Tax refunds are typically a welcomed reprieve for millions of Americans facing challenging financial times. While many tax filers are set to receive higher refunds this year, around 1.4 million Americans who typically receive paper refund checks may have to wait longer for their refund this year because the federal government has moved to phase out the paper check option.
The deadline to file your taxes is April 15. But some filers may have to wait six weeks to 10 weeks longer to see their refund checks if they didn’t provide direct deposit information on their returns this year. The IRS is sending notices to those taxpayers of the extended wait time and the actions they need to take in order to avoid it.
The notice explains that filers should update their online account with the IRS to update or add their bank account information. It also said filers have 30 days to do so after receiving the notice. “If you don’t respond to the notice, we will issue a paper check after 6 weeks. For updates on your refund status, visit Where’s My Refund,” the notice explained.
While most filers receive their refunds electronically, many still opt for paper checks. According to the IRS, about 7% of tax payers still receive their refunds in the mail. The National Taxpayer Advocate reported that last year, around 10 million tax payers received paper checks. However, the federal government has argued that paper checks are vulnerable to fraud, slower, and more expensive than electronic payouts.
In an executive order last year, Trump mandated that federal payments be issued electronically starting in October 2025. “The continued use of paper-based payments by the Federal Government, including checks and money orders, flowing into and out of the United States General Fund, which might be thought of as America’s bank account, imposes unnecessary costs; delays; and risks of fraud, lost payments, theft, and inefficiencies,” the order said.
It continued, “Mail theft complaints have increased substantially since the COVID-19 pandemic.” It also asserted that the cost of digitizing paper records cost taxpayers “over $657 million in Fiscal Year 2024 alone.”
Still, some lawmakers are concerned about how the refund delays will impact Americans who depend on the payments. House Ways and Means Committee Democrats sent a second letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in an effort to get answers for affected filers. The letter explained that there were discrepancies between the notice filers receive about delays and an altered version of the notice lawmakers received.
“Our first and foremost concern is that taxpayers could face a 10-week wait for their paper refunds,” the letter explained, per a press release. “This is not clearly stated on the notice. Nor does it warn taxpayers that a paper check could take another six weeks beyond the 30 days given to respond.”
Fast Company reached out to the Treasury for comment but did not immediately hear back.
