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 āqueueā 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.
@Honeybee82: stick around next year YOU ARE A HELP !! Thanks
@Sheila_33: I really hate that. Like dang weāre all awaiting that 846. Some patiently and some impatiently! But weāre all waiting. I hate mess! It use to be so peaceful in here. Iāve been coming to this forum for years and have learned a lot. Iām so thankful for the ones that are genuinely here to help! Keep up the great work!!!
@Omega dread from Florida: property taxes and homeowners insurance lol. From a lifelong, native Floridian, now living in GA.š„°
@Sheila_33: thank you Miss Sheila! If it wasnāt for you being so patient and helpful with me all those years ago, I wouldnāt know a thing lol š. I just try to pass along what I do know, and Iām definitely no expertā¦but enjoy helping when I can. And youāre right, I shouldnāt let a few bad apples sour our whole IGMR family tree! š³
@Beautiful blessed: me too lol! Fingers crossed.
I really hope I’m a 05 daily
@JAYY: Some people like to stir and see the results from it unfortunately. Just how it goes sometimes.
So I guess ppl were being untruthful when they said they got the 846 today with EIC and ACTC huh? Why? Whatās the purpose of that?
@Honeybee82: You’re here helping. We appreciate it. Disregard the negative.
@DonātWanna: thank you for that! š Yeah, I usually stick around each year for a while even after I get my refundā¦to try and help out. But I think after this year, Iām gone when my deposit hits. Iāve been on this site for over 10 years, and preferred it over the Facebook groups because people were helpful and respectful. Itās gotten bad the past few years though, and this year especially. Itās sad that I may not even come back next year, or just be a lurker without commenting lol š¤
@Honeybee82: sorry. That sucks. I havenāt been on a lot because the last time a couple years ago, people were a little snippy with me, so now I just say something here and there. I love all the help Iāve gotten throughout the years. I hope people relax a little real soon.
Florida says what’s up all
@grl.: If you have an advance or are using the credit karma card, its sptpg. If you are doing the 5 day early deposit its cross river bank.
Question, what was the bank tt uses for using your return to pay for you fees? Something river ??
@Chasingcarson_: https://republictaxpayer.com
@Chasingcarson_: https://republictaxpayer.com/@Chasingcarson_:
@Hb: look at your cycle code. Anything other than a 5 (for the most part) is a daily. 5 is weeklyā¦ but could be daily..
I predict 5:54am the dam breaks for pathers plus
@Sheila_33: the year before that was the 23rd and the year before that was the 24th. All of Feb but never on a Friday. Thanks for your input š
@JAYY: The 16th of last year, everyone updated on a Friday because of Path lifting on Thursday the 15th. The 22nd would have been a weekly deposit date last year because the holiday shifted everyones dates over. Dailies had the 20th for a deposit date.
Iām an 05 and my transcript updated with a DDD for 2/22 last year. Iāve never updated on a Friday. Is it safe to say Iām a daily? ššš
@PathActDemolitioner2025: hey quick question how do you know if youāre a weekly or a daily?
@Butterfly01: of course! Iām always happy to help (when I can lol) š. Itās hard to sayā¦.I verified on a Tuesday, but because it was later in the day, I missed the cutoff for processing that week. However, I was back in processing the next week, and updated with my 846 on that Friday. So it took me about a week and a half from verifying, to getting my 846. But if youāre lucky enough to verify on a Monday or Tuesday morning, you could be placed into processing and get your 846 all in the same week!