Benefits of Direct Deposit

You get your refund faster by direct deposit than you do by check.

Payment is more secure. There is no check that can get lost or stolen.

It is more convenient. You don’t have to make a trip to the bank to deposit your check.

It saves tax dollars. It costs the government less to refund by direct deposit.

It’s proven itself. Nearly 98% of social security and veterans’ benefits are sent electronically using direct deposit.

If you file a joint return and check the box on line 35a and attach Form 8888 or fill in lines 35b through 35d, your spouse may get at least part of the refund.

IRA.

You can have your refund (or part of it) directly deposited to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA, but not a SIMPLE IRA. You must establish the IRA at a bank or other financial institution before you request direct deposit. Make sure your direct deposit will be accepted. You must also notify the trustee or custodian of your account of the year to which the deposit is to be applied (unless the trustee or custodian won’t accept a deposit for 2025). If you don’t, the trustee or custodian can assume the deposit is for the year during which you are filing the return. For example, if you file your 2025 return during 2026 and don’t notify the trustee or custodian in advance, the trustee or custodian can assume the deposit to your IRA is for 2026. If you designate your deposit to be for 2025, you must verify that the deposit was actually made to the account by the due date of the return (not counting extensions). If the deposit isn’t made by that date, the deposit isn’t an IRA contribution for 2025. In that case, you must file an amended 2025 return and reduce any IRA deduction and any retirement savings contributions credit you claimed.

You and your spouse, if filing jointly, each may be able to contribute up to $7,000 ($8,000 if age 50 or older at the end of 2025) to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA for 2025. You may owe an additional tax if your contributions exceed these limits, and the limits may be lower depending on your compensation and income. For more information on IRA contributions, see Pub. 590-A.

For more information on IRAs, see Pub. 590-A and Pub. 590-B.

Form 8888.

You can have your refund directly deposited into more than one account. For more information, see the Form 8888 instructions.

Your refund can be split and directly deposited into up to three different accounts in your name on Form 8888.

You can’t have your refund deposited into more than one account if you file Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation.