5 Best Prepaid Debit Cards for Tax Refunds in 2025
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With tax season upon us, the IRS will be issuing tax refunds over the coming months. Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive your refund. For those who don’t use a bank account or prefer an alternative, consider a debit card to receive a refund via an electronic transfer. With this in mind, here are the best prepaid debit cards for tax refunds in 2025 (for 2024 tax year returns).
The Best Prepaid Debit Cards for Tax Refunds
Walmart MoneyCard®
Walmart MoneyCard members can earn up to $75 cash back each year. The cashback includes 3% cash back on Walmart.com, 2% at Walmart fuel stations, and 1% cash back at Walmart stores.
- One-time $1 fee for purchasing the card.
- Waive your monthly fee when you direct deposit $500+ in previous monthly period. Otherwise, $5.94 a month.*
- Earn 3% cash back at Walmart.com, 2% cash back at Walmart fuel stations, & 1% cash back at Walmart stores, up to $75 each year.*
- Earn 2% interest rate on up to $1,000 balance in your savings account.*
- Get peace of mind with overdraft protection with three coverage levels, up to $200, for purchase transactions with opt-in & eligible direct deposit.*
- *Please see site for full terms and conditions.
Steps to Get Your Tax Refund on Your Walmart MoneyCard®
1. Access MoneyCard account
- Log into Walmart MoneyCard online or via app
- Locate routing and account numbers
2. Update tax forms
- Enter routing & account numbers
- Select “Checking” as account type
3. Submit tax return
- Complete filing process
4. Set up deposit alerts
- Log into account
- Go to: Account Management > My Preferences > Alerts On-the-Go
- Select “Get Started”
- Review and accept terms & conditions
- Select “Direct Deposit Posted”
- Save settings
Western Union® Netspend® Mastercard® Prepaid Card
The advantage of the Western Union® Netspend® Mastercard® Prepaid Card is the ability to send and receive money via WU money transfers. The card also comes with the features you would expect, including online bill pay and online shopping.
- Monthly plan fees of $0, $5.00, or $9.95.
- Send and Receive a Western Union® Money Transfer, shop online or pay bills.
- With Western Union Direct Deposit, you can get paid faster than a paper check.
- Subject to card activation and ID verification. Terms and Costs Apply. Issued by MetaBank®, Member FDIC.
- Get your tax refund direct deposited to your Card Account.
- See Western Union Prepaid Mastercard® Terms and Conditions for Plan Fee Options and complete list of fees.
Steps to Get Your Tax Refund on Your Western Union® Netspend® Mastercard® Prepaid Card
1. Access your Netspend account
- Log into your NetSpend account online or through the mobile app
- Find your direct deposit routing and account numbers in the Direct Deposit section
- You can also text “DD” to 22622 from your registered phone to receive your numbers
- Or call NetSpend customer service at 1-866-387-7363 for assistance
2. Fill out tax return information
- Enter the NetSpend routing number and account number
- Select “Checking” as the account type
- Verify your name on the tax return matches your NetSpend account exactly
3. Submit tax return
- Complete filing process
4. Set up deposit alerts
- Log into your NetSpend account
- Go to Preferences > Alert Settings
- Choose to receive notifications via email, text, or both
- Enable alerts for direct deposits
- Save your notification preferences
PayPal Prepaid Mastercard®
For those who use PayPal, the PayPal Prepaid Mastercard is ideal for tax refunds. You can transfer money from your PayPal account to the prepaid card at no cost. There is a monthly fee of $4.95 for this card.
- Move money from your PayPal account.
- Monthly fee of $4.95.
- Up to $4.95 initial fee to purchase the card from a retail location, otherwise $0 card purchase fee.
- Take advantage of PayPal Payback Rewards and earn on qualifying purchases from select merchants.
- With Direct Deposit, you can get paid faster than a paper check.
- Card issued by The Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC. Card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted.
- Get your tax refund direct deposited to your Card Account.
- Manage your account and find reload locations on the PayPal Prepaid mobile app
- Access to a savings account.
- Click PayPal Prepaid Mastercard® for additional features & program details, and to request a Card.
- See Cardholder Agreement for a complete list of fees.
Steps to Get Your Tax Refund on Your PayPal Prepaid Mastercard®
1. Log into your PayPal Prepaid Card account to get your direct deposit account number and routing number
The Bancorp Bank’s ABA routing number is 114924742. Your card account number is not the 16-digit number on the card. There are 3 easy ways to find out your card account number:
- If your PayPal Prepaid Card is linked with your PayPal Account, log-in to your online Account Center. From the main menu, select, “Add/Manage Money” and then “Direct Deposit.” The information required to enroll in the direct deposit service appears in the grey box on the right side of the screen.
- If you are enrolled in our real-time alerts service, text “DIRECT” to 22622. You will receive the information via a text message from us — standard text message rates from your wireless service provider may apply.
- Call (866) 753-6440 and select the “Other Services” option from the menu.
2. Fill out tax return information
- Enter the PayPal Prepaid Card’s routing number and account number
- Select “Checking” as the account type
- Verify that your name on the tax return matches your PayPal Prepaid Card account exactly
3. Submit tax return
- Complete filing process
4. Enroll in Anytime Alerts
- Log into your PayPal Prepaid Card Online Account Center or mobile app
- Select “Account” > “Anytime Alerts”
- Follow the instructions to complete enrollment
Netspend Prepaid Visa Card
With the Netspend Visa Prepaid Card, you can get your refund faster than with a paper check. Once deposited, you can spend your refund with the Netspend card, transfer it to a bank account, or save it with Netspend’s high-yield savings account option. You can also set up online bill pay. However, this is one of the more expensive prepaid cards with a $2.00 fee per transaction.
- Initial card purchase fee is up to $9.95. There is no fee for cards purchased online or through the mobile app.
- $2.00 transaction fee per purchase.
- With Direct Deposit, you can get paid faster than a paper check.
- Use the Netspend Mobile App to manage your Card Account on the go and enroll to get text messages or email alerts (Message & data rates may apply).
- Card use is subject to activation and ID verification. Terms and Costs apply.
- Card issued by Pathward®, National Association, Member FDIC. Card may be used everywhere Visa debit card is accepted.
- Get your tax refund direct deposited to your account.
- See Netspend® Visa® Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement and Fees here.
Steps to Get Your Tax Refund on Your Netspend Prepaid Visa Card
1. Choose “direct deposit” for refund
2. Enter Netspend card details on your tax return
- Account Number
- Routing Number
3. Select “Checking” as account type
4. Verify the name on your tax documents matches your Netspend card
- Tax return name
- Netspend card name
5. File return and await deposit.
FamZoo Prepaid Card
For families with children, the Famzoo Prepaid Card is ideal to have a teen’s tax refund deposited directly to their prepaid card. Note that FamZoo is one of the few prepaid cards designed for teens that allows direct deposit of a tax refund.
- Perfect for preschool through college
- No risk of debt, overdrafts or hidden fees
- Retain parental visibility and control
- Move money instantly between family members
- Try FamZoo for 1 month FREE
- Subscriptions start at $5.99/month or $59.90 for 12 months
Steps to Get Your Tax Refund on Your FamZoo Prepaid Card
- First, locate your FamZoo card’s direct deposit information:
- Sign into your FamZoo account using your parent credentials
- For Desktop users:
- Click on “Bank > Accounts” in the menu
- Find your desired card and click its balance to get to the Transactions
- Look for and click “Card Information” in the left sidebar
- For Mobile users:
- Tap “Accounts” at the bottom of your screen
- Tap your desired card’s balance to get to the Transactions
- Tap the menu in the top right, then select “Card Information”
- For Desktop users:
2. On your tax return form:
- Find the section for direct deposit information
- Enter your FamZoo card’s routing number
- Enter your FamZoo card’s account number
- Select “Checking” as the account type
- Double-check both numbers to ensure they’re correct
3. Verify your submission:
- Make sure the name on your tax return matches the name on your FamZoo card
- Submit your tax return
4. Track your refund:
- Use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool to monitor the status
- Check your FamZoo card balance and transaction history for the deposit
Why Use a Prepaid Card to Receive a Tax Refund?
Being able to receive a tax refund in the form of a direct deposit is great news for some. You just sit back and get your refund added to your account in about two weeks.
This is much better than waiting the six to eight weeks it takes for a paper check refund to arrive. Plus, you avoid the hassle of schlepping to your local bank to deposit the check, the cost of using a check-cashing service (if you don’t have a bank), or the worry of the check not making it to your mailbox safely.
In addition to getting your refund faster, you can have your refund split between 3 different accounts. You can split your refund using tax preparation software or IRS Form 8888 (allocation of refund).
For those who do not have a checking account, however, the benefits of direct deposit are elusive. According to a 2023 FDIC survey, about 26.4 million households in the U.S. are underbanked or unbanked. This is no small issue.
To make matters worse, those without bank accounts often turn to tax refund anticipation loans. These short-term loans come with extremely high-interest rates and are no better than a payday loan. While they do give you access to your refund immediately, the fees can eat into a substantial portion of it.
The best prepaid debit cards for tax refunds are an extremely low-cost alternative for those who don’t have the option of direct deposit and don’t want to wait for a check.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is direct deposit of a tax refund free?
Yes. All of the prepaid cards and alternatives listed above offer free direct deposit. If you find a debit card that charges you for your tax refund, they probably charge you for a lot of other things that should also be free. Look elsewhere.
What prepaid debit card is best for tax refunds?
In terms of the refund itself, prepaid debit cards all work in similar ways. The best option will depend on how you want to use the card once you receive your refund.
Does a prepaid card result in a faster refund?
Direct deposit of a tax refund to a prepaid card is faster than a paper check. It’s similar to transferring the refund to a bank account and the best prepaid debit cards for tax refunds will deposit your return two days faster than many other banks.
Final Thought on Using a Debit Card for Your Tax Refund
Whether you use a prepaid debit card or a checking account, direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to get your refund.
In contrast to the cards listed here, you should be skeptical of prepaid cards offered by tax preparers. The problem with these cards is that they often come with extremely high fees. For example, H&R Block offers the Emerald Prepaid MasterCard, but when you check the fee agreement, you’ll find increased fees vs. all of the cards on our list of the best prepaid debit cards for tax returns. The key is that whatever you decide, make sure to read the fine print and understand what fees you’ll have to pay.
Pro Tip: if you have a large refund due to you–and you want to avoid making such a large interest-free loan to Uncle Sam–talk to your employer about changing your W-4 form. You may be entitled to claim more allowances, which would reduce the amount of money withheld from your taxes.
