For all the people
impatiently waiting
on tax refunds.

A grapevine for taxpayers,
by taxpayers.

Interact with people who have experiences or questions just like you.

All of your tax refund questions, answered.
What Other People Are Saying
49,289 comments

Where’s My Refund?

You have questions, we have answers.

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.

IRS Update Cycle

Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.

Transcripts

This is what your IRS transcript can tell you about your tax refund.

Transaction Codes

Lookup the codes that you see on your tax return transcript and what they mean.

Daily vs. Weekly

Find out if you have a daily or weekly account with the IRS and what it means.

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.

talk to a human

It is often hard to reach someone at the IRS and you might want to talk to a person. It is hard to reach some tax preparation companies too. Use our guide to talk to a human at the IRS.

TAX TOPIC 152

Tax Topic 152 is the most common status when you check the status of your tax refund. It is nothing to worry about.

transcript codes

Transaction Codes (TC) sometimes called transcript codes consist of three digits and may appear on your IRS account transcript. Decipher the codes on your IRS transcripts.

reference codes

Most times the Wherer’s My Refund tool (WMR) will show Tax Topic 152. Other times you may see various error codes. These are called Reference Codes on the WMR.

Join the Conversation

What Others Are Saying

  1. Lovergirl89

    Chime just hit in New Orleans

    Reply
    10
  2. trillywya

    @Dentonj88: yes I used tt years ago and they normal hold the funds until the day before dd. Ig u have early relationship maybe sooner good luck and congratulations 🎊

    Reply
    2
  3. Punanni patrol

    I cant check transcripts does wmr update tonight overnight Nybody know?

    Reply
    1
  4. southern9700

    @Deano: I have never known them to hold mine either but then again I dont remember it takng this long to update to federal refund received. Fingers crossed

    Reply
    1
  5. Dentonj88

    @trillywya: that’s what they told me yesterday too…but then I reached out to SBTPG and got the RUDEST human being who kept arguing with me about what tax year I was asking about and then started responding in ways that didn’t make sense… mainly though she said SBTPG couldn’t see anything…which i didn’t understand because I figured they could see it before Chime would

    Reply
    2
  6. okietax89

    @trillywya: lol youre lucky most the time chime tells me ” sorry we no see deposit bc we release it as soon as we get it” lol then 5 minutes later my phone will ding with notification of deposit smh :)
    Thanks for the positive vibes and hope for a deposit .

    Reply
    7
  7. trillywya

    @Dentonj88: I called chime and he /rep told me he could see it (deposit) but it’s still processing and deposits should start clearing soon.

    Reply
    5
  8. Jocelynn
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-15
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250504
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-17
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Honeybee82: right? We will probably see it late tonight or tomorrow morning, they’re having fun making us sweat while waiting!! 🤣

    Reply
    4
  9. CrazedinGA
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-28
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-28
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-19
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-24
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240604
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-17
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-17
    • I Got My Refund!

    @okietax89: same here!!!

    Reply
    1
  10. Vontane

    @Momto6and crazy: Do you know when your ddd was? Just wondering if it’s going to come early for me. I have a ddd for the 24th

    Reply
    1
  11. Stever

    I know it’s exciting! Please post your DDD, what card, if you paid fees upfront or not and if you opted for the 5 day early option when you get paid.
    Congrats to those gettin’ it!

    Reply
    4
  12. Deano

    @southern9700: They usually do not hold I based off last year and the year previous

    Reply
    2
  13. Dentonj88

    If any Chime pathers see movement or deposits, if you’d be a kind soul and drop your processing date, I’d be super grateful 🥹

    Reply
    8
  14. Momto6and crazy

    PayPal just hit

    Reply
    8
  15. L HARRIS

    @Awalkee: HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎉

    Reply
    5
  16. StarringL

    Good evening! Well I have Regions Bank and I’m sure they do not deposit early😩 this is my first using my bank account for my refund. So I gotta wait until the 24th for my moooooooolah 😂

    Reply
    6
  17. Deano

    @southern9700: They usually do not hold it I based off last year it was the same day then received on the 16th and DDD 22nd

    Reply
    1
  18. Jacksonann2010
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-2
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Capital One
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-2
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Capital one just hit! TurboTax 5 days early

    Reply
    10
  19. Justgivememymoneyyy

    @Anoirchy: did you use TT

    Reply
    1
  20. It'sbrinaa

    @okietax89: okay same here 😄

    Reply
    1
  21. okietax89

    @It’sbrinaa: I will let you know if mine hits soon. I have chime as well :)

    Reply
    5
  22. It'sbrinaa

    Hopefully Chime users start getting hits within the next hour or so!

    Reply
    5
  23. The tax slayer

    PNC just hit for me 5 days early with turbo tax !!!

    Reply
    7
  24. Walkingthepath

    @Anoirchy: congrats hope mines hit any second then lol

    Reply
    3
  25. southern9700

    @Deano: I hope they dont hold it until the 24th mine says the same thing.

    Reply
    1
  26. southern9700

    @Deano: I hope they dont hold it until the 24th mine says the same thing.

    Reply
    2
  27. Walkingthepath

    @Awalkee: that’s wassup bout have you a decent birthday present lol

    Reply
    4
  28. Anoirchy

    Cash app deposit just hit 2 minutes ago. See yall next year. 🥳

    Reply
    12
  29. ArrowheadNumberOne

    Get yourself a local credit union. I have 2/24 DDD and I received mine in my small local credit union yesterday morning at 8:31am. These early cards no longer hit early like before. Plus the fees you need to pay. And these so called refund advance are not fee free or interest free.

    Reply
    2
  30. Awalkee

    JH fees paid hopefully deposit soon. Did I mention it’s also my 30th birthday? Haha

    Reply
    12
  31. Walkingthepath

    @Gators352: Mines either some one just told me theirs hit last year round 5:30-6 so I’m going wait to see then but mines usually hit at 12pm the last 2 years so if not at 5:30 I think tomorrow round 12-1

    Reply
    3
  32. Justgivememymoneyyy

    No not yet

    Reply
    1
  33. Gators352

    @It’sbrinaa: not mines yet

    Reply
    1
  34. It'sbrinaa

    @Justgivememymoneyyy: cashapp is hitting ?

    Reply
    2
  35. Justgivememymoneyyy

    @It’sbrinaa: cash app

    Reply
    2
  36. Deano

    All Jackson Hewitt Republic Bank check your website

    Reply
    3
  37. It'sbrinaa

    Any chime users hit yet?

    Reply
    3
  38. Deano

    Republic Bank Jackson Hewitt Serv card my fees are just paid but it’s not showing received yet in other words it’s getting deposited now

    Reply
    4
  39. Honeybee82
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Spruce
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-24
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250603
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Jocelynn: I’ve been checking the Facebook group too, and no one with Spruce has hit yet….why can’t it be our turn?! 😆

    Reply
    1
  40. Justmeeeeeee

    @Wondering2025: I have credit karma and I did not get mine

    Reply
    1