Direct Deposit Your Tax Refund

The IRS allows direct deposit for your income tax refunds, permitting you to divide your refund among up to three accounts. Learn how to deposit your refund directly into Fidelity accounts.

You may be able to direct deposit your IRS and/or state tax refund into your Fidelity account(s). This is an easy way to direct the money into a tax-advantaged or other investment account without the temptation to spend it.

The processes below refer to federal tax forms, but the routing and account numbers are the same for depositing state tax refunds. Please refer to IRS or state instructions on direct deposit to determine if you can use this feature.

To deposit your refund into a single account

If you are depositing your federal income tax refund into only one account, you can simply fill out the two lines in the refund section of Form 1040.

To deposit your refund into multiple accounts

If you want to deposit your refund into two or more accounts, you must fill out IRS Form 8888. Be sure to indicate on Form 1040 that you have attached Form 8888.

How to adjust Fidelity account numbers on IRS forms

Whether you are depositing into one or multiple accounts, you’ll need to know how to enter Fidelity routing and account numbers on the IRS forms. You may have to make simple adjustments, as Fidelity account numbers may include letters or an amount of numbers that the IRS cannot accommodate. The tabs below will help you through the process.

Choose the tab for the type of account you’d like to enter on your IRS form.

To deposit your refund into an IRA, follow these steps. Be sure to bear in mind that the contribution is subject to IRS contribution limits and deadlines and, by default, it will be considered a contribution for the current calendar year.

Line 1a. Indicate the amount of the refund to deposit in this account.

b. Add the Fidelity routing number: 101205681.

c. Choose Checking as the account type.

d. As your account number, enter Fidelity prefix 39900000 followed by your IRA account number.

For example, if your IRA account number is 123-456789, then your 17-digit depositor account number is 39900000123456789.

Contact Fidelity if you are making a prior-year contribution

If you wish to designate the refund deposit as a 2023 tax-year contribution, please contact a Fidelity representative after the deposit has been received by Fidelity. The deposit will default to a current-year (2024) contribution unless you notify us.

To qualify as a 2023 tax-year contribution, the deposit must be received by Fidelity no later than April 15, 2024*. Remember: The 2023 aggregate annual contribution limit for Roth and Traditional IRAs is $6,500 ($7,500 if you are age 50 or over as of December 31, 2023). The 2024 aggregate annual contribution limit for Roth and Traditional IRAs is $7,000 ($8,000 if you are age 50 or over as of December 31, 2024).

Be aware of IRA limits and deadlines for the current year

Depositing your tax refund into an IRA counts as a contribution and is subject to IRA contribution limits and deadlines.

Tax refunds deposited into a Fidelity IRA in 2024 will be treated as 2024 tax-year contributions automatically, unless you request otherwise.

To deposit your refund into a brokerage account, follow these steps. Your refund will be deposited into your core account.

Line 1a. Indicate the amount of the refund you wish to deposit in this account.

b. Add the Fidelity routing number: 101205681.

c. Choose Checking as the account type.

d. As your account number, enter Fidelity prefix 39900000 followed by your Fidelity Account® number.

For example, if your brokerage account number is X23-456789, then your 17-digit depositor account number will be 39900000X23456789.

If the tax authority cannot accept letters in the account number

If the letter is not permitted, you may substitute a number as follows:

  • Replace X with the number 5
  • Replace Y with the number 6
  • Replace Z with the number 7

In the example above, the account would be entered as 39900000523456789.

For brokerage accounts that consist of 9 digits

As your account number, enter Fidelity prefix 39900001 followed by your Fidelity Account® number.

For example, if your brokerage account number is 603-123456, then your 17-digit depositor account number is 39900001603123456.

To deposit your refund into a 529 college savings plan account, follow these steps. Your refund will be deposited according to the most recent investment allocation information on file for your 529 account (as indicated either on your Account Application or Allocation Change Form).

Line 1a. Indicate the amount of the refund to deposit in this account.

b. Add the Fidelity routing number: 101205681

c. Choose Checking as the account type.

d. As your account number, enter Fidelity prefix 39900001 followed by your account number.

For example, if your 529 account number is 603-123456, then your 17-digit depositor account number is 39900001603123456.

A mutual fund account is a nonretirement account used specifically to purchase mutual funds. Most Fidelity customers now use the Fidelity Account® for this purpose, a brokerage account that also allows the purchase of other securities; however, many customers still maintain mutual fund accounts.

To deposit your refund into a Fidelity Mutual Fund account, follow these steps.

Line 1a. Indicate the amount of the refund to deposit in this account.

b. Add the Fidelity routing number: 101205681

c. Choose Checking as the account type.

d. As your account number, enter Fidelity prefix 392 followed by the 5-digit number of the fund to which you would like it deposited, and then the 9-digit account number or T account number.

If your fund number is less than 5 digits, add zeros to the beginning.

For example, if your account number is 2AA123456, and your fund number is 0055, then your 17-digit account number is: 392000552AA123456.

If the tax authority cannot accept letters in the account number

Your account has an alternate number, known as a T account number. This number is available on the Checkwriting & Deposit SlipsLog In Required page.

For example, if your T account number is T789789789 and the fund is 055, Cash Reserves, the direct deposit number is 39200055789789789.

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