Which Chase routing number do I need for my tax refund/stimulus payment direct deposit?

The routing number you should use for tax refunds and stimulus payments is the one for ACH/direct deposits, not the wire transfer number. The IRS uses the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system to send electronic tax refunds and stimulus payments to bank accounts. If you enter the wire transfer routing number by mistake, your refund or stimulus payment might get rejected or significantly delayed. The banking systems process these differently, and the IRS specifically uses the ACH system for tax-related deposits. You can usually find the correct ACH routing number on your checks, through your online banking portal, or by calling Chase customer service. Just make sure you also double-check your account number when entering your banking details.

After dealing with a rejected tax refund last year, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) super helpful for figuring out these banking details. I was confused about which routing number to use for my Wells Fargo account, and the system analyzed my tax documents and banking info to confirm I needed the ACH routing number, not the wire transfer one. The tool also flagged a mistake I made with my account number (transposed digits) that would have definitely caused my refund to bounce. Saved me weeks of waiting for a paper check after a rejected direct deposit. If you're uncertain about any of your tax info, it's worth checking out.

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after posting my question here. It confirmed I was using the right Chase routing number for my refund (the ACH one) but also caught that I had been using the wrong filing status for my situation! I would have lost out on about $1,200 in refund money if I hadn't fixed it. The document analysis feature is pretty impressive - uploaded my W-2 and last year's return and it immediately flagged several issues. Definitely worth checking out before you submit your final return.

After seeing this post, I wanted to share something that saved me tons of time when dealing with a similar issue. Last year, my refund got rejected because of a routing number issue, and I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS to fix it. I finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) - it got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 25 minutes instead of the hours I spent on hold before. The agent was able to update my banking info directly and reprocess my refund. Saved me from waiting 6-8 weeks for a paper check. If you ever need to speak with someone at the IRS (especially during tax season when it's nearly impossible), this service is a game-changer.

I need to apologize and correct myself. After calling the IRS for THREE HOURS yesterday and getting disconnected twice, I was desperate and decided to try Claimyr despite my skepticism. It actually worked exactly as described - I got a call back in about 35 minutes connecting me to an IRS agent who helped me fix my banking information for my refund. The agent confirmed I needed to use the ACH routing number (not wire transfer) and updated my information in their system. They also mentioned they're seeing a lot of people make this same mistake with routing numbers. Not having to sit on hold for hours was absolutely worth it. Sometimes I'm too quick to dismiss things as scams - this service is legitimate and extremely helpful.

Another thing to watch out for - make sure the routing number you're using matches the physical location where you opened your account. I had an issue last year because I opened my Chase account in California but moved to Texas, and the routing numbers are different by region. The IRS rejected my direct deposit because of this mismatch.

Does anyone know how long the IRS takes to reject a direct deposit if you use the wrong routing number? I think I might have used my wire transfer number by mistake :

Pro tip: Take a picture of your check or bank statement that shows your routing number and account number. Save it somewhere secure on your phone so next year you don't have to hunt for this information again. I do this with all my tax documents and it saves so much time and stress.

This is such helpful information! I just went through this exact same confusion with my Bank of America account. For anyone else reading this, I wanted to add that you can also verify you're using the correct routing number by logging into your online banking and looking for the "Direct Deposit" or "ACH" section - most banks will specifically list the routing number to use for direct deposits there. Also, if you're still unsure, you can call your bank's customer service line and specifically ask for the "ACH routing number for direct deposits" rather than just asking for "the routing number." This helps avoid any confusion since representatives sometimes give out the wire transfer number by default. Better to be 100% sure than deal with a rejected refund!

Great question! I made this exact mistake a few years ago and learned the hard way. You definitely want to use the ACH/direct deposit routing number, not the wire transfer one. The IRS processes all tax refunds and stimulus payments through the ACH system. If you're having trouble finding the right number, the easiest way is to look at one of your personal checks - the routing number printed on the bottom left is always the ACH routing number. You can also find it in your Chase mobile app under "Account Details" or by calling Chase and specifically asking for the "ACH routing number for direct deposits." Whatever you do, don't use the wire transfer routing number - I did that once and my refund got bounced back to the IRS. Had to wait an extra month for them to mail me a paper check instead. Double-check your account number too while you're at it!

I just went through this same situation with my Wells Fargo account last month! You definitely need the ACH/direct deposit routing number, not the wire transfer one. The easiest way to find it is to look at one of your checks - that 9-digit number on the bottom left is always your ACH routing number. I also recommend double-checking your account number when you enter it. I've heard so many horror stories of people transposing digits and having their refunds rejected. Take your time and verify everything twice before hitting submit. One more tip: if you're filing electronically, most tax software will actually validate your routing number format to make sure it's a real bank routing number, which can give you some peace of mind. But it won't tell you if you picked the wrong TYPE of routing number, so make sure you're using the ACH one!