Spruce deposits refunds within one to three business days after the IRS releases the money to them

Spruce is a tax filing service that offers early refund access through a product called Spruce Advance. When you file your taxes through Spruce and choose to receive your refund early, Spruce receives the approved refund from the IRS, then deposits it into your bank account. The deposit itself—from Spruce's bank to yours—typically takes one to three business days, depending on your bank's processing speed.

The timing depends on two separate events: when the IRS approves and releases your refund to Spruce, and when Spruce then sends that money to your bank. You control neither of these, but understanding the sequence helps you know what to expect.

If you filed through Spruce and chose standard direct deposit (not Spruce Advance), your refund goes directly from the IRS to your bank account, and Spruce is not involved in the deposit step at all. That process takes five to seven business days from IRS approval.

Key Takeaways

  • Spruce Advance deposits money one to three business days after the IRS releases your refund to Spruce, not one to three days after you file.
  • The IRS approval step happens first and can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on whether your return needs review.
  • You can check your refund status on the IRS website (Where's My Refund) to see when the IRS has approved and released the money.
  • Weekends and bank holidays extend deposit timelines, so a refund released on Friday may not appear in your account until Tuesday or Wednesday.
  • If you chose standard direct deposit instead of Spruce Advance, Spruce does not handle the deposit and the IRS sends money directly to your bank.

How the IRS approval step affects your Spruce deposit date

Before Spruce can deposit anything, the IRS must first approve your return and release the refund. This is the longest and most unpredictable part of the timeline. The IRS typically processes returns within 21 days of receiving them, but that is not a may provide—returns with errors, missing information, or identity verification needs can take much longer.

You can track the IRS approval step using the IRS tool Where's My Refund at irs.gov. This tool updates once per day and tells you whether the IRS is still processing your return, has approved it, or has released it to your bank or refund service. Once the status changes to "approved and sent to your financial institution," the IRS has released the money to Spruce, and Spruce's one-to-three-day deposit window begins.

If Where's My Refund shows your return is still being processed, Spruce cannot deposit anything yet. Spruce Advance is not a loan—it is early access to money the IRS has already approved. You must wait for IRS approval before any deposit happens.

Weekends and holidays delay the actual deposit date

Spruce's one-to-three-business-day timeline counts only business days, which means Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays do not count. If the IRS releases your refund to Spruce on a Friday afternoon, Spruce begins the deposit process, but your bank may not receive and post the money until Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week.

The same applies to federal holidays. If the IRS releases your refund on the day before a holiday, or if a holiday falls during the deposit window, the actual appearance of money in your account shifts forward by one day for each non-business day in the sequence.

Your bank's own processing also matters. Some banks post deposits the same day they receive them; others wait until the next business day. Check your bank's deposit policy if you need the money on a specific date.

What to do if your Spruce deposit has not arrived after three business days

If more than three business days have passed since the IRS released your refund to Spruce (confirmed on Where's My Refund), contact Spruce's customer support. You will need your Spruce account information and the date the IRS status changed to "approved and sent."

Spruce can check whether the deposit was sent from their bank to yours and whether your bank received it. If Spruce sent the money but your bank has not posted it, the delay is on your bank's side, and you should contact them. If Spruce has not sent the money despite the IRS releasing it, Spruce's support team can investigate the hold-up.

Keep your Where's My Refund status page screenshot or note the date and time the status changed. This proof helps both Spruce and your bank track down the deposit if it goes missing.

Spruce Advance versus standard direct deposit timing

Spruce offers two ways to receive your refund: Spruce Advance (early access) and standard direct deposit. The deposit timeline is different for each.

Spruce Advance: The IRS approves your return, releases the money to Spruce, and Spruce deposits it into your account within one to three business days. You get the money faster than standard direct deposit, but you may pay a fee for this service (Spruce's fee structure varies by product and changes over time—check their current terms).

Standard direct deposit through Spruce: The IRS approves your return and sends the money directly to your bank account, bypassing Spruce entirely. This takes five to seven business days from IRS approval and has no Spruce fee, but it is slower than Spruce Advance.

If you are unsure which option you chose, check your Spruce account settings or your confirmation email from filing. The confirmation will state whether you selected Advance or standard direct deposit.

Tracking your refund from IRS approval to bank deposit

Use Where's My Refund to watch the IRS approval step, then watch your bank account for the Spruce deposit. Here is the sequence:

  1. File your taxes through Spruce and select Spruce Advance at checkout.
  2. Check Where's My Refund daily (or every few days) after filing. The status will show "Return Received," then "Return Approved," then "Approved and Sent to Your Financial Institution."
  3. When the status changes to "Approved and Sent," the IRS has released the money to Spruce. Start counting business days: Spruce will deposit within one to three business days.
  4. Check your bank account. The deposit should appear within that window, unless a weekend or holiday is in the way.
  5. If the deposit does not appear after three business days, contact Spruce with your Where's My Refund screenshot and the date the status changed.

Do not rely on Spruce's own status page alone—Where's My Refund is the official IRS source and is more reliable for tracking when the IRS has actually released the money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Spruce deposit my refund the same day the IRS approves it?

No. Even if the IRS approves and releases your refund on a business day, Spruce still needs one to three business days to process and deposit the money into your bank account. The fastest possible timeline is one business day, but two to three is more common.

Why does Where's My Refund say my refund was sent but I have not received it from Spruce?

Where's My Refund updates once per day, usually overnight. If it shows "Approved and Sent" but you have not received the deposit yet, you are likely still within the one-to-three-business-day window. Wait until three business days have passed (not counting weekends or holidays), then contact Spruce if the money still has not arrived.

Does Spruce deposit on weekends or holidays?

Spruce does not process deposits on weekends or federal holidays. If the IRS releases your refund on a Friday, the deposit window starts Friday but your bank may not receive the money until Tuesday. A holiday in the middle of the window adds another day.

What if I chose standard direct deposit instead of Spruce Advance?

If you selected standard direct deposit, Spruce is not involved in the deposit step. The IRS sends your refund directly to your bank, which takes five to seven business days from IRS approval. You will not see a Spruce deposit—the money comes straight from the IRS.

Can I speed up the deposit once Spruce receives the money from the IRS?

No. Spruce's one-to-three-business-day timeline is fixed and depends on your bank's processing speed, not on Spruce's actions. You cannot pay extra to make it faster. If you need the money urgently, Spruce Advance is already the fastest option available through Spruce.