Getting a $1 check from the IRS for the second year - Is this real or a scam?

So weird - for the second year in a row I just received a $1 check from the IRS and I'm totally confused about what's going on. I filed my taxes on February 11th this year and got my federal refund pretty quickly (about 8 days later). Still waiting on my state return though which is annoying. But here's the strange part - today I got this $1 check from the IRS in the mail. The exact same thing happened last year and I just tossed it in my drawer and never cashed it. I'm 100% positive my actual refund was way more than $1 (like $1,345 to be exact lol). The check looks completely legitimate with all the right watermarks and everything. Has anyone else had this happen? Is this some kind of weird scam where they're trying to get my banking info? Or is the IRS actually sending me random $1 checks for some reason? Really confused right now!

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20 comments

Dylan Campbell

This is actually a legitimate check from the IRS! When you see these small amount checks (especially exactly $1), it's typically for one of these reasons: First, it could be interest the IRS owes you on your previous year's refund if it was delayed beyond their processing timeframe. They're required by law to pay interest on late refunds, and sometimes that interest works out to very small amounts. Second, it might be an adjustment to your previous tax return where they found you were owed a tiny additional amount after recalculating something. Third, occasionally the IRS sends test checks to verify banking information, though this is less common with paper checks. I'd recommend depositing it rather than letting it sit in a drawer. Even though it's just $1, uncashed government checks can potentially cause minor reconciliation issues in your tax account.

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Dylan Campbell

Technically, not cashing a government check doesn't create immediate problems for your tax situation. The money remains credited to your account with the IRS, and they'll keep the record of having issued that payment to you. If you still have the old check, you might be able to deposit both together. Government checks like this typically don't expire for one year, but some financial institutions might still accept them even after that period. If the old check is too outdated, you could potentially request a replacement, though for $1 it might not be worth the effort.

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Dmitry Sokolov

I had a similar situation and discovered taxr.ai helped me figure out what was going on with my weird IRS checks. I was getting random small amounts and couldn't understand why until I uploaded my notices to https://taxr.ai and they explained exactly what was happening. Turns out it was interest on a previous year's delayed refund! They analyzed all my tax documents and explained everything in simple terms I could actually understand. It saved me hours of frustrating research and phone calls.

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Dmitry Sokolov

The document analysis works by simply taking photos of any tax documents you're confused about - in this case, you could upload a picture of the check and any notices that came with it. They use their system to identify exactly what type of IRS payment it is and explain it in plain English. They provide very specific answers based on your actual documents, not generic info. Everything is secure with bank-level encryption, and they're really serious about privacy - they even delete your documents after analysis so nothing stays on their servers long-term.

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QuantumQuasar

If you're still confused or need to confirm with the IRS directly, I'd recommend using Claimyr. I was getting these weird small checks too and spent DAYS trying to reach someone at the IRS with no luck. I found https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 15 minutes! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the phone system for you and call you back when an agent is on the line. Saved me hours of frustration and I got an official explanation for those random dollar checks.

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QuantumQuasar

They don't have a special line, but they use an automated system that continually redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until they find an opening. Once they get through, they connect you directly to the live agent. It's basically doing what you'd do manually but with technology that can keep trying constantly. I totally get the skepticism! I felt the same way. The system works because they're essentially doing the waiting and navigating for you. They just keep dialing until they get through - something most of us don't have time to do manually.

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Connor Gallagher

Ok I feel kinda stupid now but I have to admit Claimyr actually worked. After posting that skeptical comment I decided to try it anyway out of desperation. Within about 20 minutes I got a call connecting me to an IRS agent! The agent confirmed these small $1-5 checks are typically interest payments on previous refunds. She also checked my account and confirmed both of my small checks were legitimate. Such a relief to finally get a straight answer without wasting an entire day on hold. Sorry for being so negative before!

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Yara Sayegh

Most government checks are valid for one year from the issue date, so you should be fine with that 11-month-old check. Some banks might give you a hard time with older checks, but usually if it's still within that one-year window they'll process it without any issues. Treasury checks sometimes can be cashed even beyond that one-year window, but you'd potentially need to contact the IRS for a replacement if it's too old. For just $1 though, it might not be worth the hassle if your bank rejects it.

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Diego Mendoza

This is actually pretty common! I work in tax preparation and see this frequently. Those $1 checks are usually interest payments on delayed refunds from previous years. The IRS is required by law to pay interest when they take longer than their standard processing time to issue refunds. What likely happened is your 2023 refund was processed later than the IRS's target timeframe, so they owe you interest on that delay. The interest rate is pretty low (currently around 7-8% annually), so even a delay of a few weeks on a decent-sized refund only generates a small interest payment. Definitely deposit both checks! Even though it's just $1, leaving government checks uncashed can sometimes cause minor issues in their accounting system. Plus, it's your money - might as well take it. The checks are completely legitimate and safe to deposit. You might continue getting these small interest payments if you have refunds in future years that get delayed for any reason. It's just the IRS following federal law about paying interest on late refunds.

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