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.
@Janise: Friday will be the next big update for pathers, so I’d look for a date then.
I filed and accepted 2/4. Path act. 0705. I updated this morning with 846 with a date of 2/24
Good morning, I’m a pather and my codes are 150, 766 and 768 cycle code is 05. Normally I would have had my transcripts updated with 846 I filed 1/27/24. No 846 am I good?
No update here, still not processed. Congrats to everyone who got their 846!
Thanks guys I don’t have access to transcripts so I checked WMR but still have PATH … I will check tomorrow
@Sharon Grayson: Yes, but like Sheila said, WMR will likely update tomorrow.
@Sharon Grayson: No
Any 0705 update yet
Got a letter under review but still no codes my as of date changed back to 02/24
As late as transcripts updated, I don’t think we’ll see a Wmr update with a refund date until tomorrow.
@Lioness: Same but wmr still has path message.
@Sharon Grayson: nope. Still the path message.
@ErisedMai: your transcripts show 846?
@Jonny5: DDD for July 24th?
@Sharon Grayson: Not yet
Got 846 DD 2/24
@Jonny5: just saw your comment do you still have PATH message?
Did anyone’s WMR change this morning with ddd after getting 846 this morning?
@80billionwasted: Something’s different this year, that’s for sure.
Nope. Still no 846. Mine will be Friday. Weekly 05 forever and ever. Glad for those that did update.
Last Night: 846, DDD 7/24. Nothing on WMR. Glad to see something, but I’ve never seen the system act like this before.
Oops I meant late Thurs. Early Friday. Sorry.
Looks like it’s is a week behind compared to last year figures give them 80 billion and they just get slower I can’t remember when the last time mine updated the week path lifted always the 2nd week after path I always file first day IRS ecexcepts. All good codes be next week for me as always.
@Sheila_33: it changed back to 03:03 still process date 02/17 sonit could be fridsy