In a major change in how the government makes payments, the Interna Revenue Service (IRS) will stop mailing paper tax refund checks. Starting from the 2025 filing season, the IRS will speed up the move to handle tax returns and refunds only electronically.
This will help make things easier, safer, and more steady for millions of Americans. The move is part of the bigger effort by the government to update how it makes payments for different programs. Some taxpayers have long relied on IRS paper checks mailed to their homes.
How to ditch IRS tax refunds paper checks
While some find them easy to get, these checks have risks, like slow or lost delivery, theft, or errors. As worries about safety and the costs of printing and mailing millions of checks grow, the Treasury and the IRS have decided that paying digitally is safer, faster, and less expensive.
They think that stopping the use of paper checks for federal benefit payments, including tax refunds, could save taxpayers and the government around $1 billion over the next ten years (fiscal.treasury.gov). The IRS wants all taxpayers to file their taxes electronically and get their refunds through direct deposit. Doing so means taxpayers get their refunds faster.
They can get their refunds in days if they file electronically, but it takes weeks if they file on paper. Getting the refund through direct deposit also makes theft or loss less likely. People who still file paper returns and want checks mailed to them could face long delays or other problems. This will become more likely as the IRS stops using paper checks. People who don’t know how to file electronically can get help from the IRS.
IRS Free Tools Every Taxpayer Should Know About in 2025
The IRS offers free tools and advice to help make the change easier. Taxpayers can use IRS Free File if they qualify, a tax software approved by the IRS, or a paid preparer. This will help them file safely and correctly. The IRS also provides online tools, so taxpayers can track the status of their refunds. This will make things easier, as there will be less uncertainty about the refunds.
Experts warn that even though electronic filing is the norm now, the change may be harder for some groups. Elderly taxpayers, those with no reliable internet, and those who have been used to getting checks in the mail for decades may face hurdles.
The IRS and the Treasury are running outreach programs to make sure these groups understand the new requirements and can change to them. The end of paper checks is part of the broader effort to make the government go digital. Other federal benefit programs have already moved to electronic payments.
When completing the return, selecting direct deposit as the refund method is the next step. This ensures the refund is sent directly to a bank account rather than relying on a paper check, which the IRS is phasing out.
