Seven times faster than the IRS reported national average¹, tax filing through Chime delivers members' maximum refund² with zero filing fees
Today, Chime®, The #1 Most Loved Banking App³, announced that members can now file taxes for free⁴ directly from the Chime app to simplify tax season. Following a successful pilot program in 2024, this new in-app feature is available for all new and existing Chime members and offers a truly streamlined e-filing experience with no unexpected paywalls and no filing fees. Members can file their federal and state taxes directly through the Chime app, saving time and money.
"Americans are frustrated by the tax filing industry, which is notorious for high fees and deceptive marketing. They're tired of bait-and-switch services that seem free but ultimately charge users a fee to get their refunds," said Chime's Chief Product Officer, Madhu Muthukumar. "Getting your money back from the government shouldn't cost you money. By providing completely free in-app tax filing, we're empowering Americans to unlock their financial progress confidently, making tax season easier and more rewarding."
This feature comes as the average cost of filing a basic federal 1040 tax return was $150 for non-business taxpayers in 2023⁵. According to the Tax Foundation, total tax compliance costs—including fees, lost productivity, and out-of-pocket expenses—are estimated to cost American taxpayers over $546 billion annually, representing 1.9% of the U.S. GDP⁶.
When Chime members e-file their taxes through Chime in partnership with april and Column Tax, filing is completely free. Plus, members can get their federal tax refund up to 5 days early⁷ when they direct deposit it with Chime. 2023 was the first tax year Chime made in-app tax filing available to members, and here's what they had to say:
"Completing my 2023 return [through] Chime was so much easier than any previous tax experience I've had. Not only are the steps explained in a way that makes sense, but they also already have the deposit info making it a win-win."
– Anne G., Fla.,
"Filing my taxes [through] Chime was super fast and free! They gave very clear steps to follow which made it quick and painless lol. I found it easier than TurboTax which before this year I used for over 10 years. I'll for sure be using Chime next year! 🥳."
– Haley, Okla.,
Real members. Paid testimonials.
Key features of Chime's in-app tax filing include:
100% free to file: Members can file federal and state taxes for free in the Chime app.
Refund up to 5 days early: Members can get their federal tax refund up to 5 days early⁷when they direct deposit with Chime
100% accurate calculations⁸: If a user pays an IRS penalty because of a calculation error made by Chime's tax filing partners april or Column Tax, they will reimburse up to $10,000.
Max refund guaranteed²: If a member finds they're eligible for a higher return elsewhere, they will be reimbursed the difference.
File 7x faster than the IRS reported national average*: Chime members can typically file in under 24 min, under the national average of 3 hours.
Switch easily: Simply scan last tax season's return to get a head start
Since its founding, Chime has been recognized for providing innovative, easy-to-understand financial service products that address the liquidity and credit needs of everyday people. For more information and to file taxes for free, please visit chime.com/taxes. For those not currently a Chime member but would like to file through the Chime app, becoming a member is easy and can take a matter of minutes. Visit www.chime.com to learn more and sign up.
