The method you use to get the refund (straight from the IRS or through SBTPG) doesn't have anything to do with the PATH act. The money still comes from the IRS/US Treasury whether it goes directly to your bank or first to SBTPG to pay any TurboTax fees. When you pay fees out of your refund, that adds an extra link in the chain, and another place with an opportunity for something to go wrong. If it goes smoothly, then it doesn't add much to the time, maybe a day or two. But if there's any problem with at SBTPG, it can delay it significantly.
It is the IRS who will not release refunds until Feb. 15 if the return has EIC (earned income tax credit) or ACTC (additional child tax credit.) Everyone who has EIC or ACTC is subject to the PATH act. The PATH act started during filing season last year and mandates that the IRS not start releasing refunds until February 15, for filers who have those credits. This is its second year.
It is the IRS who announced a few weeks ago that they would start processing returns on January 29. The IRS does pull a few returns early for testing purposes. You can read about the January 29 date at this link on the IRS website:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2018-tax-filing-season-begins-jan-29-tax-returns-due-april-17-help-avai...>
