IRS Direct Deposit Issue - Bank Account Closed - Will They Send Check?
My bank closed my account. This happened on April 3rd. I contacted the IRS yesterday. Informed them of the situation. The representative updated my file. She said I would receive a paper check. No refund date yet. How long for system update? When should I expect the check?
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Yuki Sato
When a direct deposit is rejected due to a closed account, the IRS typically takes exactly 14-21 days to reissue as a paper check. The agent has initiated what's called a 'direct deposit reject procedure' which takes precisely 5-7 business days to update in their system. After that, allow another 7-14 days for check printing and postal delivery. Based on today's date, you should see your check arrive between April 25th and May 5th, assuming no additional processing delays.
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Carmen Flores
•Thank you for this... I'm in a similar situation and wasn't sure about the timeline. My landlord isn't very patient with late rent, so knowing when to expect the check helps me plan what to tell him.
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Andre Dubois
•I'm concerned about the USPS delivery timeframes. Does the IRS use standard mail or certified mail for refund checks? With all the postal delays lately, I wonder if this could add additional time beyond the estimates.
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CyberSamurai
•When this happened to me last year, it took exactly 17 days from when I called them until I got my check. My bank closed without warning while my refund was processing. The IRS was actually pretty efficient with it, all things considered. Just make sure your mailing address is current in the system!
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Zoe Alexopoulos
Did you verify that your current mailing address is correct in the IRS system? Did they confirm which address they'll be sending the check to? Have you checked your tax transcript to see if there's a code 846 with the original direct deposit date? Did you ask them if they need any additional verification before sending the check?
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Jamal Carter
Look, I've been through this exact situation. Calling the IRS once isn't enough. You need to follow up in 5-7 days to confirm they processed the change. Regular IRS lines have 2+ hour waits right now. I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) last week and got through in 18 minutes. Worth every penny when you're waiting on your money. They'll connect you directly to an IRS agent who can check if your check has been scheduled for mailing yet.
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Mei Liu
There's an important distinction here between an "account update" and a "payment trace." If the IRS attempted the direct deposit and it was rejected, you need a payment trace (Form 3911) not just an account update. The trace initiates the check reissuance process. Without it, your refund could remain in limbo status. I'd verify the agent actually initiated this and didn't just update your account information for future transactions.
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Liam O'Donnell
Did the representative give you any confirmation number for the change they made? Last year when this happened to me, they claimed they updated my info but nothing happened for 6 weeks. When I called back, there was zero record of my previous call. Are you able to access your tax transcript to see if there's any indication the deposit was rejected yet?
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Amara Nwosu
The IRS system for handling returned direct deposits is nothing like what banks do. With my bank, a returned payment gets fixed in 2-3 days tops. With the IRS, they have to go through this whole convoluted process that takes weeks. It's like comparing smartphone tech to fax machines. Just prepare yourself for a wait that's probably longer than what they told you.
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AstroExplorer
Here's exactly what happens in this situation: Step 1: The bank rejects the direct deposit and returns it to the IRS (3-5 days) Step 2: IRS processes the return and marks it in their system (5-7 days) Step 3: IRS schedules a paper check to be printed (3-5 days) Step 4: Check prints and goes to USPS (2-3 days) Step 5: USPS delivers your check (3-7 days) Total time: 16-27 days from when the deposit failed. Since you already called, you've initiated step 2, which helps speed things up.
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Giovanni Moretti
•This breakdown is super helpful! I went through something similar in 2022 and kept wondering why it was taking so long. Turns out the IRS is basically using the financial equivalent of Internet Explorer to process these changes. 😂 One thing I'd add - if you call them after step 3 starts, they can usually tell you the exact date the check was scheduled to be mailed.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•I believe the process may be slightly more efficient now, particularly if you've spoken with a knowledgeable agent. In certain cases, the IRS can expedite steps 2-3 when there's a demonstrated financial hardship, though this typically requires additional documentation.
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Dylan Cooper
•According to IRM 21.4.1.5.7 (Internal Revenue Manual), does the 14-day waiting period for a replacement refund still apply when the original refund was returned due to a closed account? Or is that only for lost/stolen checks?
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Sofia Perez
I had this happen on March 14th this year. Called the IRS on March 16th. My transcript updated on March 23rd showing the rejected direct deposit. A new 846 code with a paper check date appeared on March 30th. Received my check on April 4th. So that was exactly 21 days from my call to check in hand. Your experience may vary, but that's a recent timeline for comparison.
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