I used Tubotax to do my 2007 taxes and opted to electronically file and have my return deposited directly into my checking account because it would take approximately one week less time to receive my return. A couple of days after filing, I received report that my return had been accepted by IRS. Then, a few days later I received an E-mail from Santa Barbara Bank & Trust telling me the anticipated date of deposit to my account was 2/15. On 2/15, when the deposit had not been made, I called to inquire about it. The recording informed me that SBBT had received money from IRS on my behalf on 2/13 and that they had deposited it to my account on 2/14. When I spoke to someone on the phone at SBBT, we went over my information and my account number. Somehow, the leading zero on my checking account had been dropped, thus leaving a 9-digit account number that they used to make the deposit. I was told that since this was an invalid account number (every banker knows that checking account numbers are 10-digit numbers and it was completely incompetent for them not to question this immediately) the bank would reject the deposit and return it to SBBT. I was first told I would have to just wait until they got the rejection and then they would mail me a paper check, which would take another 2 weeks or so. I called and spoke to another person who instructed me to fax a letter, a photocopy of my CDL, my social security card, and a voided check, and once that was done they would re-process my deposit. Monday happens to be a holiday which means that the very earliest I will have access to my money is not 2/15, but 2/20. SBBT has already taken its $50 fee for its services. If IRS is going to chose companies to do their work for them, they should chose companies who are competent enough to know the difference between a valid account number and an invalid one.
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