Knowledge and Insights

We want to make our clients aware of a recent increase in scam activity involving fake IRS CP53E notices.

As your trusted advisors, our priority is to help you protect your personal and financial information. Please review the information below and contact us if you have any concerns.

WHAT IS AN IRS CP53E NOTICE?

The IRS CP53E notice is a legitimate communication the IRS sends when it cannot process your tax refund via direct deposit. Common reasons include:

• No bank account information provided
• The bank rejected the deposit
• The account could not be validated

HOW SCAMMERS ARE EXPLOITING CP53E NOTICES

Scammers are sending fake CP53E notices to trick taxpayers into sharing sensitive information. These fraudulent notices may:

• Contain a QR code
• Ask you to respond via text, email, or phone
• Direct you to a website other than IRS.gov
• Request unusual forms of payment (gift cards, prepaid cards, etc.)
• Use threatening or urgent language
• Claim an IRS employee can update your bank details for you

Remember: The IRS will only direct you to update bank information through your IRS Online Account. Any other instruction is a red flag.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

• Do not scan QR codes or click links in any IRS notice.
• Access your IRS Online Account by typing https://IRS.gov/Account directly into your browser.
• Update bank information only within your IRS Online Account.
• Allow 2–5 days for updates to take effect, then check “Where’s My Refund?” for your refund status

The CP53E notice itself is real, but scams are on the rise. To stay safe, ignore links, QR codes, and alternate contact instructions. Only use the official IRS Online Account at IRS.gov to verify and respond.

IF YOU RECEIVE A REAL CP53E NOTICE, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO:

• Update your bank account information through your IRS Online Account at https://www.irs.gov/account within 30 days.
• IRS employees cannot update this information for you by phone.
• If you do not respond, the IRS will mail a paper check approximately six weeks after the notice date.

OUR TEAM OF TAX EXPERTS ARE HERE TO HELP

If you have any questions or need assistance verifying an IRS notice, please contact your Mercadien advisor directly. We are here to support you.

Thank you for trusting Mercadien with your tax matters.

DISCLAIMER: This advisory resource is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute business or tax advice and may not be used and relied upon as a substitute for business or tax advice regarding a specific issue or problem. Advice should be obtained from a qualified accountant, tax practitioner or attorney licensed to practice in the jurisdiction where that advice is sought.