The $1,390 payment is not a standard IRS refund or tax credit

The IRS does not issue a standard $1,390 payment to all taxpayers in November 2025. If you received or are expecting a payment of this amount from the IRS, it is tied to a specific circumstance — either a tax refund based on your 2024 return, a correction the IRS made to a prior year, an advance payment related to a tax credit you claimed, or a settlement related to a specific IRS program or lawsuit.

The amount $1,390 does not match any standard tax credit or withholding threshold, which means the payment is personal to your tax situation. To understand why you received it, you need to look at the notice or letter that came with the payment, or check your IRS account online.

Key Takeaways

  • A $1,390 IRS payment is not automatic and relates to your specific tax history, refund, or a correction the IRS made.
  • The IRS mails a notice with every payment explaining the reason, the tax year it relates to, and how it was calculated.
  • You can view payment details and your tax account through IRS.gov using your login credentials or by calling the IRS directly.
  • If you did not expect the payment or do not recognize the reason, contact the IRS before depositing it to confirm it belongs to you.

How to find out why you received the payment

The IRS includes a notice with every payment it sends. This notice will have a number (such as CP12, CP13, or another code) and will explain which tax year the payment relates to, what triggered it, and how the amount was calculated. Read this notice first — it answers most questions about where the money came from.

If you cannot find the notice or it was lost, you can view your account online at IRS.gov. Log in with your username and password, or use the IRS's online account tool without logging in. Your account shows all payments the IRS has sent you, the dates they were issued, and the tax years they relate to. You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to speak with someone who can look up your account and explain the payment.

Common reasons for a $1,390 payment

A refund from your 2024 tax return is the most common reason. If you overpaid taxes through withholding or estimated payments, the IRS refunds the difference. The amount depends entirely on your income, deductions, and what you already paid — $1,390 is straightforward what the math came to for your situation.

The IRS also sends payments when it corrects an error on a prior-year return. This might happen if you filed an amended return, if the IRS found a mistake during a review, or if you claimed a credit you were later found to be may have access to to. A payment could also result from a settlement or judgment related to a specific IRS program, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit (CTC).

Less commonly, the payment could be an advance or partial payment of a tax credit you claimed for the current year, though the IRS typically handles credits through your annual return rather than separate payments.

What to do if you do not recognize the payment

Do not assume the payment is an error or that you should return it without checking first. Scams exist where someone else's refund is deposited into the wrong account, but this is rare. The more likely scenario is that the payment relates to a tax year you filed several years ago and you have straightforward forgotten about it.

Before taking any action, gather the notice that came with the payment and review your IRS account online. If the notice says the payment relates to a tax year you do not remember filing, or if the amount seems wrong, contact the IRS. Have your Social Security number, the tax year in question, and the notice number ready. The IRS can confirm whether the payment is legitimate and correct any errors if one was made.

Depositing or cashing the payment

Once you have confirmed the payment is correct and belongs to you, you can deposit or cash it like any other check or direct deposit. If the IRS sent it by direct deposit, the money will arrive in your bank account automatically. If you received a check, you can deposit it at your bank or cash it at most financial institutions.

Keep the notice that came with the payment for your records. If you file taxes in future years and the IRS asks about payments received, you will have documentation of what this money was for and when it arrived.

If the payment went to the wrong account

If the IRS deposited the refund into a bank account that is not yours — for example, an old account you no longer use — contact your bank when ready. Banks can sometimes reverse deposits if they are caught quickly. You will also need to contact the IRS to let them know the deposit went to the wrong account and to arrange for the payment to be sent to the correct one.

Have your current bank account information ready when you call the IRS. The process can take several weeks, so contact both your bank and the IRS as soon as you notice the error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report this payment as income on my next tax return?

No. A refund of taxes you already paid is not income. The IRS has already accounted for this money on the return it relates to. You do not report it again on a future return.

What if I owe back taxes or child support?

The IRS can offset a refund to pay back taxes, child support, or other federal or state debts. If this happened, the notice will explain the offset. You can contact the IRS or the agency collecting the debt to discuss payment arrangements or dispute the offset if you believe it was made in error.

Can I find out the payment status before it arrives?

Yes. The IRS website has a "Where's My Refund?" tool that shows the status of refunds from your most recent return. For payments related to older tax years or corrections, your IRS account online will show all payments issued to you and their dates.

What if I think the amount is wrong?

Review the notice that came with the payment — it shows the calculation. If you disagree with how the amount was calculated, contact the IRS with the notice number and your tax year. The IRS can explain the calculation or correct it if an error was made.