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Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard review

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Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid  Mastercard
Monthly maintenance fee
Up to $4.95
Signature transaction fee
From $0
PIN transaction fee
From $0

Our verdict

Receive your refund without a bank account, but you must file your return at a Liberty Tax office.

The Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard makes sense if you don’t have a bank account and want direct access to your tax refund without being required to deposit a check. However, you must file your taxes as a Liberty Tax office to get this card.

But if you already have a bank account, it may be easier to get your tax refund or future stimulus payments deposited straight to your existing checking account.

Pros

  • Limited-time direct deposit bonus
  • ID theft protection

Cons

  • Must file at a Liberty Tax office
  • Not available nationwide
  • ATM fees
  • Limited support

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Features
  • Your reviews
  • Ask an expert

Details

Features

Card type Prepaid
Card network Mastercard
Monthly fee $4.95
Monthly fee (pay-as-you-go plan) $0
Signature transaction fee $0
Signature transaction fee (pay-as-you-go plan) $1
PIN transaction fee $0
PIN transaction fee (pay-as-you-go plan) $1

How much does Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard cost?

There are two plans to choose from:

  1. The Pay-as-you-go plan costs $0 a month but you’ll pay $1 per purchase
  2. The monthly plan costs $4.95 a month and you won’t pay a purchasing fee. This table highlights the fees and limits for each plan.
Pay-As-You-Go planMonthly Plan
Plan fee$0$4.95 per month
Per purchase$1$0
ATM withdrawal$2.50$2.50
Cash reload$3.95$3.95
ATM balance inquiry$0.50$0.50
Live customer service (per call)$0$0
Inactivity (after 90 days w/no trans)$5.95 per mo.$5.95 per mo.
Teller withdrawal (OTC at financial inst.)$19.95$19.95

How do I get the Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard?

You must file your taxes at a Liberty Tax location to get a Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard. Here’s how to make an appointment at the office nearest you.

  1. Visit the Liberty Tax site and select Make an appointment.
  2. Enter your ZIP code and select Go.
  3. Select the office closest to your location.
  4. Choose an appointment date and time, then click or tap Next.
  5. Enter your name, email address, phone number and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
  6. Decide whether you want Liberty Tax to contact you via email, text message or both.
  7. Select Schedule appointment, then confirm the date, time and office location.

Eligibility

To receive a Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard, you must meet these requirements:

  • At least 18 years old
  • US citizen or resident alien
  • Required to file a tax return in the US

Required information

If you meet the above eligibility requirements, have the following information handy:

  • First and last name
  • Physical residential address
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number
  • Government-issued identification number

What you’ll like about the Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard

Like most prepaid cards, you can get paid up to two days early if you set up direct deposits to your Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard. There are also a few other benefits you can take advantage of.

  • Limited-time direct deposit bonus. If you activate your card and receive a direct deposit of at least $500 by May 30, 2021, you’ll earn a $20 credit.
  • ID theft protection. All Netspend Mastercards come with this service that detects and defends against identity theft.

What to watch out for

The Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard also has a few drawbacks you should keep in mind.

  • Must file at a Liberty Tax office. You’re required to file your taxes at a Liberty Tax office to qualify for this card.
  • Not available nationwide. Residents of Vermont are ineligible to receive a Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard.
  • ATM fees. You can use your Netspend card to withdraw cash at nearly any ATM, but you will pay a $2.50 fee per withdrawal plus whatever the owner of the ATM charges.
  • Limited support. Netspend doesn’t provide chat support, and although you can call 866-387-7363, you’ll only get through to a representative if you’re an existing cardholder. If you’re not, you’re limited to emailing customerservice@netspend.com.
  • Negative reviews. Netspend has negative reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot, with most claiming that Netspend has poor customer service.

Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard reviews and complaints

Netspend is not accredited by the BBB, but it has an A+ rating based on 2,144 complaints in the last three years. Yet, according to 262 customer reviews on the BBB’s website, Netspend has an average rating of just 1.1 out of a possible five stars. Of the 43 reviews on Trustpilot, Netspend has an average rating of 1.8 out of 5.

None of the reviews we found specifically relate to the Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard. Instead, most of the reviews mention Netspend’s poor customer service and misleading claims by the company.

Is the Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard safe?

Yes. The Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard includes Mastercard ID Theft Protection, which provides detection and protection against identity theft, including monitoring, alerts and expert resolution. The card is also FDIC insured up to $250,000 through the Republic Bank & Trust Company.

Compare Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard with other prepaid cards

See how other prepaid cards stack up based on fees, features and ATM networks.

Name Product Fee ATM withdrawal Features
Netspend Prepaid Mastercard, WWE partner
Netspend Prepaid Mastercard, WWE partner
$9.95 per month (or $5 with a $500+ direct deposit, or $0 with pay-as-you-go)
$2.50
  • Customize your card
  • Cash back
  • Get paid up to two days faster
  • Comprehensive mobile app
  • Several reload options
No credit check, mobile check load, and now a WWE partner
BusyKid
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
BusyKid
$48 per year or $4 per month
$1.50
  • Up to 5 debit cards
  • Chores and allowance tools
  • Real-time notifications of all transactions
  • Optional free investing tools
  • Optional parental savings match
The BusyKid Visa® Prepaid Spend Card gives your kids the freedom to spend anywhere Visa® is accepted, and parents see every transaction made.
Netspend All-Access Account
Netspend All-Access Account
$5 per month
$0
  • Earn cash back on everyday purchases
  • Earn up to 6% APY with an optional Savings Account
  • Receive your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with Direct Deposit
With Netspend All-Access Account there's no credit check and no minimum balance to open an account.
PayPal Prepaid Mastercard
PayPal Prepaid Mastercard
$4.95 per month
$1.95
  • Faster access to deposits
  • PayPal Prepaid mobile app
  • Open a savings account
  • PayPal Payback Rewards
Use the no-cost direct deposit service and have access your funds up to two days faster than what traditional banks offer.
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How long will it take to get my card?

You’ll receive a temporary Netspend card immediately after completing your tax return at a Liberty Tax office. You’ll then receive a Netspend card within seven to 10 business days. Typically, your tax refund will be applied to your card within 21 days of filing your return, but this isn’t always the case.

I got the card. Now what?

Once you receive your Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard, you can use it in several ways.

  • Pay for purchases. You can use your Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid card at any retailer that accepts Mastercard.
  • Access cash at ATMs and banks. You can withdraw cash from most ATMs and many banks, but you’ll pay at least $2.50 in fees per withdrawal.
  • Set aside some savings. Consider applying for Netspend’s optional high-yield savings account that offers an APY of 5.0% on balances below $1,000 and 0.50% on balances above $1,000.

5 funding options

There are several ways to load cash onto your card.

  • Direct deposit. Deposit your paycheck directly onto your Netspend Liberty Tax Prepaid Mastercard.
  • Economic impact payments. Use this card to receive any future economic impact payments.

  • Tax refunds. When you file your taxes at a Liberty Tax location, you can elect to receive your refund on your Netspend Prepaid Mastercard.
  • Reloads. Load cash onto your card at more than 130,000 locations across the US, though fees may apply.
  • Mobile check deposits. You can use the Netspend app to deposit paper checks onto your prepaid Mastercard, though you may have to pay a fee.

How can I contact Netspend?

There are a few different ways to contact Netspend if you have questions about your account.

  • Call 866-387-7363 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. or weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT. But you can only speak with a live representative if you have an active Netspend account.
  • Send an email to customerservice@netspend.com.
  • Send mail to Netspend Corporation, PO Box 2136, Austin, TX 78768-2136.
  • Reach out to Netspend support on Facebook or send a tweet @netspend on Twitter.

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Michael Finder

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