IRS modernizes payments to and from taxpayer bank accounts
Internal Revenue Service Fact Sheet FS-2026-02. Executive Order 14247.
The IRS is moving federal tax payments and refunds to electronic methods. Paper checks are being phased out, with limited exceptions.
Overview
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS are implementing Executive Order 14247. The order directs federal agencies to modernize payments to reduce fraud, cut costs, and improve security.
The policy applies to both directions of money flow:
Payments from the government, including tax refunds.
Payments to the government, including taxes, penalties, and fees.
The process of filing a tax return does not change. Only the payment and refund delivery methods change.
Key Effective Dates
March 25, 2025: Executive Order 14247 signed.
September 30, 2025: IRS begins phasing out paper refund checks, where permitted by law.
October 17, 2025: Individuals can no longer enroll in EFTPS.
Late 2026: EFTPS fully sunset for individual taxpayers.
Refunds to Individuals
Direct deposit becomes the default method for refunds.
Paper refund checks are phased out, with limited …
