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  • Money
  • Taxes
  • Taxes

Get Your 2025 Tax Refund Up to 5 Days Sooner. Here's How

A tax refund usually takes 21 days to arrive. Find out how to shed days off your wait time with these tips.

Headshot of Macy Meyer
Headshot of Macy Meyer
Macy Meyer Writer II
Macy is a writer on the AI Team. She covers how AI is changing daily life and how to make the most of it. This includes writing about consumer AI products and their real-world impact, from breakthrough tools reshaping daily life to the intimate ways people interact with AI technology day-to-day. Macy is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. You can reach her at mmeyer@cnet.com.
Expertise Macy covers consumer AI products and their real-world impact Credentials
  • Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing.
Macy Meyer
3 min read
Cash bills laying on top of paper tax refund envelope

We'll show you how to set up direct deposit with Venmo, Cash App or PayPal -- and get your refund sooner. 

 Juanmonino/Getty Images

There are several methods to file your tax return -- many of them free and easy. If you want to avoid tracking a paper refund and you want to opt for the method to receive your tax refund as quickly as possible, make sure you file electronically and set up direct deposit. Typically, tax refunds take 21 days to get to you, but there are a few tricks to get your refund sooner.

Cash transfer apps -- Venmo, Cash App and PayPal -- can help you process your tax refund and provide your money days earlier than traditional banking services. Cash transfer apps can make your deposits available immediately upon receipt. This means you could get your tax refund up to 5 days faster, as you won't have to wait for your bank to process the deposit, which can take up to a week. Below, we'll explain how to set up direct deposit with Venmo, Cash App or PayPal and how to get your refund sooner.

This story is part of Taxes 2026, CNET's coverage of the best tax software, tax tips and everything else you need to file your return and track your refund.

For more Tax Tips, explore how to file taxes for free and the tax brackets for 2025. Also, here's our cheat sheet for filing your taxes and our picks for the best tax software.

How to get your tax refund sooner

Below, you'll find instructions for setting up Venmo, Cash App and PayPal to get your tax refund. Setting up these accounts should take less than 10 minutes.

Tax Tips
CNET

How to get your refund through Venmo

  1. Download the Venmo app on your phone, and either create a new account or sign in to your existing account.
  2. Tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner, then select the "Settings" option.
  3. Scroll down and tap "Direct Deposit." If you haven't already, you'll need to verify your identity.
  4. Tap "Show account number" to view your Venmo account details.
  5. When filing your taxes, enter your Venmo routing and account number. After the IRS processes your return, your refund will be sent directly to your Venmo account, up to five days earlier than with traditional bank services.

How to get your refund through Cash App

  1. Download the Cash App on your phone, and either create a new account or sign in to your existing one.
  2. Tap the Banking tab in the bottom left corner of your screen (it looks like a building).
  3. Scroll down and select "Direct Deposit." You'll see that you can receive your money up to two days faster.
  4. Next, you'll need to set up a free Cash Card. Tap "Get Free Cash Card" and follow the prompts.
  5. Once you've completed the setup, go back to the Direct Deposit tab and copy your routing and account numbers. Enter these when you file your taxes and your refund will arrive up to two days earlier.
Venmo Cash App

Your tax refund could arrive up to five days earlier via a money transfer app.

 James Martin/CNET

How to get your refund through PayPal

  1. Download PayPal on your phone, and create a new account or sign in.
  2. Scroll through the menu options and tap Direct Deposit.
  3. You can access your routing and account details in your PayPal wallet. By using PayPal for direct deposit from the IRS, you can receive your refund up to five days earlier.

For more tax info, check out CNET's taxes cheat sheet and this roundup of important deadlines for this upcoming tax season.

About the Author

Headshot of Macy Meyer
Writer II
Writer II

Macy is a writer on the AI Team. She covers how AI is changing daily life and how to make the most of it. This includes writing about consumer AI products and their real-world impact, from breakthrough tools reshaping daily life to the intimate ways people interact with AI technology day-to-day. Macy is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. You can reach her at mmeyer@cnet.com.