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.
SBPTG Just uploaded TRACE NUMBERS!!!!
SBPTG Say funded ! Like release our damn money yall got yall cut out already!!!! 0605 cycle ddd 2/26
Sbtpg I meant. Updated to funded at 12:01 am.
Sbgt just updated at 12:01 am to funded. DD of 2-26-2025.
Finally at the funded status but we all know sb is going to hold the funds which is bs.
@Mama.Bear: I’m waiting as well for the one card DDD 02/26
Uh oh. Looks like its time to sue SB again. Every 4 years its the same bs. I remember back in 2020 they got sued for holding funded refunds after taking out fees. Here we go again.
Anyone file through free tax USA get a 846 last night using cash app get a deposit yet? DDD 2/26
@pastelito: Yeah, I tapped that too. It says “Funded” and they didn’t outline what that means. It’s definitely a dirty game that they’re playing. Because how did they take out their fees if the funds weren’t received from the IRS?
@Jay Jay not logged in: I never got an email regarding the 5 days early. I wonder why. Is there anyway to contact the bank they used?
@Mamabee: from what I’ve read a day early at best
@Horsecharlie09: no fees but got an advance so no 5 day early option
@Guest118811: OHHHH you mean the bank got their money? Lol! Well let’s see how long they hold on to your money for because as of now they are trying to tell people that they will not get their money until the deposit date which is complete BS because nobody else is holding it AND they should not be holding money whenever they have collected their fees the money has been distributed from the irs. I have a feeling that they will be facing a lot of backlash because they are trying to say that customers will receive their money when the IRS funds the money which will be on the date given. However what happens whenever the IRS funds the money before that date? The bank is trying to hold the money while putting everything on the IRS
@Guest118811: congratulations! Yay !! ok, did you choose the 5 day early option from TT? Also, where your fees taken out of your refund or did you pay your fees up front?
People could please include this whenever they update us to let us now that they received their refund that would be super awesome please :)
It’s anyone using PayPal? I’ve not seen one person with PayPal update. Thank you
@Guest118811: Mine says the same thing. Could we possibly get it early?@Guest118811:
@Jennthepen: take notice to TT…ever few years they have something like this happen. . Then a couple of years will go way more smoothly for ppl. Then BAM! Atleast that’s what I’ve noticed the past decade . Idk about B4 then. It’s consistently something every few years and you’ll hear all about it on the Internet, the news etc. then some big class action lawsuit occurs etc. I could understand their excuses more if there were other companies, banks or even if the IRS stated they are experiencing issues. But that’s not the case. We see that it’s TT, their banks pulling stunts on their customers AGAIN.
SBPTG Funded at 11pm est
Ddd 2.26
@EbNAtl: ok so, they put up these notifications on the SBPTG site as u said bc ppl keep calling right? My suggestion is ppl need 2 keep calling anyway. I’m sure they will. Bc their ” pop up notification ” does not make sense anyway & ppl will be looking 4 an explanation. They say if it says funded u still need 2 look at the IRS date & u will get the $ on the date the IarS says the deposit is on. Not true bc all other places are sending money out & it’s just SBPGT deciding 2 hold it AND besides how can they say that when ppl can see that SBPGT has received funds & taken their fees getting their money?!?! That’s like saying 1+1=3 when it clearly does not. Makes no sense
@EbNAtl: I saw that notice, which is weird because when you click on the “?” Next to funded it says “ Indicates whether you have received a Federal and/or state tax refund. An ‘Unfunded’ status indicates sbtpg has not received a tax refund. A ‘Funding received’ status indicates a Federal and/or state tax refund has been received.” So they have received the refund. And the ATTENTION message is saying that the date at the bottom is when the IRS will pay the refund.???
@Jay Jay not logged in: I believe it lol. Sad really! Why so many companies have to be so slimy . It’s like REALLY? Lol are the reallllly trying to pull this stunt on ppl and trying to blame the IRS. When ppl can SEE that the IRS has sent the money to SBPTG, and SBPTG has taken out their fees getting paid…so what’s the excuse bc no other bank and company holding and making excuses. Well, it’s no wonder why they constantly get sued
@Mom@3: you better get ready to raise it cause they ain’t planning on giving it up then. SMH
@Mom@3: wow sbtpg doesn’t have an account for me by phone or website…. Maybe Cross River is holding mine too.
@Horsecharlie09: they will have another one behind this rabbit hole scheme of 5 days early knowing they were going to reject a nice amount of ppl
@Mom@3: btw my date is 2/26 as well. No deposit either. Mine is going on CK card too but personally I’m not expecting it until 2/26 & am just grateful it’s around the corner. BUT I will be very angry if either 1 if 2 things occur which is if Santa Barbara gets my money early & they don’t distribute it when they get it, OR if I don’t get my deposit on 2/26 like it states. So for now, I’m ok & am not gonna get all mad until I have a real reason 2 b. As of now it shows they haven’t received anything & therefore haven’t taken fees. I understand why ppl are mad though when they see the bank has their money but still don’t have the funds. That’s a no go!
@Mom@3: that’s the bank turbo tax using for the 5 days early. So when it was rejected then they hold it until the actual DD and make all kinds of interest off our money. These banks also will borrow your money to supply loans if they don’t have money on hand. But they’ll have it when it’s time for you to get paid. It’s a dirty business full of dirty hands 🤬
@Mom@3: right! That’s bc the banks affiliated with TT are pulling bs this year. It makes no sense. TT is trying to blame IRS but when ppl can see that their $ has been receiving by Santa Barbara bank and fees have been taken, then they can’t say they haven’t gotten the $. Alllll of these other companies have distributed funds. So, that means there’s a problem with the common denominator which happens to be TT and their affiliated banks. Bc the IRS has done their part on their end, with all of these other places, tax companies & the banks. So yeah, it’s def them.
TT says they couldn’t do 5 days early so there’s no charge for that service now I’m stuck waiting
@JJ not logged in: What is Pathward?
@Disbelief: I’m weekly but received 846 code Wednesday evening..WMR updated today when deposit was received
@Mom@3: Ok
@EbNAtl: yeah bc they are CLEARLY lying! It’s not the IRS! If Santa Barbara has the money then it’s not the IRS. Instead..it’s the bank holding on to the money. How come it’s not happening with any other company or Bank? How come chime, serve, NetSpend etc are all getting their funds early? It’s a bunch of BS. And if I recall correctly something like this happened with TurboTax a few years ago! They said the same thing and tried that same thing. It’s crazy. Their attempts to do this, which earns them interest $ maybe is their way of making up $ that they’ve lost due to all of the class action lawsuits they have had to pay out on. You think by now they would have learned their lesson. Guess not.
@Horsecharlie09: My DD is 2/24 CK and no deposit.
@deedee2083: Congratz!! When did u get your 846 code?
I’ve not seen anyone who’s getting their money on CK card with a DDD date of 2/26, say that they have gotten theirs early , unless they chose the 5 day early option that is. So essentially JH serve card, chime, NetSpend etc all are sending out the refunds earlier than the DDD date but banks affiliated with TT are not! Sad they are doing ppl like that! And this just so happens to be the 1 year I’m not going with JH lol!
I’m a pather 0605 weekly. Filed with TT had fees taken out. DDD 2/26 SBPTG just updated to funded and now there’s a notice blaming the funds release on the IRS. I guess everyone has been calling and they got tired of giving excuses lol
@Horsecharlie09: yes I got this morning used TA paid fees up front
@Jennthepen: Because they screwed up. Everyone that filed for the 5 day thing wether they got it or not, their money still went to Cross River. Call the IRS and ask for the routing number of where your deposit was sent and look it up. I bet it’s Cross River.
@deedee2083: you got your deposit? Did u do the 5 days early option through TT?
@Jay Jay not logged in: They have been sued multiple times for false advertisement. TT forsure is shady like swearing SBTPG has myrefund and the IRS told me that it went to Cross River directly from my return. It’s all a hot mess. If my money isn’t in my account by Monday I am gonna raise hell on them.
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