RAL Fee Many tax preparation firms offer their clients a refund anticipation loan (RAL). For a fee, the firm RAL Amount will give a client his refund when the return is filed. The loan is repaid when the Internal Revenue $0 - $500 Service sends the refund directly to the firm. Thus, the RAL fee is equivalent to the interest charge for a loan. The schedule in the table on the right is from a major RAL lender. Use this $501 - $1,000 schedule to find the annual rate of interest for a $3,321 RAL, which is paid back in 19 days. $1,000 - $1,500 $1,501 - $2,000 $2,001 - $5,000 (Assume a 360-day year.) $29.00 $39.00 $49.00 $69.00 $89.00