. Ensure that the primary name and Social Security Number on your tax return matches the name on your spendwell account exactly.

2. In the refund section of the tax return:

• Fill in your spendwell account routing number

• Fill in your spendwell account number

• Select Checking as the type of account

How do I find my account and routing information?

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Log in to your spendwell account and click "My Profile" to view your account and routing numbers.

Can I get my tax refund added to my account if I am filing jointly?

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Yes. However, in order to avoid delay in receiving your funds, the primary name and social security number on the tax return must match the name and social security number that we have on file. If you are listed as the primary name on the account, you cannot be listed as "spouse" on your tax return. If this is not filled out correctly, your refund could be rejected, resulting in a potential delay in receiving your funds from the IRS.

How many refunds can I receive on my account?

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There is a limit of two tax refunds per calendar year per account. You could receive both a federal and state refund on your account for a total of two refunds.

Can I receive tax refunds for other people on my account?

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No. In accordance with IRS guidelines, you cannot direct deposit someone else's refund to your account. In this case, the deposit of the tax refund will be rejected.

If you have a subaccount that is used by another person, you cannot receive a tax refund for that person on your spendwell account.

Where can I go for additional information about filing my taxes?

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Please consult the IRS Frequently Asked Questions for any other inquires specific to your tax refund.

How do I check the status of my refund?

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You can check that status of your refund on the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool, the IRS2Go App, or by calling the IRS at 800-829-1954. The IRS information is updated every 24 hours. spendwell customer service does not have information on the status of your refund until it has posted to your account. According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in less than 21 calendar days. It will take 24-48 hours for your funds to be available on your spendwell account after your refund has been released by the IRS. You will receive an email from spendwell once the refund has posted to your account.

How can I use my tax refund?

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Once you have received your tax refund to your spendwell account, there are many great ways you can use your refund:

• Making purchases - Shop with your spendwell card in store and online at millions of merchants. You can use the Visa^® debit card issued with your spendwell bank account anywhere Visa^® debit cards are accepted.

• Paying bills - You can pay bills using your card on a merchant website or by using bill pay.

• ATM Withdrawal - You can withdraw your tax refund anywhere Visa® debit cards are accepted.

• And more!

How much of my refund can I withdraw at once?

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Once you have received your tax refund to your spendwell account, there are several ways you can get cash:

• Withdraw from ATMs
  You can withdraw your tax refund anywhere Visa^® debit cards are accepted. You can withdraw up to $750 a day – if you are expecting a large tax refund, you will need to plan to withdraw your refund over multiple days due to daily ATM withdrawal limits. Please see the Deposit Account Agreement for the full schedule of account limits and fees. If you have issues with your ATM PIN or forgot your PIN, please log in and go to My Profile to reset your PIN.
  

• Cash Back at Point of Sale
  If permitted by the merchant, you can use the Visa^® debit card issued with your spendwell account to get cash back from point of sale (POS) devices when you shop in stores. There are no spendwell fees to get cash back at point-of-sale, but limits apply and certain retailers may charge a fee for this transaction. Cash back at point-of-sale withdrawals are available up to the daily withdrawal authorization limits, provided the available balance in your account is greater than or equal to the cash withdrawal amount requested. Cash withdrawals may also be subject to varying daily limits at the terminal owner’s discretion.

• Over-the-Counter Cash Withdrawal
  You may also present the Visa^® debit card issued with your spendwell account to a teller at a Visa^® member bank location and request the amount of cash you’d like to receive. This is known as an over-the-counter (OTC) cash withdrawal. There is a fee of $3.75 for this type of withdrawal. OTC withdrawals are available up to the daily withdrawal authorization limits, provided the available balance in your account is greater than or equal to the cash withdrawal amount requested.