My Chase checking account is frozen on refund direct deposit date! Anyone dealt with this nightmare?
I'm freaking out! My Chase checking account got frozen yesterday and my direct deposit date for my tax refund is TODAY! I've called the bank three times and they keep giving me the runaround, saying they can't tell me if the deposit hit my account or not. The customer service rep just said there's a "security hold" but wouldn't explain further. Has anyone experienced this? What should I do? Will the IRS resend my refund if the bank rejects it? This is over $3,800 that I desperately need for car repairs and I'm completely stressed out.
42 comments
TommyKapitz
This happened to me last year. When your account is frozen, the bank will typically still receive the deposit but hold it until the freeze is resolved. The IRS considers their job done once they send the money, so from their perspective, you've been paid. You need to resolve whatever issue caused the freeze with Chase directly. In most cases, it's either identity verification, suspicious activity, or an outstanding legal issue like a levy. Call Chase's fraud department specifically (not regular customer service) and ask what documentation they need from you to lift the freeze. If Chase ultimately rejects the deposit, it will be returned to the IRS, and they'll mail you a paper check, which can take an additional 4-6 weeks. But honestly, it's much faster to just resolve the bank issue if possible.
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Louisa Ramirez
Thank you! Do you know if I can check my transcript to see if the IRS received the rejected deposit back? Or does it not show that info?
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TommyKapitz
Your transcript will show a code 841 if the direct deposit was returned to the IRS. If you see that code, they'll usually issue a paper check within a couple weeks.
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Angel Campbell
Also happened to me but with Wells Fargo. Took 3 weeks to get it sorted. The bank kept my money in limbo the entire time 😡
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Payton Black
I used to spend hours trying to figure this stuff out on my own, checking my transcripts every day, calling the IRS, stressing about my bank... until I found taxr.ai - it's seriously a game changer. The tool analyzed my transcript, explained every code, and gave me the exact timeline for my refund issue. It showed me that the bank rejection would eventually trigger a paper check. Saved me so much anxiety! https://taxr.ai
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Harold Oh
Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
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Payton Black
It does WAY more than just read it! It actually interprets all the codes, tells you what each one means for YOUR specific situation, gives you timelines, and explains what's happening with your refund in plain english. I was completely lost before using it.
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Harold Oh
OMG I just tried taxr.ai and it's INCREDIBLE! It showed me exactly why my refund was delayed and when I'll get it. Everyone dealing with IRS issues needs to use this!
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Amun-Ra Azra
After dealing with the same bank nonsense last year, I finally found a way to talk to an actual human at the IRS using claimyr.com. Got a callback within 30 minutes and they confirmed my deposit was sent but explained that when banks freeze accounts, they usually just hold the money until you resolve the freeze. The agent gave me documentation I could take to Chase to prove the source of funds. It was the only way I could talk to a live agent at the IRS, and honestly it saved me WEEKS of stress. Talking to a real person at the IRS got this sorted so much faster than waiting for the bank to figure it out.
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Summer Green
Is this for real? The IRS never answers their phones. How much did it cost?
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Amun-Ra Azra
It works! They basically navigate the IRS phone system for you and get you in the queue for a callback. Trust me when i say it was worth every penny to finally get answers instead of being on hold for 3+ hours or getting disconnected.
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Gael Robinson
seems sketchy af... the IRS doesn't do callbacks 🧐
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Amun-Ra Azra
The IRS absolutely offers callbacks - they just have limited capacity. This service basically holds your place in line so you don't have to. I was super skeptical too but it worked perfectly.
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Edward McBride
I work at a credit union (not Chase) but I can tell you what's probably happening. When accounts get frozen, we still receive deposits but they go into a holding account. The bank is most likely doing an internal investigation - could be fraudulent activity they detected, identity verification issues, or even a legal order like a garnishment. Tip: Don't just keep calling general customer service. Go to a physical branch with multiple forms of ID and ask to speak to a manager. They can usually give you more info face-to-face than phone reps are allowed to.
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Louisa Ramirez
This is soooo helpful, thank you! I'll go to a branch first thing tomorrow. Do you think bringing my IRS transcript showing the refund amount would help?
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Edward McBride
Definitely bring your transcript, tax return copy, and any notices from the IRS. Also bring 2 forms of ID and proof of address. The more documentation you have about the source of the funds, the better.
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Darcy Moore
Chase is THE WORST with this. They froze my account 3 years in a row on tax refund day. Their algorithm flags large government deposits as "suspicious" especially if they're larger than your normal direct deposits. Such BS. You'll eventually get your money but it might take 7-10 business days for them to "investigate." Switch banks after this!!!
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Dana Doyle
If the IRS sent it but the bank won't give it to you, file a CFPB complaint against Chase. I did this when my bank withheld my stimulus payment and suddenly they "resolved" the hold within 48 hours after the complaint. Banks hate federal complaints. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
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Liam Duke
I second this! CFPB complaints work like magic. Banks have a special team just for handling these complaints because they take them super seriously.
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Manny Lark
tried this once and it took FOREVER to get a response. Ended up calling the IRS thru claimyr.com and got it fixed way faster
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Rita Jacobs
This is actual good advice ^^^^ CFPB will light a fire under their ass
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Khalid Howes
have u checked your transcript? It will tell you if the deposit was sent back. Heres how to check: 1. Go to irs.gov 2. Click Get Transcript Online 3. Login or create account 4. Get the Account transcript for 2023 5. Look for code 846 (your refund date) 6. If you see code 841 after that, it means the direct deposit got rejected If no 841 code, your bank is holding the money an you gotta deal with them
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Louisa Ramirez
Thanks for this. I checked and I only see the 846 code from today, no 841 yet. Guess the bank has it then 😫
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Khalid Howes
yah then chase definitely has your money. they just being difficult. if you need to see what all those codes mean tho use taxr.ai - it breaks down everythin for you
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Ben Cooper
The exact same thing happened to me with TD Bank. Turns out someone tried to cash a fraudulent check on my account the day before my refund hit, so they froze everything. I didn't know until I went to the branch in person. The deposit was sitting there the whole time! Ask specifically if they're investigating fraud, because the phone reps won't volunteer that info.
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Naila Gordon
omg this is why i always use a seperate account just for tax refunds!!! i have a simple online bank account i ONLY use for irs deposits. once it hits i transfer it to my main account. banks be acting shady with large deposits, especially chase and wells fargo 🙄
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Cynthia Love
This is actually really smart. What online bank do you use? I'm about to drop Chase after this disaster.
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Naila Gordon
I use Capital One 360 for my tax refunds - never had an issue in 5 years. they dont seem to flag government deposits like the big banks do
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Darren Brooks
call the treasury offset number at 1-800-304-3107 to see if your refund was reduced or offset for any reason. Sometimes banks freeze accounts when the expected deposit amount doesn't match what actually comes through. just a thought.
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Rosie Harper
Check if you have any outstanding debts or judgments against you. Sometimes banks freeze accounts when they receive garnishment orders. Child support? Student loans? Old credit card debt that went to collections? Those can all trigger account freezes that coincidentally happen when large deposits come in.
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Louisa Ramirez
I don't think I have anything like that but how would I check? Could it be from years ago?
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Rosie Harper
Pull your credit reports from all 3 bureaus at annualcreditreport.com (it's free) and check for collection accounts or judgments. Also call your state child support enforcement office if that might apply.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
I went through this hell last year and spent WEEKS trying to figure it out. Wish I had known about taxr.ai back then - a friend just showed it to me and it's amazing how clearly it explains everything! It even shows you what steps to take next based on your specific transcript codes. The peace of mind is worth it!
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Demi Hall
taxr.ai is the real deal. used it last week when i was freaking out about a 570 code and it explained everything. even told me exactly when my refund would be released
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Mateusius Townsend
IMPORTANT: If Chase doesn't resolve this quickly, file a complaint with both the CFPB AND the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Chase is required by law to respond to OCC complaints within 15 days. Include your IRS transcript as evidence the money was sent. Don't let them hold your money hostage!
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Kara Yoshida
Sometimes the IRS will flag a refund as potentially fraudulent and quietly tell the bank to hold it, but they won't tell YOU they did this. I got thru to an IRS agent using claimyr.com and found out that's what happened to me. Had to verify my identity with the IRS before the bank would release the funds. Might be worth checking if that's your situation too.
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Philip Cowan
Woah I never heard of this before. How do you verify your identity with the IRS if that's the case?
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Kara Yoshida
You have to call the Identity Verification department at 800-830-5084, but good luck getting through. I kept getting busy signals until I used claimyr. Finally got a callback and handled it in 20 minutes.
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Caesar Grant
If your account is frozen because of suspected fraud activity (which happens a lot with large unusual deposits), you'll need to go through their account validation process. When I worked at a bank, we always recommended going into a branch with a valid ID rather than trying to handle it over the phone. Phone reps have limited authorization to help with these situations.
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Lena Schultz
I've learned to never use my main bank account for tax refunds after getting burned like this. Next year use a different bank or even get a prepaid card direct deposit. The IRS doesn't care WHERE they send it as long as the routing and account numbers are valid. If this year's refund is stuck, definitely go in person to a branch. The IRS will NOT care about your bank drama - they'll just say "we sent it, not our problem" 🤷♀️
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Louisa Ramirez
Once I resolve this, I'm definitely changing my direct deposit info. Can you update your bank info with the IRS between filing seasons?
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Lena Schultz
You can update it when you file next year's return. Or if you create an account on irs.gov there's an option to update your bank info there too, but it doesn't always work great tbh
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