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Grace Durand

SBTPG refund status shows "Funded" with cashier's check issued March 15th - No amount showing in "paid to you" field. How long for paper check to arrive?

So my bank account closed right before my tax refund was supposed to be deposited. The IRS ended up rerouting it to a paper check which happened pretty quick - it was mailed out on March 15th according to my SBTPG refund portal. I just checked the taxpayer.sbtpg.com website at 8:36 and I can see my "Refund overview" shows the status as "Funded" and "Disbursement method: Cashier's Check". The portal shows my "Expected federal refund amount:" but strangely there's nothing showing in the "Amount(s) paid to you:" field which is making me nervous. I know the check has been issued since the status says "Funded" but I'm confused why the amount paid to me isn't showing anything. Does this mean the check hasn't actually been sent yet? Or is this just how the SBTPG portal displays things when they've issued a paper check instead of direct deposit? Anyone know how long it typically takes for these SBTPG paper checks to arrive in the mail after the "Funded" status appears? Getting a bit anxious since I really need that money. I've been checking my mailbox every day and I'm starting to worry the check might have gotten lost. Should I contact SBTPG or is this normal processing time?

From my experience working with tax matters, when the IRS issues a paper check due to closed bank accounts, it typically takes 7-10 business days to arrive through USPS. However, this can vary based on your location and any USPS delays in your area. The fact that your SBTPG portal shows 'Funded' status is good news - it means the check has been issued and is in the mail system. Since it was mailed March 15th, you should expect it by the end of next week, assuming no postal delays. One thing to note: SBTPG is Santa Barbara Tax Products Group, which handles refund transfers for many tax preparation companies. They're showing it as a 'Cashier's Check' which confirms it's been processed correctly. Keep checking your mail carefully, and if it doesn't arrive by around March 29th, you may want to contact the IRS directly to inquire about the status.

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Thanks for this detailed info! I'm just nervous because I've never gotten a paper check from them before. Do they come in a specific type of envelope I should look out for?

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Yes, it comes in a plain envelope from the Treasury Department. It's not overly distinctive, so check all your mail carefully. It won't say 'IRS REFUND CHECK INSIDE' for obvious security reasons.

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Sometimes they come in those windowed envelopes too. I got mine that way last year when my account info was wrong. took about 2 weeks after the mail date.

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Make sure to also check with anyone who might collect your mail! My refund check went to my old apartment building and almost got returned to sender.

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I was in a similar situation last year and getting accurate information about my refund was a nightmare until I found taxr.ai. The tool helped me understand exactly what was happening with my refund by analyzing the transcript data and explaining all those confusing codes. It showed me exactly when my check was issued and what to expect next. Way better than trying to decipher all the IRS jargon yourself. I highly recommend checking it out at https://taxr.ai rather than stressing like I did!

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Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

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It basically translates all the IRS codes and dates into plain english! You upload your transcript and it tells you exactly what's happening with your refund, when to expect it, and if there are any issues. It caught a potential delay on mine that would have taken me weeks to figure out. Honestly changed my whole tax season experience - no more guessing games with the IRS!

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Does it store your information? Sounds sketchy tbh

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Nah I had the same concern but they explain everything on their site. They don't keep your data and it's actually cheaper than what I paid my tax guy just to look at my transcript. Saved me hours of stress trying to figure out what was happening with my refund!

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When my bank account closed mid-tax season, I was panicking about how to reach IRS about my refund. After days of trying to call, I found this calling app called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under an hour! They confirmed my check was in the mail and even gave me an exact delivery estimate. Best money I've ever spent considering I was about to lose my mind waiting on hold forever. Talking to an agent directly gave me so much peace of mind.

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How does this even work? IRS lines are always jammed

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It basically calls for you and navigates all the phone menus, then calls you back when it gets a human agent on the line. Saved me like 3 hours of hold music. The agent I got was super helpful too about my paper check timeline.

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this sounds to good to be true ngl

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I thought the same thing but was desperate. It actually worked tho! Got a real person who confirmed when my check was mailed and explained why it happened. Way better than guessing when it would arrive.

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Did it actually help speed up getting your refund or just gave you info?

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Mostly gave me actual accurate info instead of guessing, but the agent was able to verify that my address was correct in their system which was huge peace of mind. Worth every penny to know exactly what was happening instead of checking my empty mailbox everyday lol

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I had this exact thing happen in October last year. Took exactly 14 days from the mail date to get to my mailbox. The IRS is surprisingly efficient with mailing checks compared to everything else they do lol 😂

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Check the Where's My Refund tool on the IRS site. That sometimes gives more accurate status than the SBTPG portal. You can also create an ID.me account and check your full transcript which might have more details.

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I tried WMR but it just says refund approved and to allow 21 days. Doesn't even mention it's a paper check now. So confusing!

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Yeh the WMR tool is super basic. If you can create an account on IRS.gov, your actual transcript will show a code 840 for the refund issued date. That would confirm when it really went out.

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U should call the IRS. paper checks can get lost in the mail and if it doesn't show up within a month they can put a trace on it. but u have to wait at least 4 weeks from mail date before they'll do that.

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Good luck getting through to them! Last time I called I was on hold for 2 hours and then got disconnected 🤡

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Try calling exactly when they open in the morning. I got through after only 20 min wait that way.

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The USPS is insanely slow right now in some areas. My check took 3 weeks to arrive last year even though I'm only about 100 miles from the processing center. Just prepare yourself for a wait. Paper checks are the worst.

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Question - is SBTPG showing this or the actual IRS? Because there's a difference. SBTPG is a third party processor that many tax preparers use. If it's showing in SBTPG, that means THEY issued the check, not the IRS directly. Different timelines.

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It's definitely showing in SBTPG portal. I filed with TurboTax if that helps?

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That explains it. So SBTPG is TurboTax's bank partner. When your bank rejected the deposit, it went back to SBTPG, not the IRS. So SBTPG is sending you the check. Their timeline is usually faster than IRS - typically 5-7 business days.

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Ohhh that makes way more sense! I was confused why it seemed to happen so quickly. Thank you!

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Mine took 12 days last year. This whole system is infuriating. WHY CANT THEY JUST ASK FOR UPDATED BANKING INFO UGHHHHH

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You should update your address with the IRS imediately if you've moved recently! Use form 8822. I learned this the hard way when they sent my refund check to my old address 😭

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Thankfully my address is current! That's one less thing to worry about at least.

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Look into whether SBTPG has a phone number you can call. Since they're the ones handling the check, they might have more specific tracking info that isn't showing on their portal.

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Had this issue in 2023. Was supposed to be direct deposit but my account had closed. The check took about 10 days to arrive. Make sure you're checking informed delivery on the USPS website every day if you have that set up!

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If you used a tax preparer like TurboTax or H&R Block, make sure fees weren't taken out before they sent the check. Sometimes they deduct their fees from the refund amount when this happens.

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Good point! I did pay for TurboTax with my refund so I'm expecting it to be less. Just hope they didn't add any extra fees because of this situation.

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The IRS and their dinosaur systems drive me INSANE. In 2023 they still can't figure out a better solution than mailing paper checks when there's a bank issue? 🤦‍♂️ The fact we can't just log in and update bank info is ridiculous.

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FOR REAL! I work in tech and the IRS systems are literally from the stone age. Other countries have this figured out but we're still using tech from the 1980s 🤣

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They actually still use COBOL programming language for their main systems. My dad was a programmer and said they can't find people who even know how to maintain that ancient code anymore!

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I had to use taxr.ai during this tax season when dealing with a similar nightmare situation. My direct deposit got rejected and I couldn't make sense of what was happening. The tool showed me exactly where my refund was in the process and what the next steps would be. Saved me hours of research and anxiety. You can check it out at https://taxr.ai and it's so much easier than trying to decode the IRS website.

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How much does something like this cost? Seems like it would be expensive

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Actually way cheaper than I expected considering the headache it saved me. Think about how many hours you spend trying to figure this stuff out yourself or what you'd pay an accountant just to look at your transcript. Worth every penny for the peace of mind alone!

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PSA: If you don't receive your check within 4 weeks of the mail date, you can request a payment trace through the IRS. Don't wait too long if it doesn't show up!

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When my bank account got closed mid tax season, I had to wait 3 weeks for my paper check. So frustrating! But it did eventually come. Just keep an eye on informed delivery if you use that.

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I went through this exact same situation last year! My bank closed my account right before my refund hit, and I was panicking just like you are. The good news is that when SBTPG shows "Funded" status, it means your check has definitely been processed and mailed out. The reason the "Amount(s) paid to you" field is blank is because SBTPG's system doesn't always update that field immediately for paper checks - it's more designed to track direct deposits. This is totally normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your check. Since your check was mailed March 15th, you should expect it to arrive anywhere between 7-14 business days from that date. SBTPG checks usually come faster than IRS checks since they're processed through a private company. The check will come in a plain envelope, possibly with a window, and won't be obviously marked as a tax refund for security reasons. Keep checking your mail daily and try not to stress too much - it's definitely on its way! If it doesn't arrive by March 30th, then you can start making calls to SBTPG for a trace.

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This is so helpful, thank you! I was really worried about that blank field but knowing it's normal for paper checks makes me feel much better. I'll keep checking my mail and try to be patient. It's just hard when you really need the money, you know? Appreciate you taking the time to explain everything so clearly!

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I had a very similar experience last year when my bank account was closed unexpectedly right before my refund was supposed to hit. The SBTPG portal showing "Funded" status is actually great news - it means your check has been processed and is definitely in the mail. The blank "Amount(s) paid to you" field is completely normal for paper checks. SBTPG's system seems to be designed more for tracking direct deposits, so that field often doesn't populate properly for mailed checks. Don't let that worry you! In my case, it took exactly 9 business days from the mail date for my check to arrive. Since yours was mailed March 15th, I'd expect it to show up by around March 28th-30th. The check came in a plain white envelope with a window - nothing fancy or obviously marked as a tax refund. One tip: if you have USPS Informed Delivery set up, you can see images of your incoming mail each morning. That helped me spot my check the day it arrived so I wasn't constantly checking an empty mailbox. Try to stay patient - SBTPG is generally pretty reliable with their mailing timelines. If it doesn't arrive by the end of next week, then you can start reaching out to them for a trace.

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This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been checking my mailbox obsessively every day since the 15th and was starting to panic when I saw that blank field on the SBTPG portal. Your explanation about the system being designed more for direct deposits makes perfect sense. I do have USPS Informed Delivery so I'll definitely keep an eye on that - great tip! It's reassuring to know that 9 days is pretty typical. I'm on day 11 now so hopefully it shows up in the next few days. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping calm my nerves!

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I completely understand your anxiety about this situation! I went through something very similar a couple years ago when my bank account was unexpectedly closed right before my refund was supposed to deposit. The "Funded" status on SBTPG is actually really good news - it definitively means your check has been cut and mailed out. The empty "Amount(s) paid to you" field is totally normal for paper checks in their system. SBTPG's portal is primarily designed to track direct deposits, so that field often doesn't populate correctly when they switch to issuing a physical check. From my experience, SBTPG paper checks typically take 7-12 business days to arrive from the mail date. Since yours was sent March 15th, you should see it by the end of this week or early next week at the latest. The check will come in a plain envelope - nothing that obviously screams "tax refund check" for security reasons. If you have USPS Informed Delivery, definitely keep checking that daily so you can see what's coming. And don't forget to check with anyone else who might collect your mail just to be safe. Try not to stress too much - SBTPG is generally pretty reliable with their mailing timelines. Your check is definitely on its way!

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Thank you so much for this reassuring response! I'm on day 11 now since the March 15th mail date, so based on your timeline I should hopefully see it very soon. It's such a relief to hear from multiple people that the blank "Amount paid to you" field is normal for paper checks - I was really starting to worry something went wrong. I do have USPS Informed Delivery set up so I'll keep monitoring that closely. Your point about checking with others who collect mail is smart too - I'll make sure to ask my roommates to keep an eye out. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and help ease my anxiety about this whole situation!

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I had this exact same situation happen to me about 6 months ago! My bank account got closed right before my refund was supposed to hit, and I was checking that SBTPG portal obsessively just like you are now. The good news is that "Funded" status definitely means your check has been processed and mailed - you're in the home stretch! That blank "Amount(s) paid to you" field had me worried sick too, but it turns out that's completely normal for paper checks. SBTPG's system is really designed around direct deposits, so when they have to switch to mailing a physical check, that field often just stays empty. From the March 15th mail date, you should expect it to arrive within 7-10 business days typically. Mine took exactly 8 business days to show up. The check came in a pretty plain envelope - definitely nothing that screams "tax refund" on the outside for obvious security reasons. One thing that really helped my peace of mind was setting up USPS Informed Delivery if you haven't already. You get email previews of your mail each morning, so you can see if your check is coming that day without having to anxiously check an empty mailbox multiple times. Since you're already at day 11, it should really be arriving any day now. Try to hang in there - I know how stressful it is when you're counting on that money!

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Thanks for sharing your experience! It's so reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. I'm on day 11 now and was really starting to panic, but hearing that yours took 8 days and that the blank field is totally normal makes me feel so much better. I do have USPS Informed Delivery set up so I'll keep checking that religiously. You're right about how stressful it is when you really need the money - every day feels like forever when you're waiting! Hopefully it shows up in the next day or two. Really appreciate you taking the time to help calm my nerves!

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I totally get your anxiety about this - I went through the exact same thing last year when my bank account was unexpectedly closed right before my refund hit! The "Funded" status on SBTPG is actually great news - it definitively means your check has been processed and is in the mail. That blank "Amount(s) paid to you" field is completely normal for paper checks and nothing to worry about. SBTPG's system is really built around tracking direct deposits, so when they have to switch to mailing a physical check, that field often just doesn't populate properly. Since your check was mailed March 15th, you should expect it to arrive within 7-12 business days from that date. SBTPG is generally pretty reliable with their timelines - usually faster than regular IRS checks since they're processed through a private company. The check will come in a plain envelope, possibly with a window, and won't be obviously marked as a tax refund for security reasons. If you have USPS Informed Delivery set up, definitely check that daily so you can see what's coming in your mail. That really helped reduce my anxiety when I was in your situation! Since you're already at day 11, it should really be arriving any day now. Try to hang in there - I know exactly how stressful it is when you're counting on that money. Your check is definitely on its way!

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