Wife changed name on SS card but not ID

[Dylanh223]

My wife changed her last name with the SSA in June and received her new card with her married name. However due to Covid-19, our local Department of Public Safety has been by appointment only and backed up for months, she has been unable to change her last name on her DL. We have been filing as married filing jointly for years now, but we are concerned that the names not matching may cause problems. Her last name on our bank account is still her maiden name as well. Would this cause a delay? 

[Critter-3]

Well you do have a problem ... with the marriage certificate and the SS card the bank should let you change the bank account ... if not then either wait until you get the DL changed or get the refund by check. 

I hope you made an appointment already at the DOT ... if not do so asap. 

[NCperson]

where is the issue? I assume wife will use her legal name on the tax return which matches the IRS records. 

IRS will do a match on SS# and name - and that is correct. 

beyond that , what is the worry and why? 

[Critter-3]

If the name on the bank account doesn't match the IRS refund the bank can refuse the direct debit and send it back to the IRS so they can issue a paper check ... which I said just request a paper check to begin with if you will not wait for the new DL to change the bank account if the bank requires it ... check with the bank. 

[NCperson]

while that is possible for the Bank to refuse it, how likely is that really? there are 100 of millions of transactions each day through the banking system and requiring an exact name match would make the the system unwieldly.   Get the ABA number and the account number EXACT and you should be 'good to go'.