September 30, 2025 signals the end of either getting or sending checks to the federal government. President Trump signed an executive order on March 25, 2025 that authorized the change that should make payments faster, more secure and less costly.
Electronic transactions are mandatory with very few exceptions. The most significant exception is for those who cannot qualify for a bank account.
The most common methods for receiving refunds or making payments are direct deposit, using a debit or credit card, using a digital wallet or real time payment system. Over 90% of taxpayers already use direct deposit to receive their tax refunds. The greater change for individual taxpayers will be paying taxes owed or making estimated tax payments electronically. One way to make a payment to IRS without charge is through the IRS Direct Pay program. Go to irs.gov and search for Direct Pay. There are instructions and FAQ’s to assist.
In addition to affecting tax payments, the order applies to all types of federal disbursements such as Social Security retirement, disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).