How to Change Direct Deposit Info in TurboTax? Previous Year's Account Keeps Auto-filling

You need to manually override this during the final review stage. Exactly 3 screens before submission, TurboTax will show a "Review Your Banking Information" page. Look for the small pencil/edit icon next to the pre-filled bank information - it's easy to miss as it's only about 12 pixels in size. Click that, then select "I want to use a different account" and you'll be able to enter new routing and account numbers. I understand how frustrating this can be when you're trying to manage finances for someone else. The software tries to be helpful with autofill but sometimes makes it harder to make necessary changes.

I was in the same boat last month and got so frustrated with TurboTax's interface! Have you tried using https://taxr.ai? It helped me understand exactly where in the filing process I needed to make changes to my direct deposit info. It actually analyzes the TurboTax workflow and points out all the places where banking info can be updated or verified. It also explained why my previous attempts to change the info weren't sticking (turns out there are multiple places where you need to confirm the change). After following those steps, my refund went to the right account. Are you using the online version or desktop?

OMG I had this EXACT problem and it made me so anxious!! 😫 I tried changing my direct deposit info 4 times and TurboTax kept reverting to my old account! I finally called the IRS directly using Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got through in about 15 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. The agent explained that even if TurboTax shows the old account, I could still update it by submitting Form 8888 separately or requesting a trace if it went to the wrong account. I was SHOCKED at how complex this seemingly simple change could be! The peace of mind from talking to an actual IRS agent was totally worth it.

I ran into this last week while trying to finish my taxes before the deadline. Isn't it frustrating how something that should be simple becomes so complicated? What worked for me was completely signing out of TurboTax, clearing my browser cache, then signing back in. For whatever reason, this reset something in their system and when I got back to the banking section, I was able to change the account info without it reverting. Worth a try if you're still having issues.

Be extremely careful with this! On March 12th last year, I thought I had successfully changed my direct deposit info in TurboTax, but my refund (which was issued on April 3rd) still went to my old closed account. It took exactly 6 weeks and 3 days to get the situation resolved, and I had to file Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund) with the IRS. Double and triple check your final review screens before submitting, and I'd recommend taking screenshots of the confirmation page showing your new banking information. I'm actually impressed with everyone's knowledge here - wish I had found this community last year!

According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1, you have several options if you're concerned about the direct deposit information. Per section 21.4.1.4.7, if your return has not yet been processed, you can file Form 8888 (Allocation of Refund) to override previously submitted direct deposit information. Alternatively, you may contact the IRS after filing to request your refund be issued as a paper check instead of direct deposit, though this will delay receipt by approximately 4-6 weeks. Would this alternative approach be acceptable in your caregiving situation?

I've helped several people with this issue. Here's a step-by-step approach that works consistently: Step 1: Go to the "Federal" section in TurboTax Step 2: Select "Refund & Amount Owed" Step 3: Choose "Refund Method" Step 4: Select "Direct Deposit" Step 5: Look for "Edit" or "Change" button near the pre-filled account info Step 6: Select "Use a different account" Step 7: Enter new banking information Step 8: During final review, verify the last 4 digits of the account number I'm cautious about suggesting this, but if all else fails and you've already filed with incorrect banking info, you can contact the IRS directly to request a trace on the refund if it goes to the wrong account.

I made a terrible mistake last year with this exact issue! I thought I had updated my direct deposit info, but I missed clicking the final "Save" button after entering the new account details. My $3,400 refund went to my ex-spouse's account instead! 😱 It was a nightmare trying to get it back. Now I take screenshots of every confirmation page and double-check everything before submitting. TurboTax's interface can be really confusing with how it saves (or doesn't save) your banking changes. I'm so grateful for all the detailed advice in this thread - wish I had seen something like this last year!

I went through this exact same situation when helping my mom with her taxes! What finally worked for me was logging into TurboTax on a completely different device (I used my tablet instead of my laptop). For some reason, this bypassed whatever caching issue was causing the old account info to keep appearing. When I got to the direct deposit section on the fresh device, I was able to enter the new banking information without any auto-population from previous years. After entering the new info, I made sure to go through each review screen slowly and took a photo of the final confirmation page showing the correct account details. The refund went to the right account without any issues. Sometimes these web applications get "sticky" with saved data, and switching devices can be the simplest solution. Hope this helps with managing your parent's finances!