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.
@Monee: did you have the path message before it changed?
@Jayman: thank you so much. I had one bar Wednesday but started saying that Friday. Hopefully it fix itself tonight or this week. Crossing my fingers that it doesn’t mean something is wrong!!!
@Bulldog30: I’m not sure what this means but the same thing happened to me a few nights ago. The next day I updated to the PATH message.
@Samiam: as soon as u filled it must be in process status but if the irs had already processed it is too late. And be ready to glhave supporting documents to support the hardship price.
If you know you owe, but need a hardship from tax advocate, do you ask for a hardship before or after you file?
This morning wmr updated to the delayed message. If something is wrong I wish they would just tell me. This is starting to annoy me.
@Mandy111: that can happen for whatever reason. It has happened to me as well. Congratulations!!!
@Angeel: no I didnt
WMR app and site is saying my info is incorrect and doesn’t match. When it does I have rechecked several times..what could this mean?
@Mandy111: did you get path message on wmr?
I’m confused. I’m on PATH since I have kids.
Married filing jointly. Accepted opening day but yesterday I checked and I’m approved for refund on February 8. Transcripts say 846 Feb 8 as well.
Anyone else with PATH getting their refund before the 15th?
It’s been two weeks and Wmr has not updated did I do something wrong?
@Claudia: thank u
@JacobMarley: Yes it just makes sense, alot are in the same boat, everything can’t have something wrong with their taxes. I read a user post on here and it stated that theirs were like that the last week of Jan and last week it populated with a date. The processing time on average is looking like 8 to 10 days, but again just my theory.
@Janel120: Could be. A lot of Weeklies have turned into Dailies. And the mechanics of the processing are more unpredictable this year than I’ve seen in the past 15 years.
I hope you’re right. It would be nice to see some good news this week.
Good Morning everyone. This is just my theory the people this past week with 2 N/A up top and the bottom 2 populated 2022 but no return filed will update either tomorrow or Thursday and will change to the path message Wednesday or Friday if you don’t have any of the credits for the path you will get a dd either Wed or Friday it makes sense. I think it’s something new.
@Sheila_33: Thanks a bunch. Will do.☺️
@VW: I agree with the person below who said get an advocate.
This happened to me several years ago, and from that year on I have to use a 6 digit pin that they send me every December. You have to hold on to that paper cause you can’t file EVER AGAIN without it. They send you a new one every year. It’s a pain in the butt. I expect to have to do this for the rest of my life.
@VW: Get a tax advocate. Also since it’s a possibly an Internet crime. Report it to FBI internet crime reporting
ic3.gov
@VW: Get a tax advocate
Someone filed a return under my name & social, I called irs & had to send in a identity theft affidavit along with a copy of my 2022 return. They told me they would investigate the issue & try to stop the return that was filed but when I log into my account I can see the return that wasn’t filed by me along with a date. Anybody know what I should do from here?
@Walter DOG: okay I will
@Msgee: yes
@Cynt_outspoken35: you got a letter coming
@HELPISCOMING: does your transcript just have 0 does it have your name address filing status filled out as well or just blank
@Cynt_outspoken35: Curious as to what the letter says and it’s coming from Kansas City Mo that’s a main IRS processing center,will you please update with letter says never seen this before
@HELPISCOMING: you had as of March 28 2023 then it went to as of Feb 20 2023 and now it’s back to as of March 28 2023 do you have any codes that might of popped up on prior year transcript that has as of Feb 2023 just wondering
The path message appeared on my account yesterday. I do have EIC this year. What is considered a bad or good code? I see codes 150, 806, 766, and 768.
@Sheila_33: Thank you will keep you updated
@Sheila_33: It’s strange that it’s only 971 on my transcript but I still have 1 bar and the 152 tax topic with we have received your tax return and it is being processed .
@Sheila_33: I don’t have but the 971 on my transcript that’s new to me .
@Walter DOG: yep that’s it
@Sheila_33: Yes ans from processing to still processing. Also my amount is not there anymore. On transcripts it went back to as of March 28 2022 from as of February 20 2023
@Sheila_33: you see the one person on here that got we apologize but your return has been delayed beyond the 21 days that’s the message I thought you get that’s why I’m worried about my message what you think