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.
@LilyinVA: Mine was accepted the same day, on the 19th. I wonder why some people have processing and some have still being processed. And it seems like none of us has anything in our transcripts except empty 2022s.
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@Lynn I: good deal lol thanks
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@Akt: you’ll move sooner than you think
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Good evening 🌆 all
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@Chris: same as me
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Just hopping in to say hello hope its an easy year for us all.
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@debmom
thats exactly what it is.. had the same thing happen to me last week.. informed delivery told me something from IRS .. and i stalked my mailbox for the mail lady.. and that’s all it was, was a letter letting me know a account was made ..
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#DebMom: Yes, they send out one to make sure you’re the one who set it up.
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Does anyone know if you get a letter after setting up idme to access transcripts? Informed delivery shows a letter coming and I show no issues or codes
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@HRBLOCKHEAD: same thing happened to me….its alway something lol.
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Hello everyone….no updates at all for me today. I filed Jan. 11th and was accepted on Jan. 20th I have 1 bar and it say ” We have received your tax return and it is being processed” with tax topic 152 at the bottom. My transcripts are NA my account transcript shows the 2022 date but its blank. Im a weekly so I hope to see some movement this Thursday into Friday.
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@DebMom: ok thanks I was wondering
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I got my refund just now, no credits and wmr still at one bar. I use a NHB(Go2Bank). Good luck to everyone else patiently waiting.
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Just an update.. I’m still stuck with a half processed transcript.
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@Bunnyyyy: they take from which ever comes first
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Apparently I have been getting resequenced since 2020 so I’m done panicking until there is actually something to worry about. Lol.
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FYI this should be a note on the website. 73% of tax returns are not even looked or handled by a human. All automated. The smallest miscalculation or red flag will then cause it to be pulled and looked at by a human.
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Hello I filed with liberty tax and got an advance loan. My question is does anyone no if they hold your state refund? My stated was released today for deposit but I haven’t received it and was wondering about that??
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@Marco.: that’s good part nothings wrong that’s what you want bar with being processed
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@Deano: thank you for responding! Much appreciated!
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