In the wake of the recent tax deadline, a new IRS notice scam has emerged. While CP53E is a legitimate IRS notice for the 2025 – 2026 filing season, taxpayers should remain alert for fraudulent versions. 

What is a CP53E Notice? 

The IRS is phasing out paper refund checks, and that’s where the new CP53E notice comes in. If the IRS approves a refund but can’t issue it via direct deposit due to missing or incorrect bank information, a CP53E is sent via U.S. mail to request updated deposit details. 

Spotting a Fake CP53E and What to Do Next 

It’s important to note that the IRS will not contact taxpayers via phone, text or email. Even then, scammers may attempt to impersonate the IRS via regular mail. If you receive a notice, follow these general guidelines: 

• Remember that legitimate IRS CP53E notices are sent only via U.S. mail, and updates can only be made online via your IRS.gov account. 
• Don’t respond to any request that asks you to provide information via phone, text or email. The IRS will only request you to update your information online through your IRS.gov account. Updates cannot be made over the phone. 
• Be suspicious of any notice that asks you to click a link or scan a QR code. Authentic IRS notices will direct you to manually type in an IRS.gov web address into your browser and navigate to your personal account. 
• Be wary of threatening or urgent language — a legitimate IRS request is simply an attempt to gather data to issue your refund, not to intimidate or punish taxpayers.  
• Take comfort in knowing that if you’re unable to respond to the notice, the IRS will typically issue a paper check after six weeks. 

Here to Help 

If you’re unsure about an IRS notice, our tax pros are here to help you determine authenticity and guide you through the appropriate next steps.