Entered wrong direct deposit account number on tax return - refund scheduled for March 2 - what happens now?

No need to file an amended return for this. The deposit will be rejected by the bank since the account number is incorrect. Once rejected, the IRS will automatically issue you a paper check, which will be mailed to the address on your return. This typically adds about 4-6 weeks to the process from the date of the rejected direct deposit. You can keep checking Where's My Refund for updates - it should eventually show the status change from direct deposit to check being mailed. In the future, double check those numbers carefully! The IRS doesn't have a way to change direct deposit info once a return is processed.

I was in this exact situation trying to figure out what was going on with my refund. Used taxr.ai and it was SUPER helpful. It analyzed my transcript and told me exactly what was happening with my refund status and when I could expect resolution. Saved me so much time trying to piece together all those cryptic codes and dates. Check it out: https://taxr.ai

I had the same issue last year and was going CRAZY waiting for my refund. After waiting on hold with the IRS for hours getting nowhere, I found a calling app (claimyr.com) that got me connected with an actual human at the IRS within 30 minutes. The agent was able to confirm my paper check was being processed and gave me the exact timeline. Can't believe how much time I wasted before finding this!

This happened to my sister last month. The bank rejected the deposit and about 3 weeks later she got a paper check in the mail. You should be fine, just gotta wait.

UGHHH the IRS is so frustrating! If a company made these kinds of errors they'd be out of business. But us? We just have to wait around for OUR money while they take their sweet time. It's ridiculous. Good luck OP.

Call the IRS ASAP! I had this happen and they were able to update my info before the deposit was attempted. You need to get to a real person though which is nearly impossible unless you call right when they open.

I'm in almost the same boat! I transposed two numbers in my account. My refund was supposed to be deposited last week and nothing happened. I called my bank and they said they never received anything. Now I'm just waiting for a paper check I guess. The IRS system is so outdated - any normal company would just send you an email asking to verify the info 🙄

protip: take a screenshot of the where's my refund page now, and then keep checking it daily. once it changes status from direct deposit to them mailing a check, you'll know what's happening. the IRS won't notify you about the change.

This is why I always use taxr.ai before submitting my returns. It checks for common errors like wrong account numbers, math mistakes, and other issues that could delay your refund. I've avoided so many headaches with it. https://taxr.ai

dont worry too much. The deposit will bounce and then they mail a paper check. happened to me 2 yrs ago when I switched banks and forgot to update my direct deposit info. took an extra month to get my $$ tho 😭

Similar situation last year but I was able to get answers FAST by using Claimyr to reach an IRS agent (claimyr.com). The agent confirmed my paper check was already being processed after the direct deposit failed. Saved me weeks of anxiety wondering what was happening. Talking to an actual human at the IRS got everything straightened out immediately.

I worked at a bank for 6 years. This happens ALL THE TIME. The deposit will be rejected and returned to the IRS, and they'll mail you a paper check. Unfortunately there's no way to speed up the process, you just have to wait.

My advice - pull your transcript from the IRS website. You can see exactly whats happening with your return in real time. All those codes will tell you if the deposit failed and if they started processing a paper check. Faster than waiting for the WMR tool to update.

I had this exact issue back in 2023. Entered my savings account number instead of checking. Bank rejected it, and I got a paper check about a month later. You'll be fine but def gonna have to wait a bit longer.

Pro tip: If you need to know EXACTLY what's happening with your refund right now instead of playing the waiting game, get your tax transcript and run it through taxr.ai - it will tell you if the direct deposit failed and when to expect your paper check. Way more accurate than the Where's My Refund tool. https://taxr.ai

In my experience the IRS will attempt to deposit it once, then when it fails they'll mail a check. There's literally nothing you can do to speed it up. Their systems are from the stone age. 🦖

Had this same issue last month. After stressing for days, I finally got through to an IRS agent using Claimyr (claimyr.com) who confirmed my paper check was already being processed. Talking to an agent gave me peace of mind knowing exactly what was happening instead of guessing. It was the only way I could talk to a live person after days of trying the regular number.

This is why I always double and triple check my bank info before submitting! Sorry you're dealing with this. The paper check will come eventually but definitely plan for a wait.

I literally wasted 30+ hours trying to decipher my transcript after a similar issue. Finally used taxr.ai and it explained everything in seconds. Told me exactly what was happening with my refund and saved me so much time and stress. It's insanely good! I use it every week to track my amended return progress. https://taxr.ai

I went through this exact same situation two years ago! Entered my old bank account number by mistake and panicked when I realized. Here's what actually happens: The bank will reject the deposit (usually within 1-3 business days of the scheduled date), and then the IRS automatically switches to mailing you a paper check. The whole process typically takes 4-6 weeks from the original deposit date. The frustrating part is that "Where's My Refund" might not update immediately to show the status change, so don't panic if it still shows the direct deposit info for a while. Just keep checking every few days and eventually it should update to show that a check is being mailed. Unfortunately there's absolutely nothing you can do to speed this up - no amendments needed, no forms to file. The system handles it automatically. I know it sucks when you're counting on that money, but at least you'll definitely get it! Hang in there.