Paper tax refund checks to end

[samhexum]

 

following a March 25 executive order that cites fraud risks around paper payments, Treasury is set to simply stop issuing paper checks Sept. 30. The order also directs Treasury to process all payments electronically “as soon as practicable.”

The end of paper checks could hurt low-income, elderly, and rural taxpayers who can’t or won’t get direct deposit into a bank account and might be forced to resort to financial products that have their own fraud challenges. And the speed at which the Treasury will wind down paper payments leaves some observers unsure as to how the department will pull off the transition.

“There’s absolutely no way,” said Samantha Galvin, director of the federal tax clinic at Loyola University Chicago. “It probably needs to be phased in.”

Treasury representatives didn’t respond to requests for comment.

 

Trump's Plan to End Paper Tax Refunds Could Blindside Millions of Americans This Year

STOCKS.APPLE.COM

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The Treasury Department is set to realize a long-held goal at the end of September when it stops issuing...

 

[Archangel]

I have been waiting since March for my return. I can’t decide if it’s the reduced workforce at the IRS, or if it’s something else. All around it’s very frustrating.

[BuffaloKyle]

USPS sucks as well and loses stuff more and more. It's much safer and easier to just get direct deposit. I can't believe NY is sending out our inflation refund checks all in the mail in October with no direct deposit option.

[samhexum]

3 minutes ago, BuffaloKyle said:

USPS sucks as well and loses stuff more and more. It's much safer and easier to just get direct deposit. I can't believe NY is sending out our inflation refund checks all in the mail in October with no direct deposit option.

When they sent out a check a few years ago (tied to property taxes, maybe?) at least I got mine in time.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

If they stop paper checks, they'll most likely mail plastic debit cards to the unbanked.

[samhexum]

30 minutes ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

If they stop paper checks, they'll most likely mail plastic debit cards to the unbanked.

That's even worse... anyone who gets yours by mistake (or another way) could use it.

[SirBillybob]

I’ve never received one so I assumed they were extinct long ago.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 7/16/2025 at 9:39 AM, SirBillybob said:

I’ve never received one so I assumed they were extinct long ago.

I've not received one either, because I always make sure I reduce my automatic withholdings enough to always have me mail the Treasury a paper check every year, not the other way around.

[handiacefailure]

On 7/18/2025 at 9:02 PM, Vegas_Millennial said:

I've not received one either, because I always make sure I reduce my automatic withholdings enough to always have me mail the Treasury a paper check every year, not the other way around.

I'm the same way, don't like giving uncle sam an interest free loan.   I just make sure my withholding will equal my tax liability for the priior year so I can avoid a penalty

[handiacefailure]

Wonder if they'll offer the option of a paycard?   

We haven't issued paper checks for years to our employees but we are required to give them an option of a debit card to load it on for free

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

14 hours ago, handiacefailure said:

Wonder if they'll offer the option of a paycard?   

We haven't issued paper checks for years to our employees but we are required to give them an option of a debit card to load it on for free

Just what we need, more single use plastic cards issued once a year.