For all the people
impatiently waiting
on tax refunds.

A grapevine for taxpayers,
by taxpayers.

Interact with people who have experiences or questions just like you.

All of your tax refund questions, answered.
What Other People Are Saying
49,361 comments

Where’s My Refund?

You have questions, we have answers.

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.

IRS Update Cycle

Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.

Transcripts

This is what your IRS transcript can tell you about your tax refund.

Transaction Codes

Lookup the codes that you see on your tax return transcript and what they mean.

Daily vs. Weekly

Find out if you have a daily or weekly account with the IRS and what it means.

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.

talk to a human

It is often hard to reach someone at the IRS and you might want to talk to a person. It is hard to reach some tax preparation companies too. Use our guide to talk to a human at the IRS.

TAX TOPIC 152

Tax Topic 152 is the most common status when you check the status of your tax refund. It is nothing to worry about.

transcript codes

Transaction Codes (TC) sometimes called transcript codes consist of three digits and may appear on your IRS account transcript. Decipher the codes on your IRS transcripts.

reference codes

Most times the Wherer’s My Refund tool (WMR) will show Tax Topic 152. Other times you may see various error codes. These are called Reference Codes on the WMR.

Join the Conversation

What Others Are Saying

  1. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Stephyw: yes if only a portion was offset then the remaining would show on WMR with a number you can call to check the details of the offset. If there is no dollar amount there after the offset then it could be they took the entire refund. I hope that’s not the case for you and it just does not show the amount after the offset.

    Reply
  2. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Path25: I’m hearing that cross River Bank is where the funds are sitting. If we were rejected for 5 days early. So I am trying to figure out when the money coming. Even with ACH, THE money needs to be moving already like today. If it’s a no hold bank it’s going to, then we should get our money today.

    Reply
    2
  3. 87 manemane

    No refund yet

    Reply
  4. Clos

    0405 Weekly Path DDD 2/26 Credit Union never released early in the past was pending for 2/26. My phone alerted deposit 20 mins ago.

    Reply
    2
  5. Money mama

    @SamfromMA: same ! I’m just trying to be patient but chime isn’t making it any better sending notifications all day and none are my refund

    Reply
    2
  6. Pinky21

    @SamfromMA: I filed my own taxes using Free Tax USA. I paid fees up front and was on the PATH. My DDD is 2/24. Refund hit my Capital One 360 account a little after 12am.

    Reply
    1
  7. Starchild1111

    @Jennyb: well das weird cus last yr my ddd was 2/25 and I’ve done everythitn the same same bank n all and my deposit came that 22at 4est time now it’s saying exact as last year just a day behind due to Monday being so called holiday lol it’s the 24th rhey r seriously tripping early deposits with cashapp(Sutton bank) always works Wuts d malfunction wit sbtg

    Reply
  8. Stephyw

    Hello!
    When I check wmr now it says tax topic 201 my refund was applied to a past due debt.

    I have no idea why I owe but.. does this mean no chance of seeing any of my return?!! If I was wouldn’t it show the reduced amounts =(

    Thanks so much in advance!

    Reply
  9. Quabae

    @Path25: your deposit should hit today. You don’t have fees coming out so nobody has your return. Dept of treasury to your bank, minus a middle man

    Reply
  10. SamfromMA

    I feel better that I’m not the only one but still stressing because I thought it would be there early this AM…just going to try and relax and have faith it will be there later

    Reply
    3
  11. Money mama

    Tax season just started and this has already been the longest wait ever. I’ve had my refund sent to a NO Hold bank the past 3-4 years and this is the first time I’ve been in limbo just waiting like this . 2:26 DDD

    Reply
    2
  12. Starchild1111

    @Starchild1111: ok I don’t see a trace number on sbtg site but it’s said funded since last wed says sent 2/25 ddd 2/26 then on wmr which has been approved since Thursday with ddd of 2/25 fees taken out of refund cashapp I’m a PATHer and for some reason cashapp acting slow like I don’t get early deposits Wuts really going on lol

    Reply
    2
  13. Path25

    @Jay Jay not logged in: yes same here . Opted in to 5 days early and got rejected was a pather as well and paid fees upfront. Sbtpg says error no info found. DDD Date is 2/24 wmr is on 2nd bar approved. Banking with Sofi bank still no deposit.

    Reply
    1
  14. Tori3

    @Kymomof3: mine says the same thing.

    Reply
  15. Waiting in KY

    @Benita: A trace number? Fill me in. How do we access that information?

    Reply
  16. Kymomof3

    @Jay Jay not logged in: wonder if it will still come from cross river even though the 5 days was cancelled? This is so crazy and aggravating

    Reply
    2
  17. DTM2025

    570/971 my letter was avalible on the IRS website site. There is a “CALLER ID #) which is 6 digits long. so the number on the transcript next to 150 was no where listed on the letter.

    Reply
  18. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Kymomof3: yes Santa Barbara does not have it. We know it’s sitting somewhere but TT swears they don’t know where the money went. 😳😳

    Reply
    2
  19. Jay Jay not logged in

    Good morning if there is anybody here that filed with TT and paid no fee for the taxes, only opted into the “5 days guarantee” and was cancelled on and your DD is 2/26 and your money shows today…. Please let me know. This is ridiculous what they did to allot of people.

    Reply
    4
  20. Kymomof3

    My turbo tax time line went back to pending??? I have ddd of 2/24. Fees taken out, wasnt eligible for 5 days early. Santa Barbara still can’t find my account. Any ideas when I might it get and where it will be coming from?? Makes me soooo nervous

    Reply
    2
  21. Starchild1111

    @Missty: thanknu I’m about to check now cus I didn’t notice

    Reply
  22. Babygirl87

    @SamfromMA: same! Nothing for me yet. I saw someone mentioned it’ll post later today around 1. Cross river bank does deposits later in the afternoon. If I didn’t do the 5 days early it would’ve posted around 5 this morning. I’m trying to have faith and not worried but it’s driving me crazy waking up to nothing.

    Reply
    1
  23. ImCASHINout🤑

    @SamfromMA: U may be right because my mom used H&RBlock and has chime. I checked her transcripts for her last Thursday morning and they were blank. But Friday morning they were completely filled in with a DDD for 2/24. When she checked her chime a couple hours later, the DD was already there.

    Reply
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  24. Dime

    @SamfromMA: I’m in the same boat it will come. I don’t know why it’s running late this year

    Reply
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  25. SamfromMA

    I filed with TT and My DDD is for 2/24 to chime and still nothing! I have fees coming out of refund and did that dumb 5 day early thing which I think is what it messing it up….last year I got it a day early at 5AM

    Reply
    2
  26. ImCASHINout🤑

    @Justgivememymoneyyy: it’s not just TT. I used Cashapp and H&RBlock and have a DDD for 2/26 with fees taken out and I have nothing yet.

    Reply
    1
  27. Michael225

    If it was up to me, I’d get everyone on these sites together and go to the IRS main office with about 10-20 thousand people and fire them.. tell them to go home and they are not allowed to have any government jobs again.. and then we can find a new better way to do things

    Reply
    2
  28. Michael225

    @Jennyb: that’s not the point , the point is that green dot owns Sbtpg, and they have listed in there terms or whatever you call them that any funded by the government won’t be held by them.. basically I’m waiting on them to send it to themselves .. this tax is beyond stupid

    Reply
    1
  29. Jennyb

    @Michael225: I always try to pay my fees upfront first because SBTPG ALWAYS holds your money until the date. They never give it after paying fees. It’s so annoying.

    Reply
    2
  30. Michael225

    So SBTPG has been funded and scheduled to send my refund to green dot for my DDD 2/26. Wtf lol I thought green dot when funded by the government doesn’t hold the funds.. lol this tax refund stuff is ridiculous.. it’s a goat circus lol

    Reply
    1
  31. Quana

    @Benita: waiting for the same thing. I’ve been funded since Friday night. I prob won’t get the trace number until sometime tomorrow. DDD 2/26 CK

    Reply
  32. Benita
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-4
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chase
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-4
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-19
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250705
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    Good Morning everyone, I’m waiting for Sbbt to provide a trace number to show my refund was sent to my bank, my DDD is 2/25/2025.

    Reply
    2
  33. Horsecharlie09

    Hey guys did you know SBTPG is green dot? We all know about green dot but 1st let me say they are what is it called a NHB bank or whatever..point being is they receive money right away when sent 2 them, so yeah they r just holding the . Also, I’ve NEVER seen ANY company get more complaints, a worse review & being investigated by the govt etc than green dot. Pull them up on BBB and u will see the govt has I think 3 alerts out on them. & Yes it also includes issues about tax $.

    Reply
    4
  34. Horsecharlie09

    @Ktbug0985: yeah that’s not true that they get it 2/25. They have it already. They already took their fees etc …they r just holding it until 2/26

    Reply
    3
  35. 757VApather

    @Ktbug0985: same for me

    Reply
    1
  36. 757VApather

    @Horsecharlie09: did yours come ?

    I’m 2/26 and it’s at SBTPG but I don’t have a trace number yet I’m sure mines will come around this time on 2/26

    Reply
    1
  37. Ktbug0985

    Santa Barbara updated to funded. Expected received by them is 2/25 and to me is 2/26. Filed with TT EITC pather

    It won’t let me login to update details or display previous details but I filed like 1/26 accepted 1/27

    See yall next year!

    Reply
    1
  38. Alizay4455
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-5
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Cashapp
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-6
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-20
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250705
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • Tax Refund Offset
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Tykillaa38: Details please!!!! Thanks so much!!!

    Reply
  39. Alizay4455
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-5
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Cashapp
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-6
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-20
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250705
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • Tax Refund Offset
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Blue Chyna: Details please. Fees, Sbtpg, DDD, and etc. Thanks and what time zone are you in. I have Cashapp for 2/24 which is what is says on Sbtpg.

    Reply
  40. Horsecharlie09

    @Tykillaa38: exactly! And it’s not so bad the fact that it hit on the actual date it said it would but it’s crappy considering that other places were not holding & bc they already took their fees. Had it been the other way around and it was the other way around by the way, they would have taken their money and they did. Isn’t it funny how that works. People want their money but they don’t want to give it when it’s owed but I think it’s okay to just sit on it as if they are justification because the IRS has a specific date

    Reply
    1