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.
@JP: yes still waiting on cash app hopefully soon
I got a daughter waiting for a manual review and update. Things need to get organized or this mama gonna get irritated.
@S: if you are paying fees with your refund then having a NHB doesn’t matter bc the deposit has to go to their bank first and they hold it until your ddd
Hope this helps
@S: if you are paying fees with your refund then having a NHB doesn’t matter bc the deposit has to go to their bank first and they hold it until your ddd
just got dd used h and r block and was on path was loaded on netspent
@Barbz🩷: did you go back and look on turbo tax to see if they have not rejected 5 days early if you opted for that. Mine was good all day until about 30 min ago. They rejected me. So now I’m wondering now what. Am getting paid tonight cause tt says est. Deposit date 2/21
Refund just hit for Netspend DD 2/26
Have a deposit date for NY state 2/25
@Barbz🩷: I’ve noticed a lot haven’t got anything with CashApp. I wonder what’s going on this year?
2/26 direction deposit date just hit on Netspend card at 5:37 pm CST. No fees and no 5 day advance thing.
@WASTATEGIRL24: did u do the 5 day early option?
Refund just hit. Free file. NHB. DDD 2/26/25. They’re coming yall.
I just received the deposit. i live in florida with mid florida bank. good luck
just got my deposit. 0505 weekly – 2/26 bank with nhb (midflorida)
@Mrs. Beeeee: Filed with TT, did not choose the early option
SBTPG just put a pop up on their page if you see a federal refund look at the date posted and that is the date the IRS will give you your refund. UGH!! Never again
Deposit to CK!!! I would say within the last 30 min or so. I just randomly checked and it’s there!! Hang in there everyone!
@JP: Nope. Got it 02/21 at 5:30 pm EST last year. My DDD is 02/24, TT, pather, 5 days early promise. Still nothing on Cash App. Very disappointed. I’m seeing people with DDD 02/26 getting theirs now as well as Chime, NetSpend, Jackson Hewitt cards getting theirs. Still holding on to hopes of a late deposit tonight.
To the ppl who are posting saying they just got their $, stating what your DD date was supposed to be.fir example I see ppl stating their date is 2/26 but got it now….can you please also include whether or not if you filed with TT and if you chose the 5 day early option or not? Thx!! : )
I want to ask a quick question because maybe I’m not understanding something. If people that have NHB cards already and want to use it for their refund, why would they offer a $25 fee to get it 5 days faster if the NHB card does that anyway??
@Celina94: I surely hope so. I know most of my original deposits post late evenings. Last year I got my refund after 12pm. Not sure what’s going on this year.
@Waiting Patiently: yay go you!!! Did u select the 5 day early option?
@Nicole0121: if they took the fees and the money was distributed to them, then it’s with their bank. Makes me wonder if they make more $ holding onto ppls money than the $25 they will get from u if they were to release it early. Either way, if they already got the money from the IRS and took their fees, they absolutely should distribute it to u right away but from what I’ve been seeing, it looks like they aren’t releasing early unless you have the 5 day early thing . I’ll never understand why it’s allowed for these companies, banks etc to hold money.
Any info on DD with Sofi bank
From now on I’m paying fees up front screw sbptg holding my money til the 24th
Go2Bank just dropped 23 minutes ago. My DDD was 2/26/2025 fees paid upfront
So I slowly see other cards are dropping, does anyone think chime will? I filed free no offsets. Last year got it at 12:58pm the day my transcripts updated
@Falysha Lynn: wait so are you saying that they already got the money, took the fees out but they aren’t sending the money yet? I understand it’s not your DD date yet but that’s messed up if that’s the case. Bc why would they hold the $ even after taking the fees? If they have the $, they need to distribute it to you
So now looking at the TT app they was not able to do the 5 days early took the $25 off but I have it going to Varo did for 2/26 so I’m wondering where my money is sitting smh
@LetsGoMets: did u select the 5 day early option?
@ChristineG84: yay!!! Congrats! Now 4 us that didn’t get the 5 days and date is 2/26 we definitely are not getting it early. I’m excited for 2/26 here we come lol just a few more days of waiting!!! : )
@FatDaddy: let me know when your chime hit lol cause I got chime also and fees were taking from refund DD 2/24/25
TT 5 days early just hit, traditional bank. DDD 2/26
Just got my deposit on the One Card a few minutes ago. Had a DD of the 26th.
@Gorillamom4: yes last night around 11pm pacific time is when I checked it.
Still plenty of time. I won’t worry until midnight for the deposit to hit.
No DD yet to my chime but the TT app just updated to reflect my new number -offset and an expected refund delivery date of today. Last 10 minutes or so it updated. Getting excited! Good luck all!
Hey all. I got my 846 around 3am this morning. I filed 1/27 accepted the same day. Pather, weekly. My cycle is 0505. We had a small offset which they took around 12pm today, so something is moving but VERY slowly. We usually get our refund the same day our 846 hits. Nothing get and a NHB. Wondering if something is up with the IRS? I know the offset was cleared. Watching and watching with you all.
@O605weekly: mine updated the day after I got my 846 code I could see Republic Bank took their fees as of Yesterday afternoon but I have a Traditional Bank so I might be waiting til 2/25 which is my DDD
@shelleybeanss: I found out today & I’m so disappointed
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