No More Paper Checks: Why Your IRS Refund Might Be Late

Many Americans are finding out the hard way that the IRS has changed how it sends out tax refunds. If you usually get a paper check in the mail, you might be waiting a long time this year. Some people are facing delays of two months or more.

Why Is This Happening?

Last fall, the IRS stopped sending out paper checks. This change happened because of an order signed by President Trump in March 2025. The goal is to move all government payments to electronic methods, like direct deposit.

The IRS says electronic payments are much safer. According to their data, paper checks are 16 times more likely to be stolen, lost, or messed with compared to direct deposits. Last year, 93% of people already used direct deposit, while only 7% still got checks in the mail.

The Problem for Taxpayers

Even though the government wants to move fast, not everyone is ready. Over 830,000 people have been told their refunds are stuck because the IRS doesn't have their bank information.

• Long Wait Times: If you didn't give the IRS your banking info, it could take at least 10 weeks to get your money.

• No Easy Fix: You cannot fix this problem by calling the IRS. Taxpayers must go online and create an account to share their bank details.

• People Without Banks: Many people, especially those with low incomes, do not have bank accounts at all. This group often relies on tax refunds to pay off bills or save for the future.

Who Is Affected the Most?

Experts say this change hits certain groups harder than others. This includes people with disabilities, Americans living in other countries, and low-income families. Millions of people used to get paper checks, and many of them don't have easy access to the internet to set up the required online accounts.

Why Wasn't the IRS Ready?

Some leaders argue the IRS tried to change too much too fast. Last year, the IRS lost a lot of workers. They lost 40% of their computer experts and 22% of the people who help taxpayers directly. Because they don't have enough staff, many help centers are closed, making it even harder for people to get answers.

Some experts suggested the IRS should have given out prepaid debit cards to people without bank accounts, similar to how they handled stimulus payments in the past. However, that didn't happen this time around.

What the IRS Says

Despite these issues, IRS leaders say the tax season is mostly going well. They report that almost half of all tax returns have already been processed and that many people are getting their refunds in just nine days. They claim they are working hard to make the system better for families.