The IRS accepts bank account updates through three channels: online via your IRS account, by mail with Form 8822-B, or by phone through the automated system

You can update your bank account information with the IRS without filing a new tax return. The fastest route is your online IRS account at irs.gov, where you can change your routing and account numbers in minutes. If you do not have an online account or prefer paper, you can mail Form 8822-B (Change of Address) to the IRS service center that handles your state. By phone, you can reach the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 during business hours and speak to a representative who can update your account on the call.

The reason to update matters. If you are changing banks before a refund arrives, the IRS needs the new account details so the deposit goes to the right place. If you already gave the IRS an incorrect account number and a refund was rejected, updating prevents the money from sitting in IRS limbo. If you are setting up direct debit for a payment plan, the account must be current and accurate before the first payment is withdrawn.

Key Takeaways

  • Your IRS online account at irs.gov is the fastest way to update your bank details and takes effect within one business day.
  • Form 8822-B mailed to your IRS service center works if you do not have an online account, but takes two to four weeks to process.
  • Phone updates through 1-800-829-1040 are immediate but require you to speak with a representative during business hours.
  • The IRS needs your routing number (nine digits from the bottom left of a check) and your full account number to process the change.
  • If a refund was already rejected to an old account, updating your information does not automatically resend it — you must contact the IRS to request a reissue.

Setting up your IRS online account to make the change yourself

Go to irs.gov/account and select "Sign in to your account." You will need either a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, plus a way to verify your identity. The IRS accepts verification through a driver's license, passport, or military ID scanned through your phone, or through a third-party identity verification service like ID.me.

Once you are logged in, look for "Banking information" or "Direct deposit" under the account settings or profile section. The exact label varies depending on whether you are updating for a refund or for a payment arrangement. Enter your new routing number and account number, then confirm the change. The IRS will show you the last two digits of your account number on screen to double-check. The update takes effect within one business day.

If you do not have a driver's license or passport, or if the ID.me verification fails, you can still create an IRS account by mail. Print the form the IRS sends you, sign it, and mail it back with a copy of your ID. This process takes two to three weeks before your account is active.

Mailing Form 8822-B if you prefer paper or do not have an online account

Download Form 8822-B from irs.gov or request it by calling 1-800-829-1040. The form is short — it asks for your name, Social Security number, old address (if you are also moving), and your new banking information. You do not need to explain why you are changing your account. Write your routing number and account number clearly in the spaces provided.

Mail the form to the IRS service center for your state. The IRS website lists the correct address by state under "Where to File." Do not mail it to the main IRS office in Washington — it will be delayed. Include a copy of a check from your new account if possible; the routing and account numbers printed on the check help the IRS verify the information. Processing takes two to four weeks from the date the IRS receives the form.

Keep a copy of the form for your records. If you are concerned the form did not arrive, you can call 1-800-829-1040 after four weeks and ask the representative to check whether the change was recorded.

Calling the IRS to update your account over the phone

Call 1-800-829-1040 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time). Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and the routing and account numbers of your new bank account ready before you call. Wait times are often long, especially during tax season (January through April), so call early in the day if you can.

When you reach a representative, tell them you need to update your banking information. They will verify your identity by asking for your address and possibly the last four digits of a previous account number. Once verified, they will take your new routing and account numbers and read them back to you to confirm. The change is recorded immediately in the IRS system.

Ask the representative for a confirmation number or reference number for the call. Write it down. If something goes wrong later — for example, if a refund still goes to the old account — you can reference this number when you call back.

What happens if a refund was already sent to your old account

If the IRS deposited a refund to an old or incorrect account number, the money does not automatically bounce back to the IRS. Instead, it may be rejected by your bank and returned to the IRS, or it may sit in a suspended account at your bank. Either way, updating your account information after the fact does not resend the refund.

Call 1-800-829-1040 and explain that a refund was sent to an incorrect account. The representative will look up the refund in the system and see whether it was rejected or accepted. If it was rejected, the IRS can reissue it to your correct account within two to three weeks. If your bank accepted it to the wrong account, you will need to contact that bank directly to recover the money — the IRS cannot retrieve it once it has been deposited.

This is why updating your account before a refund arrives is important. If you know a refund is coming and you have recently changed banks, update your information as soon as possible.

Updating your account for a payment plan or installment agreement

If you owe taxes and have set up a payment plan with the IRS, your bank account information must be current and accurate before the first payment is withdrawn. The IRS will attempt to debit your account on the date you agreed to. If the account number is wrong or the account is closed, the payment will fail and you may face a failed-payment fee from your bank.

Update your account at least five business days before your first scheduled payment. Use your IRS online account or call 1-800-829-1040 to make the change. If you are setting up a new payment plan and have not yet given the IRS your account information, provide it during the setup call or through your online account before the agreement is finalized.

If a payment fails because the account information was wrong, contact the IRS immediately to reschedule the payment and provide corrected banking details. The failed payment does not cancel your agreement, but it does trigger a fee and may affect your payment schedule.

Verifying your routing and account numbers before you submit

Your routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies your bank. It appears on the bottom left of a paper check. Your account number is the number that identifies your specific account at that bank; it appears on the bottom center of a check, after the routing number.

Do not guess or use a number from memory. Log into your bank's website or mobile app and look at a recent transaction or account statement — both show your routing and account numbers. If you have a checkbook, look at a blank check. If you do not have checks, call your bank's customer service line and ask for your routing and account numbers.

Double-check both numbers before you submit them to the IRS. A single wrong digit will cause a refund to be rejected or a payment to fail. If you are mailing Form 8822-B, include a copy of a check or a bank statement showing both numbers so the IRS can verify them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for the IRS to process a bank account update?

Online updates through your IRS account take effect within one business day. Phone updates are immediate. Mailed forms take two to four weeks from the date the IRS receives them. If you are waiting for a refund, update your account as soon as you file your return.

Can I update my account if I do not have a Social Security number?

Yes, if you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Use your ITIN instead of a Social Security number when you create your IRS account or fill out Form 8822-B. The process is the same.

What if I update my account but the IRS sends my refund to the old account anyway?

Call 1-800-829-1040 and ask the representative to check the status of your refund. If it was rejected by your old bank, the IRS can reissue it to your new account. If your old bank accepted it, you will need to contact that bank to recover the funds.

Do I need to update my account every time I change banks?

Yes. Each time you open a new account or close an old one, update the IRS with your new routing and account numbers. This ensures refunds and payments go to the correct place.

Can I update my account through the IRS mobile app?

The IRS does not have an official mobile app. Updates must be made through irs.gov on a web browser, by phone, or by mail. Be cautious of third-party apps claiming to offer IRS services — they are not affiliated with the IRS.