Summary: The IRS is issuing legitimate CP53E notices in some refund situations, but scammers are exploiting confusion by sending fake notices that try to collect taxpayers’ personal and banking information. Taxpayers should verify any CP53E notice through their IRS online account at IRS.gov/account and never provide bank details, Social Security numbers, passwords, or other sensitive information through links, QR codes, emails, texts, phone calls, or suspicious websites.

A rise in IRS CP53E notices is creating confusion for taxpayers, particularly those who were not expecting a refund or do not believe they are eligible for one. While CP53E is a legitimate IRS notice that may be issued when direct deposit information is missing, incorrect, or rejected, or when an IRS adjustment results in a refund, scammers are exploiting the situation to obtain personal and banking information.

The notice is tied to a presidential executive order that directs federal agencies to transition from paper checks to electronic payments for federal disbursements, including tax refunds. Taxpayers who receive a CP53E notice should verify it through their IRS online account before taking action and should never provide sensitive information through links, QR codes, emails, text messages, or phone calls.

How To Identify a Legitimate CP53E Notice

A real CP53E notice is sent by U.S. mail and asks taxpayers to update direct deposit information only through their official IRS online account. The IRS will not ask taxpayers to provide banking information by email, text message, phone call, or through a representative on a phone line.

The IRS has published FAQs related to CP53E guidance explaining when the notice may be issued, how to update information, and how to evaluate links or QR codes.

Red Flags: How To Identify a Fake CP53E Notice

Be cautious if you receive a notice or any correspondence that:

• Asks you to provide bank information by phone, email, text, or mail
• Tells you to click an unfamiliar link
• Includes a QR code or link that does not clearly lead to a secure IRS.gov page (A lock icon alone does not prove the site is legitimate.)
• Uses threatening or urgent language
• Requests your full Social Security number, bank login credentials, or other sensitive data
• Does not match your tax situation, such as saying you are due a refund when you were not expecting one (This does not automatically mean the notice is fake, but it is a reason to verify it before taking action. In some cases, the IRS may have adjusted a return that originally showed a balance due and now shows a refund.)

Scammers may send fake paper letters too, including QR codes that lead to lookalike IRS websites. When in doubt, do not scan the code or use links in the notice. Instead, type IRS.gov/account into your browser yourself.

How To Verify Authenticity of a CP53E Notice and Respond Safely

If you receive a CP53E notice, take these steps:

1. Pause before responding. Do not let urgent language pressure you.
2. Do not use phone numbers, links, or QR codes from a letter, email, or text unless you are certain they lead to the IRS. The safest option is to type IRS.gov/account into your browser yourself, then log in to your IRS Online Account.
3. Check your notifications and refund status. To do this, sign in or create an online account; check “Notifications” in “Account Home”; and select the “Add Bank Account” notification if a CP53E notice has been issued.
4. Only enter bank information inside your official IRS online account.
5. Triple-check your routing and account numbers before submitting. This matters because the IRS says taxpayers generally have only one opportunity to add or update bank information through their online account.

If the notice does not match what you expected, such as you thought you owed tax or were not expecting a refund, do not assume it is real or fake. Use your IRS online account or official IRS contact information to verify before taking action. You can also check your refund status through the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool or call the official IRS number at 800.829.1040 if you need additional help.

What To Do if You Responded to a Suspicious Notice

If you clicked a suspicious link, scanned a questionable QR code, or shared personal or banking information, act quickly. Contact your bank, change any compromised passwords, and report the suspicious message or letter using IRS scam-reporting guidance. If money or your identity was stolen, follow the IRS steps for people who were scammed.

The Bottom Line

A CP53E notice can be real, but scammers are using fake versions to steal personal and banking information. Do not respond to a notice through a link, QR code, phone number, email, or text message unless you are sure it is legitimate. The safest step is to type IRS.gov/account into your browser, log in to your IRS online account, and verify the notice there. Never provide your Social Security number, bank login, password, PIN, or account information by phone, email, text, or through a suspicious website.

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