- Serving Taxpayers Since 1993
- File In Person or Fully Virtual
- Year-Round Help, Not Just Tax Season
- Nonprofit & Church Specialists
- Flexible Refund & Payment Options
In Texas, your federal refund is the only income tax refund you get, because there is no state return. For many Katy families that one deposit covers a car payment, summer camp or the property tax bill that came due in January. How you receive it, and what that choice costs, is up to you. We lay out each refund option at your visit so nothing about the fees surprises you later.
When You Need to Choose a Refund Option
Every return with a refund needs a delivery choice. It matters most if you would rather not pay the prep fee at the visit, if you have no bank account, or if a bill is due soon. Timing also depends on your credits. The IRS refunds page says refunds on returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit are held by law until mid-February, and that e-filed refunds usually arrive within about three weeks.
People who moved to Katy during the year may have a second refund coming from the state they left. That one runs on its own schedule and never arrives with the IRS deposit.
Our Tax Refund Process
Most clients pick direct deposit into a checking or savings account and pay our fee when they file. If paying at the visit is hard, our fee can come out of your refund when it arrives, when that option is available. Clients with no bank account can choose a prepaid card when one is offered, or pick up a check at our Kingsland office.
Some seasons, a refund advance is offered to people who qualify. An advance is really a short-term loan against the refund you are expecting. Banks offer it only some years, and only to some filers. Bank-based options can each have a charge of their own, so before you sign, we show you each fee and about when the money should land.
Tax Refund Options Cost in Katy
Paying our fee at the visit and taking your refund by direct deposit is the lowest-cost route, with no bank charge on top. The other routes, such as fee-from-refund, a prepaid card or an advance, may come with a bank or processing charge that varies each season. You see those numbers in writing before you choose.
Why Choose Us for Tax Refund Options
Our business has prepared returns since 1993, and refund questions do not stop on April 15. Our Kingsland Boulevard office is open all year, Monday through Saturday, so you can ask about a missing refund in May and get help reading the answer. You can also file fully online and choose your refund option from home.
Tracking Your Refund After You File
Use the IRS Where’s My Refund tool. Status usually shows within a day after an e-filed current-year return. You need your Social Security number or ITIN, your filing status and the exact refund amount. If the tool shows a delay or asks you to verify your identity, call us and we will go over the next step with you.
Your refund choice comes after the return itself, so start here for Katy tax filing if you are new to our office.
Common Questions
Is a prepaid card the same as a bank account?
Not quite. A prepaid card holds your refund and lets you spend it by card, but it can have its own fees for things like ATM use. If you already have a bank account, direct deposit is usually the lower-cost choice.
Why is my refund smaller than last year?
Common reasons are a change in withholding, a child aging out of a credit, or more income from a raise or side job. Part of a refund can also be held back to pay certain past-due debts. We can compare this year's return to last year's to find the difference.