Fast Tax Refunds May Cost More
Consumers Can Get Refund Quickly From IRS
POSTED: 4:53 p.m. EST March 15, 2002
UPDATED: 5:07 p.m. EST March 15, 2002
CLEVELAND -- About 70 percent of Americans are expected to get tax refunds this year.
According to Troubleshooter Chris Caswell, many companies are advertising that they can get your refund back extra fast, but Caswell found out that the ads don't tell you the whole story.
For instance, an H&R Block commercial promises to give you the amount of your tax refund the same day you file.
The program is called Instant Money.
Jackson Hewitt, another big tax preparation company, offers super fast refunds when you want your refund in a hurry.
Consumer Reports found that even businesses that have nothing to do with taxes are offering speedy refunds, such as Nationwide Mattress and Furniture Warehouse.
"You have to realize that these are loans, often very expensive loans," said Kim Kleman of Consumer Reports. "You're likely to pay high interest rates and steep fees, which can take a big slice out of the money you're due."
Some of the fast refund fees you can face are: a tax preparation fee, an electronic filing fee, and interest charges on the loan. The interest rates can be hefty.
A report from the Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumer Law Center found that the short-term loans can carry an annual percentage rate of about 67 to 74 percent.
"Paying a lot to get your refund back in a day or two is a waste of money," Kleman said. "You can deal directly with the IRS, get your refund in about 10 days without paying any loan fees."
Go to irs.gov for more information.
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