my e file was accepted on 2/13/26. I sent form 1040-V with a payment check dated 2/13/26 to united states treasury and the check has not been cashed yet

[robcartogo]

federal tax accepted 2/13/16

[Mike9241]

There is no way to know if the IRS got it. It could be sitting in a mailbag or wherever lost mail ends up.

POTUS issued an EO, effective 10/1/2025, refunds by paper check will not be made, and paper check payments will not be accepted. However, the belief was that paper check payments would be allowed through 2026 or 2027

You're between a rock and a hard place. You can pay again, hoping the IRS does not get and cash the first check. If you pay again, do it electronically through the IRS website.  Your other option is to wait to see if the IRS cashes the check. If it got it, no one can tell you when it will be cashed, if at all. However, if the check is lost, paying after 4/15/2026 will incur a monthly late-payment penalty of .5% + interest.  

[LeticiaF1]

Per the IRS, "If it's been at least two weeks since you sent the payment to the IRS and your financial institution verifies that the check hasn't cleared your account, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to ask if the payment has been credited to your tax account."  

If the check has not cleared and the IRS has not received the payment, you should place a stop payment on the check and make a new payment.  

Electronic payments are more secure, to see the payment options available with the IRS visit:

Make a payment