Preparing for the IRS Shift to Electronic Payments
In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order authorizing a full transition to electronic payments across all federal agencies. As a result, the IRS is strongly encouraging taxpayers to both make payments and receive refunds electronically.
For the 2025 filing season, paper checks are still accepted and issued by the IRS. In January 2026, the IRS warned taxpayers requesting refunds should authorize direct deposit. Failure to provide direct deposit information on an electronically filed return will result in IRS correspondence requesting additional information or an explanation, which will delay refund processing. For more information, please go to https://www.irs.gov/pub/taxpros/fs-2026-02.pdf.
Holsinger, P.C. recommends that you prepare for the transition to electronic payments by identifying, evaluating, and selecting an electronic payment method that is appropriate for you. Information on available payment options is available at https://www.irs.gov/payments and include, but are not limited to:
- Pay from your bank account
- Pay by debit card, credit card, or digital wallet
- Pay from your IRS account
- Other payment methods including same day wire, check or money order, cash or electronic funds withdrawal
