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 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.
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.
@DAL: Thankyou Dal and ŵhat are your codes and when did you file and get accepted and your as of date and processing date please forgive me for asking these questions just need some clarity.
@All you need is love.: your good if you were being audited you would have 424 code and review code is 570 your good the as of dates this year are whacky don’t mean nothing you have good codes and no hold or audit codes
@Lanna: I thought about that too but there are Waaaay too many that updated to 2/24 and the 17th is a holiday.
@All you need is love.: Nope, no amount next to processing date and I checked online and no notices….codes 150 and 768
Hopefully staying at 2/17 means we will be the ones with a DDD first and not that ours hasn’t moved because we’re stuck.
Just waiting for 846
Yes! My transcripts finally showed up this morning. As of is 02/24
@Mary Kelly: me too but a LOT of other Pathers updated to 2/24
I’m still at as of date for 2/17 process date 2/17
File 2/28
Received same day
Path act message also
@All you need is love.: i have an amount next to processing date, but my transcript updated in the middle of the week sometime
@Mommy_3: I am still at 2/17 but I have my credits on my account I’m on path.
@Mommy_3: Hi me as well my as of date is February 17, 2025 and my processing date February 10, 2025 all good codes 150 766 768 I’m wondering could it be that my processing date being that it’s next to 150 code and I owe SE Tax the amount is next to the processing date February 10, 2025 do you have a amount next to your processing date that could be the reason why that weren’t moving thankyou.
@Mommy_3: I’m still at as of 2/17 with all the good codes except 846
Hi all, updated overnight with 846. I use netspend so it should deposit today. I’m a weekly, no path credits.
Any other weekly Pathers that never updated to 2/24 and are still sitting at 2/17.
@Kyra: not at all! i have it every year
SMH woke up to absolutely no change….still at 2/17
i have codes 150/768 and 806 i see everyone with 766 is that an issue?
@Kyra: The 806 code indicates the amount of federal taxes that you claimed were withheld.
No update yet. Cycle code was 20250505, so I’ll be checking frequently today. 😭
@DAL: dang it when I called I had no offsets. Will this make processing longer?
@Kyra: 806 means w-2 or 1099 withholding
Morning! Transcripts updated, all normal codes. First time since 2019. If you were going to get a 424 code, do you think you’d get it right away or is it still possible?
Hope everyone is hanging in there