Refund Selection is not a government program and does not process refunds itself
Refund Selection is a third-party company that advertises refund advance services and tax refund loans. It does not work for the IRS, your state tax authority, or any government agency. The company takes a cut of your refund in exchange for processing paperwork or lending you money against a refund you are waiting for. Whether it is legitimate depends on what you are paying for and what you actually receive.
Reddit discussions about Refund Selection are mixed. Some users report receiving the service they paid for. Others report being charged fees for work they could have done themselves for free, or for loans with terms that were not clearly explained upfront. A few report that the company was slow to process refunds or difficult to reach after taking payment.
The core issue is not whether Refund Selection exists or operates—it does—but whether using it makes financial sense for your situation. A refund advance or tax refund loan always costs you money. The IRS and most state tax authorities will send your refund for free if you wait.
Key Takeaways
- Refund Selection charges fees to process tax refund paperwork or to lend you money against a refund you are waiting for; the IRS sends refunds for free if you wait.
- The company is not a scam in the sense that it does not steal your information or disappear with your money, but it is a for-profit middleman taking a percentage of your refund.
- Reddit users report mixed experiences: some received the service they paid for, others felt the fees were not worth it, and some had trouble reaching customer support.
- You can check your refund status for free through IRS.gov, your state tax website, or by calling the IRS directly without paying a third party.
How Refund Selection makes money from your refund
Refund Selection operates as a refund advance company. This means it offers two main services: filing your tax return on your behalf (for a fee) or lending you money before your refund arrives (also for a fee, usually structured as interest on the loan).
If you use their filing service, you pay them a percentage of your refund—typically between 15 and 25 percent, though the exact amount varies. If you take a refund advance loan, you pay interest that can range from 10 to 30 percent depending on the loan size and how quickly you want the money. Either way, you receive less money than the IRS will send you.
This is not illegal. Many tax preparation companies and financial services firms offer similar products. The question is whether the cost is worth what you get. If you file your own taxes through free software (available at IRS.gov), you pay nothing. If you wait for your refund to arrive by mail or direct deposit, you also pay nothing. Refund Selection's value proposition is speed and convenience, not a better refund.
What Reddit users say about their experience
Reddit threads about Refund Selection show a range of outcomes. In r/personalfinance and r/tax, some users report that the company processed their refund advance without problems and they received the money within a few days. Others say they would not use the service again because the fees were too high relative to how long they would have waited anyway.
A smaller number of users report frustration with customer service. Common complaints include difficulty reaching support by phone, slow responses to email inquiries, and confusion about what fees would be charged before the transaction was complete. A few users reported that the company's website was unclear about the total cost upfront.
No widespread reports on Reddit describe Refund Selection as stealing money or disappearing after taking payment. The complaints are about cost and customer service, not fraud. However, the absence of fraud reports does not mean the service is a good deal—it means the company operates as advertised, even if users regret paying for it.
How to check your refund status without paying a third party
The IRS offers a free tool called Where's My Refund? available at IRS.gov. You enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return. The tool updates every 24 hours and tells you whether your refund has been processed, approved, or sent. If it has been sent, the tool shows the delivery date and method (direct deposit or check).
You can also call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. Wait times are long during tax season, but the service is free. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and expected refund amount ready.
If you filed through a state tax authority, that state's website also has a refund tracker. Search "[your state] tax refund status" to find it. State refunds typically arrive within two to four weeks of federal approval, though this varies by state.
If your refund is taking longer than expected, the IRS website explains why refunds are delayed and what to do. Common reasons include math errors on your return, missing information, or a flag for identity verification. None of these require you to pay a third party to resolve.
When a refund advance might make sense (and when it does not)
A refund advance loan makes financial sense only in specific situations. If you filed your taxes early and the IRS says your refund will arrive in three weeks, but you need cash today for an emergency, a refund advance might be cheaper than other options like a payday loan or credit card cash advance. Compare the interest rate on the refund advance to the cost of your other options before deciding.
A refund advance does not make sense if you can wait. The standard refund timeline is 21 days from the date the IRS receives your return. Many refunds arrive in 10 to 14 days. If you have already waited two weeks, waiting another week to avoid a 20 percent fee is almost always the better choice.
Refund Selection's filing service also does not make sense if you can file for free. The IRS Free File program lets you file your own taxes at no cost if your income is below a certain threshold (usually around $73,000 per year). Even if your income is higher, free software like TaxAct or TurboTax's free version covers most straightforward returns. Paying Refund Selection to file is paying for something you can do yourself.
Red flags that separate Refund Selection from actual refund scams
Refund Selection is not a scam in the traditional sense, but actual refund scams do exist. Here is how to tell the difference. A real scam asks you to pay money upfront and then disappears, or steals your personal information to file a fake return in your name. Refund Selection takes your money and delivers a service—you get a refund advance or your taxes filed, even if you regret paying for it.
Real refund scams also often contact you first, claiming you are owed money or that your refund is at risk. Refund Selection advertises its services; you have to find them and choose to use them. The company does not call you claiming to be the IRS or a government agency.
If a company promises to get you a refund larger than what you are owed, or guarantees a refund without seeing your tax information, that is a scam. Refund Selection does not make those claims. It processes refunds based on actual tax returns and charges fees for doing so.
What to do if you already paid Refund Selection and want your money back
If you used Refund Selection and want to dispute the charge, contact the company directly first. Check your email for a receipt or confirmation that includes customer service contact information. Refund Selection should have a phone number and email address listed on your receipt or on their website.
If the company does not respond or refuses to refund your money, contact your bank or credit card company. Report the charge as unauthorized or request a chargeback. Your bank can reverse the transaction if you can show that you did not receive the service you paid for, or that the service was not as described.
If you filed your taxes through Refund Selection and the return was incorrect, you can file an amended return yourself for free using Form 1040-X. The IRS does not charge to correct mistakes on your return. You can file the amendment through free software or by mail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Refund Selection the same as the IRS?
No. Refund Selection is a private company. The IRS is a government agency. Refund Selection does not work for the IRS and cannot speed up your refund beyond the normal timeline. It can only lend you money against a refund you are waiting for, or file your taxes on your behalf—both for a fee.
Can Refund Selection actually get me a bigger refund?
No. Refund Selection cannot increase your refund. Your refund is determined by your income, deductions, and tax withholding. Refund Selection can only process paperwork or lend you money. If someone claims they can get you a larger refund, that is a scam.
How long does Refund Selection take to send money?
Refund Selection typically deposits refund advance loans within one to three business days of approval. However, approval itself can take several days depending on how quickly you submit your documents. The total time from application to money in your account is usually three to seven days.
What happens if I dispute a charge with my bank?
Your bank will investigate the dispute and contact Refund Selection. If you can show that you did not receive the service or that the terms were misrepresented, your bank may reverse the charge. Refund Selection will likely dispute the chargeback, so be ready to provide documentation of what you paid for and what you received.
Can I get my refund without using Refund Selection?
Yes. File your taxes through free software at IRS.gov or use your state's free filing program. The IRS will send your refund automatically once it processes your return. You do not need a third party. Direct deposit is faster than a mailed check—usually 10 to 21 days instead of four to six weeks.