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.
@Jay Jay: Lots of chime people was dropping last two days without the 5 days early I seen on the I got my refund Facebook post and was early
@Nc: if it don’t show at 1:30 I think the last batch is 4. Then I won’t get it till Monday sometime. I prefer not the latter
Chime should start up at 130. We’ll see
@Jay Jay: hopefully you will get it today or they should refund it. More people are having problems with it and it seems like it’s holding a lot of people up
@Jenny04: https://taxpayer.sbtpg.com/login
@Jennyb: looks like crossover bank is the hold up. And for some reason it’s causing sbtpg not to show our refunds. It’s a mess I will pay upfront next year and not do the 5 days early. People that didn’t pay the $25 that has no holds bank got theirs early anyway. turbo tax will probably not offer that again next year because of all the trouble people are having
@Nc: I was not turned down. It would have to come today or they don’t take the 25 dollars
@Jenny04: https://taxpayer.sbtpg.com
@singlemomto4: (877) 908-7228 is sbtpg but hold time is greater then 10 mins
Looks like people that were turned down for TT 5 days early are Having to wait for the actual due date to receive funds because they are holding funds somewhere out there in limbo since nobody can check sbtpg that was tuned down for the 5 days . My date is 2-24. And I’ve been waiting for cash app to drop but sbtpg doesn’t show I even filed either
@Jennyb: what the website for SBPTG to check ur refund??
@Nc: what number did you call??
@Jenn1184: Not sure if this applies for no fees but someone on here who uses it said CK will either deposit the night before or the day of your ddd.
@Jennyb: I just got off the phone with sbtpg and they couldn’t even find mine at all . My mother in-law is having the same problem. But she got her deposit today even though hers wasn’t showing up on sbtpg and got it on her actual due date 2-21 we both were turned down for the 5 days early so the people that got turned down for the 5 early day is not showing on sbtpg for some reason
@GG: same as far as updates and transcripts etc
I was rejected then put in info and accepted
@Sheila_33: Hey if you don’t mind me asking what number and prompt did you use to find out this info? I may be in the same boat just can’t get thru to anyone, I never got a notice for 12c but i do have a 1095A for one month for $367 that didn’t include, is it possible Im in errors dept as well? Filed 1/27 rejected then accepted, never got path, been stuck on 1 bar tt152 gone and still being processed, no transcript updates..
Are people still updating? I still have a blanket transcript
@wade123: I never had any codes at all. I didn’t have any 2024 transcripts at all either. It said they haven’t got anything from me. I just checked about 40 mins or so again just to check and bam I had a 2024 transcript with all codes on it and a 846 code with 2/26 next to it but no codes out of place or saying that I had anything done on my return. It’s weird cause a guy at irs two days ago says he saw they did something to my return last wed and it was a error but there is no error code on my transcript so idk what he was talking about… I filed on 1/31/25
Does cross river bank have a website like SBTPG? I opted in for the 5 day early with a CK card but when I log into SBTPG I see the amount I’m getting back this year but I did get a refund. Would it still go through SBTPG?
Any idea on when CK should hit? 846 updated overnight, no fees taken out.
NYS refund just hit. DDD 2/21 chime. Still waiting on federal to hit DDD 2/25
Please send donation link when chime starts chirping. That way it’s easy for me to find lol
@Sheila_33: I wonder if that’s what happened to me. Remember I was in a bad Snowmobile accident in Jan of 2024 and out of work 10 months. I do have a 1095 but it is a 1095B from Colorado Medicaid free from the State because I was not working and had no income, I do not have a 1095A and I was specifically told 1095B does not need to complete or submitted with my return. I wonder if they saw that and needed a quick peek.
@Dime: look like you have a typo
@injuredspouse: mines said fined today just waiting for chime to say $$$$$
Those chime bells need to start sounding off. 🤞
@Sally831: Heres the link for donations. Thank you for your support. :)
https://igotmyrefund.com/donate/