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.
@BeeBee40: Been funded since the 19th. Now you are telling me you are holding my money until Monday to make interest.
@Goldizzle: congrats! Such a good feeling when you get your tax deposit ! I used JH for years except this year! It’s awesome ppl are getting theirs early on serve card when a ddd of 2/26. Seeing that make me a tad jelly but then I remember why I promised myself that I wouldn’t go back to JH again. I’m happy to wait the few extra days bc JH charges hundreds of dollars to do your taxes! It cost me over $500 each time. It’s worth having the extra $500 In my pocket to wait a few more days till 2/26, or according to some others, it deposits the evening before the ddd date. We shall see!
My chime notification never went off but the money is there.
@Kimzie20: I banked with Spruce (H&R) this year, but I’m not sure if they’re through Netspend. I got my deposit on Wednesday….the same day the IRS released my 846 😊
@Chelletered: Me too! funded since yesterday!
Hi everyone my DD 2/26 hit my chime @ 6:30 no fees paid up front
Ok so I just got off the phone with TurboTax. Basically they told me since the 5 days early was cancelled. My refund would not be coming from them, but from the IRS directly as I didn’t not have fees taken other than the one they cancelled. So my DD is 2/26 so I guess I’m going to have to wait till next week. And that sucks unless the IRS sent it to my bank already and they just have not posted it yet. I’m with chime and I know they don’t hold. They don’t have it yet
846 @2:30 this morning, DD 2/26. JH Serve card. Fees taken out and loan. Refund received just now!!! Good luck to all waiting!
Is anyone else using HRBlock forwarding to Chime? Before Chime gets its HRblock it has to send it. They are the problem.
@NYkhidd: thank you I can’t remember last year when it hit.
@NYkhidd: Providers/propel
It’s only available for people who get govt checks like social security…. And I am supposed to get my SS checks on a Wed and I always get it the Friday before, so I just knew it was coming today. If they deposit it, then I’ll get it
@JJ not logged in: hi same thing just happened to me I just got off the phone with TT the money is sitting at sbtpg with no release date we can’t see it on there site but TT can I called bc my app said payment was completed for my fees I use Varo every year with this and the deposit the afternoon before the ddd mine is 2/26 so I’ll get it Tuesday afternoon hope this helps you can call TT and have them track it
bf chime just hit in fl 2/26 dd used freetaxusa
@Tia: Thanks, I’m checking every 5 mins. Lol….
@Sheila_33: Thank you:)
Hello everyone I have ddd 2/26 republic bank just hit. I have jackson hewitt serve I had fees and advance and is already released to my card. It’s coming everyone!!!!!
@SLT5757: Sounds like you just haven’t finished processing yet. Hopefully, next week you’ll update.
has any 0705 ddd 02/25 hit yet cahsap?
We could not expedite your refund. No 5 day early fee was charged.
Mine says this. Do someone help me understand cause now I’m confused as to where my money coming from IRS or TT. I had no fees other than the$25
@Jessica C: what bank/card did you use if you don’t mind me asking ?? I know chime for example can deposit as late as 11pm so it’s definitely still time . It’s only 7pm on the east coast currently
Do you think the deposits happen in a sweeping motion across the states basically time zone by time zone?
@Sheila_33: oh ok thanks, Shelia. I do have Chime and they don’t hold.
On tt it says payment complete so does that mean they took fees out of my state instead of federal? Still waiting to say funded on sbptg. Got my 846 last night around 1230 with 2/26. Didn’t pay for 5 days early but had an advance. At this rate does it look like I won’t see funds until 25/26?
@NYkhidd: congrats!!! I wish my would drop!!
I paid fees upfront and have a NHB
It’s crazy how every time I try to take all the obstacles out the way, they create new obstacles! 😭😭
@Horsecharlie09: heck I paid the fees upfront and have nothing holding it back. It’s being sent to a NHB and yet no deposit still!! My ddd is 2/26
I’m sooo hoping it’ll be soon!
Hello. My account transcript populated and said “No return filed”, yet I have an email form H&R Block 2/15 saying my federal return had been accepted. WMR shows one bar and TT152. What is the issue here? I’ve never seen this on an Account transcript before:(
@NYkhidd: sorry meant to say SBTPG usually hold funds until the EVENING before the ddd . My experience with them years back . Last 3 years I had no fees .. eo
I always pay any fees for taxes upfront. I don’t do any type of advances or early payment options.
@Thewatcher2020: when you use SBTPG for your refund fees it create SORT OF a delay .. they hold on to the fund til the evening of the ddd to collect whatever small interest then can .. I just got my deposit on chime ddd 2/26 no fees it go directly from IRS to the bank account .. not a middle man like SBTPG
Serve hit a few minutes ago in NC. DDD was 02/26/25
@Morris: Definitely can get a deposit from a no holds bank before the wmr update. All ya need is the 846.
@Jay Jay not logged in: but my rest est date shows 2/21 on TT. So I’m confused. That means I went from paying a$25 fee to no fees. So now I’m wondering where my money going.
@jlindseyf5: I’m in the same exact position as you!