Paper refund checks are on their way out. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, announced that paper tax refund checks for individual taxpayers will be phased out beginning Sept. 30, 2025. The change comes under Executive Order 14247, which directs federal agencies to expand the use of electronic payments.
According to the IRS, the move is designed to protect taxpayers, cut costs and speed up refunds. Paper checks are more than 16 times as likely to be lost, stolen or delayed than electronic payments. Direct deposit not only avoids those risks, but also allows taxpayers to get their refunds faster—often within 21 days of filing electronically, compared with six weeks or more for paper checks.
“Most people already receive their refunds by direct deposit, and this change builds on that success,” the agency noted. In the 2025 filing season, 93% of the 93.5 million refunds issued were deposited directly into taxpayers’ bank accounts. Only about 7% were mailed as paper checks.
For those who don’t use traditional bank accounts, the IRS says options such as prepaid debit cards, digital wallets or limited exceptions will be available. Taxpayers are encouraged to check their banking information now or explore low-cost account options through the FDIC’s GetBanked initiative or MyCreditUnion.gov.
For now, the filing process itself won’t change. Taxpayers should continue using the same forms and filing methods they’ve always used for 2025 returns. Additional details for the 2026 tax season will be published on IRS.gov before filing begins.
Executive Order 14247 also applies to payments made to the IRS, though current payment methods remain in place until further guidance is released.
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