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.
@Sheila_33: No resolution, no updates on transcript and no letter. Still have the PATH message on WMR, the only thing that changed is WMR now no longer shows my refund amount.
Filed 1/24 and accepted same day
Around the 1st of February I saw I had to verify on my irs account but never received a letter.
My as of date after this past Friday was 3/10.
I requested a new letter and now this morning my as of date changed to 3/17 but still blank?!
Filed hrblock on 2/5 used choice bank
Recieved my taxes ddd 2/25 was deposited yesterday around 4pm had fees from refund
@Frost87: I’m in the same boat it says it is being reviewed I called a TA she said to 14 days to get a letter nothing on my tax account yet. She couldn’t even tell me what letter I’m supposed to get I’m going to call again tomorrow
@Buckey12: my son was on oath and he opted for the up to 5 days early and received his 3 days earlier than the ddd.
@Jay Jay not logged in: there’s no grounds for a lawsuit. You were not charged and you are not guaranteed anything in regards to that service. You didn’t read the fine print. Shhh. My son used it and got his 3 days earlier than expected which is still within the terms of “up to 5 days early”. You are out nothing if they couldn’t do it because they didn’t charge anyone they couldn’t do it for
Ok so I checked my transcript is hasn’t updated yet,and where’s my refund is still the same ,but the Santa barbara bank has taken my state tax for fees already why isn’t my federal appeared yet@Shot:
@Shot: your federal hasn’t finished processing. Once it was accepted at both levels, your state finished sooner, so they took fees from that. Hopefully, you’ll finish this week.
@Janise: From my experience this year, the offset line did not update until I got my 846 code. It was listing the debt that I had from last year which was already paid. Once my 846 showed on my transcript the offset line updated with two new debts which took a chunk of my refund.
@Jay Jay not logged in: they’ll likely get around a lawsuit on this 5 day early garbage because of the very fine print. Where they still dropped the ball is not having a clear understanding or training for CS reps on a “Where the money goes” flowchart based on fees from refund or not, accepted/rejected 5-day early, etc. They also didn’t think through the effect the Path Act freeze would have on their ability to be 5 days before ddd, but it sounded good and that’s how they sucked people in to pay for the tax software.
Ok so I checked my transcript is hasn’t updated yet,and where’s my refund is still the same ,but the Santa barbara bank has taken my state tax for fees already why isn’t my federal appeared yet
@Morris: i usef to use TT every year, and after @sheila_33 talked about FTUSA, I made the switch. I haven’t looked back. While they don’t offer advances etc, they at least don’t give headaches–which is the last thing anyone needs this time of year. I just made sure to pay fees up front and avoid holding banks. In 2020, I paid from refund and got my refund on 2/26 ddd. This year, it arrived 4 days before (on a Saturday morning). So, i need to take back what I said about FNB Bank. They apparently are a NHB.
@Jay Jay not logged in: Also Chime has this thing called MyPay where you can get up to 500 dollars before your payday plus they will spot you up to 200 dollars.
@Jay Jay not logged in: True. Chime doesn’t have Chat. Also, I called Chime and they said they don’t see a deposit but as soon as they get it I will receive it in my account. I love Chime and I’m doing my taxes with their partner Column Tax next season6 days earlier than the DDD.
If you go on tt check order status my fees came out of my refund days ago but no deposit to my bank they cancelled the 5 day early scam that was just a pawn to get you to file with tt im sure class action lawsuit is coming
@Sheila_33: TT will not be by tax service after this year. How they cancelled on so many ppl with the 5 days early promotion they guaranteed. I can see another class action lawsuit on the horizon for them. And the wildest thing about it that they don’t care.
Morris they messed us up with this deposit didn’t they? I don’t know how someone said they spoke to chime thru cheque l chat and they were told today or tomorrow it could come. That’s all lies. I just spoke to them and they have no visibility of any pending deposits over the weekend. Lol
@Morris: It’s been the craziest year I’ve seen with deposits, I agree.
@DWAH: I’m so glad that you got a date! Congrats! I went to search comment from this year and saw a few who got funded with PayPal. Once person specified they had the 6 days early. SEARCH the comments if you don’t see the answers you want! Sorry that’s your experience. Hope to see you next year still. It’s a wealth on information on this site! <3
@Sheila_33: What this did is people are going to make serious changes on how they file their taxes next year.
My return keeps giving
Your return has been received and is being processed..
Is anyone else’s saying this?