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 will begin accepting tax returns on January 26, 2026.
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 IRS no longer publishes an official tax refund cycle chart. It has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Since then, dozens of versions have popped up, some better than others.
That’s where we step in.
Get the dates, skip the guessing.
Each year, we compile the most accurate Refund Cycle Chart, built from IRS manuals, payout trends, PATH Act release dates, holidays, and real user updates, so you don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s coming.
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.
@2blessed: 1095 a its the medical insurance but i didnt have to select anything they litteraly showed me a screen saying i didnt have or need it and showed a green checked and allowed to me to continue to efile and yea normally we see acceptance 24-48 hours but i belive the delays are because they are issuing 5 day early and early advances etc so hopefully we get accepted soon like NOW lol
va finally got something that look like snow still not accepted
Evening everyone. It’s been really quiet around here lately.
@Stephhaze: Filed on 01/19
Hi to all
Are we expecting any transcript updates tonight?
@PrinceTamino: when did you file?
Filed through TT, got the 5 days for 25 deal to see what thats about IRS accepted return today 01/21/2025
Like this if you’ve received your advance through TT
@LWBOSS: ur welcome
@Stephennotsignedin: no one talking lol
My feed is not reloading or is it people not talking lol I ain’t seen a new msg in over 30 minutes
@Naybo: dang I should have called them. I end up during turbo tax I haven’t been accepted yet. However, did they say why?
Hoping to see more early test batches tomorrow. I assume they’re done for today
Will we see some transcripts update late tonight into tomorrow.
@ChristiNTexas: Mine was opposite. No acct, but last years was available. I also looked at the CK app and not funded. Then a noty from CK.
@Starchild1111: Thanks! I had already done all those steps and resubmitted it back to the IRS. This all happened on Saturday 1/18. Could it be because it was the weekend and Monday was a holiday, I wasn’t accepted? They say 24 to 48 hours. And what was the end result with you? What is a 2095 screen? How long does it take to get accepted?
@Mbry0625: I reach at to freetaxusa and was able to resubmit! Hopefully it’s accepted
@ChristiNTexas:
It just shows general information now. No disbursements or amounts paid to me are showing. Other than my refund amount, anything else shows $0.00. But I got the advance on CK a while ago.
But before I got the advance it said it couldn’t find my information. So my bet is if SBTPG can find your info then the advance is soon to follow.
@MSRazorbackPhD: mine says unfunded
@ChristiNTexas: For me it showed not available. No email and then a notificatipn from CK.
@TexansTaxesInTexas: I was accepted but no email or text alerts. What does it say on SBTPG
@MSRazorbackPhD: Figured! Our state also got expanded tax credits this year so I’m hoping that’s a real number based on our credentials but won’t be surprised or upset if it changes, just glad to be getting something back haha
Figured I do a last update on my previous message (Below under the ” “):
Got the notification emails from TT after 45mins- 1hr from the time I checked CK account and saw the advance available. I had checked a few times earlier on all of them but no records were found.
I just checked now and WMR is updated to one-ba / received, and SBTPG also shows the advance disbursement. Hope this helps someone.
PREVIOUS MESSAGE:
“I just checked CK and the advance money was there from TT. Didn’t get an email, didn’t get a text notification. Haven’t checked TT or WMR or SBTPG. But a checked a few times earlier and and nothing could be found.
Just figured I’ll let y’all in case someone is in the same boat.”
@2blessed: if you haven’t gotten one before you can go on irs.gov and obtain one and if you did before log into your IDME account on the IRS.gov site where it’ll say GET TAX RECORD go thru steps to logging into it and get your IP PIN from there looks like TURBO tax tryin new stuff and the advances are going thru first and our ACCEPtances are just taken a bit longer than expected… my opinion. i got rejected for the same thing than i got rejected because i had to VIEW only the 2095 a screen (rediculous)
It may show y’all the issue after it goes thru the “review” process. It’ll highlight any bad areas.
@Mandie: TT has crazy quirks!
@MSRazorbackPhD: We’re still filing, we’ve run into a little issue (see my below comment) that we’re trying to get through now.
So… this is probably a glitch but has anyone ever seen their state refund come back unusually high? I’m filing through TT on my browser and it’s way higher than I have ever seen it. Like 5 digits high. I’m gonna go back through it and triple check but that just seems so weird because I’m pretty sure we don’t qualify for that much lol
@Mandie: Did y’all figure it out or still need help.
@MSRazorbackPhD: I’m here!
@Sheila_33: I agree with this. If an in person visit doesn’t solve it, which I unfortunately think it will not, best to mail it in now. I had to mail mine in I believe 2017? And once it was received I am pretty sure I had my refund within 3 weeks or so.
Is Mandie still here?
@shelleybeanss: thank you
@Wondering2025: Is there a local Irs office near you? If that’s your only option, it might be worth the trip to just go in person. The only other option I know of is to mail the return in because you don’t need the pin. If you did it in the next few days, and it being somewhat early in the season, it might only add a few weeks to see the refund.