Goodbye, Paper Checks: What the New Federal E-Payments Mandate Means for You
0:31 Well, good afternoon, Michiganders, and welcome back to Tuesday with Tom Michigan's Only podcast where we talk about a state planning, it's state settlement and everything in between. As always, I'm your host, Tom Doyle, a state planning attorney, lifelong Michigander and your guide to planning for your future. Well, a quick review of last episode, How do I use a will or trust to change a beneficiary designation? If you've got beneficiary designations perhaps on life insurance policies or bank accounts or investment accounts, and you want to know how you can use a will or trust to change those beneficiary designations, or to find out if you can even use a will or trust to change those beneficiary designations, I invite you please please listen to last week's episode. Well, today's show. Today, we're talking about a change that's going to affect just about everyone who's out there listening, whether you're an individual getting Social Security or maybe a small business owner or even a trustee managing in a state.
1:51 And that is the federal government is phasing out paper checks. That's right after September twenty twenty five, only less than a month away. Now, most payments from and to the federal government will now have to be electronics. So let's break down what's happening. Let's talk a little bit why it's happening, and what you need to do to get ready. But please remember what I'm about to discuss is, as always for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be legal advice. You need to work with your attorney to determine what is appropriate for you and your estate plan.
2:50 Goodbye paper checks. What the new federal ePayments mandate is going to mean for you? Well, a background, let's start with that. Okay, So for decades, the federal government has actually required electronic payments where possible. That rule is found in the United States Code and in Treasury regulations. But for years there have been exceptions paper checks for certain payments, benefits, tax refunds, special cases. But in March of this year, President Biden issued an executive order. I guess that would be March of last year, not this year. President Biden issued in an executive order, and that order directed the Treasury to modernize all payments, both payments from the government like benefits and refunds, and payments to the government like taxes in fees, and the reasoning pretty straight forward. Paper checks are expensive, they can be lost or stolen, and they delay payments. So electronic payments are faster, safer, and cheaper for taxpayers. So what's changing, Well, let's start with what's changing for individuals. If you receive Social Security, Veterans
4:23 benefits or railroad retirement checks, you now need to set up direct deposit or get signed up for the Direct Express debit card. So if you've been receiving those paper checks for those benefits again, Social Security Veterans benefits, railroad retirement checks, if you've been receiving those, those checks are going to stop after September thirtieth, twenty twenty five. Also, tax refunds starting this upcoming filing season about April of the next year. We're marching towards the end of twenty twenty five. You're going to be having your tax returns prepared for you, and if you're expecting a refund, there is not going to be a paper refund check. That means when you file that twenty twenty five return, you will need to have direct deposit information ready. The IRS is not going to send out paper refund checks except in very narrow circumstances. And what if you owe money, so you've got your income tax return prepared in your own money, or let's say you still have another payment to make with estimated tax payments for this tax year. Well, the IRS is moving fully again to an electronic system as well, so you as an individual will need to
5:55 use IRS Direct Pay. So individuals are going to have to use IRS Direct Pay to make those payments. Businesses will continue to use the EFTPS, that's the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, but the deadline is still the same September thirtieth, twenty twenty five. So that's if you're going to be making payments to the government. What about businesses and nonprofits, Well, if you contract with the government or receive federal grants from the federal government, your payments are going to become are only going to come by automated clearing house transfers ACCH for sure. No more payper checks in the mail. So you'll need to make sure your banking information is up to date in sam dot gov as well as in any agency vendor portal that you use for tax purposes too. Now, businesses, perhaps you're making payroll tax deposits and business tax payments. You're going to have to use the EFTPS system, and if you're not already set up, get registered now and make sure your bookkeeping in payroll software is aligned with the ACCH reporting
7:27 so you don't run into problems at the time. Perhaps you're using an online payroll system and you're using that to automatically generate checks to make your payments, you're going to have to make sure that those are converted or will give you the ability to use ACCH reporting, which will be electronic payments of your taxes that become due. Well, what about estates, trust or other fiduciary as well. This is probably where it might actually get relevant to many of the listeners aside from everything that we've talked about already, But if you're serving as a trustee or perhaps a personal representative an estate or a conservator for a disabled individual, you also need to prepare for electronic refunds and deposits.
8:29 So estates and trusts that file at ten forty one and are due a refund are no longer going to receive a paper check. Those refunds will need to go directly into your fiduciary account. That you control. You also need to make sure, of course, that that account is properly documented to receive those payments and to provide you appropriate court account for conservatorship. Same rules apply. Set up an electronic account. You probably already have to have a court approved account. Make sure that the account that is going to receive the electronic payments is one that is court approved, and make sure any benefit payments are flowing directly into it. Remember, this isn't just an administrative change, It has fiduciary consequences. Courts expect you, obviously to handle these ones properly and to document the transition. Now, are there exceptions? Yes, there are, but they are very limited.
9:47 Treasury and individual agencies can grant waivers in very rare cases, for example where someone truly has no access to banking services or electric on systems, But obviously for the vast majority of people and businesses, you should not expect to qualify for a waiver. Essentially, the message from Treasury is clear, paper checks are ending. So what should you do right now? Well, if you're an individual, enroll and direct deposit with your agency or get direct express card. Make sure your banking info is accurate, create an IRS online account so you can use direct pay when time comes. If you're a business or nonprofit, log into your SAM dot gov account, confirm your banking details if you need to register for EFTPS so you can make electronic payments to the government.
10:52 And again, if you're a trustee or an executor, make sure you have a fiduciary bank account set up that can receive directly deposits and make sure that your tax filings reflect that account for any refunds, and don't forget to document the change for your annual accountings. And message for everyone everyone, be careful, be careful about scams. Whenever changes come about, people are going to be out there trying to scam you. They're going to be trying to get you to give them your bank information. So only update your information through official government sites like SSA dot gov, i RS dot gov, VA dot gov, or SAM dot com.
11:46 So only up your date your information through official sites. Remember, the government is never going to call you out of the blue asking for your bank information. So if you get a call from somebody who says, hey, you know, at the end of September you need to set things up with your program and we'll assist you to do that. All you have to do is give us your bank account information and you'll make sure everything's set up. That that red flag clearly is a scam, so again, only update your information through official websites. The bottom line is this paper checks from Uncle Sam are going away, and by September thirty, if that's less than thirty days away, if you haven't made the switch to electronic payments, you could face delays or maybe even miss out on money that you're entitled to. So take your action now. Check your benefit accounts, update your bank accounts, update your bank details, set up EFTPS or direct pay, and if your fuduciary again, make sure your court approved counts are ready to go.
13:04 To help get you ready for the epayment mandate, check out our free checklist that you will find in the Companion blog post to this podcast, and that will be available at Tuesday with Tom dot com. Now, of course, Amanda and I can't really set up your payments to the federal government. That's something that you're gonna have to do with your bank or online and get that all squared away, although we might be able to give you assistance online if you want to meet with us, but again, only want to work with approved government websites. But of course we would also be honored to help you protect the ones you love, whether that means creating a brand new estate plan for you, or updating in a state plan that you already have for you, or guiding you through the estate settlement process if you're dealing with someone's estate who has died, we try and make it easy
14:35 and convenient for you to get started. We offer in person appointments both in Grand Rapids and lancing, virtual consultations by zoom or phone wherever you are in Michigan. And remember too, you can always go to the Legal Store on our website if you only just need one document. Maybe all you need is a new healthcare power of attorney or an new certificate of trust. Just take a look at the Legal Store and there you're going to find information on how you can order individual legal documents twenty four to seven through our Legal Store. All of that, all of that at more is available at doylelopc dot com.
15:18 So please visit doylelopc dot com to learn more and to schedule your consultation today. Well, I think that's going to be a wrap for today's show. As always, though, if you have a comment about the program, a question you'd like to have answered, or a topic you'd like to have me cover in a future episode, head on over to Tuesday with Tom dot com. You can leave me a voice message by clicking the microphone or just send me an email and that would be Tom at Tuesday with Tom dot com. And please remember follow us on Facebook invite your family and friends to do the same.
16:09 That would be Tuesday with Tom And of course the office on Facebook is Doyle LAWPC. And don't forget subscribe to our email list at Tuesday with Tom dot com or at Doyle LAWPC dot com. And remember too, you can listen to this program wherever you enjoy. Your podcast run many services such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcast, iHeartRadio, Speaker and you can always ask your smart speaker to play Tuesday with Tom. Well, thanks again for spending part of your day with us, and as always, I hope you have an awesome day and an awesome week in Michigan. Stay safe. Tuesday with Tom has been brought to you by the estate planning attorneys at Doyle Law PC to learn how we can help you with your estate plan or with settling a loved one's estate.
17:18 Please call us today at five one seven three two three seven three sixty six. That's five one seven three two three seven three sixty six.
