FreeTaxUSA Direct Deposit Error - Same Number for Routing and Account

When your bank info is incorrect, the IRS will attempt the direct deposit first. When it fails, they'll automatically convert your refund to a paper check. This usually takes 2-4 weeks from the rejection date. You cannot update your bank info after filing, unfortunately. The best thing to do now is make sure your mailing address is current with USPS so the check arrives at the right place.

Did you already get a notification that the deposit failed? I had a similar issue on April 2nd last year and got an email from my bank about the rejected deposit the same day it was supposed to hit my account. You might want to check with your bank ASAP since your DDD was yesterday (May 15th)!

I had this exact issue last year! Here's what you should do: • Check your bank account daily for any pending deposits • Monitor your tax transcript for code changes • Look for code 846 followed by a new 971 notice • Watch for code 840 which indicates a refund trace I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it explained exactly what was happening with my return when the deposit failed. It highlighted the specific codes that showed my refund was being converted to a check and even estimated when I'd receive it. Made the whole process way less stressful since I could see what was happening behind the scenes.

Have you checked your IRS transcript yet? According to the IRS refund processing guidelines on irs.gov/refunds, you should see a code 971 (notice issued) and possibly a code 846 with a future date when they schedule the paper check. The transcript will tell you more than Where's My Refund in this situation.

OMG I went through this EXACT nightmare last year! 😱 The IRS phone lines were impossible - I spent 3 days trying to get through and kept getting disconnected. I finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an agent in like 15 minutes! They confirmed my deposit had failed and told me exactly when my paper check would be mailed. Saved me SO much stress and waiting! They had all the info about my case that wasn't showing up anywhere else.

I actually had a happy ending with this same mistake last year! My bank (Chase) was smart enough to recognize that the routing number was wrong but the account existed, so they manually corrected it and deposited the funds anyway. Might be worth checking with your bank to see if they have any similar procedures. Not all heroes wear capes - sometimes they work at banks! 😂

Had this happen in March. Called IRS. Got nowhere. Deposit bounced back. Paper check arrived 24 days later. No action needed from me. System worked automatically. Just had to wait.

I made this exact mistake with FreeTaxUSA last year! The system doesn't catch that the routing and account numbers are identical during submission. My refund was rejected on the deposit date, then 19 days later I received a paper check in the mail. No need to do anything - the IRS handles it automatically. Have you checked your informed delivery from USPS to see if there's anything coming from the Treasury?

Just to clarify what happens technically: When the ACH transfer fails due to invalid routing/account info, the IRS system automatically flags your refund for paper check issuance. Unlike other tax issues that require amendments or forms, this process is handled entirely on their end. The timeline is typically 2-3 weeks longer than your original direct deposit date. For comparison, address changes require Form 8822, but banking errors are handled without any action from you.