IRS refund going to closed bank account - need help getting a check instead!
Hey everyone, I'm having trouble with my tax return. I closed my bank account and now I'm worried about how I'll get my refund. Has anyone dealt with this before? I need to make sure they send me a check instead of trying to deposit it into a closed account. Any advice on how to handle this with the IRS?
23 comments


GalaxyGuardian
I've been there before! Call the IRS asap and update your info. Make sure to have your social security number and last year's tax return handy when you call. They should be able to change it to a paper check for you.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Thanks for the advice! Do you know how long it usually takes for them to process the change and send out the check?
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GalaxyGuardian
•In my experience, it took about 2-3 weeks after I called. But ymmv depending on how busy they are. Good luck!
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Aisha Abdullah
•2-3 weeks? You got lucky! When I had to do this last year, it took over a month. The IRS moves slower than molasses sometimes 🐌
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Ethan Wilson
Ugh, dealing with the IRS is such a pain. I swear they make everything 10x more complicated than it needs to be. Good luck getting through to an actual human on the phone!
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Yuki Tanaka
Pro tip: When you call, be super nice to the agent. They deal with angry people all day, so being friendly can sometimes help you get better service. Also, call early in the morning if you can - the wait times are usually shorter.
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Carmen Diaz
•This is solid advice! I always try to be extra nice to customer service people. It's not their fault the system sucks.
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Andre Laurent
•Early morning calls are key! I once got through in less than 10 minutes by calling right when they opened.
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AstroAce
I found a method to get someone on the phone quickly. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Zoe Kyriakidou
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit? Has anyone else tried it?
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AstroAce
•I was skeptical at first too, but it really did work for me. Saved me hours of hold time.
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Jamal Brown
•$20 to avoid hours on hold? Sign me up! 🙌
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Mei Zhang
•Idk man, paying to talk to the IRS feels wrong. They should make it easier to contact them for free.
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AstroAce
•I get that, but for me, time is money. I'd rather pay $20 than waste half a day on hold.
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Liam McConnell
Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 2. Have your social security number, last year's tax return, and current mailing address ready 3. Tell them your bank account is closed and request a paper check 4. Ask for a confirmation number or reference number for the change 5. Follow up in writing to create a paper trail 6. Be patient - it might take a few weeks for the change to process Remember, persistence is key when dealing with the IRS. Don't be afraid to call back if you don't get a clear answer the first time. Good luck!
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! This is exactly what I needed. I'll definitely follow these steps.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•This is great advice! I'd add one thing: keep a log of who you talked to and when. It can be helpful if you need to follow up later.
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CosmicCaptain
Am I the only one who thinks its ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get our own money back? The whole tax system needs an overhaul smh
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Giovanni Rossi
•Preach! 🙌 It's like they purposely make it complicated so we'll just give up
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•Totally agree. In some countries, the government just sends you a bill or a refund automatically. Why can't we have that?
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Dylan Mitchell
Quick question - did you already file your taxes with the old bank info, or have you not filed yet? If you haven't filed, you can just put the correct info on your return and avoid this whole headache.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Unfortunately, I already filed with the old info. Didn't even think about it at the time 🤦♂️
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Dylan Mitchell
•Ah, gotcha. Well, at least now you know for next year! Good luck getting it sorted out.
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