Why We Need Your Bank Details for Tax Filings

Starting in 2026, the IRS is moving away from issuing and accepting paper checks. Because of this change, Sparse Bookkeeping now requires a valid bank account number and routing number when preparing tax filings that may involve payments or refunds.

This information allows tax payments and refunds to be processed electronically instead of by paper check.

We need the following bank details:

• Routing number

• Bank account number

• Account type: checking or savings

You can usually find this information in your online banking portal, on a check, or by contacting your bank.

Collecting bank information helps us:

• Reduce errors by avoiding manual check processing and mailing issues

• Prevent payment problems, including people paying the wrong amount online or accidentally applying a payment to the wrong period

• Give us more insight into whether a tax payment or refund has been set up correctly

• Support faster processing for payments and refunds

Yes. Sparse Bookkeeping requires bank account and routing information for applicable tax filings so we can properly support electronic payment and refund processing under the IRS’s updated procedures.

Yes. We treat bank account details as sensitive financial information and use them only for the tax filing and payment purposes needed to complete your return.