Are they doing refund advances now and being approved before January

[VolvoGirl]

The Advance usually starts in January and just when you are ready to file. And only if they offered it to you. You can't self select it. Then you don't get it until AFTER your efile is Accepted by the IRS which is usually late January.
https://turbotax.intuit.com/refund-advance
Footnote says…..Funding occurs after IRS acceptance. IRS accepts returns starting late-Jan.

[SteamTrain]

@taylababy95 

Almost certainly a NO.

Historically TTX only allows that when the IRS accepts your fully-prepared tax file...and the IRS doesn't usually start accepting any until mid-late January.

AND...TTX must actually offer it to you....you can't just choose the advance on your own.