Will the IRS Replace a Lost Refund Check?
Understand the formal IRS process for addressing a lost, stolen, or destroyed refund check and what to expect after you make the request.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a defined procedure for taxpayers to follow if a refund check is lost, stolen, or destroyed. This process ensures that you can request a replacement for your missing funds. The first action is not to assume the check is lost, but to verify its status with the IRS. This confirmation is a necessary starting point before initiating any formal request for a new check.
Verifying Your Refund Status
Before reporting a check as lost, you must first confirm that the IRS actually sent the payment. The most direct way to do this is by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS.gov website or through the IRS2Go mobile app. To access your information, you will need your Social Security Number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), your tax filing status, and the exact refund amount as stated on your tax return.
The key status update to look for is “Refund Sent.” This confirms the IRS has issued the payment as a paper check mailed to the address on your return. If the tool shows this status and a reasonable amount of time has passed, you can proceed. For paper checks, you should wait at least four weeks from the mailing date before considering it lost.
Information Needed for a Refund Trace
To formally request that the IRS track down your missing payment, a process known as a refund trace, you must gather specific information. You will need the same details used for the “Where’s My Refund?” tool: your Social Security Number or ITIN, the tax year in question, your filing status, and the precise refund amount. This information is used to complete Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund.
The current version of Form 3911 can be downloaded from the IRS website. When filling it out, you will focus on Section I. This section requires you to enter your personal details, including your name, address, and the tax period for the missing refund. You must also check the box indicating the type of return filed and provide the refund amount.
How to Request a Replacement Check
The method for initiating a refund trace depends on your filing status. If you filed as Single, Head of Household, or Married Filing Separately, you can request a trace using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website, the IRS2Go mobile app, or by calling the IRS and following the automated prompts.
For those who filed a Married Filing Jointly return, the online and automated phone options are not available. You must submit a completed Form 3911 by mail or fax. This is required because the form must include signatures from both spouses. The form’s instructions provide the correct mailing address.
The Refund Trace Process and Timeline
After you submit your request, the IRS begins its trace process, which takes about six weeks but can be longer during peak periods. If the investigation shows the check was not cashed, the IRS will cancel the original payment and issue a replacement.
If the trace reveals the original check was cashed, the process becomes more involved. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) will send you a claim package that contains a copy of the cashed check, both front and back. You will be required to complete the claim forms, stating whether the endorsement is a forgery. The BFS then reviews your claim and the signature on the check to determine if a replacement should be issued, a process that can take up to six weeks.