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.
@Ash1523: I was curious about this. I received my DDD date this morning for 2/26. I paid all my fees up front and got the $500 advance. As of right now still showing unfunded.
@Denise1927: Your not done processing
@Morris: I don’t want to discourage at all, because at the end of the day….who knows how it will play out. But on Wednesday, I was on the IGMR Facebook group and all of us H&R/Spruce people were updating each other. The H&R people who had fees coming out, didn’t get their deposit on Wednesday….or if they did, it wasn’t until late into the night, (I can’t be sure because I stopped logging on around 9:00 that night). It very well ‘could’ come today….but I don’t want to tell you that it definitely will, since you have fees coming out. Please keep us updated though, because I really do hope it comes for you today! 😊
@Honeybee82: ooohhh gotcha, my bad
You can look at your tax returns and get the routing number and Google it to see which bank it goes to
I know trying to read the tea leaves of the IRS is flirtin with disaster, but I have read that the timing of codes means something. I read that if Code 570 and 971 come together is a request for more information, but if code 570 and 971 come at different times code 971 may be nothing more than a notice they resolved the issue and an impending 571 will follow. Any truth to that or is it again more speculation. I sat at 570 for a week before updating today to 971, Also WMR still shows the PATH message and TT152. I have no notices on WMR.
What does it mean if you have codes 806 766 768 but no 846 but it shows your refund due amount
@Jessica C: I know that’s why TT got theirs early, I just meant that I wasn’t sure of the third-party bank that H&R goes through. I used H&R this year, but didn’t have fees….so I’m not sure how long their fee process is. I was just using the TT 5-day early as an example of people who had fees, but still got theirs the same day their 846 was issued.
@Sheila_33: I know trying to read the tea leaves of the IRS is flirtin with disaster, but I have read that the timing of codes means something. I read that if Code 570 and 971 come together is a request for more information, but if code 570 and 971 come at different times code 971 may be nothing more than a notice they resolved the issue and an impending 571 will follow. Any truth to that or is it again more speculation. I sat at 570 for a week before updating today to 971, Also WMR still shows the PATH message and TT152. I have no notices on WMR.
@Jessica C: I filed head of household
@Tonicmo88: how did you file??
Married filing joint or married filing separate?? Bc your partners transcripts could have been the one to update… Instead of yours
@arkie71: i do but i have a 846 on my transcripts
@arkie71: yes that will update tomorrow if you got the 846 code today
@Tonicmo88: in my previous years experience with SBTPG I usually got my deposits the day before my ddd, except last years… I got it on my ddd! So my best guess here would be a deposit on Monday 2/24
@shelleybeanss: Hi did you pay for 5 days early my ddd2/26 so im thinking today , better than last years nightmare
Anyone still have the Path Message with one bar?
@Tonicmo88: ive never seen anything you’re talking about bc usually WMR updates on Wednesdays and Saturdays and to have a deposit date that far out is very strange too… I’d keep checking SBTPG and see when it gives you a tracking number bc that is proof they sent to your bank
@Jessica C: Thanks
My WMR updated overnight with a DD of March second but sbtpg updated yesterday after noon with Feb 25th date. Not sure which one to go by..
@Jessica C: Ok thanks!
@Honeybee82: the reason those people who signed up for the 5 day early got their deposits earlier than SBTPG is bc TurboTax had another bank handle those… Cross river Bank did theirs instead of SBTPG even if fees were taken out
@mickey m: I filed for myself and 4 family members on 2/2, accepted same day. All of us still have 0.00 on account transcripts, only my mom’s as of moved to 3/10 this morning, everyone else is still at 2/25 with no codes and verification of nonfiling letter. I’m thinking some of us have been resequenced. I’ve been filing all of our taxes (accurately!) for 10 plus years and this is a first.
@Morris: yes you’ll see it some time today! There’s a lot going out today so there’s no telling when you’ll get it tho. Could be 5 or 6pm
@GG: I would definitely call!!!
And if they tell you they sent you any type of letter, go ahead and request another letter to be sent. I’ve always had to request another letter for some reason I never get the original
@Sheila_33: I would like to add that my homepage on the irs site still says my return has not been processed even though all transcripts are showing. My w2 showed up under information forms on the site some time yesterday. I thought wmr is supposed to update on Saturday but it updated today instead. Do you think the message changing could mean whatever gave that 810 is getting figured out?
Can someone answer this question? I saw many people getting deposits hours after their 846 and my 846 hit at 12:30 am will I see a deposit later today? I have Chime and fees were taken from HRBlock. 2/26 DDD. I notice my wmr is still on 1 bar though.
WMR updated this morning with a ddd of 2/25. SBTPG was funded yesterday. They almost always send the funds the day before the ddd to CK. So could see the money Monday, but likely will be Tuesday on the actual ddd. CK doesn’t hold though so if they get it early enough Monday should be available then. Last year CK got the money late afternoon and within an hour they made it available
@Jessica C: mine is the same hope we get it today
@RichinTheBurbs354: usually fees are pulled from whichever comes first…if the refund is big enough to cover the fees. If you haven’t received your PA or NJ state refunds yet…then your fees will more than likely pull from your federal. A lot of the TT people who paid for the 5-day early option got theirs the same day on Wednesday, even though they had fees….but I’m not sure how H&R works with fees. It wouldn’t hurt to call H&R and ask how long their fee process usually is.
@DTM2025: anytime the IRS has said theyve sent me a letter I’ve never gotten it. I’ve always had to call and request another one to be sent and for some reason it takes a week or 2 to get it
Good luck
@Jessica C: Ok, yes i am able to access them, but only shows 0.00 for interest, etc last 2 weeks, no codes no processing dates, just wondering if i should call
@Josey33: Did you ever receive a letter or get an update
@GG: sorry I just sent your reply about your transcripts. Personally I would call!!
I got my 846 last night, DDD 2/24 cycle code 20250506, Good luck to everyone else. See you all next tax season. Best vibes!
For those who seem to be stuck in limbo and have not received any letters this happened to me a few years ago. I went from received to being processed to still being processed never once did I see any letters or any WMR messages saying contact IRS. I always get my DDD on the last Wed of Feb just I like I did yesterday but that year it was the following week. It just happens to some of us. That year I got accepted 1/23 and got money 3/2. I am path weekly 0405.
For the people waiting on CK who had gotten the advance, my ddd is 2/24, I figured I would get my dad today sometime because that’s how I always get it however I saw “1“person say they had to wait until the day of their deposit on the 20th and they didn’t receive early at all and I also saw that Santa Barbra bank will put a tracking number next to the date in the “amount sent to you section” once you see the tracking number you will get it in the bank. I don’t have the number yet and I’m supposed to have my deposit by 2/24 I will update later with any movement