IRS CP53E Notice Gives Taxpayers 30 Days to Update Refund Bank Details

The IRS has introduced CP53E, giving eligible individual taxpayers 30 days from the notice date to update refund-account information or choose an available paper-check exception. The change follows Executive Order 14247, signed March 25, 2025.

The notice applies when a refund cannot be delivered to the bank account listed on a return, and also when an IRS correction changes a balance due into a refund. Recipients can respond through their IRS Online Account; if they do nothing, the agency says it will send a paper check after six weeks.

The IRS describes the new direct deposit option as a way for eligible people to provide new or updated account details for a refund. Its notice page links the change to the executive order.

The IRS guidance concerns refund delivery rather than a specified tax year, and gives no effective date for the procedure.

A taxpayer may get the letter when a return claims a refund but the bank details are absent, incorrect or rejected. A second trigger can catch people by surprise: the IRS may adjust a return that originally showed a balance due, leaving a refund instead. Examples include previously unreported estimated payments or arithmetic errors.

Recipients have one online chance to update their refund account

The 30-day period runs from the date printed on the notice. Recipients who want an electronic payment must use their online account; IRS employees cannot enter or change bank details for them by phone.

1. Sign in to the IRS Online Account. If you cannot access or create an account, the IRS directs users to IRS.help.id.me for assistance.
2. On Account Home, open Notifications and choose “Add bank account.” That option appears only after the notice has been issued. Follow the prompts to enter the account information or select an available paper-check exception.
3. Use an account in your own name or a joint account you share. The IRS allows one opportunity to add or update the details, so check the numbers before submitting them.

The IRS may issue a paper check if it cannot validate the account, or if the bank rejects the deposit. Taxpayers without a conventional bank account may have electronic alternatives, including certain prepaid debit cards and mobile payment applications.

The IRS page does not explain how to request a paper-check exception without online-account access. Once account information is submitted, refund-status details may take around 2–5 business days to update. Recipients can check the refund through Where’s My Refund.

A paper check follows no response or a failed deposit

A recipient who misses the response window does not lose the refund under the process described by the IRS. The agency says it will issue a check after six weeks if the taxpayer does not respond. That timing is measured from the notice, not added to the 30-day response period.

“If you don't respond to the notice, we will issue a paper check after 6 weeks.”

The IRS says a refund may be reduced to cover other outstanding liabilities. Recipients should also verify an unexpected notice through their online account or Where’s My Refund, and go directly to IRS.gov rather than following links or QR codes in messages. The agency sends these notices by mail and does not ask for bank details by email, text or phone. The number printed on the notice, 866-325-4066, plays recorded messages; IRS employees cannot make the account change. The IRS lists 800-829-1040 for notice-related inquiries.

Recipients who intend to update their account should use the IRS Online Account before the 30-day deadline. Those who need login assistance can go to IRS.help.id.me.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA about your specific situation.