If you haven't signed up for direct deposit with the IRS, providing them with all of your banking information or the agency doesn't have your current, valid bank account details, then you will most likely receive your payment in the form of a traditional paper check or in some cases, a EIP debit card.
Why am I receiving a paper check? The IRS limits the number of direct deposit refunds to the same bank account or on the same pre-paid debit card. Also, we can't deposit any part of a tax refund to an account that doesn't belong to you.
The IRS says that it may take three to four weeks to receive a check after it's mailed. If it has been weeks since the Get My Payment tool says the payment was mailed, and you haven't received it, you can request a payment trace.
If the IRS is not able to deposit your refund into your bank account for any reason, the IRS will mail you a check instead. Sometimes the routing or bank account number is wrong, invalid, missing one digit, or if the name is not exact as the bank account, this can cause rejection of the deposit.
Typically, it's about a specific issue with a taxpayer's federal tax return or tax account. A notice may tell them about changes to their account or ask for more information. It could also tell them they need to make a payment.
If you file a complete and accurate paper tax return, your refund should be issued in about six to eight weeks from the date IRS receives your return. If you file your return electronically, your refund should be issued in less than three weeks, even faster when you choose direct deposit.
You can track the status of your stimulus check using the IRS's “Get My Payment” portal, which will let you know how it the payment will be delivered and provide an estimated arrival date.
Both the economic impact payments, also known as stimulus checks, and the eligibility notices will be letter-size First-Class Mail pieces.
If you haven't signed up for direct deposit with the IRS, providing them with all of your banking information or the agency doesn't have your current, valid bank account details, then you will most likely receive your payment in the form of a traditional paper check or in some cases, a EIP debit card.
This means the IRS has sent your refund to your financial institution for direct deposit. It may take your financial institution 1 – 5 days to deposit the funds into your account. If you requested a paper check this means your check has been mailed. It could take several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.
Paper Return Delays
The IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days. However, it's possible your tax return may require additional review and take longer.
The IRS only issued refunds once per week under the old system. They now issue refunds every business day, Monday through Friday (except holidays).
While the majority of payments will be made by direct deposit, others will receive the money in the mail — as paper checks or debit cards. There could be some differences in what the U.S. Postal Service drops in your mail box this time, if that's how you receive the money.
You are here: Check orders received before 1pm EST will be mailed the same day they're submitted, Monday to Friday. Typical USPS priority delivery times are between 4-6 business days.
To be able to track the mailed payment, recipients can use the USPS service called Informed Delivery. This shows when all of your letters have been scanned, are in transit and have been delivered to your home -- including your third check.
All you need is your Social Security number, tax filing status and the exact amount of your refund. You can use Where's My Refund? to start checking the status of your return within 24 hours after the IRS receives your e-filed return or 4 weeks after you mailed your paper return.
Undelivered Federal Tax Refund Checks
If you were expecting a federal tax refund and did not receive it, check the IRS' Where's My Refund page. You'll need to enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund. You may be prompted to change your address online.
The IRS sends out all refund checks via US Postal Service first class mail which takes between 1-3 business days.
Paper checks will arrive by mail in a white envelope from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. For those taxpayers who received their tax refund by mail, this paper check will look similar, but will be labeled as an "Economic Impact Payment" in the memo field.
USPS Informed Delivery: Track your check directly to your mailbox. Informed Delivery is a free mail-tracking service from the USPS that automatically scans your incoming letters and can send you an image each time something with your name on it is about to be delivered.
It comes when the mail man brings it which could take a week or 2 theses days. The "mailed by" date is not set in stone ... it may have been posted that day but when the post office processes and delivers it is another thing altogether.
Mailed or mailing date means the date a document is postmarked. Requests submitted by facsimile or “fax” are considered mailed as of the date printed on the banner automatically produced by the transmitting fax machine.
We can't honor requests for direct deposit of refunds for prior year returns. As a result, you should receive a refund check in the mail in 3–4 weeks for your 2000 Form 1040 overpayment. If you don't receive your refund check within 4 weeks, please call us at 1-999-999-9999.