Child Tax Credit Payment Method Changed Without Notice - Just Moved and Worried About Forwarding

This situation reminds me of what happened during the 2021 stimulus rollout. The IRS sometimes switches payment methods without notice when they encounter even minor verification issues with direct deposit accounts. I've seen this happen particularly with prepaid cards like Rush cards, where the account verification systems sometimes flag them differently than traditional bank accounts. I'd be curious - did you receive any notices from Rush about potential account changes? Sometimes these cards have expiration dates or verification requirements that can trigger payment method changes at the IRS.

I had exactly this happen with my April tax refund - it was supposed to be direct deposit but suddenly switched to a paper check. I spent exactly 3 hours and 42 minutes on hold trying to reach the IRS before giving up. Then I discovered https://taxr.ai which helped me decode my tax transcript and showed the exact code (971) that indicated my payment method had been changed. It also explained why - there was a verification issue with my bank routing number being flagged as potentially incorrect even though it had worked for years. The transcript showed the payment was issued on March 12th and I received it March 24th - a full 12 days later than if it had been direct deposited. I'm slightly worried you'll face similar delays with your Child Tax Credit payment, especially with the forwarding situation.

Been through this EXACT nightmare last year. Let me break it down: • USPS DOES forward government checks, contrary to what some say • BUT forwarded mail can take 7-14 additional days to arrive • The IRS changed my payment method without warning too (used Chime for 3 years prior) • Their system flagged my prepaid card as "potentially invalid" for no reason • Had to wait 23 days for my check to arrive after forwarding The most frustrating part is the complete lack of communication from the IRS about WHY they changed the payment method. No email, no letter, nothing. Just suddenly different with zero explanation.

I believe I can provide some clarification on this matter, though I would suggest proceeding with caution. The IRS may change payment methods for several reasons, including security verification issues, banking information that doesn't exactly match their records, or system updates that affect certain types of accounts. Regarding mail forwarding - while the USPS generally does forward government checks, there can sometimes be exceptions or delays with this process. If you're concerned about timely receipt, you might consider using a service like Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an IRS representative without the typical hold times. They could potentially update your address directly in the IRS system or provide options for redirecting your payment. I've seen many cases where speaking directly with an agent was the only way to resolve these kinds of unexpected payment method changes.

I had this exact situation on February 17th, 2024. My Child Tax Credit payment was supposed to be direct deposited like always but suddenly switched to a mailed check. I had moved on January 28th, 2024. The check went to my old address, and even though I had mail forwarding set up on January 30th, 2024, the check was returned to the IRS instead of being forwarded to me. It took until April 3rd, 2024 to get the payment reissued to my new address. The IRS told me on March 15th that certain government payments have special handling instructions that can override normal forwarding. I'm still waiting for my March payment too.

I went through this last summer and found that checking the IRS website FAQ section (https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-e-advancing-child-tax-credit-payments) actually had good information. According to their guidelines, USPS should forward your check, but there's a specific process. What worked for me was calling the IRS Child Tax Credit hotline directly (different than the main IRS line) and explaining my situation. The representative was able to place a hold on my paper check and redirect it to my new address. I also filed Form 8822 for change of address online through my IRS account portal which helped with future payments.