Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services, credit, and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.

Get your federal tax refund up to 6 days early1 with direct deposit

Your federal tax refund is important, and we want you to have it as fast as possible. That's why you can get your federal tax refund up to 6 days early1 when you direct deposit with Chime.

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We get you your money sooner

Direct deposit your federal tax refund and get it up to 6 days early1 to your Chime account.
We'll alert you as soon as your refund hits
Set up direct deposit with your employer and get regular paychecks up to 2 days early2, too!

$19
billion+

in tax refund payments have been processed by Chime to date

11
million+

tax deposits deposited to Chime member accounts to date

Filing your taxes can be complicated. Getting your federal tax refund early1 with Chime is simple!

The IRS will start processing returns on January 29, 2024. Here’s how to help your federal tax refund arrive as quickly as possible with direct deposit.

Gather all the forms you need to file

You may receive forms from your employer or financial institution.

Use your Chime Checking Account for your federal tax refund

Add your Chime Checking Account number and bank routing number when you file your federal taxes.

Get your federal tax refund up to 6 days early1 with direct deposit!

Your federal tax refund will post to your Chime Checking Account as soon as it is received.

We’re here to help you unlock tax season

How do I deposit my tax refund to my Chime account?

Direct deposit is the easiest way to drop your tax refund into your Checking Account. Whether you file online or on paper, just enter your account number and routing number where prompted.

What is the status of my tax refund?

We always post your refund to your account as soon as we receive it. Don’t see it yet? That means we haven’t yet received it. Member Services won’t have information about when it will become available, but the best way to find your estimated refund date is to visit Where’s My Refund on IRS.gov.

Does Chime accept joint refunds?

Yes—however, a tax refund may only be direct deposited into an account that’s in your name. To accept a joint refund, just make sure the name of the primary filer listed on your tax refund is the exact same name listed on the Chime Checking Account you’re depositing to.

Can I deposit my refund check with Mobile Check Deposit3?

Sometimes. Unfortunately, we cannot currently guarantee that Mobile Check Deposit will accept all tax refund checks4 due to their unique shape, color, and markings. Learn more about Mobile Check Deposit3 limits here. Please view the back of your debit card to identify your issuing bank.

Qs? We’ve got the As.

We can’t control how the IRS processes taxes, but we’re here to help you figure it out and get your refund as fast as possible. Check out our resources on this page for more.

FAQs

Can you increase my pending/withdrawal limits so I can make a large purchase with my refund?

You can find your current Chime Checking Account spending and withdrawal limits by using the chat feature in your Chime mobile app, or by going to Settings > Account Policies & Terms > Deposit Account Agreement to view your current account limits. Our spending and withdrawal limits are controlled by our issuing banks and cannot be changed at this time.

Can I still get my refund if my transactions are turned off?

Yes! Disabling transactions only works for Chime Visa® Debit Card transactions and does not affect tax refunds⁴ or direct deposits.

Will I get my federal tax refund direct deposited up to six (6) days early¹?

We can’t guarantee that your tax refund will deposit earlier than the estimated date provided by the IRS. That said, we’ll always post your tax refund to your account as soon as we receive it!

Can you increase my spending and withdrawal limits?

No. Our spending and withdrawal limits are controlled by our issuing banks and cannot be changed at this time.

If I lost my card, will I still get my tax refund?

Yes! Your tax return is deposited using your Chime Checking Account number and Routing number. These do not change when you order a new card.

How do I make a large purchase?

To make purchases larger than your daily spending limit on your Chime Visa® Debit Card, you can set up direct debit payments with billers who offer this option. You’ll just need to provide the merchant with your Checking Account Number and Routing Number. Direct debits will be removed from your Chime Checking Account when requested by a biller and do not place any hold on your funds. If your balance is not sufficient to cover the payment, it will be declined.

Note: There are no limits or fees associated with direct debits.

What if I owe money on my taxes this year due to Unemployment?

We recommend speaking with a tax professional and checking the IRS website for more information.

What if I need to file for a tax deadline extension?

According to the IRS, if you need more time to prepare and file your taxes, you may be able to file for an extension before the April 15th deadline. We recommend speaking with a tax professional and checking the IRS website for more information.

When is the last day to file my taxes?

The last day to file your taxes without a penalty is April 15th, 2024. To learn more about filing taxes, we recommend speaking with a tax professional and checking the IRS website.

Why should I select direct deposit as my refund method?

Eight out of ten taxpayers get their refunds by using Direct Deposit. It is simple, safe and secure. This is the same electronic transfer system used to deposit nearly 98 percent of all Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits into millions of accounts.

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), “Combining direct deposit with IRS e-File is the fastest way to receive your refund.

IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days. You can track your refund using the IRS’s ‘Where’s My Refund‘ tool.” To find out more, read this article updated on May 8, 2023. We will notify you as soon as we have received your refund – with an email and a push notification (if enabled on your mobile device)!

What happens if I made a mistake while filing my taxes?

If you realize you made a mistake after filing your tax return, you can file an amended return using form 1040x and following the instructions on the IRS website

My refund is less than it should be. What should I do?

If your tax refund is less than you were expecting, we recommend contacting the IRS.

If you have the Save When I Get Paid feature enabled, 10% of your tax refund will be deposited automatically into your Chime Savings Account. Navigate to Savings Account in the Chime App and click “View Account” to check your account balance and see all deposits. 

Why was my tax refund returned?

Your tax refund may be returned if: 

      • You filed your tax refund under a different name than the one you have on your Chime Checking Account.
      • You attempted to deposit someone else’s tax refund into your Chime Account.
      • You accidentally used the wrong account number or routing number when you filed.

The most common reason that tax refunds and direct deposits are returned is because the name on the direct deposit does not match the name on the Chime Account.

If you recently got married or changed your name, please call 1-844-244-6363 to update the name on your Chime Checking Account to match the name on your tax return. You’ll need your updated ID and marriage certificate for verification. 

If the name on the direct deposit does not match the name on the Chime Account, the deposit will be returned to the IRS.

If my tax refund was returned, how do I get it now?

Any tax refund that is returned to the IRS will be sent out as a physical check to the address you listed when you filed your taxes. Please reach out to the IRS directly if your refund was returned.

Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card and the Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card are issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit and credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your Card for its issuing bank.

While Chime doesn’t issue personal checkbooks to write checks, Chime Checkbook gives you the freedom to send checks to anyone, anytime, from anywhere. See your issuing bank’s Deposit Account Agreement for full Chime Checkbook details.

By clicking on some of the links above, you will leave the Chime website and be directed to a third-party website. The privacy practices of those third parties may differ from those of Chime. We recommend you review the privacy statements of those third party websites, as Chime is not responsible for those third parties' privacy or security practices.

Opinions, advice, services, or other information or content expressed or contributed here by customers, users, or others, are those of the respective author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. (“Banks”). Banks are not responsible for the accuracy of any content provided by author(s) or contributor(s).

Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.

1 Chime does not guarantee timing of refund. Six day refund estimate is based on 2022 tax year filing data. Refund timing estimates are dependent upon timing of complete tax return submission and other requirements.

2 Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.

3 Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member's direct deposit enrollment status.

4 A tax refund may only be direct deposited into an account that is in your name. This means that if you file a joint return, the name of the primary filer must match the name on the account. If a tax refund is directed to an account that is not in your name, it may be rejected and returned to the IRS. No more than three electronic refunds can be deposited into a single financial account or prepaid card. If you exceed this limit you will receive notice from the IRS and a paper check refund.

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