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.
@Big ben: I would check your routing and account number on the tax return.
@Sheila_33: yesss just checked my sisters. She updated to DDD 2/26 but we knew that because of the 846 she got yesterday!
Morning everyone! Any Wmr changes this morning?
WMR updated to refund approved 2 bars 2/26. I’m not looking for money to hit early like many of you guys.
@Got it!: how did you find this on the TT website? Mine says nothing and my account hasn’t received the deposit
HrBlock said I should receive my deposit in my bank account by 2/26. Since I use Chime it will be 2/25. So unfair that dailies were receiving their money so quickly after their 846 showed up and weeklies are having a rough time receiving theirs.
Morning everyone well I got the 846 on Friday morning. My question is I checked the wmr portal and it says your check is scheduled to be mailed on 2-28. I chose direct deposit. Is there any reason why they would do mail instead of direct deposit? We are getting a decent size refund because of our children. Has anyone experienced this before
@Horsecharlie09: the 5 days early was a game. Considering they have suffered significant loss with previous class action lawsuits. You had two pots of people. One side of the people paid for their tax preparation and got 5 days early. Then you had the others who paid nothing for tax preparation and requested the 5 days. Well since they not making nothing from this set of people. The game is you not paying me for e-filing your return. Then why should we give you your money early, so then they hold it, make money off of it and then give it to you. They don’t think that they could have just put a person in a bad situation. You don’t know what people are going thru you know.
@Horsecharlie09: yupppp facts it says GREENDOT
@SilentLurker: or if that is true then does HR block use SBTPG just like TT? Bc from what I understand a decent amount of companies use SBTPG. If it is through them then we are familiar with it bc that are doing that to others
@SilentLurker: ur the 1st to say that another company is holding it
Sounds kinda sus. Like SBTPG trying to have somebody make ppl think that they aren’t the only ones. Just saying…..if that’s the case though she prob will receive it earlier like others. Even Jackson Hewitt is distributing their early after fees paid and money received.
@757VApather: you are correct it is misleading. But I find that the only misleading thing that they are trying to mislead ppl about is the little pop-up message they added yesterday on their site. everything else is clear. like you know how they have that little (I) that you can hover over at the top of each section that explains what each section means. Which clearly shows whenever a person has paid their fees, & the bank has received the money from the IRS etc. essentially they are trying2 explain away why they’re not handing over ppls $. At the bottom of the SBPTG site it says they are GREEN DOT! And everyone knows that Green Dot does not hold money and that they receive it instantly too. So, they are choosing to hold it
Good Morning. For those of you who went through H&R Block and had fees taken out, you should now be able to check on the status of yout refund by calling 800.472.5625. My daughter’s DDD is the26th. Info wasn’t available as of late last night, but now has recording of having reveived her DD with date of the 26th. Sucks that they are holding it, but at least you’ll know it’s received.
@757VApather: ditto!
People on PATH that went for the 5 day early option for TT and can’t find your info on Santa Barbara bank…check your bank accounts!
I got my money apparently yesterday! TT website says got it 5 days early on 2/21!
@KSrBust25: call MONDAY you are past the 21 day window and you are NOT PATH so the window started JAN, 27.
@Horsecharlie09: you are right I support you ; I have no gripes with a person trying to understand WHERE their money is!!
I’m on sbtpg rn and the verbiage is misleading ; but I’m sure they will have way of trying to explain
@757VApather: there is nothing wrong with doing what we are doing. When u see something that is inconsistent & wrong then it’s okay to make complaints. I just filed a complaint through the BBB. Some ppl may say well I’ll have my refund by then by the time that they respond. Regardless they need 2b held accountable. SBTPG thinks that it’s okay 2tell ppl that they will receive their $ on the date that the IRS has stated 4 the DDD date which is normally okay except 4 when the bank receives the $ from the IRS & ur fees r paid, then the $ needs 2b released 2 the customer. just like when a payroll company sends the payroll 2the bank & u have a bank that releases $ immediately. It’s not ok! Make it make sense!
@Horsecharlie09: what DDD do you have ; and good work!!! if you have a complaint you did the right thing and thank you for sharing info on how to peacefully and effectively protest your situation
@757VApather: what they are doing is wrong point blank period and they are the only ones doing it which says something.
We could practice patience that is true but i Tony think bringing up the misleading practices of these banks have anything to do with patience wrong is wrong and right is right ; as far as the interest the are compounding; how much is really being made if that’s what we are thinking ; interst is compounded at a APY rate y meaning yearly; so in these days how much are they really
Making??? It may be a lot I don’t know im just raising the thought to see if someone may make a formula
@CrazedinGA: I can tell u what TT, SBPTG is not normal. It’s not ok. No other companies and or banks are holding people’s funds even after the feeds have been paid and they have received the money from the IRS. I filed a complaint with the BBB. You can see that they added a pop up memo on their website trying to explain away things after so many people were calling complaining but even their memo doesn’t make sense so I would say that people need to keep calling and file complaints.
@Audra: where do you find the trace number? And what DDD DO you have I have 2/26…
@Jdsanaja88: I don’t think anyone is being rude by complaining about the practices of the BIG Banks … I don’t think anyone in the comments were being rude to one another; I do see frustration, and I agree we should be patient ; but as for me I would never wish that people’s money would be held for any reason . I don’t have that type of hate in my heart to wish badly upon people’s finance
I did see the people communicating together on how to dispute…this is AMERICA and this is how the country was built ; if the institutions that serve you aren’t doing their job you as a TAX PAYING CITIZEN have the right to protest and address whatever issues you have with those institutions (healthcare, banks, education.
@singlemomto4: I have one as well and I did not earlier.
For those of yall going through it with TT with fees and/or the ridiculous 25 dollar 5 day early BS, I wish TigerLilli was still on here, bc she knows so much about when certain banks fund these transfers. My concern is that some NHB don’t do DD on weekends and some do. I think Chime does DD on Saturday. Anyone have insight about DD on weekends here?
@CrazedinGA
I will for sure do that.
Maybe you guys just being impatient and not letting things happen the way they’re happening. You guys are super lucky that they’re even giving you the money a day or two ahead of time. If it was me, I would make you guys wait until the day of probably later in the night just because of all the rude comments people make an assumption relax be patient it could be worse. Remember everything could be worse. It’s really not that bad I’m just saying.
@KSrBust25: I would absolutely be calling the IRS and speaking to a real person Monday am. You would be beyond the 21 day mark anyway you count it. It will definitely be past 21 days from the actual opening day of this tax filing season. Someone should be able to tell you something. Wishing you a speedy refund!🥰
@singlemomto4: Where do you find the trace numbers?
Federal Accepted 1/17. Transcripts have never filled and have always been blank.
No EiTC, No Kids, No ID verify and No Offsets
Any Thoughts???
I just checked Sbtpg site and I have a trace number now and I didn’t have one earlier today.
Filed 1/24 TT; approved 1/27 & advance paid 1/27 – fees not yet paid.
WMR still on TT 152 1st bar
SBTPG funded as of 1146P EST 2/26 DD
Cannot access transcripts.
I fully expect to see my $$ on CK card 2/25 late afternoon, early evening. I’ll make another comment shortly with my thoughts/opinion on the whole TT fiasco being heavily discussed.
Michigan return filed 2/3; MI WMR 2/19; deposit in CK card 2/14.
Cont….place and twice $39 dollars for State refund and twice for $40 refund transfer and it say the $25 get your refund 5 days early I’d pending, so one total is came to be $247.00 and the other total was $227.00 , I want to know why in the hell is they double charging me and adding add ons to my cart ? I didn’t even order, I also said Where is my cont…
Cont..So where is my money , TurboTax lied about chime not getting early deposits which I know is definitely a lie. Where is my money, y’all been sued before, look at y’all now same thing. I need answers before I contact the news Fox.., CNN,,World News, . And I looked at my TurboTax receipt and found out they charged me twice for premium one for $89 dollars and another one for $99 dollars plus 2 Max benefits of $59 dolllars I didn’t even order in the first cont….
Cont …this possible if I can’t see it on SBTPG, but TurboTax can,? Why is they holding it for? Chime do not hold funds. I’m contacting the FCC and better business bureau, I don’t know where my money is being held, the IRS even said today that the money was sent and told me if I get early deposits I should’ve gotten it on Friday! I told the rep I didn’t, she said it’s something up with TurboTax because they are Not suppose to hold your money after they have been paid, the rep said whomever is doing traction after payment are paid , could face a $10,000 fine! Cont…
I just posted to TurboTax community and this what I said , “I got direct deposit for 2-26-25 and I’m not showing up in the SBTPG website, and I’m putting in the correct information, but TurboTax told me told me today my fees are paid and it’s pending on there end, what does this mean, and why I’m not showing up in the system, where is my money, Does the Cross river still have my money and if they do why, I paid for get early 5 days and TurboTax said my bank doesn’t accept early deposits, well chime told me that’s a absolute lie and they do accept early direct deposits and they haven’t received anything from TurboTax or the Cross river bank, but TurboTax already been paid! How is Continuing
@Graciousgambino: me too I have green dot and it says funded but I have no money and I don’t see a trace number
Filed 2/10… accepted 2/10 no movement yet tonight on WMR. I am a weekly
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