No Paper Check – AARP Foundation Tax-Aide: Thurston County, Washington

Asking the IRS for a Paper Check Will Delay Your Refund

The IRS has announced that it is moving way from paper checks. If you usually receive a tax refund by paper check, you need to act now. If don’t take any action and simply ask for a paper check, the IRS will send you a letter 30 days after processing your return and will issue a paper check after a significant delay of more than six weeks.

If you are expecting a tax refund in 2026, the best way to ensure the timely delivery of your refund is to arrange for Direct Deposit into a checking or savings account. To do this, you will have to provide your tax counselor with your bank routing and account numbers. Whenever possible, you should bring in a check or a document from your bank that shows these numbers.

Taxpayers who do not have a checking or savings account can choose to have their refund direct deposited onto a prepaid debit card. Taxpayers will need to check with the financial institution who issued their prepaid debit card to ensure it is reloadable. They must also get the routing and account numbers for the card so that their tax counselor can share this information with the IRS when filing their return. Some mobile payment apps may also be used, but you must confirm this and obtain the routing and account number for your account.

If you do nothing and simply ask for a paper check this will significantly delay how soon you will get your refund. After filing a tax return with no Direct Deposit information, the IRS will send taxpayers a letter (CP53E Notice) within 30 days after the processing of their return asking them to provide their banking information. This letter will also provide information on exceptions. It will also provide a dedicated phone line taxpayers may call to request an exception and issuance of a paper check. After more than six weeks, the IRS will issue a paper check.

If you cannot provide your tax counselor with Direct Deposit information when you file your tax return, you can minimize any delay by creating an IRS Online Account and using this account to provide the IRS with this information.

Additional Resources:

Direct Deposit Changes for 2026 Could Affect How and When You Get Your Refund published by the Taxpayer Advocate Service on January 26, 2026.
Tips on Electronic Payment Options Available to Taxpayers as the IRS Phases Out Paper Checks by the Taxpayer Advocate Service published October 2, 2025.
Understanding Your CP53E Notice