What this line means
Your personal account number at the bank identified on line 1a. This can be a checking or savings account number — you also check a box on the form to indicate which type. The account number length varies by bank (typically 8 to 17 digits). The IRS uses this number combined with the routing number on line 1a to deposit your refund electronically.
Does this apply to you?
- You entered a routing number on line 1a and need to provide the matching account number
- You want the first portion of your split refund deposited into this specific account
- You have a checking or savings account at a U.S. financial institution that accepts direct deposits
Easy to overlook
Check numbers are not account numbers The number printed on the upper-right corner of a personal check is the check number, not your account number. The account number is printed on the bottom of the check between the routing number and the check number. Filers who rarely write checks sometimes confuse these, which causes the deposit to fail. 1 IRS Form 8888 instructions — Line 1b
Leading zeros matter Some bank account numbers start with one or more zeros. You must include every digit, including leading zeros, exactly as your bank shows them. Dropping a leading zero shortens the account number and the IRS deposit will not match your bank’s records. 2 General filing pattern — account number entry errors
Watch out for this
Entering a credit card number, brokerage account number, or loan account number instead of a bank deposit account number. The IRS can only direct-deposit refunds into checking or savings accounts at U.S. financial institutions. If the account number does not correspond to a valid deposit account, the transaction fails and the IRS mails a paper check instead.
Footnotes
-
IRS Form 8888 Instructions, Line 1b. https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8888 ↩
-
IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, Direct Deposit of Refund. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf ↩