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
49,267 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. Clos

    All deposits are done via ACH so its early morning mid day or latest is usually 5pm from what I experienced.

    Reply
    2
  2. S

    @@@State of MassConfusion::: Thanks for the reply.

    Reply
    1
  3. Sickntired

    Anyone on here used bluebird this year and already got your deposit? If so what time did it come?

    Reply
  4. Jessica C

    @87 manemane: cross river will send it to you eventually. It’ll either be your ddd or before

    Reply
  5. Sleeplessness

    @RichinTheBurbs354: I know! I have called a few times and they act like I’m an idiot. Last I knew it was Axos bank at least I thought. But when I asked the agent he said he’d never even heard of them… lol

    Smh

    Reply
  6. Sandra s

    @Never Again: what’s the number so that I can call? State due date is today and I didn’t get it

    Reply
  7. Never Again

    @Chelyn: I was told they not releasing my funds until the day of

    Reply
  8. Never Again

    Santa Barbra Bank said they don’t release funds until the day of

    Reply
  9. Never Again

    Santa Barbra Bank said they don’t release funds until the day of… I’ve never had to deal with this…being cheap and had fees taking out of return and I’m so disappointed

    Reply
  10. Mama.Bear

    @Audra: how can I look for paid on TT?
    Thanks!
    Amanda

    Reply
  11. 87 manemane

    Is anybody else deposit day 2/24 with chime that received there deposit? I was supposed to receive my deposit 5 days early but was rejected by TT. Now Santa Barbara shows no record. Am I the only one in this situation.

    Reply
    1
  12. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Honeybee82: I think you’re right I forgot when I looked at the thread on Wednesday it was around that time when people started saying they were getting it

    Reply
    2
  13. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Chelyn: at this point and the fact they have not chimed anything as of now it’s hard to say

    Reply
  14. 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!

    They will start hitting everyone, don’t be nervous! On Wednesday there were literally no NHB’s depositing until 4-5:00…..then everyone started getting them at once. For some reason, the deposits are delayed this year….but they will come, ours did 😊

    Reply
    7
  15. Jersey girl
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-28
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-28
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      0605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sessions: yes we should see it today. I always get it the same day with netspend.

    Reply
    2
  16. Jay Jay not logged in

    @RichinTheBurbs354: that’s new to me or I misunderstood the language

    Reply
  17. Chelyn
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-27
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Credit karma
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-27
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-26
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    What’s the time frame for sbtpg to say funded? I got my 846 around 1230 last night.

    Reply
  18. 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!

    Don’t know what’s up this year I use Chime and last year hit Friday at 11.15 am it’s supposed to come sane day 846 hits but don’t know what’s going on with Chime

    Reply
    3
  19. RichinTheBurbs354

    @Sleeplessness: i would like to know that answer to because when I call they have no clue what I’m asking.

    Reply
  20. Morris

    @RichinTheBurbs354: True. I have gotten deposits on a Sunday before from Chime.

    Reply
    1
  21. Impatiently waiting
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-7
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Identity Theft
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Tia: Yes, I filed Free Tax USA and have bluebird and nothing yet. Any other year it came at 1:30 pm latest same day as I got my 856. I don’t know what is going on this year.

    Reply
  22. RichinTheBurbs354

    Chime deposits everyday of the week. Only exceptions are holidays.

    The deposit may be affected from the bank sending it but chime 100% deposits on weekends. I had a job that paid us on Tuesdays and mine would be I my Chime account between 7-10pm every Sunday.

    Reply
  23. Sandra s

    Ny state tax due date is today stbg says funded but no deposit yet, is this normal?

    Reply
  24. Muggie

    Filed and accepted on 02/13. Is shows still processing. I am weekly. No EIC or Child tax credit.

    Reply
  25. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Morris: I know. I really hope it’s today. My significant other got her 846 Tuesday and Wed she had her money. She paid for the five days early and so did I. If we count the five days calculations I’m supposed to get it today. Or they gone give me my money back. There have been people who have been rejected for the 5 days early and they have already been notified. I have not been rejected tho

    Reply
    1
  26. 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!

    Is it me or are all DD with NHB going slow??

    Reply
    13
  27. Morris

    @Jay Jay not logged in: Dont want to hear this. I saw Chime customers hitting the other day early. Just hoping its today.

    Reply
  28. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Morris: I been hearing all different times which have come and gone. The last deposit batch from chime is 4pm if it’s not there by then we have to wait till Monday cause they don’t deposit on the weekend

    Reply
  29. Morris

    I think Chime will hit around 5pm

    Reply
    4
  30. Benita
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-4
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chase
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-4
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-19
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250705
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Missty: They will send it out on the 24th. My tax preparer uses them every year and they always send it out the day before.

    Reply
  31. La

    Can you guys be more specific about the post you just made for chime dropping? There are a couple DDDs They have already came out and nobody knows what DDD chime is dropping for?? 2/25 2/26??

    Reply
    2
  32. 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!

    @Jay Jay not logged in: Wt…wow so glad you got that straightened out.

    Reply
  33. @@State of MassConfusion::

    @S: It filled in with the 846 code as well with a date of 2/26….

    Reply
    2
  34. Jay Jay not logged in

    I can recall my worst time with IRS. They actually took my $7k refund and was claiming that I owned a business in a state I have never been to, or even thought to exist. They went on to say that there was over $120k in taxes that I owed from unreported income. I dug deeper and found out a mom and pop restaurant was using my SSN as their for their business. I did eventually get my money but it was almost 6 months past the original DD

    Reply
  35. mickey m
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Credit Karma checking
    • Bars:
      3rd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Date Approved:
      Mar-21
    • WMR Date:
      Mar-26
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20251205
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Apr-7
    • Processing Date:
      Apr-15
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Txmomof3girls: thank you

    Reply
  36. Sleeplessness

    Does anyone know if there’s a way to see if fees have been paid thru HR Block? I’ve looked and looked and can’t find anything.

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
  37. S

    @Ambo: Don’t cry. I remember about 2 years ago, everyone else got updates that mrng and mine didn’t update at all. However, that night, my transcript updated late that night. I think you might still have a chance.

    I did ask earlier if someone’s codes filled in because I have a friend who is going through the exact same thing as you right now and I am trying to find out information here to give her proof that updates are still happening. Your money is coming.🙂

    Reply
    1
  38. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Hello just seeing: yes yes. I see you know the power of the tongue. What we allow to roll off our tongues will definitely manifest 🙏

    Reply
    5
  39. JP

    @Azluckyfish: I haven’t seen any so far.

    Reply
    1
  40. NoTag

    @Deano: thx I’ll keep a lookout around that time. 🤞

    Reply