Refund anticipation loans (RALs), which allow borrowers to receive their expected tax refunds in one to three days, cost Illinoisans more than $114 million in 2006, according to a new report. Tax filers in African-American communities were 3.5 times more likely to use RALs than were tax filers in other communities. Over 23 percent of tax filers in African-American communities used RALs to access their refund early, while only 6.8 percent of all tax filers statewide used RALs.
This fall, President Obama announced an important change to tax returns that will make saving easier, particularly for new savers. As of this upcoming tax season, filers who receive a refund will be able to purchase U.S. Savings Bonds with part of their refund money simply by checking a box on their return.