Refund Going to Closed Bank of America Account - What Now?

When a direct deposit is sent to a closed account, it's similar to what happens with incorrect routing numbers. The bank will reject the deposit and return the funds to the IRS. This is actually more common than you might think, especially compared to other refund issues. The IRS will then mail you a paper check to the address on your tax return, which typically takes 2-4 weeks after the rejected deposit. I'd be concerned about ensuring your mailing address is current, as that's where your check will be sent without any additional action from you.

Have you checked the "Where's My Refund" tool on irs.gov? According to the IRS FAQ section (https://www.irs.gov/refunds/frequently-asked-questions-about-refund-timing), once a direct deposit is rejected, they automatically switch to mailing a paper check. I'm a bit worried about the timeline though - it could add 3-4 weeks to your wait time. I've been tracking my own refund obsessively this year since I really need it for some bills.

I went through this EXACT nightmare scenario last year when my Chase account was closed for inactivity right before my refund was supposed to hit. I kept checking the WMR tool and it just said "Your refund is being processed" for what felt like forever. After about 3 weeks of stressing, a paper check just showed up in my mailbox without any notification or status change online. The most frustrating part was that there was absolutely no way to update my banking info after filing. I called the IRS multiple times but couldn't get through to anyone who could help. Just be prepared to wait it out, unfortunately.

This happens more often than you might think, and while the IRS will *probably* mail you a check eventually, it could potentially take weeks or even months in some cases. If you need this money sooner rather than later, you might want to consider getting through to an actual IRS agent who can possibly expedite things. I've heard that some people have had success using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through the IRS phone system without the endless hold times. It seems to work by essentially navigating the phone tree for you and holding your place in line. I haven't personally used it, but it might be worth looking into if you're in a hurry to resolve this.

Tbh this happens ALL THE TIME and there's a simpler approach than most ppl realize. Instead of waiting for the IRS to figure it out, you can be proactive. Log into your IRS online account (not just WMR) at irs.gov/account and check your refund status there. It's way more detailed than WMR. You'll see exactly when the deposit was rejected and when they scheduled the paper check. IME the online account updates like 3-5 days before WMR does. Also def make sure your address is current in the system!

I successfully navigated this exact situation last year! Here's what happened: • My refund was sent to my closed SunTrust account • The bank rejected it within 1-2 business days • The IRS automatically processed a paper check • The check arrived exactly 19 days after the rejected deposit • No action was required on my part The key is to be patient and ensure your mailing address is correct on your tax return. The IRS handles thousands of these situations every filing season, and they have an established process. Your money is not lost - it's just delayed.

Have you already received notification that your refund was issued? And did you confirm with Bank of America that the account is fully closed, not just restricted? Sometimes banks will hold incoming government deposits even on 'closed' accounts, especially if the closure was recent.

I work in banking operations and can confirm that when a direct deposit hits a closed account, it's automatically returned to the originating agency (in this case, the IRS) within 1-3 business days. The IRS then has their own internal process that takes about 2-3 weeks to generate and mail a paper check to your address on file. One thing to definitely verify is that your mailing address on your tax return is current and correct - the IRS won't attempt to contact you about address changes for refund checks. You can't update your direct deposit info after filing, but you should receive your refund without any action needed on your part. Just keep an eye on your mail!

I went through this same situation with my Wells Fargo account that got closed due to some banking issues right after I filed. The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I understood what was happening. The bank rejected the deposit within 2 business days, and then it took about 3 weeks for the IRS to mail me a paper check. The most important thing is making sure your address is correct on your tax return since that's where they'll send it. I kept obsessively checking the "Where's My Refund" tool, but honestly it didn't update to show the check was being mailed until like a week after I already received it in the mail! So don't panic if the online tools seem behind - the IRS has this process down to a science since it happens so frequently. Your refund will definitely come, just in paper form instead of direct deposit.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My Bank of America account was closed unexpectedly in February and I filed my taxes before realizing it. Reading through everyone's responses here is giving me so much relief - I was honestly panicking thinking my refund was just gone forever. It sounds like the consensus is that the IRS will automatically mail a paper check once the bank rejects the deposit, which should happen pretty quickly. I'm definitely going to start checking my mail religiously in the next few weeks. Has anyone here had experience with how long Bank of America specifically takes to reject and return government deposits? I know @Grace Durand mentioned 1-3 business days generally, but wondering if BoA is on the faster or slower end of that range. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful! 🙏

I actually went through this exact situation with Bank of America about 6 months ago! My account got closed due to some overdraft issues right after I filed, and I was absolutely panicking. Here's what happened in my case: BoA rejected the deposit within 24 hours (they're really fast with government deposits to closed accounts), and then it took exactly 17 days for the IRS to mail me a paper check. The check just showed up in my mailbox with no advance notice - I kept checking WMR obsessively but it never updated to show they were sending a check. The most stressful part was the waiting and not knowing, but looking back the whole process was actually pretty efficient. Just make absolutely sure your mailing address on your return is current because there's no way to redirect it once they send it out. Your refund is definitely not lost - it's just taking the scenic route to get to you! Hang in there! 💪

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're definitely not alone in this situation! I had my TD Bank account close unexpectedly right before my refund was scheduled to hit, and I went through the exact same panic. What really helped me was understanding that this is such a common occurrence that the IRS has it down to a well-oiled machine. The bank rejection happens super fast (usually 1-2 days), then the IRS takes about 2-3 weeks to process and mail the paper check. The hardest part is just the waiting and not having great visibility into the process through their online tools. But your money is absolutely safe - it's just taking a detour through the postal system instead of electronic transfer. Keep checking your mail daily once you hit that 2-week mark after the expected direct deposit date. The relief when that check finally shows up in your mailbox is incredible!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My account got closed unexpectedly last month and my refund was supposed to hit this week. Reading through everyone's experiences here is such a huge relief - I honestly thought I was going to lose my refund completely. It's really reassuring to see that so many people have successfully gotten their paper checks without any major issues. The timeline seems pretty consistent across different banks too - sounds like 2-4 weeks total is what I should expect. I'm definitely going to stop stressing about the WMR tool not updating and just keep an eye on my mailbox. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this community is amazing for situations like this! 🙏

I went through this exact same situation with Chase last year! Here's what you can expect: Bank of America will reject the deposit within 1-2 business days (they're actually pretty fast with this), then the IRS will automatically mail you a paper check to the address on your tax return. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from the original deposit date. The most important thing is making sure your mailing address is current - there's unfortunately no way to update your banking info after filing. Don't stress too much about the WMR tool, it's notoriously behind on these situations. I got my check a full week before the online status even updated! Your refund isn't lost, it's just taking the paper route instead of electronic. Keep an eye on your mailbox starting around the 2-week mark! 📬

Hey there! I know this situation is super stressful, but you're actually in good hands - this happens to thousands of people every tax season. From my experience working with tax issues, here's what you can expect: Bank of America will bounce that deposit back to the IRS within 1-2 business days (they're pretty efficient with rejected government deposits). Then the IRS has an automated system that will generate a paper check and mail it to whatever address is on your tax return. The whole process typically takes 2-3 weeks from the rejection date. The key thing is making sure your mailing address is current since there's no way to update banking info after you've already filed. Don't rely too heavily on the WMR tool - it's notorious for being behind on these situations. Many people get their checks before the online status even updates! Your refund is definitely not lost, it's just taking a scenic detour through the mail system. Start watching your mailbox daily around the 2-week mark after your expected direct deposit date. You've got this! 💪