For all the people
impatiently waiting
on tax refunds.

A grapevine for taxpayers,
by taxpayers.

Interact with people who have experiences or questions just like you.

All of your tax refund questions, answered.
What Other People Are Saying
37,537 comments

Where’s My Refund?

You have questions, we have answers.

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 ā€œqueueā€ 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 will begin accepting tax returns in 2025 on January 27th.

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.

IRS Update Cycle

Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.

Transcripts

This is what your IRS transcript can tell you about your tax refund.

Transaction Codes

Lookup the codes that you see on your tax return transcript and what they mean.

Daily vs. Weekly

Find out if you have a daily or weekly account with the IRS and what it means.

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.

talk to a human

It is often hard to reach someone at the IRS and you might want to talk to a person. It is hard to reach some tax preparation companies too. Use our guide to talk to a human at the IRS.

TAX TOPIC 152

Tax Topic 152 is the most common status when you check the status of your tax refund. It is nothing to worry about.

transcript codes

Transaction Codes (TC) sometimes called transcript codes consist of three digits and may appear on your IRS account transcript. Decipher the codes on your IRS transcripts.

reference codes

Most times the Wherer’s My Refund tool (WMR) will show Tax Topic 152. Other times you may see various error codes. These are called Reference Codes on the WMR.

Join the Conversation

What Others Are Saying

  1. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-12
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    I don’t believe they’ll be any acceptances tomorrow because of the holiday, but Tuesday is an elongated day so testing should begin again and hopefully processing for returns that were accepted last week.

    Reply
  2. 2blessed
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Transcript:
      No Access
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Starchild1111: same here! Praying for an update tomorrow with some good news. I was kind of concerned with the ip pin because I never had to do that before.

    Reply
  3. Starchild1111

    @2blessed: right same for me just i did them myself and got rejected for not having the ip pin now i wana see accepted

    Reply
    1
  4. Harris
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-15
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17

    @Dentonj88: it means they haven’t look at or started processing your return yet. I’m in the same boat.

    Reply
    1
  5. Annaka

    Hello, does anyone know if TT gives the refund advance if you have dependents? And what are the qualifications? Thanks,

    Reply
  6. Dentonj88

    Is it normal to have the “no record of return filed” when you look at any of your transcripts even if irs has confirmed it as received and TT says accepted?

    Reply
  7. Dunbar84

    Has anyone that was in the test batch or anyone in general received the refund advance loan from TurboTax yet? I efiled on 1/8/24 and WMR says IRS has received my return but TurboTax says pending and hasnā€™t gave me my refund advance loan. Is it not available until IRS is open on the 24th?

    Reply
  8. meowser

    does anyone know with h&r block online where you can put your IP pin number.ive gone over it many times and cant find it maybe because i was in process of filling but didnt finish because i realized there was no where to put it

    Reply
  9. Morris

    @Monee: ok I see. I’m thinking about it but I know I’m wasting my time. Good Luck!

    Reply
  10. shelleybeanss
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-13
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CK
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Dentonj88: Iā€™m hoping so. We need a smooth tax year!

    Reply
    1
  11. ChrissC

    @Sheila_33: thank you

    Reply
  12. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-12
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @ChrissC: If your return has been accepted by the IRS, and you have no path credits, then you could possibly see a refund date this week if everything runs smoothly. :)

    Reply
  13. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-12
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Reb: Was your return accepted by the IRS? You can submit a return to HRB, but it sits in que until it’s accepted by the IRS. After the IRS accepts, it can take up to 48 hours to show on the WMR tool.

    Reply
    1
  14. Monee
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-15
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Varo
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240505
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-2
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Eriona: you won’t get flagged for switching. It’s just software

    Reply
    1
  15. Dentonj88

    @shelleybeanss: gotcha..makes sensešŸ„ŗ well, here’s to hoping things progress smoothly. Do you think EIC folk will see updates after the weekend (movement in WMR, IRS site, TT updates, or anything similar?)

    Reply
    1
  16. Mommy_3
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-19
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Go2Bank
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Transcript:
      Blank
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Happy Tax Season Everyone! Finally got my W-2 and e-filed today. What do you guys think about this Turbo Tax 5 day early direct deposit???

    Reply
  17. shelleybeanss
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-13
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CK
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Dentonj88: they may have gotten an advance through their tax preparer. The advance is the only reason I used turbo tax again this year. I was going to go over to freetax but need that advance to move

    Reply
    2