IRS Will Stop Mailing Paper Refund Checks After September 30, 2025
Starting September 30, 2025, the IRS will no longer issue paper tax refund checks. Instead, refunds will be sent electronically, such as through direct deposit, prepaid debit cards, or other secure digital options. This change comes from Executive Order 14247 and is meant to make refunds faster, safer, and cheaper to process.
What You Need to Know
-
Filing your taxes won’t change. You’ll still use the same forms and filing methods.
-
Refunds will go digital. Most people will get their money through direct deposit or another electronic method.
-
No bank account? No problem. Options like prepaid debit cards and digital wallets will be available.
-
Act now. Make sure you know your bank account information or consider opening a free or low-cost account. Visit FDIC: GetBanked or MyCreditUnion.gov for options.
Why the Change?
-
Safer: Paper checks are 16 times more likely to be lost, stolen, or delayed.
-
Faster: Direct deposit refunds usually arrive within 21 days; paper checks can take six weeks or more.
-
Cheaper: Electronic payments cost less to process.
Right now, most taxpayers already get refunds electronically. In 2025, the IRS issued 93.5 million refunds, and about 93% were sent by direct deposit.
What’s Next
The IRS will share more details about the change before the 2026 tax season begins. Until then, keep filing your taxes the same way and use the current payment options if you owe taxes. Updates will be posted on IRS.gov.
