What Refund Selection actually is, and why it matters
Refund Selection is a real company, but it is not a government agency and it does not work the way many people think it does. The company helps people file amended tax returns to claim refunds they may have missed — typically for tax years going back several years. It charges a fee for this service, usually a percentage of the refund you receive.
The reason this matters: scammers use the name "Refund Selection" or similar-sounding names to trick people into paying upfront fees for refunds that do not exist. A legitimate Refund Selection service will not may provide you a refund, will not ask you to pay before filing, and will not contact you out of the blue claiming you have unclaimed money waiting.
The company operates as a tax preparation and filing service. If you have actually worked with them and signed paperwork, you are likely dealing with the real business. If someone called you or emailed you unsolicited saying you have a refund coming and asking for payment upfront, that is a scam.
Key Takeaways
- Refund Selection is a legitimate tax filing company, but scammers use its name to run refund scams, so the name alone does not tell you if you are dealing with the real business or a fake.
- The real Refund Selection charges a fee only after a refund is actually filed and processed, not before you provide information or sign documents.
- If someone contacted you first claiming you have unclaimed refunds, that is almost certainly a scam, regardless of what company name they use.
- The IRS does not work through third-party companies to notify you of refunds — the IRS contacts you directly by mail, and only after you file a return.
- You can file amended returns yourself for free through the IRS or through legitimate tax software, so paying a company to do it is optional, not necessary.
How the real Refund Selection works
The actual Refund Selection service helps people file Form 1040-X, which is the amended tax return form. If you worked a job in a previous year and did not file a return, or filed but missed deductions or credits you were may have access to to, an amended return can recover that money. Refund Selection charges a fee — usually a percentage of the refund amount — to handle the paperwork and filing.
The process works like this: you contact them, provide your tax information, they prepare the amended return, you review and sign it, and then they file it with the IRS. You do not pay anything upfront. The fee comes out of your refund once the IRS processes it and sends the money. This is a standard arrangement for tax preparation services.
The company has a physical address, a phone number, and a track record. You can look up their business registration and find reviews from actual customers. None of this makes them risk-free — tax preparation services vary in quality — but it means they are a real business operating under their own name, not a front.
Red flags that separate scams from the real thing
A scam using the Refund Selection name (or any refund company name) will have these characteristics: they contact you first, they claim you have unclaimed refunds without you having asked them to look, they ask you to pay a fee upfront before filing anything, or they ask you to wire money or buy gift cards to cover the fee.
The real Refund Selection does not cold-call people. You have to find them and contact them. They do not claim to know about refunds you are owed without you providing your tax history first. They do not ask for payment before the return is filed. And they do not ask you to wire money or use gift cards — they take payment from the refund itself or through normal payment methods after the refund arrives.
Another red flag: if the person on the phone says the IRS sent them your information or that the government referred you to them. The IRS does not do this. The IRS does not hire third-party companies to contact taxpayers about unclaimed refunds. If the IRS owes you money, they will mail you a notice directly, and only after you file a return.
Why scammers use the Refund Selection name
Scammers use real company names because it builds false trust. If you search "Refund Selection" and find a legitimate business, a scammer can claim to be that company and you might believe them. The scammer's goal is to collect an upfront fee — usually $100 to $500 — from as many people as possible before disappearing.
The scam works because many people do have unclaimed refunds from previous years. The scammer counts on this: they call and say "We found that you are owed $2,000 from 2019. We can get that for you, but we need a $300 fee upfront." The person pays, the scammer vanishes, and there was never any refund to begin with — or if there was, the scammer never files the paperwork.
The name "Refund Selection" is used because it sounds official and because the real company does exist. This makes it harder for victims to spot the scam. They may even find the real company's website and think "Oh, this is legitimate," without realizing they were contacted by someone else entirely.
How to verify you are dealing with the real company
If you are considering using Refund Selection or any tax preparation service, start by going to their official website directly — do not click a link from an email or text message. Look up their phone number on the website and call that number yourself. Do not use a number someone gave you.
Ask them directly: Do they charge upfront? (The answer should be no.) Do they contact people unsolicited? (The answer should be no.) Will they put the fee arrangement in writing before you sign anything? (The answer should be yes.) A legitimate service will answer these questions clearly and will provide written documentation of their fee structure.
You can also check the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission's website for complaints about the company. A real business may have some complaints, but a scam operation will have many complaints from people who paid upfront and received nothing.
What to do if you have already paid a scammer
If you paid money to someone claiming to be Refund Selection and you are now suspicious, stop contact with them when ready. Do not send any more money. Then report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Include the phone number they called from, the email address they used, and the payment method you used.
If you paid by credit card or debit card, contact your bank or card issuer and report the charge as fraudulent. They can often reverse it. If you wired money or sent a gift card code, the money is usually gone, but report it anyway — the FTC tracks these patterns to shut down scam operations.
You can also file a complaint with your state's Attorney General office. Many states have consumer protection divisions that investigate refund scams. The more people who report the same scammer, the more likely law enforcement can take action.
Your actual options for claiming missed refunds
You do not need to pay a company to file an amended return. The IRS provides Form 1040-X for free, and you can file it yourself. The IRS website has instructions, and you can mail the form in or file it electronically through approved tax software.
If you want help but do not want to pay a percentage of your refund, the IRS offers free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax information (VITA) program. VITA is staffed by trained volunteers and is available to people with lower incomes. You can find a VITA site near you through the IRS website.
If you use tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct, most of them can prepare amended returns. Some offer this for free if you used their software for the original return. This is usually cheaper than paying a company a percentage of your refund, and you maintain control of your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Refund Selection a government program?
No. Refund Selection is a private company that offers tax preparation services. The IRS does not run it, endorse it, or refer people to it. If someone claims they are calling on behalf of the government or the IRS, that is a scam.
Can I get my money back if I already paid a scammer?
If you paid by credit card or debit card, your bank may reverse the charge if you report it as fraud within a certain time frame — usually 60 days. If you wired money or sent a gift card code, recovery is unlikely, but you should still report it to the FTC and your state's Attorney General.
How do I know if I actually have unclaimed refunds?
You can check the IRS website directly or contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. You do not need to pay anyone to do this. The IRS will tell you if you owe taxes or are owed a refund based on your filing history. No legitimate company needs to "find" this for you.
What if I used Refund Selection and they never filed my return?
Contact them in writing and ask for a status update on your amended return. Request documentation showing that the return was filed with the IRS. If they cannot provide this and you paid a fee, file a complaint with the FTC and your state's Attorney General. You may also be able to dispute the charge with your bank if you paid by card.
Should I ever pay upfront for a refund service?
No. Legitimate tax preparation services charge a fee only after a refund is processed and received, or they charge a flat fee for preparation that you pay upfront but with a clear written agreement. No legitimate service asks you to wire money or buy gift cards to cover a refund fee.