The IRS does not want to mail refund checks. The IRS wants to send you a direct deposit. And there is no fee for getting a direct deposit. You are misinterpreting something if you think there is a fee for direct deposit. There is a "refund processing" fee if you choose to pay your TurboTax fees by having a third party bank deduct the fees from your federal refund instead of paying upfront using your credit or debit card before you file your tax return. You are not required to make that choice.
What is Refund Processing Service?
Pay upfront BEFORE you file --- pay using a credit or debit card.
REMOVE REFUND PROCESSING FEE
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-account-billing/remove-pay-refund...
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