Best way to check the status and amount of your refund is to use the IRS ap wheres my refundhttps://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jspinfo needed ...

No turbo Tax does not get the check first, it is sent from the IRS directly to you.

I just filed my taxes with turbo for free, for the federal and 2 states even got the confirmation in the email stating it as such. So in my case it was free.