How long to receive paper check after bank account info error?

Ugh, I've been through this EXACT nightmare! The bank rejected my direct deposit last year and I was SO ANGRY waiting for that paper check! 😡 It took exactly 19 days from when the deposit was rejected until I got my check in the mail. Every. Single. Day. Was. Torture. I called the IRS three times during that period and they just kept saying "it's in process" which was NOT helpful when I had bills to pay! Hopefully yours comes faster, but at least now you know what someone else experienced!

When this happened to me, I needed a way to track exactly what was happening with my return. Here's what you need to do: Step 1: Get your tax transcript. This will show the exact status. Step 2: Look for code 841 (refund canceled) followed by code 971 (notice issued). Step 3: Watch for code 846 (refund issued) with a new date. I was FRUSTRATED trying to understand all those codes until I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript. It explained every code in plain English and predicted exactly when my check would arrive. Much better than the vague "your refund is processing" message on the IRS site.

According to IRS Publication 5027, Section 3.2, when a direct deposit is rejected, the IRS must reissue the refund as a paper check within 21 calendar days. However, this timeframe does not include mail delivery time, which typically adds 5-7 business days depending on your location. Have you verified your current mailing address is correct with the IRS?

I went through this last year when my credit union rejected my deposit because my name on the tax return didn't exactly match my account name. In my experience, calling the IRS regular number was completely useless - I spent 3 hours on hold only to be disconnected. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed my check had been issued and gave me the exact mail date. Saved me days of stress and uncertainty.

When this happened to me last month, I was PANICKING because I needed that money for rent! Instead of waiting, I went to my local Taxpayer Assistance Center in person without an appointment (got there 30 minutes before they opened). The rep was able to tell me exactly when my check was mailed and even gave me a printout confirming it. My check arrived 4 days later. Sometimes the old-school in-person approach works better than waiting on the phone or checking WMR obsessively like I was doing!

According to the IRS.gov website FAQ section, checks are generally mailed within 2-3 weeks after a direct deposit is rejected. I've been tracking discussions on r/IRS and it seems the average wait time in 2024 has been 17 days from rejection to delivery. Has anyone checked the Where's My Refund tool? It should update to show "We've sent your refund to your bank on MM/DD/2024" and then change to "We've mailed your refund on MM/DD/2024" once the check is issued. https://www.irs.gov/refunds

I experienced this exact scenario during the 2023 filing season. The Direct Deposit Reject (DDR) protocol at the IRS initiates what's called a "Refund Trace and Reissuance Procedure" (RTRP). The standard processing time is 10-14 business days for the trace to complete, followed by 5-7 business days for check printing and 3-5 days for USPS delivery. In total, expect 18-26 business days from the rejection notification to check receipt. The Transaction Code (TC) 846 on your transcript will update with the new issuance date once the check is processed.

I had this happen last year and thought "no big deal, I'll just get a check instead." Cut to SIX WEEKS LATER and still no check! 😂 Turns out my tax preparer not only got my bank info wrong but also misspelled my street name. The check got returned to the IRS, then reissued, then finally made it to me. Moral of the story: verify your mailing address is 100% correct in the IRS system. You can do this by creating an account on IRS.gov and checking your profile details. Anyone else have a similar comedy of errors with their refund?

It might be worth considering, if you haven't already, setting up an account on the IRS website to track your refund status more precisely. While the standard timeframe is typically around 3-4 weeks for a paper check after a direct deposit rejection, I've noticed that refunds processed after mid-February seem to be moving somewhat faster this year. Would you perhaps be able to contact your tax preparer to see if they can provide any additional information about the rejection notification they received? Sometimes they have access to more detailed status information through their professional software.

Watch out for scammers during this waiting period! I had someone call me claiming to be from the IRS saying they could "expedite" my paper check for a fee. Total scam! • Never pay anyone who claims they can speed up your refund • The IRS never calls about refunds without sending a letter first • Don't give personal info to anyone who calls claiming to be IRS • The only legitimate way to check status is through irs.gov/refunds My paper check took 23 days after bank rejection. No way to speed it up despite what scammers claimed.