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 âqueueâ 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.
A friend of mine got his taxes back within a week. He filed with Jackson Hewitt. I’m still have one bar on WMR
I filed this year 1/06/25 been waiting over a month everybody just be patient itâs coming
@Honeybee82: I hope so… I don’t think my transcripts are going to create until I verify my identity this is crazy.. i filled on 1/23 and accepted and processed on 1/24 and transcripts still showing 0. When they verify your identity they ask you for things on the Transcript ?
@Sheila_33: Hey sheila_33, no movement here at all. Probably won’t see anything till next week cause im going on 3 weeks this week so probably won’t have anything happen next week. You think??
@MaryB: yes I literally donât know how to look at transcripts or anything I just always wait until the 20th and it usually pans out lol but I will say @Sheila_33 usually knows her stuff i been getting up here for years (had did screen name) but she was able answer alot of my questions so she knows her stuff
@Samiam: You’re ABSOLUTELY right. I’ve been lurking on this site since 2013, that’s when I first came across it and I’ve been seeing Sheila_33 helping ppl, encouraging ppl and answering questions since waaaay back then so I’d take her word too.
I have gotten my refund several times before the WMR updated. I have a No holds bank. Last year my 846 posted at 5 in the morning of the 16th and my refund was in my account by 2 that afternoon. Wmr didn’t update until the next day with my dddate.
@Alliecatt: That’s Exactly what mines is saying. I filled on 1/23 Got accepted and processed on 1/24 … week later it switched to still being processed my transcripts are o and saying tax return not processed… I called the IRS they said the system is sending out a letter for me to verify my identity.
@RELIEF2020: again, I donât mind if some people donât agree with me or anyone else who has said the same thing as me. Weâll all see how it plays out over the course of the next few daysâŚ..
@RELIEF2020: Thank you.
@WalkingThePath: Yes, that is common. No hold banks will post as soon as funds are available – which is when 846 hits transcript (day before WMR updates).
@Sheila_33: SORRY at work and my keyboard ws on caps lock not yelling…lol
@RELIEF2020: I will say I definitely get my money before WMR updates (past 2 years) so thatâs a fact for sure far as anything else I know I get my DD on 2/20 every year (past 2 years via cash app)
@RELIEF2020: The 846 on your transcript is what triggers the Treasury to send the payment. It does not happen without that, though you could get before the transcript posts I presume.
Are you secondary? Secondary filer transcripts do not update the same as primary filer does and I think that causes confusion for some.
Getting it before WMR updates is common, but generally not before transcripts.
Words in all caps equates to shouting. Be kind and take that cap lock off please.
@Jersey girl: You never know. We had a lot of 05 weeklies change to 05 dailies a couple of years ago. I was one of them. đ
@Honeybee82: SORRY BUT YOUR INCORRECT..I HVE A NHB AS WELL AND HAVE ALWAYS GOT MY DEPOSITS 16TH 17TH AND 18TH WAY BFORE WMR OR TRANSCPRITS UPDATE THE MINUTE THE PATH IS RELEASED THY SENT OUT TO YOUR BANK…THY WILL BE DOIG 2 BATHCES THIS WEEK YOU CAN GOOGLE IT IF YOU WANT..BUT DONT JUST ASSUME ANYONE IS WRNG BECAUSE WE CN UPDATE ANYTIME EVEYONE IS PRETTY MUCH DONE PROCESSING OUR MONEY WS JUST ON HOLD…IVE BEEN HERE ON THIS FORUM FOR YEARS AND I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH NHB WLL GET MONEY TODAY GOOD LUCK TO EVEYONE THO…LETS KEEP IT NICE IN HERE!
@Midwest Mama: I know as parents we feel bad when we can’t do some of the things we want to do for our kids, especially on days like their birthday but it will definitely be okay and when you do get your money and your able to do your seafood boil and get your daughter something special, it won’t even matter that she didn’t get the big birthday on her birthday. She’s going to be thankful for whatever you do. Happy Birthday to your daughter.
@Sheila_33: oh ok well I’m not a 05 daily đ sigh lol thanks for answering.
Everybody just chill letâs give it till Thursday/Friday till that money hitting our accounts it gets greater later I promise! I sit and watch this site every year just relax people out money coming #patienceIsKey
@Jersey girl: Next year, will play out like this year.