IRS Warning: Beware of Fake CP53E Notices

Important information for taxpayers
What is the IRS CP53E notice? A CP53E notice is a legitimate IRS notice that taxpayers receive when the IRS cannot complete a refund by direct deposit. Starting September 30, 2025, the IRS has shifted to electronic payments and no longer automatically mails paper checks.

This new workflow is what triggers a CP53E notice. The notice asks the taxpayer to add or update bank account information online through their IRS Online Account.

If you receive a CP53E notice, you have 30 days from the date of the notice to update your information online. If you do not respond, the IRS says it will issue a paper check after 6 weeks.

Scammers are using fake versions of CP53E notices to steal personal and financial data.
How to spot a fraudulent CP53E notice:

• Includes a QR code
• Instructs the taxpayer to respond by text message, email, or phone
• Directs the taxpayer to a website that is not IRS.gov
• Requires a payment by gift card, prepaid card, or another unusual method
• Uses language that appears unusually urgent, threatening, or inconsistent
• Claims an IRS employee can update bank information on the taxpayer’s behalf

One of the obvious red flags in is any instruction to update bank information anywhere other than your IRS Online Account.

IRS employees CANNOT make these changes over the phone.
A legitimate CP53E notice should:

• Arrive by U.S. mail
• Direct the taxpayer to update information through IRS.gov/Account
• State that IRS employees cannot update bank information for you
• Indicate the taxpayer has 30 days to add or update bank information
• Note that if the taxpayer does not respond, the IRS will issue a paper check after 6 weeks
• Refer the taxpayer to Where’s My Refund? to monitor refund status after updating their information

If you receive a CP53E notice in the mail, and you have any questions about its legitimacy or how to best proceed, don’t hesitate to contact your Weiss tax professional.