The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a significant change to its tax refund distribution process. Going forward, the IRS will no longer issue paper refund checks, except in limited circumstances. Instead, taxpayers will be required to receive their refunds electronically.

In addition, the IRS has confirmed that electronic filing for the 2025 tax year will officially open on January 26, 2026. Taxpayers who file electronically and choose electronic refund options can generally expect faster processing and delivery of their refunds.

These updates are intended to improve efficiency, reduce processing times, and enhance security by minimizing the risk of lost or stolen checks.

How to Receive Your Refund

The fastest and most reliable method for receiving a tax refund is through direct deposit into a bank account. Taxpayers who previously received refunds by paper check should select direct deposit when filing their 2025 tax return. To do so, filers must provide their bank’s routing number and account number on the appropriate tax form.

For taxpayers who prefer not to use a traditional bank account, the IRS also allows refunds to be deposited into certain mobile payment applications or prepaid debit cards, provided they offer an assigned routing number and account number.

Our Commitment to You

Our team is ready to serve you with more than 80 years of combined experience in preparing individual and business tax returns. We are committed to providing accurate, timely, and professional tax preparation services to help you navigate these changes with confidence.