Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
IRS tax filing season kicks off on Mondaywhich means millions of Americans are looking forward to tax refund.
one Refund Can provide a much-needed influx of cash to help pay bills, build an emergency fund, or pay for groceries, gas, and other necessities. In fact, 2025 study Credit Karma found that 37% of taxpayers need a refund to help cover basic expenses.
For some, getting that money quickly may be a top priority. There are a number of ways to help speed up the process – from how to fill out your tax return to how you plan to receive your payment.
Check twice, submit once
Arguably the most important step in getting a refund quickly is verifying the accuracy of the personal information on your tax return.
A small error in any of these areas could trigger an amended tax return, which could extend processing time 8 to 16 weeks,according to IRS. Before filing your tax return, the IRS recommend Check the following carefully:
- Name, date of birth, and social security number
- Filing status
- Routing and Account Number (for refund direct deposit)
- signature and date
- “Yes” and “No” questions about digital assets.
“Taxpayers should carefully review their tax returns for simple errors such as misspellings in Social Security numbers, names, or bank account information, even if they are prepared by a professional, as these errors will inevitably slow down or even hinder processing,” said Jason W. Stanfield, Ph.D., CPA. independent Via email.
practice patience
Mistakes Eager Taxpayers May Make Once They File Their Tax Returns think They have all the forms needed. This is a significant risk because any tax form you receive after you file may trigger an amended tax return.
This is especially important for freelancers and contractors who typically receive 1099 tax forms. almost 4 in 10 Americans have part-time jobsmany of whom may have received a 1099-NEC form via email or traditional mail, according to survey expert SurveyMonkey.
If you’re juggling multiple W-2s and freelance work, it’s easy to forget about a one-time project you worked on earlier in the tax year that generated a 1099-NEC.
“Taxpayers should also be sure to wait until all source documents are received before filing, as a tax return that omits a Form W-2 or similar form may [be] Delays due to information mismatch,” Stanfield said.
Always electronic documents
Most taxpayers file their taxes electronically – 154.9 million According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 165.8 million returns were received during the 2025 filing season.
Electronic filing is convenient, but it also reduces the processing time of returns, which affects the time it takes to receive your refund.
Returns filed electronically may take up to 21 days to receive your refund, but as long as six weeks When filing a paper return, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
J. Anton Collins, a tax defense attorney at Tax Law Offices Inc., said requesting direct deposit of your tax refund instead of a paper check can also save time on depositing your tax refund.
“You will receive your tax refund the fastest by filing electronically and using direct deposit instead of a paper check,” Collins told independent Via email.
advance money
Over the past few years, tax refund advance loans have become a popular way for taxpayers to get their tax refunds before the IRS processes their tax returns.
The concept of a loan is simple: The company offering the loan (usually a tax preparation service) estimates the size of your refund and then promises to pay a fee to advance part of the refund.
The lender receives your refund and automatically gets the loan, minus any fees. The taxpayer receives any remaining refund balance.
But generally speaking, the fee isn’t worth cashing out quickly because it ultimately saddles taxpayers with a relatively high interest rate. Additionally, borrowers are responsible for any remaining loan amount if their refund amount is not enough to cover the amount they borrowed, said Luke Richardson, CPA, teaching associate professor at the University of South Florida.
“A refund advance is simply a short-term loan based on your expected refund, and in many cases the associated costs and fees are effectively equivalent to a high-interest short-term loan,” Richardson told independent Via email.
“Additionally, if your refund is lower than expected (which poses a risk), you will generally still be personally liable for the full amount of your advance payment.”
That being said, those in need of cash may find 0% offers from tax services that charge no interest to those who qualify.