In a Nutshell
H&R Block offers no-interest tax refund advance loans at the beginning of tax season. But you’ll have to pay H&R Block’s tax preparation fees — and you’ll have to get your loan funds on a prepaid Mastercard or Spruce account, not by check or direct deposit.Pros
- You use your tax refund, when you get it, to pay off your refund advance loan
- 0% APR loan
Cons
- You’ll have to file through H&R Block and pay its tax preparation fees
- The prepaid Mastercard comes with a lot of fees, including charges for reloading and ATM use — and even a charge for not using the card (inactivity fee)
What you need to know about an H&R Block loan
H&R Block is a large tax preparation and tax software firm that offers refund advance loans at the beginning of tax season in five loan amounts: $250, $500, $750, $1,250 and $4,000. For the 2024 filing season, H&R Block offered refund advance loans from Jan. 3, 2025, to Feb. 28, 2025.
A no-interest loan
The biggest selling point of the H&R Block Refund Advance is that it’s offered as a 0% APR loan — meaning you won’t have to pay any interest on it. That’s a big deal since many lenders charge interest on their loans.
But there’s also a catch or two.
Money must be deposited onto an H&R Block prepaid card
If you’re approved for an H&R Block Refund Advance loan, the money will be loaded onto an H&R Block Emerald Card® or a Spruce account rather than deposited directly into your bank account.
There’s no charge to make a one-time transfer via check or automated clearing house from your card or Spruce account to your bank account. But the H&R Block Emerald Card has a lot of fees that could pile up fast if you use it like a traditional debit card.
- Reloading fees – Up to $4.95 for cash reloading, depending on the reload provider
- ATM fees – $3.50 per withdrawal and $1 for each balance inquiry, plus you may be charged additional fees by the ATM operator
There’s even a $9.95 monthly fee for “inactivity” that kicks in if you go 60 days without a transaction.
You must file your taxes through H&R Block and pay its fees
To be eligible for a refund advance loan from H&R Block, you’ll need to file your tax return at a participating H&R Block office and pay its tax preparation fees.
If you prefer to do your own taxes, don’t want to make an in-person appointment or already have a tax preparer, this is a major drawback.
Repayment options
Remember that an H&R Block Refund Advance isn’t your tax refund from the IRS. It’s a loan. You’ll have to pay back what you borrow, and H&R Block gives you a couple of options.
Refund Transfer — For a $42 fee, H&R Block will withdraw the money you owe, including tax preparation fees, from your Refund Transfer Account. Any remaining refund amount will be given to you based on what you choose during tax preparation: direct deposit, check, H&R Block Emerald Card or Spruce account.
Repayment Account — If you choose not to use Refund Transfer, your loan will be repaid from a Repayment Account. Any remaining funds will be loaded onto your H&R Block Emerald Card® or deposited into your Spruce account. There is no fee for using the Repayment Account.
A closer look at an H&R Block loan
If you’re considering an H&R Block refund loan, here are a few more things you should know.
- Same-day funding possible — If your application is approved, you may get your money the same day you apply. Just remember that the maximum loan amount offered is $4,000.
- Prequalification option — An H&R Block Refund Advance won’t hurt your credit since H&R Block’s partner, Pathward, says it uses a soft inquiry to check your credit before deciding whether to issue a loan. Keep in mind that even if you expect to get a refund, prequalification is no guarantee of loan approval. You must submit a formal loan application when you file your tax return.
Who is an H&R Block loan good for?
If you already plan to use H&R Block for tax preparation this tax season, you may want to consider an H&R Block Refund Advance to take care of a pressing, high-interest bill or loan, such as a payday loan.
Having to use H&R Block’s Emerald Card means transaction fees could pile up — unless you move your refund advance funds to a regular account using the one-time, free transfer and then close the card once your refund comes in.
Otherwise you may want to avoid borrowing through H&R Block altogether and just wait for your tax refund.
How to apply with H&R Block
To apply for an H&R Block Refund Advance, you’ll first have to make an appointment at a local H&R Block office. You can do this online.
Can I get a loan against my tax refund?
Yes, you may be able to get a loan based on your expected tax refund. This is called a refund anticipation loan or refund advance, and it can help you access funds sooner instead of waiting for the IRS to process your return.
After the IRS accepts your tax return, it typically takes up to 21 days to receive your refund. If you need access to money faster, a refund advance could help.
With a refund anticipation loan, the money you borrow is a temporary loan, not your actual refund. That means your lender will typically automatically deduct your owed amount from your federal tax refund when the IRS sends it. You’ll receive whatever money is left over when the IRS issues your refund and the loan is repaid.
A number of companies offer refund advance loans. TurboTax offers eligible e-filers a Refund Advance of up to $4,000 of your expected refund in a Credit Karma Money™ Spend account — which is free to open. For a higher limit, those who file with TurboTax Expert Full Service can get their full refund amount, up to $10,000.
Note that Refund Advance may not be available for all tax filers everywhere, so be sure to check out the full terms and conditions before you apply.
Credit Karma also offers early refund access that allows Credit Karma members to get their tax refund up to five days early, no matter who prepares the return. It’s available for free when your tax return is deposited into a Credit Karma Money™ Spend account.
Keep in mind that if you pay your tax preparation fee from your federal refund or take out a Refund Advance, you won’t be eligible for early refund access through Credit Karma.
*$0 loan fees, 0% APR. Terms apply. TurboTax loans issued by WebBank. IRS accepts returns starting late January.