A state senator suggests Ohio taxpayers should have the option of getting income tax refunds via debit cards. As it is, Ohioans can get refunds by check or direct deposit.
State Sen. Eric Kearney, D-Cincinnati, said his idea could help low-income residents who don't have checking or savings accounts avoid paying check-cashing fees to acess their refunds. According to a federal survey, some 414,000 households in Ohio don't have a bank account.
Two concerns about the proposal involve the cost and whether the debit-card refunds would be more susceptible to theft. If those issues can be addressed, Kearney's idea might be worth a try.
