Starting September 30, 2025, the IRS will no longer issue or accept paper checks for tax refunds or payments. This change comes from Executive Order 14247 and means all payments will now be processed electronically (direct deposit, debit card, or digital wallet).
For most people, no action is needed as many Americans already receive tax refunds or federal benefits by direct deposit, nothing changes.
If you are still getting a paper check for Social Security, Veterans benefits, or another federal payment, you’ll need to switch to direct deposit or another electronic option. You can:
• Enroll online at GoDirect.gov
• Call your paying agency directly. You can find a list of the agencies here: GoDirect Paying Agency
• Call the Electronic Payment Solution Center at 800-967-6857 (Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. ET)
If you don’t have a bank account, you can:
• Safely access resources to open an account at FDIC: GetBanked or MyCreditUnion.gov.
• Sign up for a Direct Express® Debit Mastercard® by calling 800-967-6857.
Paper check exceptions include:
• Individuals who lack access to banking services or electronic payment systems.
• Emergency payments where electronic methods are impractical.
• Certain national security or law enforcement activities that necessitate non- electronic payments.
• Other special cases that may qualify as an exception under other existing laws.
There are a couple of ways to make federal electronic tax payments to the IRS:
• The IRS has a one-time direct pay using the following link: https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay-with-bank-account
• Alternatively, you can set up an EFTPS account that is a free, secure, online portal provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury that allows individuals,
businesses, and other entities to pay all types of federal taxes.
https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/
Reminder: Watch out for scams. Always use official websites or phone numbers before giving out personal information.
As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions or visit home.treasury.gov to find the latest information.