Yes, fraudulent, official-looking U.S. Treasury checks and tax refund checks are actively being sent by scammers as part of tax refund scams. These scams often involve sending an unexpected check, followed by a request to return a portion of the money via wire transfer, gift cards, or cash, which can leave victims liable for the fraudulent funds.
All U.S. Treasury checks are printed on watermarked paper. When held up to the light, the watermark reads “U.S. Treasury” from both the front and the back. Any check should be suspected as counterfeit if the check has no watermark, or the watermark is visible without holding the check up to light.
If you receive an unexpected IRS refund check or direct deposit payment, this could be a red flag. The IRS typically does not issue refunds without prior communication. You can verify your status by logging into your IRS account on their official website.
Payment Management Call Center: For help with Treasury check verification and other payment-related issues, call the Payment Management Call Center at 855-868-0151, option 1. This center provides direct support for verifying checks and resolving payment concerns.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (American Rescue Plan), enacted in early March 2021, provided Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 for eligible individuals or $2,800 for married couples filing jointly, plus $1,400 for each qualifying dependent, including adult dependents.
You likely received a U.S. Treasury check without explanation due to an IRS tax adjustment, an offset resolution, a delayed interest payment on a prior refund, or another government payment, but you should verify it through IRS.gov or USA.gov to confirm authenticity and the reason, as it could be a legitimate correction or even a scam. Log into your IRS account or check your account transcript for details, as they often send explanations separately or after the fact.
If you recently received $2,800 from the IRS, it's likely related to Economic Impact Payments issued under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This legislation provided: $1,400 per eligible individual. $2,800 for married couples filing jointly.
Report Suspected Fraud: If you suspect a scam, report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
A. The IRS encourages taxpayers to discuss the issue with their financial institutions because they may need to close bank accounts. Taxpayers receiving erroneous refunds should also contact their tax preparers immediately. There are established procedures they should follow to return erroneous funds.
Stimulus checks are direct cash payments that the federal government issues to offer financial relief for Americans during periods of economic instability.
If your refund was a paper Treasury check and hasn't been cashed: Write "Void" in the endorsement section on the back of the check. Submit the check immediately, but no later than 21 days, to the appropriate IRS location. The location is based on your state of residency.
Check fraud red flags include fake check scams (overpayment/refund requests, urgency, vague stories), physical/printing issues (low-quality paper, odd fonts, missing security features like watermarks), altered checks (mismatched handwriting, smudges, overwritten payee/amount), and unusual account activity (unexpected withdrawals, new accounts used for quick deposits/transfers, missing checks). Be suspicious of requests for immediate action or personal info, and scrutinize unfamiliar checks, especially those from unknown senders or for unusual amounts.
For immediate check verification, verifying funds over the phone is recommended, as verifying checks in person at a bank branch usually takes a few business days to process.
Here's the rough truth: whether you knew it was fake or not, you're still responsible for the funds. Consequences can include: Your bank reversing the deposit, pulling the money from your account. Overdraft fees or returned payment charges if you've already spent part of it.
The IRS is phasing out paper tax refund checks for individual taxpayers, effective September 30, 2025. This change affects the 7% of taxpayers who still receive paper checks, requiring them to switch to an electronic refund method.
Report the fraud.
Tell the FTC, IC3, and your bank about the attempted fraud. If you already lost money to the scam, ask your bank if there's anything you can do to get the money back.
Tax refunds can happen if you fill out your W-4 incorrectly, overpay your estimated taxes, are eligible for a refundable tax credit, or receive the Recovery Rebate Credit in 2025. You can use an unexpected tax refund to pay down debt, save for emergencies or college, invest for retirement, and even splurge a little.
Usually the money doesn't even exist, they just send you a fake receipt claiming they sent you money in the hopes you will "refund" their non-existent money with your real money. either that or the money is stolen and will eventually be reversed by the company. no, it is not legal to keep stolen money.
The IRS is sending out stimulus checks to taxpayers who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax return.
So if you receive an unexpected IRS refund check or bank deposit, what should you do? First, don't deposit or cash the check. Immediately take it to your nearest IRS office and ask for verification. An IRS agent can tell you why you received the check, and whether anyone else filed for it without your knowledge.
Rumors of a universal $ 3000 check from the IRS have gained traction on social media, but these claims are not true. As of 2025, there is no federal program authorizing a new $ 3000 stimulus, rebate, or automatic payment to all Americans.