Why didn't the IRS send me a check?

[DoctorWho]

I filed our income taxes in March. We've received the state income tax refund. We've been waiting to get the Federal refund, but weren't really concerned about it, until today. Today we got a letter in the mail telling us that they couldn't do a direct deposit and needed additional information.

This doesn't make sense to me. I have NEVER asked the Federal government to do a direct deposit. I always check the box to have them mail the check to me. I've done it this way for decades. I know that is what I did this year for 2025. Why has the IRS wrongfully decided they must send us the Federal income tax return using direct deposit? Has the Federal government decreed that the only way they can send Federal Income Tax returns is by using direct deposit?

[xmasbaby0]

https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/tax-tips/direct-deposit-changes-for-2026-could-affect-how-...

You may get this notice— a cp53a notice

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp53a-notice

If you take NO action—-the IRS will freeze your refund for at least six weeks and then mail you a check.

[DoctorWho]

I appreciate that I may need to take some action, but it still doesn't answer why they would think I've asked for a direct deposit when I asked for the refund check to be mailed to me. Put differently, the IRS has made a false decision based upon, well I don't know what, because I asked for the refund check to be mailed to me. 

Is there any way I can verify that I asked them to mail me the refund check, so when I call them, I can tell them they got it wrong?

[mesquitebean · Accepted solution]

@ DoctorWho  asked:  "Why has the IRS wrongfully decided they must send us the Federal income tax return using direct deposit? Has the Federal government decreed that the only way they can send Federal Income Tax returns is by using direct deposit?"

Yes, it was a decree as a result of an Executive Order.  The IRS and other government agencies are phasing out paper checks.  NOTE: There are a small number of exceptions for tax refunds for situations where it can't be sent by direct deposit.   Ultimately, they will also phase out paper checks that some taxpayers use to make tax payments as well.  

What type of notice did you get--is it a CP53A or CP53E?    The below is my understanding, and I am not a tax expert, but a fellow user.

A CP53A  is a longstanding notice sent to taxpayers over the years when a bank rejects a direct deposit and sends it back to the IRS. This would tell taxpayers that they will likely be sending a check.  A CP53A letter wouldn't seem to apply in your circumstance.   You probably got CP53E.

  @ xmasbaby0  provided a link above for into about a CP53A notice, but that is not likely the type of notice you got.   So if needed, I've provided a CP53E link below.

You probably got the newer CP53E notice, which is sent when the IRS doesn't want to send a check and prefers to use direct deposit instead as required by the Executive Order, but no banking info or incorrect info was provided.  So it's essentially informing the taxpayer of the transition to electronic refunds and giving the taxpayer a second chance to choose direct deposit instead of a check.  I haven't seen the wording of the letter, but it's probably confusing as is often the case with the IRS.

CP53E Notice

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp53e-notice

You asked:  "Is there any way I can verify that I asked them to mail me the refund check, so when I call them, I can tell them they got it wrong?"

The IRS already knows what you chose, but they don't want to send paper checks unless they have to.  Maybe you fall into one of the exceptions; ask the IRS.

But to see your refund choice, there is a page in the return PDF called "Electronic Filing Instructions" that should show your refund choice.  Or that page can be viewed in Forms Mode if you are using desktop TurboTax.

[DoctorWho]

Really? This is the first time I've heard of this executive order. I've found the relevant area in the PDF where the string, "Electronic Filing Instructions" is. And most significantly, it says:

Your tax refund should be mailed to you
Refund within three to four weeks after your return is accepted.

(Emphasis is mine) OK, that text was likely generated by TurboTax/Intuit. I don't know when that executive order went into effect, but I would think that TurboTax SHOULD have known about that way in advance!! They should have wanted users, like me, who have for many years always had Federal income tax refunds mailed to me. They should have had a popup something to the effect that only under rare conditions would an exception be allowed, otherwise you must use direct deposit.

The letter I got was IRS Notice CP53E

Well, thank you.

[CatinaT1]

The IRS sends the notice to give you the opportunity to enter direct deposit information. If you don't provide deposit information the IRS will issue a paper check after six weeks.

In accordance with Executive Order 14247, Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account, signed on March 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in coordination with the Internal Revenue Service and other federal agencies, is advancing the transition to fully electronic federal payments. This policy shift includes phase out of paper tax refund checks beginning Sept. 30, 2025, to the extent permitted 

by law.

You can find more information in this article.

[sanpilot]

Same experience for me as described above word for word.  Concur that TurboTax missed the boat warning that paper checks were being phased out and describing how to qualify and apply for the exceptions.