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.
Hello. 04cycle with path and eic. Got 846 today with ddd 2/24. Good luck everyone
@Sheila_33: Goodmorning Sheila my as date was 03/03 it changed to 02/24 what can that be? Two my process dat still 02/17
@Sheila_33: will I update Thursday night because right now the as of date is back to march 3 2025
@H0dlsworth: @H0dlsworth: And if you needing badly like the most of us, try not stress at least until the 21 day time frame is up. Im praying you get it right on time in JESUS NAME!
Good Morning everyone, it looks like I’ll be waiting until Friday morning for the 846.
@VA757pather: We had a large amount of 05 dailies update to refund codes last night. So, yes, 05 applies to both dedicated weeklies and 05 dailies.
@Harris: thank you for the help. Yeah, I filed a couple weeks ago. Oh well, guess I’ll just wait it out
@Keishalove33: I think we’re gonna have to see what happens with this next weekly update.
Doesnt WMR update around 7am
@H0dlsworth: if you filed and was accepted before path lifted, you may not have processed in order to receive path message. @Sheila_33 correct me if I’m wrong. Don’t want to give incorrect info. Learn something new everyday
My as of date changed to 3/3 from 2/24 just now so seems like it’s still updating. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have an update
@Harris: thanks, but it’s been tax topic 152 this whole time. I’m weekly so blank transcripts also.
@Boogerbaby089: no biggie! Have a blessed day!
@H0dlsworth: You may not see it now since path has lifted
@VA757pather: 05 is weekly but weeklies can also process any day of the week
So got my 846 this morning on transcript. Says 2/24 for DDD. I got the TT 5 day early thing, so that should be deposited today? I use Huntington and have 2 day early deposit with them as well.
I have tax topic 152 but I claimed EIC! Am I screwed? Still only one bar. Why isn’t mine saying the PATH message? 😭
@VA757pather: could be either
@Sheila_33: Goodmorning Sheila I left a message for you and Walter dog to answer if you kindly will do please find it it’s to much to type again thankyou.
@Boogerbaby089: I’m sorry, must be a different Harris. Last year the only issue I had was waiting for Santa Barbara to release my money. I had fees taken out of refund and had a NHB. I had to wait til the day before my DD to get my refund. I didn’t have access to transcripts last. The “Harris” you are speaking of had to have more to their name. Sorry
So is it possible for one person to be 0505 WEEKLY and the other to be 0505 DAILY?
Or is 0505 all DAILY??
Asking for a friend LMAOOO
@Boogerbaby089: Now I think about it.. I think it was Harry lol, it’s been a whole year. My bad!! Anywho congrats to all!
@Boogerbaby089: or maybe that was @Harry
@757VApather: I had those same codes on my transcripts but my cycle code this year was 04 instead of 05. I’m not sure when my transcripts updated but i do have the 846 code for 2/24. my WMR still showing the PATH Msg. Try checking your transcripts Friday.
@Harris OMG I am sooo sorry, last year we had same cycle codes and letters issued same day it was a nightmare. Mine was income and payment verification. Everytime we called IRS they gave a a different reason and kept pushing out review dates back first letter said 90 days but then they said it was going to be 120 days for review. It was aweful. I am thankful this year was smooth and quick.
@ImpatientlyWaiting2024: @honeybee82