Ending tax refunds by check will speed payments, but risks sidelining people who don’t have bank accounts

For Americans in so-called ‘banking deserts,’ ending paper tax refund checks could be a costly move.

By: Beverly Moran, Vanderbilt University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 26, 2026

Words: 806

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Beverly Moran, Vanderbilt University

More than 6 million Americans receive paper tax refund checks annually. Often, those refunds go to purchase groceries or pay the bills. But this year, those taxpayers may be surprised to learn that the paper check they’re waiting for no longer exists.

That’s because of executive order 14247, which President Donald Trump signed in 2025. It directed the Treasury Department to stop issuing paper checks for tax …

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