Every year, businesses rush to remind customers to use their tax refunds wisely—usually by paying off debts. But with so many competing priorities, simply telling them to pay you first isn’t enough.

To actually be first in line, you need to time it right, make it easy, and remove every possible excuse for delay. Here’s how.

Timing is everything – Reach them at the right moment

The biggest mistake? Reaching out too early or too late.

Most companies send mass emails the moment tax season begins, but customers don’t think about payments until the refund hits their bank account. That’s when you need to be front and center.

🔹 Track refund disbursement schedules – Know when funds are landing and align your outreach accordingly.
🔹 Leverage past payment behavior – If they’ve paid during tax season before, remind them of that pattern.
🔹 Follow up strategically – If they open your first message but don’t act, a timely nudge can make all the difference.

When you show up at the moment they’re ready to decide, you’re already ahead of the competition.

Create urgency without pressure

Your message should make them think:
"I should just get this done now."

🚀 Position it as a smart decision – “Tax refund season is the perfect time to clear this balance once and for all.”
⏳ Use social proof – “Many customers are choosing to pay now and move forward debt-free.”
💡 Make action effortless – “Click below to settle your account in seconds.”

You don’t need scare tactics—just a simple, compelling reason to act now.

Right channel, Right message – Meet them where they are

People ignore messages that feel generic or come through the wrong channel.

📲 If they prefer texts, don’t email them.
📧 If they engage with emails, don’t rely on calls.
📞 If they respond to calls, don’t just send texts.

Your past data already tells you where and how they respond best—use it.

✅ Tailor your messaging for each channel.
✅ Keep communication consistent across all touchpoints.
✅ If they ignore one channel, try another without spamming them.

The right message in the right place at the right time makes paying you feel natural, not forced.

Don’t let the influx overwhelm your team

Tax season means more questions, more payment plans, more last-minute decisions. If your team isn’t prepared, payments could slip through the cracks.

Instead of hiring and training temporary agents:

🤖 Let AI handle routine queries – Common questions about balances, due dates, and payment options don’t need human intervention.
💳 AI agents can process payments – No need to transfer customers back and forth.
📊 Free up human agents – Let them focus on high-value conversations, while AI handles the repetitive tasks.

Scaling your response doesn’t have to mean scaling your costs.

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Keep it simple – Remove all friction

Even if your timing, message, and urgency are perfect, if the payment process is difficult, customers will move on.

✅ Make payments one-click easy – No logging in, no digging for account details.
✅ Provide all account info upfront – Confusion leads to delay.
✅ Offer flexible options – Some can pay in full, others need a plan—give them choices.

The less effort they need to make, the more likely they’ll choose to pay you first.

If you have the data, use It. If not, we’ve got you.

Your best advantage? Knowing your customers.

If you’ve been tracking:
✔ Intent-to-pay scores
✔ Preferred channels and timing
✔ Engagement history

Then now is the time to segment and personalize your approach.

Haven’t been tracking? No worries—get started with 5 ways to maximize return on your bill pay campaigns.

Data-driven segmentation is what separates the businesses that get paid first from those that get paid last.

Final thoughts: It’s not about chasing customers—It’s about showing up first

To be first in line for tax refunds, you don’t need to be aggressive—you need to be smart.

✅ Reach out at the right time
✅ Make acting on your message easy
✅ Use the right channels
✅ Scale up without overloading your team
✅ Remove any barriers to payment
✅ Leverage data to personalize your approach

When you do this, paying you becomes the easiest decision they make this tax season.