WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin phasing out paper tax refund checks for taxpayers starting Tuesday, Sept. 30, marking a major shift toward electronic payments, the IRS said in a news release.

The change, required by an executive order in March, is aimed at improving security, speeding up refunds and cutting costs, the agency said Tuesday.

The executive order means the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) will modernize the government’s payment infrastructure and “enhance its ability to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.”

The IRS will issue detailed guidance for 2025 tax returns before the 2026 filing season begins. For now, taxpayers should continue using current forms and procedures, including those filing 2024 returns on extension before Wednesday,

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