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CP53B notice: what it means and what to do
Got an IRS CP53B notice? Here is what it means, your deadline, what to check before you answer, and how to reply. Check your own letter free: it stays on your phone.
Check my CP53B notice freeWhat the IRS says this notice is about
We tried to direct deposit your refund, but the financial institution couldn’t process it. We’reresearching your account for the next steps.
What you need to do
You don’t need to do anything at this time.
Your deadline
Answer by the date printed on your notice. If there is no date, answer as soon as you can, and call the number on the notice if you need more time.
What to check before you answer
Is this letter really from the IRS?
The IRS writes first by mail. A real letter shows a notice or letter number, your name and part of your tax ID number. The IRS does not ask for payment by gift card, crypto or wire transfer. If in doubt, sign in to your IRS online account, where many notices are listed.
You may want to
- Call us at the number on the notice if you don’t receive your refund check or a follow-up letter within 10 weeks
- Monitor your financial accounts
If you notice any suspicious or unusual activity, you should:
- Notify your financial institutions.
- Contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus .
- Report any fraudulent activity to your local police or sheriff's department
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov
- Submit a Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit PDF
- Consider getting an IRS Identity Protection PIN to help prevent misuse of your taxpayer identification number on fraudulent federal income tax returns. Learn more at Get an identity protection PIN (IP PIN) .
Common questions
Submit a Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, to the IRS address in the Form 14039 instructions.
No. You can direct your refund to any of your checking or savings accounts, but you can’t direct your refund to someone else’s account (except for your spouse’s account if you have a joint refund).
We must research your account to determine if you are entitled to the refund. We try to balance customer service and tax compliance by reviewing tax returns to prevent fraudulent or incorrect refunds. These critical reviews take time. The following also affect time frames:
- Bankruptcy
- An open audit
- A balance due on a related account (such as a different tax year)
Unfortunately, calling the IRS won’t speed up your refund. You don’t need to call us unless we ask you to do so. If we need more information to process your refund, we’ll contact you by mail. Our telephone assistors cannot provide any additional information.
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