The IRS does not allow you to change how you want to receive your refund after you file the tax return. If you chose a mailed refund check when the tax return was filed then you are stuck with that. You cannot change to direct deposit now. If the check goes astray, then you can have it traced and re-issued. Make sure that you send a change of address to the IRS, and that the post office has a forwarding address for mail.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/address-changes/address-changes
Check your IRS account to see if the refund was issued
https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account
If the troublesome relatives do something with the check, or it becomes lost:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refunds/help/how-do-i-replace-a-lost-or-damaged-tax-refund-check/0...
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
