key tax return and refund dates
When can you file your taxes?
You can submit your tax return before the IRS begins processing as early as the first week of the year with many tax preparation providers. You don’t need to wait until the IRS begins accepting tax returns but you must have the proper forms and paperwork. Some forms are not available until mid January. Tax returns filed before the IRS officially opens sit in a “queue” and are held until the IRS officially begins accepting tax returns.
Your tax return may be selected in a test batch. If you e-file early and it sits in queue, your return may be sent to the IRS early. This can result in early direct deposits depending on the payment provider you select. Our cycle chart will update with key dates including test batch dates.
When does the IRS accept tax returns?
The IRS usually opens around the third week of January each year. They announce the opening date early in January.
The IRS began accepting tax returns this year on January 29, 2024.
When is the IRS test batch?
If you file your tax return early, it may be sent to the IRS in a test batch before the IRS has officially opened for the year. It is usually a week before the date the IRS begins accepting tax returns. This has resulted in refunds in the past that can be posted by direct deposit as early as the day after tax season opens.
When will I get my tax refund?
Early filers whose returns are accepted in a test batch can anticipate a tax refund as early as the day after the IRS opens the January filing season if your return was in the test batch. The day that the IRS deposits refunds varies for regular returns but we notice trends based on the method you chose to file and select to direct deposit. You can use our tax refund calendar or refund cycle chart to help find out when you will get your tax refund.
Where is the IRS refund cycle chart?
The official tax refund cycle chart published by the IRS has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Refund cycle charts are now published by independent websites and vary slightly.
A good reference to use is the When To Expect My Refund cycle chart that is published early each year by the College Investor.
tax refund grapevine
This is a user-to-user community of taxpayers. Share experiences and ask questions below in our Live Discussion. We have learned more about tax refunds than we ever wanted to know.
tax refund tools
IRS Update Cycle
Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.
When are Updates?
The IRS has regular mass update cycles.
WHEN DOES WHERES MY REFUND (WMR) UPDATE?
Where’s My Refund can update any day of the week. But there are mass updates on Wednesday and Saturday when a lot of people see an update. Use our calendar to find out what day you can expect to see updates on Where’s My Refund.
WHEN DO transcripts update?
Transcripts can update any day of the week. But there are mass updates on Tuesday and Friday. Use our calendar to find out what day you can expect to see an update on your transcript.
Account transcripts updated all good codes so far as of date Feb 27 no actc and no child ctc Does this mean I will update next week for a ddd
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@Sheila_33: As of Feb.27, 2023. It’s been the same since Account popped up last Saturday with all 0’s. My as of date hasn’t changed.
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@Angiee: If you have the path credits, then the system is trying to kick out the refund code so that date pushes forward to get it done. Since there’s a freeze, it can’t, so it will snap back to the original date. If you have no credits, it’s trying to resolve whatever is keeping you from populating, and if it can’t, then it’s going to snap back.
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@Angiee: ugh! I need to be more patient.
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All trans 2019-2022 all updated to as feb 20
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Irs didn’t take my va state refund even tho I owe the irs a couple thousand
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@Kee: Is there an “as of” date on the one with the 0s? I don’t think they’re done yet. And for the last 2 weeks they’ve populated throughout the day.
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@Sheila_33: i just checked mine i had as of date 2/13 then 2/20 then went to 2/13 today back 2/20 why
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@RuthBaby: 😂😂😂😂
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@Mike: great to know!!! Thanks :-)
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Last week, I had return transcript filled out, at 6am EST. Everything else was blank. Then, all transcripts(except wage but that is normal) were done by 10 EST.
Don’t get worried yet!
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@AngelFaceCoco: nothing yet
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@Sheila_33: Is it possible to still populate if it’s currently still showing N/A for the top 2, and 0’s for the account transcript with no return filed still?
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I wonder how state taxes are moving?
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Good morning guys. Remember these transcripts can take awhile to populate. The same happened last week. Watch and see if that as of date is moving. For those with filled out transcripts on Path, that date may push out but it’s most likely gonna snap back to what it was when they first populated.
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@Monee: Let’s hope it stays at 2/27.
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Good morning everyone, a week ago my 2021 transcripts read as Feb 20 2023 they changed back to March 2022 this morning 2021 updated to as of Feb 27 2023 still no 2022 transcripts yet. Anyone have this going on?
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Correction Wage, not eagle
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Still N/A for top two, eagle empty, and Account transcripts 0.00 with return not filed. Is there a chance for it to update throughout the day?
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Welp I just updated again and my processing date changed from 2/20/2023 to 2/27/2023. All good codes still like last week and everything filled out on transcripts the first time last week. Ready for the big update next week. I’ll still check my WMR tomorrow morning just to see
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