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.
Have anyone got an update with the notification that said verify identity?
@singlemomto4: I’ll check again in the morning and I’ll update here.
@Lala: I honestly think they will. It seems like theyāve been coming in waves tonight. Started around 945 eastern time and every hour seems like itās been a different cycle code. I could be completely wrong. But just what Iāve observed.
@Mommy05: typo 0605*
the IRS site is currently reporting a partial outage at the moment when you try and log in to your account
This stupid 570 code. This could take a year. I wish they had just given me a 971 so I can get a letter and know what the issue is. Maybe I will call a tax advocate in the morning. Otherwise, I could be waiting until hell freezes over just to find out why.
I wonder will transcripts update all night. Usually they update all day you could check at 5am nothing check again at 10am and have the 846 but this year is different.
@Morris: just keep trying, I got that message multiple times and then finally got through. š
Iām 0506 Iāll check back Friday . Nothing yet .
@Benita: maybe it is coming still
@Honeybee82: I still dont even have our 2024 transcript yet and we filed 1/31/25 and was a pather and a 05 weekly and its just weird we have nothing but i am checking mine since my secondary on the taxes and hubby is primary so who knows anymore. Guess ill wait till friday before i check again. on WMR still has the 152 little message and still says its still being processed so who knows….
Can’t even check on mine. it’s saying limited outage check back Sunday…say what….
@Justin05255: what cycle code are you
@singlemomto4: I have the same cycle code and I didn’t update.
@Wasstate2442: central