How long after the bank rejects my refund will it take the IRS to issue me a paper check

[CostlyMistakes]

My son paid a tax preparer to file his taxes. She entered one of his account numbers incorrectly. The irs wmr shows that his deposit was sent to the bank (bofa) on feb 24th. Today is March 9th and the wmr has not changed. It still shows refund sent. I called bofa and they tell me that they can’t tell me anything because the account number does not belong to my son. They won’t even tell me if the account is active and belongs to someone. So we don’t know if it was rejected or ended up going into someone else’s account. Can someone please direct me on what to do next?

Update: he received his state tax refund in the mail the other day. Still no update on the wmr. I’m hoping that since he received his state tax return in the mail the federal check will come soon. The wrong account number was the same on his state and federal return. 

[MichelleLO]

Normally once the financial institution rejects the deposit, the IRS will mail your refund check.

Per the IRS website: If you have contacted the financial institution and two weeks have passed with no results, you will need to file Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund PDF to initiate a trace. This allows the IRS to contact the bank on your behalf to attempt recovery of your refund. Banks are allowed up to 90 days from the date of the initial trace input to respond to our request for information.

@CostlyMistakes

[walker1947]

I had a similar experience.  My 2020 tax return had the wrong bank account number.  I was told by the IRS that it would take 6-8 weeks to get the paper check.  I wonder if anyone can confirm they actually got their paper check in a shorter period of time.

[Ecoscientist]

Does the status bar on where is my refund change when the bank rejects a deposit because of a missing account digit or will the irs just send a check?

[Ecoscientist]

Did you ever find an answer about the status bar?

[MichelleLO]

The Where's My Refund site will update with the date your check is mailed once they have received the funds back from the financial institution. 

[walker1947]

Before I new my refund was rejected by my bank, I went online on Where's My Refund and it said it was deposited with my bank on 2/28/2021.  However, when I called my bank to confirm it had been returned to the IRS, I discovered they returned it to the IRS on 2/19/2021.  However, Where's My Refund status hasn't changed.  Could that mean that they issued a paper check on 2/28 (which is a Sunday, by the way) and, if so, why haven't I received it.  That makes 9 business days and I still do not have it.  Last person at IRS told me it takes 6-8 weeks to get the paper check.

[EbonyA]

@walker1947, We could not say for sure what date a check was issued; however in general, if an attempted direct deposit was returned to the IRS then yes the IRS will subsequently issue you a paper check instead. 

[Goodgirl26]

[ReneeM7122]

You can find out your tax return's status in the following ways:

• You can use the IRS Where's My Refund tool.
• You can try calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 but the wait times may be quite long. 
• You can  view your IRS tax account.  

Here is a TurboTax article with more information about refunds.

@Goodgirl26

[CostlyMistakes]

I still haven’t received an update on wmr

[walker1947]

My status bar hasn't changed, although it said my refund was deposited on 2/28 with my bank, I talked to my bank and it must have come in earlier because the bank returned it on 2/19.  So I was hoping 2/28/21 was the date the paper check was mailed, but here it is 3/13 and no check yet.  

[JeanneLO]

Your bank will need to reject the deposit and once it is sent back to the IRS the status will update. The IRS will also update when they send you a check. If you continue to not have progress with your refund and the timing goes over two weeks please see this information from the IRS as you may need to initiate a trace: https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/refund-inquiries/refund-inquiries-18. This will allow the IRS to contact your bank. 

@CostlyMistakes

[Goodgirl26]

If you’re in the same boat im in, then u shpuld be getting your check very soon. I had a DD date for 3/3, It was rejected by my bank bc of a closed account, My bank sent it back to irs by monday & not sure when IRS sent It off but i just got my check in mail today! Hopefully this helps you all out if ur situation was similar to mine! 

[Karichard1970]

Did you status update on where is my refund on the irs site?