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
49,324 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.

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What Others Are Saying

  1. Dj zizi

    We outside next week 846 thanks god i want to thank everyone on here also the people thsts always been thrre @shelia as well

    Reply
    5
  2. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Mary: google irs id verify online and try to verify and see what it says if it will let you or not

    Reply
  3. ChristineG84

    @Tia: thank you!

    Reply
    1
  4. I need my money please

    Is it on irs website?

    Reply
  5. I need my money

    @hello: where do I go to see that?

    Reply
  6. Mary

    @I need my money please refund issue code on transcripts

    Reply
  7. hello

    @I need my money please: 846 code is refund issued & date shown on account transcript.

    Reply
  8. Miami-Dade305

    Updated 846 2/26

    Reply
    2
  9. I need my money please

    What’s 846?

    Reply
  10. Tia
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @ChristineG84: I think it means some kind of letter was sent. But there should be someone in here soon that could tell you more.

    Reply
    1
  11. Waiting Impatiently

    Filed 2/12 Accepted 2/13 had all 0s on account transcript up until just now all good codes with 846 for 2/26/2025. My 2024 return transcript still shows the verification of non filing letter however

    Reply
    2
  12. ChristineG84

    Hi everyone, what does it mean if my transcript updated tonight with a 971 immediately followed by 846? I know for sure the 971 wasn’t there before tonight, as I’ve been checking my transcripts everyday.

    Reply
  13. Tia
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @FrazierGurl: I got my 846 too!!! Yay we are part of the party!!

    Reply
    2
  14. FrazierGurl
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-17
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-13
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Tia: You were right😊

    Reply
    2
  15. Christina032

    0505 weekly just updated with the 846 for 2/26.

    Reply
    3
  16. Mrs. Beeeee

    @FrazierGurl: It took me a few tries but finally was able to see them. I kept getting errors at first but just kept trying.

    Reply
  17. FrazierGurl
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-17
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-13
    • I Got My Refund!

    I finally got in and I have my 846. Wooohoooo 🥳🎉🎉

    Reply
    3
  18. K.Nichelle

    Updated to 846, Weekly 0605. I don’t know the exact time I updated but I just checked it, 11:04 Pacific Time and voila! Congrats to all those who updated. I’ll still be here lurking lol.

    Reply
    3
  19. Mrs. Beeeee

    Finally! The coveted 846 on my transcript!! Won’t be much longer now!

    Reply
    1
  20. Tia
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @FrazierGurl: Maybe they are updating. Keeping fingers crossed.

    Reply
    2
  21. BamaBoy

    @Nitamarie: it went through sbtpg? I did that and used Credit Karma card.

    Reply
  22. Mary

    @Walter DOG I know right I thought that was odd.

    Reply
  23. FrazierGurl
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-17
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-13
    • I Got My Refund!

    Anyone else not able to access their transcripts?

    Reply
    5
  24. Tia
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    Aww I can’t tell if I’m am part of the 846 party. I can’t access transcripts right now.

    Reply
    1
  25. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @IAMHeiress: have you got a letter yet ,haven’t seen 810 without other codes like 424 or 420

    Reply
  26. Graciousgambino

    @C: thanks for reply ✨

    Reply
  27. Nitamarie

    846 DD date 02/26 . No fees taken out 5 days early

    Reply
    1
  28. Mary

    @Nelson Yes

    Reply
  29. Nitamarie

    @BamaBoy: that’ is not true my daughter path lifted Tuesday night her money was in her bank on Wednesday. Turbo tax no fees paid up front

    Reply
  30. Milligan

    @BamaBoy: thays

    Reply
  31. Vin310

    @jemar707: No thank you and this beautiful community for creating this site and always helping others. My knowledge of the irs and taxes has always been on another level because of this site and I’ll be forever grateful for that.

    Reply
    6
  32. C

    @Graciousgambino: i got my 846 at midnight 2/20. It’s now 1:32a.m. and abtpg shows funded but nothing on credit karma yet.

    Reply
    4
  33. Jaynsyncere

    @souknow: It means you’re getting a check sent to you

    Reply
  34. C

    SBTPG says funded and shows amount paid to me, but nothing on Credit Karma yet. How long is this supposed to take?

    Reply
    1
  35. Vin310

    @Jaynsyncere: no deposit yet, my SBTPG has not been funded yet. I have an account credit karma, so hopefully a deposit later today.

    Reply
    2
  36. Nelson35

    Is 846 date the day I get my deposit I have Bank of America

    Reply
    2
  37. Graciousgambino

    Can’t check transcript when does sbtpg usually update after 846 code? I know I usually receive my deposit before wmr ever updates !

    Reply
    1
  38. BamaBoy

    @jemar707: thank you, figured that but wanted to be sure.

    Reply
  39. jemar707

    @BamaBoy yes usually that is the way through SBTPG

    Reply
    1
  40. Jaynsyncere

    @Vin310: You got your deposit already?

    Reply
    0