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.
@Walter DOG: Yes, I just logged into SSA.gov and it does show my income from 2024 there. I am a daily I believe with a cycle code ending in 04. And WMR updated to the PATH message overnight. Hoping the lack of 971 code just means its related to nothing more than EITC.
I’m a PATHer
My AS OF DATE was 02/24/25 all this time and now it is 03/10/25. But the processing date is still showing 02/24/25. Did I get moved to another batch or something?
@SandraA: Are u a PATHer?
Woke up to the path message on WMR
Was saying delayed for a few days.
WMR updated to “APPROVED” this morning with DDD of 02/20/2025.
We will see last week my transcript updated saturday night to sunday was strange maybe again
gm all kings n queens, i woke to PATH msg (on WMR) not sure wut that delay msg was from but geesh good to see something normal or familiar to last year lol
My WMR changed to path act today amount disappear hmm I’m a weekly have been for years. Never seen
@Walter DOG: Thankyou walter
also i can’t check WMR it says reach limited max have to check back tomorrow and i havent checked it today at all. this was the first time i checked it lol
@Ineedthismoney: mine did exactly the same
The only thing on my transcripts that are moving is the as of date on all prior account transcripts. no 2024 account transcripts at all. who know whats up. ill probably get it in march instead of the week of the 24th… idk what to think anymore….
@Sheila_33: Thankyou Sheila
@Walter DOG: at no point should anyone be messing with the IRS, particuarly ppl that have paid 0 dollars in federal income tax in the last 6 years, at least, on millions or billions of income. 🤢🤮🤬
Filed 1/27, last week account transcript appeared with all zeroes. WMR message changed to the STILL processing message and refund date will be provided when available. Yesterday, all transcripts appeared and all good codes except for 846. This morning WMR has the PATH message.
Oh my GOSH!!! My as of date jumped to 3/10/25. It’s been all good codes for 2 weeks. Was sitting at 2/17/25 for 2 weeks and woke up to this.
@Ineedthismoney: mine has done the same thing.
@Walter DOG: Not sure Walter. Probably not the best time of year for people to be interrupting refunds if that’s the case.
@Sheila_33: I pray that is the case! I thought that was standard authentication so they could access the account lol
@Walter Dog Thanks for the response… I’m on EDGE LOL! This has never happened to me. I dnt have any record of an audit so I’m not sure if this situation is an audit? Or a id verify? If it’s a id verify I wish they would just send me the dang letter!