Received an IRS CP53E Notice? Here Is How to Verify It Before You Act

Tax season brings a predictable wave of IRS correspondence, and with it, a predictable wave of scams designed to look just like the real thing. One notice getting attention this year is the CP53E, a legitimate IRS letter that scammers have been quick to imitate.

If you received a CP53E, or something that looks like one, here is what you need to know before taking any action.

What a CP53E Notice Means

The CP53E is sent when the IRS cannot issue your tax refund via direct deposit. The most common reasons include:

• An invalid or incorrect bank account number on your return
• No bank account information provided
• A deposit rejected by the financial institution

For 2025 returns filed in 2026, the IRS is moving more aggressively away from paper checks and asking taxpayers to update direct deposit information through their online portal. That means more taxpayers are likely to encounter this notice than in past years.

Why You Should Be Cautious

Scammers are creating highly convincing fake CP53E notices, often featuring QR codes or links that lead to credential-stealing websites. The IRS has begun using QR codes on some legitimate correspondence, which makes the fakes harder to spot at a glance.

The safest assumption is that any QR code or link in a notice you receive should not be used until the notice itself has been verified through official channels.

How to Verify a CP53E Notice

There are three reliable ways to confirm whether a notice is legitimate:

• Log into your IRS Online Account. A copy of any real notice will appear in your secure file at irs.gov/payments/your-online-account.
• Call the IRS directly. The official number is 1-800-829-1040.
• Check refund status. Use the official Where's My Refund? tool on irs.gov.

What to Expect from a Legitimate Notice

Real CP53E notices typically give taxpayers 30 days to update banking information through their IRS Online Account. If no action is taken within that window, the IRS generally issues a paper check after about six weeks.

One important detail worth repeating: IRS employees cannot update bank account information by phone or in person. Banking changes must be made through the taxpayer's IRS Online Account. Anyone calling, texting, or emailing to "help" you update this information is not the IRS.

When to Call Your Tax Advisor

If you receive an IRS notice of any kind and are unsure whether it is legitimate, send it to your Brinker Simpson tax contact before taking action. We can help you verify the notice, confirm what it requires, and respond appropriately.

A few minutes of verification is always worth more than the risk of acting on a fake.