Can I Receive My Tax Refund by Paper Check If I Don‘t Have a Bank Account?

Yes.

If you do not have a bank account, or if you do not update your bank information within the required timeframe, the IRS will eventually issue your refund as a paper check.

However, under recent policy changes, the IRS will first send you a CP53E Notice, giving you an opportunity to update your bank account information.

What Is the CP53E Notice?

Due to Executive Order 14247, the federal government is transitioning toward electronic payments for federal disbursements, including tax refunds.

If your direct deposit cannot be completed using the original bank information, the IRS will issue a CP53E Notice, allowing you to:

• Add a new bank account

• Update existing bank account information

• Continue receiving your refund via direct deposit

What Do You Need to Do After Receiving CP53E?

You have 30 days from the date of the notice to update or add a bank account.

Steps:

1. Access or create your IRS Individual Online Account

2. Add or update your bank account information

3. After submission, allow 2–5 days for the system to update

4. Use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool to check your refund status

If you experience system errors, carefully review the message and try again later.

Note: Your refund may still be subject to offset if you have outstanding federal or state debts.

Why do I need to provide a bank account?

Executive Order 14247 mandates a transition to electronic payments for federal disbursements, including tax refunds, except in limited circumstances. Electronic payment is now the preferred method.

How do I know if my bank account update was successful?

You will receive a confirmation message indicating the update was successful.
If there is an issue, the system will display an error message with instructions.

Can I update my bank account by calling the IRS?

No.

Bank account updates can only be made through your IRS Online Account. IRS representatives cannot update your banking information over the phone.

You must complete the update within 30 days of the CP53E notice to receive your refund via direct deposit.

What if I made a mistake when entering my bank account?

You only have one opportunity to update your bank information.

If the bank rejects the direct deposit due to incorrect information, the IRS will issue a paper check instead.

What if I don’t have a direct deposit account?

If you do not have a bank account:

• You may review available options in your IRS Online Account

• Or contact the IRS customer service number for assistance

If no bank account is provided, the IRS will issue your refund as a paper check.

What happens if I do not respond to the CP53E notice?

If you do not respond within 30 days, the IRS will issue a paper check after approximately 6 weeks.

You can check the status anytime using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool.

中文版本

如果没有银行账户，可以通过支票收到退税吗？

可以。

如果您没有银行账户，或者没有在规定时间内更新银行账户信息，IRS 最终会以纸质支票的方式向您邮寄退税款。

不过，根据最新政策，IRS 会先向您发出 CP53E 通知信，给您一次更新银行账户信息的机会。

CP53E 通知是什么？

由于最新的 总统行政令 14247（Executive Order 14247），联邦政府正在逐步过渡到电子支付方式，包括税务退税。

如果您的退税无法通过原有银行账户完成直接存款，IRS 会寄给您一封 CP53E 通知信，允许您：

• 新增银行账户
• 更新银行账户信息
• 重新选择直接存款方式

收到 CP53E 后您需要做什么？

您有 30 天时间 更新或新增银行账户信息。

操作步骤：

1. 登录或注册 IRS 个人在线账户

2. 在账户中添加或更新银行账户信息

3. 提交成功后，等待 2–5 天系统更新

4. 可使用 “Where’s My Refund” 查询退款状态

⚠ 如果系统提示错误，请仔细阅读提示并稍后重试。

注意：
如果您有欠税或其他政府债务，退税可能会被抵扣（offset）。

为什么必须提供银行账户？

根据总统行政令 14247，联邦政府正在转向电子支付方式发放退款，包括税务退税。除特定情况外，未来将优先采用电子支付。

更多信息可参考 IRS 官网 modern payments 页面。

如何确认银行账户更新成功？

系统会显示更新成功提示。
如果有错误，系统会显示错误信息，请按照提示操作。

可以打电话让 IRS 帮我改银行账户吗？

不可以。

银行账户信息只能通过 IRS 在线账户自行更新。
IRS 工作人员无法通过电话帮您修改。

必须在 CP53E 通知日期起 30 天内完成更新，才可以继续使用直接存款方式。

如果我填错了银行账户怎么办？

您只有一次修改机会。

如果银行拒绝该笔直接存款，IRS 会自动改为寄送纸质支票。

如果我没有银行账户怎么办？

您可以：

• 登录 IRS 在线账户了解可选电子支付方式
• 或拨打 IRS 客服电话咨询

如果未提供银行账户，IRS 最终会寄送纸质支票。

如果我没有回应 CP53E 会怎样？

如果您未在 30 天内更新银行账户：

IRS 会在 约 6 周后 改为寄送纸质支票。

您可以通过 “Where’s My Refund” 查询最新状态。