Guide · Payments

By File720Online Editorial Team · October 4, 2026

Executive Order 14247: What Changes for Form 720 and Form 8849 Filers

The order is widely reported as “the IRS stopped taking checks.” That is not what it did. One direction of payment changed on September 30, 2025; the other has no deadline at all — and excise filers are affected by both, differently.

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Quick Answer

Executive Order 14247, “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account,” was signed March 25, 2025. It changed money flowing out of the federal government: Treasury and the IRS began phasing out paper refund checks on September 30, 2025. It did not set a deadline for money flowing in — the IRS still accepts and processes mailed checks and money orders for tax payments. For excise filers that means Form 8849 refunds should be set up for direct deposit now, while a paper check for a Form 720 balance due remains acceptable. Semi-monthly Federal Tax Deposits were already electronic-only and cannot be made with cash or a card.

The Order Treats the Two Directions Differently

Almost every confusion about EO 14247 comes from reading it as a single rule. It is two, and only one of them has a date attached.

Money FROM the IRS to you

Changed

Treasury and the IRS began phasing out paper refund checks on September 30, 2025. The IRS states it generally stopped issuing paper refund checks for individual taxpayers after that date, and that it is adding the direct deposit option to most business tax return types.

What it means for excise filers

This is the half that matters most for excise work, because Form 8849 refunds are money coming out of the IRS. Expect refunds to route to a bank account rather than arrive as a check, and make sure the banking details on the claim are right before you transmit — a wrong account number is far more painful to unwind than a lost check.

Money FROM you to the IRS

Not changed yet

The order directs that payments made to the federal government be processed electronically "as soon as practicable, and to the extent permitted by law." No deadline was set. The IRS position is that mailed payments, including checks and money orders, are still accepted and processed, and that it will transition to electronic methods over time.

What it means for excise filers

A paper check for a Form 720 balance due is still acceptable today. What has not changed at all is the deposit rule: semi-monthly Federal Tax Deposits were already electronic-only, and the IRS is explicit that businesses cannot use cash or card payments to make Federal Tax Deposits.

Federal Tax Deposits Were Never Part of This

If your excise liability triggers semi-monthly deposits, nothing about EO 14247 changes your obligations — they were already electronic. The IRS states plainly that businesses cannot use cash or card payments to make Federal Tax Deposits. Deposits run through EFTPS, the IRS business tax account, or Direct Pay.

The deposit rules themselves — which quarters trigger them, the semi-monthly schedule, and the safe-harbor percentages — are unchanged and covered in full in our semi-monthly deposit rules guide.

What Excise Filers Should Actually Do

  1. 1

    Put bank details on the return, not in a drawer

    Any Form 8849 claim or overpayment you expect back should carry current, verified ACH details. The single most common cause of a delayed refund in the new regime is an account number that was correct two years ago.

  2. 2

    Move deposits to EFTPS if they are not there already

    Semi-monthly deposits have required electronic payment for years, and cash and card are not permitted for Federal Tax Deposits at all. EFTPS enrollment takes several business days, so this is not a thing to start on a deposit due date.

  3. 3

    Treat check payment as a shrinking option, not a permanent one

    There is no announced end date for paper checks to the IRS, but the order’s stated direction is electronic. Businesses that still cut a quarterly check should plan the switch on their own schedule rather than on the IRS’s.

  4. 4

    Know which exceptions exist before you rely on one

    The IRS has said limited exceptions to the paper check phase-out will be established, including for taxpayers without access to banking or electronic payment systems, and for certain legal and procedural situations. These are narrow and documented — not a general opt-out.

Related Articles

Form 720 Payment Methods

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Form 8849 Refund Guide

Claiming excise tax refunds

Refund Processing Times

How long excise refunds take

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Executive Order 14247 stop me from paying Form 720 by check?
No. The order requires federal payments to be processed electronically "as soon as practicable, and to the extent permitted by law," but it set no deadline for payments made to the government. The IRS has said mailed payments, including checks and money orders, are still accepted and processed. A lot of commentary on EO 14247 gets this backwards.
Will my Form 8849 excise tax refund still come as a paper check?
Generally no. Treasury and the IRS began phasing out paper refund checks on September 30, 2025, and the IRS has said it is adding the direct deposit option to most business tax return types. Provide accurate bank details with the claim so the refund has somewhere to land.
Can I make a semi-monthly excise tax deposit with a credit card?
No, and that predates EO 14247. The IRS is explicit that businesses cannot use cash or card payments to make Federal Tax Deposits. Deposits go through EFTPS, your IRS business tax account, or Direct Pay.
What is the deadline for switching to electronic payments to the IRS?
There is no published deadline. The order states that payments to the government shall be processed electronically as soon as practicable and to the extent permitted by law, and the IRS says it will move to electronic methods over time with limited exceptions. Plan the transition rather than waiting for a date.
What electronic payment methods does the IRS name?
Direct deposit for refunds, and for payments: IRS Direct Pay, the IRS Business Tax Account, EFTPS, electronic funds withdrawal, debit and credit cards or digital wallets through authorized processors, prepaid debit cards, cash at participating retail locations, and wire transfers for international taxpayers. Deposits remain restricted to the electronic channels above.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, or professional advice. Executive Order 14247 is being implemented in stages and IRS guidance continues to be updated; confirm current rules on IRS.gov before changing how you pay or receive federal excise tax amounts. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation. File720Online is an IRS-authorized e-file provider and does not provide legal or tax advice.