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.
@RichinTheBurbs354: yes that’s normal
@RichinTheBurbs354: Goodmorning and yes you’re not the only one all of us do.
Today is day 21 for me.
Filed 1/25 accepted 1-27
05 weekly as of date 3-3
Processing date 2-24
All good codes on transcripts, so judging by my last year’s of transcripts, I should receive my 864 tomorrow or the 19th( it never shows on my transcript or WMR until after I get my deposit)
I will keep everyone updated but I’m kind of upset no one knows why all of my last transcripts since 2021 have an as of date of 03-03-2025…even my 2022 and 2023 returns have an as of date of 03-03-2025 (2025 for all 4 years when I look at my transcripts.
Does anyone else’s transcripts say 2025 on their past years transcripts or am I the only one?
@Kurt251: Hi,what is your cycle code and I can tell you. I’ve been here for years. Mines is 20250705. As of is 3/3 and I look forward to a big update overnight. Don’t panic especially if you have a credit sign in front of your balance.
Probably April Though Honestly
I’m sending good vibes out and I hope
Everyone that doesn’t have good codes or blank transcripts gets good news this week; as for us with good codes WE ARE JUST WAITING LETS BE THANKFUL ; last year was rough let’s hope for the best and send good vibes out
@NO 🧢: unfortunately.
@Bellee: 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Filed & accepted 1/28/25
We do have PATH Act.
WmR shows return received and we do have PATH message, tax topic 152.
Transcripts show cycle 20250505 with date 02-17-2025. Codes 150 766 & 768. It also shows a “as of March 10, 2025” on the transcript too.
It’ll come eventually. Checking once a day and keeping fingers crossed for a happy update.
Sending good vibes to everyone else, too!
@Deano: someone should really make up a dance and post it online so we all can do it too! 😂
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: 😂 shooooottt then let’s start recruiting because we all need that 846!
Na but I hope we all can have a smile by weeks end knowing our money is on the way.
@Hoping 🙏: oh! Okay then speak it! Wherever two or more agree🙏 I mean I was speaking that I was a daily but I’m a weekly by my cycle code so we may need to grab someone else to speak this into existence too 🤣
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: noooooo don’t do that to my hopes lol why you gotta do that. I’m trying to speak it into existence lol it’ll be different this year. 😂
What we need is the 846 Happy Dance Hey everyone Have a great Evening Smile 😀😀😀😀
Whats crazy I’m a weekly but it says the processing date is the 17th can anyone give insight on this please that has the right knowledge?
I’ve been on here for years now, maybe a year or 2 after this forum started. Everyone always just trying to share information and get to the money. It’s definitely changing,
and not for the better.
@Hoping 🙏: Thanks for helping to break up the tension in here 😊. I took a break for a bit, came back…and was like “whew it’s hot up in here!” lol. Too much tension, and not typical for this site. People just need to remember that it’s ok to disagree or not believe someone….just try to be respectful about it. It’s all going to play out this week, so we’re just a bunch of sitting ducks until then. Some of us will be right, some of us will not….but we’ll all get our money eventually! 🌈💰
@Hoping 🙏: unfortunately daily will see updates Wednesday and weekly on Friday.
@Facts: except for the fact that back in 2020 this exact timeline took place and we did not start seeing 846 post to transcripts until Wednesday the 19th. The IRS does not process returns on holidays or weekends. Although not very return is seen by a human, the computer requires a human to input the data to get the computers to run….
846s on the way everyone. Tension is in fact thick in here this evening. 🤞 🤞🤞🤞🤞 I bet allot of dailies will get it tomorrow, followed by weeklies the following days.
Blessings to all 🙏🙏🙏
I think everyone needs to take a step back away from the keyboard/whatever you’re using, this isn’t necessary y’all.
@Deano: you as well! 😊 I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
@Jocelynn: Perfect I would love to see that 846 myself Have an amazing Evening Thank you 🙂
@Deano: I meant 846s on Wednesday, not tomorrow.. ugh my fingers are moving faster than my brain tonight! lol
@Thebasketcasemama: it just hasn’t processed. When were you accepted?
@Deano: yep, back to business as usual and updates should happen Wednesday morning at 3am ET. Hoping we all start seeing those 846s tomorrow.
@California girl83: it’s like watching paint dry waiting on the 846 with the weekend/holiday holding everything up! 😉
@Jocelynn: Your name was not visible when I typed it One more question that is The IRS processing resume at regular business hours tomorrow?
Come on down 846!!!🎊🎊
We’re almost there everyone!!🙏🏾
@Deano: no need to apologize! 😊 you didn’t say/do anything wrong. My comment was made more in a joking manner about me not being MaryB. 😊
@Jocelynn: I’m sorry Okay Thank you for the heads up 🙂 I asked because it will be Tuesday 18th
Thank you again
@Deano: I’m not @MaryB but no, there won’t be an update tonight due to it being a federal holiday today.
@MaryB Is there updates tonight
at the normal time 3:00am Eastern Time?
Wondering what I walked in on. The tension is thick in here tonight
Not all returns are processed by an actual human. Over 80% of returns are automated. And those are real facts. Even on holidays. We just don’t see updates until after holidays. I’m not sure why majority of people on here actually believe that every return gets seen by an actual human being
Any idea why my transcript would say return not processed, but when I look at the status of my refund, it says return filed? I’m super confused. Thanks
@Jay Jay: yes i believe so…im thinking everyone with a 152 and path should get some kind of deposit this week…prayers
even before a transcript update possibly.
@FrazierGurl: except today was a holiday so no processing. This should follow 2020 which I posted earlier on the thread a timeline of events. Transcripts will update for dailies with 846 on Wednesday which will reflect Tuesday processing. In order for 846 to appear tomorrow the transcripts would have had to process today and they didn’t due to the holiday.
@!: Having children (one or more) by itself does not mean you have PATH credits. You can have 1, 2…10+ children and not be PATH. Your children would qualify for the CTC (Child Tax Credit) which is not a PATH held credit.
The EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) and ACTC (Additional Child Tax Credit) are the PATH held credits. Additional child does not mean more than one child, it is an additional (as in different) child tax credit.
Before insistently calling someone a liar, make certain you are right.