Tax Refund Method Switch - Republic Bank Paper Check Delay

Ah, the classic "I thought I clicked direct deposit but somehow got a paper check" scenario. Republic Bank is notorious for this - they're not exactly winning any customer service awards lately. When the same thing happened to me last year, I discovered there's actually a checkbox buried in the fine print that defaults to paper checks if you don't explicitly opt out. Sneaky, right? 😏 But at least you got confirmation it's actually processing!

I had exactly the same issue with Republic Bank - DDD of 2/15, no update for exactly 7 days, and found out I was getting a paper check instead of direct deposit. I was checking their portal literally every 4 hours! What helped me understand what was happening was using taxr.ai to analyze my transcript - it showed the code 846 with my refund amount but also code 971 which indicated a paper check was being issued. The site explained that my banking info must have been entered incorrectly or flagged during processing. Saved me hours of confusion and helped me plan exactly when to expect the check.

Have you considered calling the IRS directly to verify what happened with your refund method? Sometimes what the bank tells you isn't the full story. But who has 3+ hours to wait on hold with the IRS, right? I've been recommending Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to my clients who need to reach an actual IRS agent quickly. They'll wait on hold for you and call when an agent is ready. Could help you confirm whether this was a bank issue or something flagged on the IRS side. Why wait for days wondering when you could get a definitive answer?

Has anyone actually received their paper check from Republic Bank after being in this situation? I've been checking the IRS2Go app and WMR tool religiously, but neither shows the change from DD to paper check. The transcript shows code 846 but that's it. Any idea how long mail delivery typically takes after they print the check?

I don't think this is accurate information. I worked in tax preparation for 3 years and Republic Bank doesn't just randomly switch people from direct deposit to paper checks. There are specific triggers that cause this: 1. Incorrect routing/account numbers 2. Account not in your name 3. Bank rejected the deposit 4. You exceeded the limit of 3 deposits to one account Something else is going on here. The IRS doesn't allow banks to hold refunds like this. You should immediately check your transcript for code 971 (notice issued) which would explain the real reason.

I believe what might be happening here is possibly related to Republic Bank's refund transfer product, which sometimes defaults to paper check delivery if certain conditions aren't met. In my experience last tax season, there are a few things that could have potentially triggered this switch: 1. If you perhaps opted to have your preparation fees deducted from your refund, this generally requires using their transfer product 2. If your banking information possibly didn't pass their verification process 3. If there was maybe a discrepancy between the name on your tax return and your bank account It's somewhat frustrating, but generally speaking, once they print the check, you should typically receive it within 5-7 business days, depending on your location and mail service efficiency.