The benefits of having a tax refund direct deposited

Receiving a tax refund is happy news to any taxpayer; getting it quickly is even better. Direct deposit is the safest and most convenient way to receive a tax refund. The IRS encourages taxpayers to file when they are ready and choose direct deposit to receive any refund they may be owed.

Benefits of choosing IRS direct deposit:

• It’s fast. The fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund is to file electronically and choose direct deposit. Visit IRS.gov for details about IRS Free File, Free File Fillable Forms, free tax return preparation and more. Taxpayers who file a paper return can also choose direct deposit, but it will take longer to process the return and get a refund.
• It’s secure. Since refunds are electronically deposited, there’s no risk of having a paper check stolen or lost in the mail.
• It’s easy. Taxpayers can simply follow the instructions when selecting direct deposit as a refund method and enter their account information as directed. They must enter the correct account and routing numbers when they file.
• It provides options. Taxpayers can split a refund into several financial accounts. These include checking, savings, health, education and certain retirement accounts. They should use IRS Form 8888, Allocation of Refund, Including Savings Bond Purchases to deposit a refund in up to three accounts. This form cannot be used to designate part of a refund to pay tax preparers.

Taxpayers should deposit refunds into U.S. bank accounts in their own name, their spouse’s name or both. They should avoid making a deposit into accounts owned by others. Some banks require both spouses’ names on the account to deposit a tax refund from a joint return. Taxpayers should check with their bank for direct deposit rules.

Get a bank account
Taxpayers who don’t have a bank account can visit the FDIC website for information on banks that let them open an account online and how to choose the right account. Veterans can use the Veterans Benefits Banking Program for access to financial services at participating banks.

Mobile apps may be an option
Some mobile apps and prepaid debit cards allow for direct deposit of tax refunds. They must have routing and account numbers associated with them that can be entered on a tax return. Taxpayers should check with the mobile app provider or financial institution to confirm which numbers to use.

Taxpayers must have their routing and account numbers for direct deposit available when they are ready to file. The IRS can’t accept this information after a return is filed.

There is a limit of three direct deposit refunds made into a single financial account or prepaid debit card.

Issue Number: IRS Tax Tip 2023-25 What to do when a W-2 or Form 1099 is missing or incorrect It’s important for taxpayers to have all their documents and information so they can file an accurate and complete tax return. This may mean waiting to file until they receive all their documentation – and it can also mean following up on missing or incorrect documents. Most taxpayers should have received income documents near the end of January. These may include: Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income Form 1099-INT, Interest Income Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments; like unemployment compensation or state tax refund Taxpayers should first contact the employer, payer or issuing agency directly for copies Taxpayers who haven’t received a W-2 or Form 1099 should contact the employer, payer or issuing agency and request a copy of the missing document or a corrected document.   If they can’t get a copy, they can contact the IRS for help Taxpayers should file their tax return on time – this year’s tax deadline is April 18 for most filers – even if they still have missing or incorrect documents. If they don’t receive the missing or corrected form from their employer or payer by the end of February, they may call the IRS at 800-829-1040 for help. They’ll need to provide their name, address, phone number, Social Security number and dates of employment. They’ll also need to provide the employer’s or payer’s name, address and phone number. The IRS will contact the employer or payer and request the missing form. Estimating income when forms are incorrect or missing After the taxpayer contacts the IRS about missing documents, the IRS will send the taxpayer one of these forms: Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, or Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, Etc. If the taxpayer doesn’t receive the missing form in time to file their income tax return by the filing due date, they may complete Form 4852 or Form 1099-R to estimate their wages and earnings. They then attach the relevant form to their tax return when they file. Taxpayers may need to file an amended return if they filed with missing or incorrect info If they receive the missing or corrected Form W-2 or Form 1099-R after filing their return and the information differs from their previous estimate, they must file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Incorrect Form 1099-G for unemployment benefits Taxpayers who receive an incorrect Form 1099-G for unemployment benefits they did not receive should contact the issuing state agency to request a revised Form 1099-G showing they did not receive these benefits. Taxpayers who are unable to obtain a timely, corrected form from the state should still file an accurate tax return, reporting only the income they received.