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February 1, 2012

Debit cards in some taxpayers’ futures

By JOSH NEWTON Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — Oklahoma law now provides that state tax refunds are to be issued electronically, so taxpayers who are owed some money only have a couple options.

Those who have bank accounts can provide the state with their information and have the refund direct-deposited. But those who don’t have bank accounts have only one option: Take the money on a MasterCard debit card.

Some taxpayers take issue with the change, but the state claims there are good reasons for the switch.

“The Oklahoma Tax Refund Card will make it easy for taxpayers to receive their tax refund,” Paula Ross, an Oklahoma Tax Commission spokeswoman, said in a statement released last week. “The debit card program is a safe, convenient and secure alternative to direct deposit for receiving an income tax refund.”

Those who opt to receive the debit card must call a toll-free number, provide what the OTC says is “basic information,” and have the debit card activated.

According to the OTC, the card can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted. Officials also say the card can be taken, along with an form of identification, to any bank or credit union that accepts MasterCard, and the taxpayer can ask the teller for the full amount of the card balance in cash, or to be deposited into a checking or savings account.

Funds can also be withdrawn, at no charge, from MoneyPass ATM locations in Oklahoma. But the nearest machines are in Tulsa – one at 2109 S. Sheridan, and the other at 7777 E. 42nd Place. There’s also a MoneyPass ATM in Bartlesville, and others in the Oklahoma City area.

OTC officials say taxpayers can get the debit card’s balance as cash back if a merchant where the card is used offers that service. The debit card can’t be used without the PIN number set up by the taxpayer.

Other costs could be associated with the use of a debit card, and the OTC points out those fees typically save a trip to the bank, or cost less than a stamp. A fee of 75 cents is charged to go online to transfer the card balance to a checking account or savings account.

Cards can be used to pay bills online through www.goprogram.com for a 25-cent fee.

“There will be ATM limitations on how much cash can be dispensed in a single transaction,” according to the OTC website. “It will likely take multiple transactions to withdraw all of the funds in this example. Some ATM fees may apply unless you use a MoneyPass ATM location in Oklahoma.”

A fee of $1.50 per month will be deducted from the refund amount after 60 days of card inactivity.

“We recommend using the card periodically to avoid the fee or use or withdraw the entire balance immediately,” the OTC website says.

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