No More 'Instant Refunds' from Tax Preparers After This Year

Consumer advocates are celebrating the end of high-cost refund anticipation loans (RAL), often presented as "instant refunds" by tax preparers.

The last bank offering the loans has been forced out of the business by a settlement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). 

The settlement between the FDIC and Republic Bank & Trust requires the bank to terminate its RAL program after the end of the next tax season -- April 30, 2012, in other words.

The FDIC’s agreement imposes a $900,000 civil penalty on Republic. It also incorporates a plan for Republic to implement a system of verifications to ensure that its partner tax preparers operate their future tax settlement activities with appropriate safeguards.

Republic will have to review all advertising for tax settlement products at the partner preparer’s offices, and conduct audits, including surprise on-site visits and mystery shopper surveys, at ten percent of preparer locations.

“Mark Pearce and his team at the FDIC have delivered a big win for low-income tax payers today. Their determined efforts to finish the job reflect a commitment to protecting consumers from predatory loan products,” said Peter Skillern of the Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina.

“The FDIC action is an important step toward protecting families who struggle to make ends meet from unfair bank credit products and practices,” said Jean Ann Fox of the Consumer Federation of 
America.

149% APR

RALs are one- to two-week loans secured by the taxpayer’s refund. RALs can be expensive; this year, Republic Bank is charging $61.22 for a RAL of $1,500, which translates into an APR of 149%.

RALs target low-income taxpayers, especially recipients of the Earned Income Tax Credit, a special tax break for working poor families. In 2009, RALs skimmed over $600 million from the refunds of 7.2 million American taxpayers.

“We are pleased see the last of the RAL banks forced out of the business,” said Chi Chi Wu of the National Consumer Law Center. “We also commend the FDIC for a settlement that includes a plan for
Republic to institute safeguards for its remaining refund anticipation check program.”

Going forward, consumer advocates expressed a desire for the FDIC to develop a regulatory standard for the sale of refund anticipation checks (RACs), particularly that the FDIC should be vigilant to make sure that pricing of RACs remains appropriate and consumers are not charged abusive extra fees by partner tax preparers.

Absent a decision to terminate those products as well, the key priority should be to establish a balance between the need to help people avoid paying out-of-pocket for tax preparation and being able to purchase a RAC at a fair price, the consumer groups said.