Your refund is coming as a paper check

Why you might get this

• The IRS tried to deposit your refund into a bank account but couldn't complete the direct deposit.
• You may have asked for a refund from a tax year that's too old for direct deposit its work only for the current year and the two years before it.
• The bank or account information may not have matched, so the IRS switched to a mailed check.

The deadline

This notice doesn't set a legal deadline. It tells you when to expect your check to arrive in the mail, and gives you a point to call the IRS if it takes longer than the notice says.

This notice doesn't carry a fixed response deadline, but it still deserves attention — see what to do below.

What to do

1. Watch your mailbox for the paper refund check the IRS is sending you.
2. Wait the amount of time the notice says before expecting the check to arrive.
3. If the check hasn't shown up by the time listed on your notice, call the phone number printed on the notice.
4. If you've moved, update your address with the IRS you can call the number on the notice or file Form 8822, Change of Address.
5. To get direct deposit next year, fill in your bank details in the "Refund" section of your tax form (use Form 8888 to split it across accounts).

What happens if you ignore it

Nothing bad happens \tthis notice is just letting you know a check is on the way. But if you don't watch for it and it gets lost or sent to an old address, you could miss your refund and have to call the IRS to track it down.

If your check never arrives after the time the notice mentions, call the number on the notice. If you can't get things sorted out, you may be able to get free help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

What the CP53 notice means

Getting a CP53 notice is actually good news: it means the IRS approved your refund but couldn't send it by direct deposit. Instead, they're mailing you a paper check.

This usually happens when the bank information didn't go through, or when you asked for a refund from a tax year that's too old for direct deposit. The IRS can only direct deposit refunds for the current filing year and the two years before it. Everything older gets paid by check.

What to do: Just keep an eye on your mailbox. The notice tells you about how long the check should take to arrive. If it doesn't show up in that window, call the phone number printed on your notice. If you've recently moved, make sure the IRS has your current address, since checks go to the address on file.

Looking ahead: To get faster direct deposit next year, add your bank details in the "Refund" section when you file, and file electronically to cut down on errors.

Solace can keep an eye on your IRS account so you'll know when your refund posts and if anything changes.