The BBB offers details about advance tax refunds or promotions and pros and cons of each

Impatient for your tax refund? It usually takes about 21 days to receive your refund after filing, but tax preparers are increasingly offering ways to get your funds immediately. Here are some pros and cons that need to be weighed carefully.

There are many different kinds of tax refund advances and promotional agreements. To help you make a wise decision, here are some more details about the most common ways to receive your tax refund in advance.

• Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL). A refund anticipation loan is a loan against your estimated tax return. A tax preparer will calculate what the IRS owes you and loan you a portion of that amount right away.

It works like this: a tax preparer prepares and e-files your return. The loan provider reviews your tax return and may consider other factors like your income and credit score. You then receive a short-term loan based on their findings. A temporary bank account is set up in your name by the tax preparation specialist where the refund will be directly deposited. When your refund is deposited to the account, the amount of the loan, the tax preparation service charge, and any fees will be deducted from the account. Whatever money remains will be paid to you.

• Car Dealership tax refund promotions. Every year, car dealers offer tax refund promotions. Some simply ask you to bring in your tax refund and use it as a down payment on a car. But other dealers actually offer loans against your anticipated refund. Always make sure make sure the dealer and tax preparer are reputable before you share your tax information.

• Prepaid debit card or gift card promotions. Some tax preparers offer to deposit your refund onto a prepaid credit or debit card, or even a gift card. This means you’ll get your refund money right away. But if you choose this option, be prepared to pay extra fees for this convenience. These may include an initial fee, an ATM fee, a fee for point-of-sale transactions, and an “inactivity” fee.

On the other hand, some tax preparers offer to deposit your refund onto a gift card after receiving the money from the IRS. For example, in the past, big-name tax preparers like H&R Block offered the option to receive your tax refund on an Amazon gift card. Gift cards generally come with no setup or spending fees, and tax preparation firms typically offer a bonus on top of your tax refund. That said, receiving your tax refund this way means you must spend it at one specific retailer. In addition, replacing lost or stolen gift cards can be complicated and inconvenient.

• Refund Anticipation Check (RAC). Many commercial tax preparation firms and individual tax preparers offer RACs for individuals looking to have their taxes professionally prepared but need to delay paying the preparation fee until the tax refund is received. Basically, this is a loan for the tax preparation fee.

With an RAC, the tax preparer opens a temporary checking account in your name. Your tax refund is deposited there when it arrives. The preparer’s fees, plus any RAC fees, will be deducted from the total amount. The rest of the refund will be paid to you. This option doesn’t get you your money any faster, but it does allow you to delay paying the tax preparation fee until your refund arrives from the IRS.

What to know before you agree to a refund loan or promotion:

Review the tax preparer’s credentials. In the majority of states, anyone can prepare tax returns for others without having to take an exam, get a license, or comply with other government regulations. Interview your tax preparer beforehand to confirm that they know the field.

Always make sure you prepare your taxes with reputable preparers only. Tax preparation involves much of your sensitive personal information and can expose you to identity theft. Ask friends or family to recommend their tax preparation firm of choice and check business ratings here on BBB.org.

Make sure you understand all the fees and fine print. Some tax preparers offer 0% interest refund loans, but they do charge fees for preparing your taxes. Consider all costs before agreeing to a loan.

Know what factors can affect the anticipated refund amount. While tax refund loans are generally a safe way to get your tax money faster, they do come with one important risk. This kind of loan is based on the amount of money you anticipate getting refunded. If you owe a federal or state debt, back taxes, student loans, or child support, the IRS can reduce the amount of your refund. This means you could end up with a lot less money than you had imagined. You could even end up needing to repay part of the refund loan!

For more information and to learn how to protect yourself, Google “BBB 10 Steps to Avoid Scams.” If you spot a scam, whether you have lost money or not, report it to BBB’s Scam Tracker at BBB.org/ScamTracker and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your story can help protect consumers from similar scams.

Rick Walz is the President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Northern Indiana, which serves 23 counties. Contact the BBB at 800-552-4631 or visit www.bbb.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Consumer Advocate: Understanding tax refund advances