Getting $1 checks from the IRS two years in a row - Are these real or scams?

This is actually a legitimate check from the IRS! These small-amount checks (usually $1-5) are typically interest payments on your refund. If the IRS holds your refund beyond a certain timeframe (usually 45 days after the filing deadline or from when you submitted your return, whichever is later), they're required by law to pay you interest on that amount. Since you mentioned you received your refund quickly this year, this $1 check is most likely interest on an adjustment or correction from a previous tax year, not your current refund. It could also be a very minor adjustment to your previous year's taxes based on some recalculation the IRS did. You should absolutely cash this check - it's real money from the IRS. If you're curious about the exact reason, look at any notice that came with the check or check the memo line for a code that might explain what it's for.

I had a similar situation last year and was confused until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). The site analyzed my tax documents and explained that these $1 checks are generally interest payments. In my case, they had slightly miscalculated my previous year's return, so they sent the adjustment plus interest. The frustrating part was I didn't get any explanation with the check! Taxr.ai actually helped me figure out exactly where the payment came from by analyzing my previous returns against IRS guidelines. Much more helpful than spending hours on hold with the IRS trying to get an explanation for a dollar.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after asking about it here. It did more than just explain my random IRS check! The system flagged that I'd been reporting some investment income incorrectly for the past two years. Turns out I could file an amendment and get back almost $340! The document analysis was surprisingly thorough and actually explained things in normal human language instead of tax code gibberish. Definitely worth checking out if you're confused about any tax notices or have questions about your returns.

When I got a small check like this last year, I spent 3 HOURS trying to reach someone at the IRS to explain it. Eventually gave up. This year I tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes! The agent confirmed it was interest on a delayed refund from 2023. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, the service calls the IRS for you and navigates all those annoying phone menus, then calls you when they get a real person on the line. Saved me from the endless "your call is important to us" messages and constant disconnects.

Ok I need to apologize for my skepticism earlier. I reluctantly tried Claimyr today after getting a letter from the IRS about some issue with my 2023 return. I was dreading spending my afternoon on hold. The service actually called me back in about 25 minutes with a real IRS agent on the line! Got my issue sorted in 10 minutes after that. Won't lie - it felt a bit weird having someone else handle the hold time, but it saved me so much frustration. Definitely using this for all government agencies with terrible phone systems from now on.

I'm pretty sure those $1 checks are actually a verification that your bank account/direct deposit info is correct before they send the real refund. My tax guy told me this when I asked about a similar check. Basically they send a small amount first to make sure it goes through correctly before sending the full refund.

Anyone know how long state refunds usually take? I filed in January and still haven't gotten my state refund (California). Starting to get worried...

These $1 checks are definitely legitimate! I work as a tax preparer and see this pretty frequently. The IRS is required to pay interest on refunds that are delayed beyond their standard processing timeframes, and sometimes they also send small adjustments for prior year corrections. Since you mentioned getting your refund quickly this year, this $1 check is most likely either: 1) Interest on a previous year's refund that was processed late, or 2) A small adjustment from an IRS review of a prior return (they sometimes catch minor calculation errors and send the difference). The reason you're getting them two years in a row could be that the IRS is working through a backlog of prior year adjustments - they've been catching up on processing delays from the pandemic years. Definitely cash the check - it's real money, and letting it expire just means more paperwork for both you and the IRS. If you're curious about the exact reason, the check should have a code or explanation on it, or you can check your IRS account online at irs.gov to see recent account activity.