What is a hardship to get tax refund?

Asked by: Trey Zemlak  |  Last update: April 17, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (73 votes)

If you are facing financial hardship, can't buy medicine, can't pay mortgage or rent and received an eviction notice, or can't pay utilities and got a shut-off notice, and you need your refund sooner, the IRS may be able to expedite the refund.

What qualifies as a hardship with the IRS?

An economic hardship occurs when we have determined the levy prevents you from meeting basic, reasonable living expenses. In order for the IRS to determine if a levy is causing hardship, the IRS will usually need you to provide financial information so be prepared to provide it when you call.

What kind of debt can the IRS take your refund for?

Past-due child support; Federal agency nontax debts; State income tax obligations; or. Certain unemployment compensation debts owed to a state (generally, these are debts for (1) compensation paid due to fraud, or (2) contributions owing to a state fund that weren't paid).

What is considered a hardship for a tax advocate?

Financial Hardship

Economic harm includes any damage or loss of finances in any capacity. Will you lose or not remain in your house, not be able to get food, pay your utilities, or keep your transportation to work? Will you incur significant costs such as fees for obtaining representation to help with relief?

Can I get an advance on my tax refund now?

If you qualify for an Early Tax Refund Advance, you could get up to $1,500 as early as December 16, 2024. No Fee Tax Refund Advance is available to qualified applicants starting January 2, 2025.

IRS Hardship Program Explained

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What disqualifies you from a Refund Advance?

You're filing certain IRS forms (1310, 4852, 4684, 4868, 1040SS, 1040PR, 1040X, 8888, or 8862). Your expected refund amount is less than $500. You didn't receive Forms W-2 or 1099-R, or you're not reporting income on Schedule C.

Where can I borrow money against my tax refund?

Refund Advance loan is a no-interest loan that is repaid with your tax refund. File your taxes at a participating H&R Block office and apply between Jan. 3, 2025 and Feb. 28, 2025. If approved, a loan will be issued in one of five amounts ($250, $500, $750, $1,250, $4,000).

What is a qualifying hardship?

Immediate and heavy expenses can include the following: Certain expenses to repair casualty losses to a principal residence (such as losses from fires, earthquakes, or floods) Expenses to prevent being foreclosed on or evicted. Home-buying expenses for a principal residence. Up to 12 months' worth of tuition and fees.

What is a hardship refund?

Overall, an IRS Hardship Refund Request serves as a mechanism for taxpayers experiencing severe financial hardship to seek relief from the burden of withheld funds and address immediate financial needs.

What qualifies as financial hardship?

The IRS may agree that you have a financial hardship (economic hardship) if you can show that you cannot pay or can barely pay your basic living expenses. For the IRS to determine you are in a hardship situation, the IRS will use its collection financial standards to determine allowable basic living expenses.

Can IRS take your car?

Levying means that the IRS can confiscate and sell property to satisfy a tax debt. This property could include your car, boat, or real estate. The IRS may also levy assets such as your wages, bank accounts, Social Security benefits, and retirement income.

How do I get the IRS to release my refund?

Request an expedited refund by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059). Request a manual refund expedited to you.

Can a tax advocate help me get my refund?

Your case advocate will do everything possible to help guide you on your path to resolve your issues. The case advocate will be in touch with you throughout the duration of your case with updates and timeframes on your issues. TAS can assist with refund issues after the IRS published processing timeframe has passed.

What is proof of hardship?

Acceptable Documentation

Lost Employment. • Unemployment Compensation Statement. (Note: this satisfies the proof of income requirement as well.) • Termination/Furlough letter from Employer. • Pay stub from previous employer with.

What is the IRS one time forgiveness?

First Time Abate relief and unpaid tax

Example: You didn't fully pay your taxes in 2021 and got a notice with the balance due and penalty charges. You call us requesting penalty relief and we give you First Time Abate. We remove the penalty up to the date of your request.

How long does IRS hardship take?

How long do hardship withdrawal requests take? Once you submit your hardship withdrawal application, it will be reviewed. Generally this takes less than a day. However, if there are any questions about your application, additional review time may be needed.

What does the IRS consider hardship?

Generally speaking, IRS hardship rules require: An annual income less than $84,000 per year. Little or no funds left over after paying for basic living expenses. Basic living expenses fall within the IRS guidelines.

Will the IRS take my tax refund if I owe them money?

If you owe back taxes, the IRS will take all your refunds to pay your tax bill, until it's paid off. The IRS will take your refund even if you're in a payment plan (called an installment agreement).

What is a claim of hardship?

Claims of hardship will be considered to be justified in exceptional and severe circumstances only. To justify a claim of hardship, the factors you put forward must already exist in your person at the time you are filing your claim and must be beyond your control.

How do you get approved for a hardship?

How to get a hardship loan
  1. Review your credit. Read your credit report to see what a lender will see when you apply. ...
  2. Calculate your monthly payment. ...
  3. Pre-qualify with multiple lenders. ...
  4. Prepare your documentation. ...
  5. Submit the application and get funded.

Does the IRS ask for proof of hardship withdrawal?

​Employees no longer routinely have to provide their employers with documentation proving they need a hardship withdrawal from their 401(k) accounts, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

What circumstances are classified as hardship?

An unforeseeable emergency is a severe financial hardship resulting from an illness or accident, loss of property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the participant or beneficiary.

Can I get a tax refund loan with bad credit?

Applying for a Tax Refund Advance loan will not impact your credit score, and you may get approved, even if you have a low score. If approved for a No Fee Tax Refund Advance loan, you could get money the same day on a prepaid card with our Money Today Guarantee.

Who can take money out of my tax refund?

Federal law allows only state and federal government agencies (not individual or private creditors) to take your refund as payment toward a debt. However, once you deposit the refund into your bank account, these rules no longer apply.

Who is offering refund advances?

Refund Advance - TurboTax will continue to offer its no fee, no interest loan for those filers who need funds immediately. Customers can get approved to receive up to $4,000,6 delivered in as little as 60 secs after IRS acceptance of their tax filing,7 into a Credit Karma MoneyTM account.