Remember that, when you are planning to use your refund, it would take few days for the IRS to deposit your refund in the bank account or it will take several days for the check to arrive by mail. It has sometimes even extended the time period to 5 additional days for the fund to become available. In most cases, the refund will be directly deposited to your account more quickly than 5 days, and in certain cases, it will be available even before that or immediately.
Best way to get you tax refund:
You get to choose among three options from the IRS for receiving your refund. You can get it in the form of direct deposit. If you are expecting for a huge amount, you can split your refund and have it deposited in three banks. You can ask for a paper check to be sent to your home or you can choose to buy US savings bonds with your tax refund. You may also save it up for the future taxes owed. This is a the most welcomed method used by those who require paying estimated taxes, largely small business owners. Of all the three options available to you, the direct deposit to the bank is the quick and safest option.
Tax refund schedule for extensions and amended tax returns:
Even if you have filed for a tax refund before the deadline or have filed for a tax extension, the refund schedule will be the same for both the cases. However, there is no official schedule for tax refunds and amended tax returns. The schedule calendar includes the dates only for e-filing an original return and the amended tax returns are processed manually. The amended tax returns take few days longer to process say somewhere between 8 to 12 weeks and if you haven’t received an amended tax return refund with 8 weeks after you file it, then you should contact the IRS authorities or IRS website to check your status.
How to check refund status:
Once the IRS has received your tax refund through e-file, you will be sent an conformation mail or form from them after which you can easily access and check your tax refund status from their website. You will have to wait at least for 3 weeks if you had sent the tax return by mail. The best way to check the federal tax refund status is to click on the “where’s my refund page” at the IRS website, and if you haven’t received any notification on your tax returns, you can call the IRS customer service representatives and inquire about your tax returns. Make a note that the IRS updates tax returns only once in a week, particularly on Wednesdays.
There are companies that work on collecting and maintaining credit information of consumers. These are known as credit reporting agencies (CRAs). There are three such major CRAs in the country, namely Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Apart from these, there are other smaller-scale agencies too that specialize at the job. If you’re worried about “where to get my credit score?,” the larger CRAs are the most reliable bets.
These major CRAs obtain information from companies that you hold business and transactions with. People or companies that lend you money regularly report to these CRAs on your repaying status. There is also detailed information on the amount you are indebted and whether you have ever defaulted on your payments. Aside from the reports obtained from lenders, these companies also tally your general records based on certain other aspects. Some of these aspects are your public records from the local and state judiciary. These include your tax records and bankruptcy information. This information makes up an important chunk of your credit score and its report.
Equifax
Present in 24 countries, Equifax is an agency that offers consumers protection against identity theft and credit fraudulence. They also sell credit reports and credit monitoring assistance to businesses.
Experian
Experian started off in London and is now a trusted agency in 39 different countries. It provides you with a credit score, credit report, and even credit tracker on subscription. The agency uses FICO 8 system of credit score calculation. Experian was a part of Forbes’ “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2018.
TransUnion
Based across 30 countries with a database of over 1 billion consumers, TransUnion is another CRA giant. The agency, like the other ones, will provide you with your credit score and your credit reports. In case you decide to freeze your TransUnion credit report, it will also go the extra mile to notify Equifax and Experian, which frankly is a big help especially in case of identity theft and credit fraud.
So, the next time you are sat wondering “where to get my credit score?,” think of these three giants that provide you with an annual credit score and credit report for free once each year. However, if you are looking for more frequent updates, you can subscribe to their services and receive your monthly updates.
Did you know that you have more than a single credit score? Agencies calculate your credit score based on the data in your credit reports. If you are wondering, “where to get my credit score?,” there are three main credit reporting agencies. These can have different credit scores for you if your information on each of their credit reports is different. Also, these agencies charge a fee to reveal your credit score.
Recently, it has become easier to track and get hold of your credit score without paying any fees. You can get it from your credit card company, your loan provider, and even from a non-profit counselor. Here are a few tips you can use to check your score.