A tax refund amount is determined or received at an intermediate computer operably connected to tax authority and user computers. The user computer and a tax preparation program are used to prepare an electronic tax return and determine the refund amount. Accounts that are available to receive a portion of the refund are identified and selected. A determination regarding how the refund can be allocated to selected accounts is made. The refund is transferred from the tax authority to the intermediate computer, and respective portions of the refund are transferred from the intermediate computer to respective selected accounts based at least in part upon a determined or selected allocation to increase the value of the refund, e.g., due to interest rates of selected accounts, compared to the refund value determined with the tax preparation program.