U.S. · IRS notices
IRS CP53 notice, refund check by mail.
What the IRS says this notice is, what it asks, and where to respond.
CP53 (printed by the IRS as CP53): The IRS could not direct deposit your refund, so it is sending you a refund check by mail. Deadline as printed by the IRS: The refund should arrive 4 weeks from the date of the notice. The page prints no response deadline beyond that.
Look up a part of the CP53 page
Result
What the IRS says about the CP53 notice
| Topic | What the IRS page says |
|---|---|
| What it is | The IRS could not direct deposit your refund, so it is sending you a refund check by mail. |
| What it asks | No action is listed as required. The page says your refund should arrive 4 weeks from the date of your notice. Call the number on your notice if you have not received the refund check after 4 weeks. |
| Deadline as printed | The refund should arrive 4 weeks from the date of the notice. The page prints no response deadline beyond that. |
| Where to respond | Call the number on your notice if the check has not arrived after 4 weeks. |
| If you disagree | The page does not describe a dispute process for this notice. It covers address changes: the IRS mails refund checks only to the address of record, and you can request a change by calling the number on the notice or filing Form 8822, Change of Address. |
| If you do not respond | The page does not state a consequence; it says to call if the check has not arrived after 4 weeks. |
| Direct deposit limits | The IRS page says it can direct deposit refunds only for the current filing year and 2 prior tax years; all other refunds are paid by check. |
| Next year | To direct deposit, complete the banking information in the Refund section of your tax form. To split a deposit across more than one account, the page says you must file Form 8888 with your return. |
Check your own notice
This page restates the IRS web page for the notice number printed as CP53. Dates, amounts, tax years and the phone number or address that apply to you are printed on your notice, not on the IRS web page. If your notice number is different from this one, use the page for that number. If you are unsure a notice is real, the IRS contact information on the notice is the starting point; this page does not verify any notice.
IRS reference tools listed for this notice
The IRS page lists: Publication 1 (Your Rights as a Taxpayer), Notice Topic 651, Notice Topic 653.
More IRS notice pages
Other notices explained in this set: IRS CP523 notice, IRS CP59 notice, IRS CP63 notice, IRS CP74 notice, IRS CP60 notice, IRS CP521 notice, IRS CP88 notice, IRS CP52 notice, IRS CP76 notice, IRS CP77 notice.
Sources
- IRS: Understanding your CP53 notice: every statement in the table above. Read November 2, 2026.
The IRS may update its notice pages. Wording here is summarized from the page as read on the date above. Not tax, legal or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CP53 notice?
Per the IRS, it tells you the IRS could not direct deposit your refund and is sending a refund check by mail instead.
When will the refund check from a CP53 arrive?
The IRS page says your refund should arrive 4 weeks from the date of your notice.
What if the CP53 check does not arrive?
The IRS page says to call the number on your notice if you have not received the refund check after 4 weeks.
Can the IRS send the check to my new address?
The IRS page says refund checks are mailed only to the address of record, which is on the tax return or from a permanent address change request filed afterward. You can request a change by calling the number on the notice or filing Form 8822.
Why can the IRS not direct deposit an older refund?
The IRS page says it can direct deposit refunds only for the current filing year and 2 prior tax years and pays all other refunds by check.
Not tax advice
This page summarizes an IRS web page and is not tax, legal or financial advice, and it does not describe your account. A CPA, an enrolled agent or the IRS can confirm what your notice means for you. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.