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Get your federal tax refund up to 5 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 5 days early1 when you direct deposit with Chime and file directly with the IRS.

Direct deposit your federal tax refund with the IRS and get it up to 5 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 early1, too!

in tax refund payments have been processed by Chime to date

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 started processing returns on January 23, 2023. 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 and bank routing number when you file your federal taxes directly with the IRS.

Get your federal tax refund up to 5 days early1 with direct deposit!

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

We’re going above and beyond to have your back

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

If you have questions regarding taxes and your Chime account, please check out our FAQs below

Will I have to pay taxes on Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card²?

Nope! You do not have to pay or declare taxes for using Credit Builder. To learn more about filing taxes, we recommend speaking with a tax professional and checking the IRS website.

Will I have to pay taxes on SpotMe®³?

Nope! You do not have to pay or declare taxes for using SpotMe. To learn more about filing taxes, we recommend speaking with a tax professional and checking the IRS website.

I just got my refund! What are my spending/withdrawal limits?

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 in order to view your current account limits.

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.

Can I deposit my refund check with Mobile Check Deposit⁵?

Sometimes. Unfortunately, we cannot currently guarantee that our Mobile Check Deposit feature will accept all tax refund checks⁴ due to their unique shape, color, and markings.

Learn more about Mobile Check Deposit⁵ limits in your Deposit Account Agreement here. Please view the back of your debit card to identify your issuing bank.

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

Direct deposit is the easiest way to deposit your tax refund into your Chime Checking Account. Whether you file online or on paper, all you need to do is enter your Chime Checking Account Number and Routing Number where prompted. 

You can find your Checking Account Number and Routing Number in the Chime app! Just go to SettingsAccount Information!

Will I get my tax refund direct deposited up to five (5) 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!

Does Chime accept joint refunds?

Yes, however, a tax refund may only be direct deposited into an account that is 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 are depositing to. 

Important: If the primary filer’s name doesn’t match the name on the Chime Checking Account it is being deposited to, the deposit will 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 a notice from the IRS and a paper check refund.

If you recently got married or changed your name, contact Chime Member Services 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.

What is the status of my tax refund?

We’ll always post your tax refund to your account as soon as we receive it. If you don’t see your tax refund yet, that means we haven’t received it, and our Member Services team won’t have any further information about when it will become available. 

The best way to find your estimated refund date is to visit Where’s My Refund on the IRS.gov website or the IRS2Go mobile app. If your expected refund date has passed, we recommend contacting the IRS for more information. 

Note: State and Federal Tax Returns are processed on different timelines, and may post to your account on different days.

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?

It’s possible your tax implications may have changed due to COVID and Unemployment. We recommend speaking with a tax professional and checking the IRS website for more information.

Will I have to pay taxes on the Stimulus Payments?

The IRS has stated that the Economic Impact Payment (aka Stimulus Payment) will not reduce your refund or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2022 Federal income tax return. For the most updated Tax information, please check the IRS website.

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 18th 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 Tuesday, April 18th, 2023. 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 September 15, 2022.

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 your tax refund has not yet been sent, you can call the IRS to stop it. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040.

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.

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, contact Chime Member Services 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.

Anything I should know about claiming Child Tax Credits?

If you’re claiming Child Tax Credits, double-check the amount you’re claiming and make sure it’s accurate. Any discrepancies could delay your tax refund anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months. For more information on Child Tax Credits, check the IRS website.

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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.

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1 Early access to direct deposit tax refund depends on the timing of the submission of the tax payment file from the government payer.

2 To be eligible to apply for Credit Builder, you need to have received a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account within the last 365 days of your application. The qualifying direct deposit must have been made by your employer, payroll provider, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit. Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, and cash loads or deposits are not qualifying direct deposits.

3 Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each month and Visa debit card activation. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member's Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime's discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won't cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See terms and conditions.

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.

5 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.

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