A tax refund advance is a short-term loan that lets you borrow money against your upcoming federal tax refund. These loans typically come with a 0 percent interest and are offered through tax preparing companies from December through February. The main benefit of taking a tax refund advance loan is that you can get between $200 and $6,000 (depending on the company and your refund amount) within a couple of days after filing. Once the IRS issues your refund, your tax preparer will deduct the loan amount and deposit you any remaining funds. On the downside, these services aren’t free. You’ll be required to file your taxes through the company offering you the loan, which can set you back a couple hundred dollars.