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. Babygirl87

    @Mom@3: 🎉🎉🎉🎉

    Reply
  2. ErisedMai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-12
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Chime

    For anyone who was denied the 5 days early with TT and has a 02/24 DDD and is still waiting, deposits are coming through. Hopefully soon for anyone still waiting.

    Reply
  3. 87 manemane

    @Jay Jay not logged in: If your DDD was the 24-26th it’s coming. I asked TT rep did I receive a trace number. She was nice enough to give it too me.

    Reply
  4. 87 manemane

    @Mom@3: That’s great! congratulations to you.

    Reply
  5. Morris

    @Jay Jay not logged in: Still waiting.

    Reply
  6. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Path25: when was your DD? Today?

    Reply
  7. Path25

    I got my Refund! 30 minutes it hit my sofi bank account. Filed with tt was rejected for 5day early because of path im assuming. It’s coming yall! See ya next year!

    Reply
    3
  8. Mom@3

    CK fees through Cross River just hit. Finally!! Now I am going to take a good long nap!!! I haven’t slept good in a week.

    Reply
    7
  9. Loddy Doddy

    Hey all! Just an update. 05er here. Got DD date Friday on trans for 02/26. Just received deposit ACH to bank account. Hope all goes well for everyone!! See you all next time!

    Reply
    4
  10. wade123
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-17
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Chase
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: So now I know what happened. My employer for Nov and Dec last year paid me in ACH Direct Deposit. They never provided me a W2. They went out of business so I can no longer contact anyone there. But I had my paycheck stubs, so I filed as a W2 employee on that, and I elected to have $0.00 withholdings because I knew I would not earn enough to have to pay or owe taxes. But on their way out rather than file my W2, the sent into the IRS a 1099. So now I actually owe self-employment taxes rather than get a small EITC return. I was not 1099, I was W2. They obviously did this to get out of paying their end of the FICA. They were sued for a non-compete violation and forced out of business. So how do I fix this?

    Reply
  11. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Kymomof3: you all are getting more than me. I got zero messages. I would not have known they cancelled my 5 days if I had not logged into the TT website.

    Reply
    1
  12. Jay Jay not logged in

    @Morris: did you get yours yet

    Reply
  13. Mom@3

    I got a email from TT Saturday that said my deposit would be by end of day today. Now I just got another that said by end of day tomorrow. Tomorrow will it be the end of never???

    Reply
  14. 87 manemane

    I believe the long wait for 2/24 deposits are almost over. Today is the day.

    Reply
    2
  15. Morris

    @Kelly0725: Finally an HRBlock customer got theirs. Congrats

    Reply
    1
  16. 87 manemane

    @Kelly0725: Congrats!!

    Reply
    1
  17. Kelly0725

    Just got my refund.. had fees taken out.. path.. H&R Block, netspend, ddd 2/26.

    Reply
    4
  18. Morris

    @I’m curious: This gives me hope then. Chime/HRBlock needs to do the same.

    Reply
  19. 87 manemane

    @Kymomof3: That’s great new. That means they sent your refund. You might get it today.

    Reply
  20. Morris

    I don’t understand this tax season. Everything just seems to be going so slowly compared to past years.

    Reply
    1
  21. Kymomof3

    @Girlmomx2: today 2/24 received the 846 last Tuesday night.

    Reply
  22. SamfromMA

    @Girlmomx2: my DDD is 2/24 and I got the same email

    Reply
  23. I'm curious

    Okay!!! end of the road for me refund just hit Current fees and loan DDD 02/26

    Reply
    2
  24. Bonker

    Ddd is 02/26 I bank with regions anybody received anything we should get it two days early nothing this morning still waiting I’m a pather with EIC WILL WE GET IT TODAY

    Reply
  25. Girlmomx2

    @Kymomof3: Hi, Whats you DDD?

    Reply
  26. Kymomof3

    @Path25: I just received an email from TT refund is on the way will be in my account by end of day tomorrow..🤞

    Reply
  27. DamnUncleSam

    @Alizay4455: update us with what cashapp says please if possible. Me and you are the exact same so I would like to know what they find out.

    Reply
  28. Babygirl87

    @Tori3: I got the same email but before I got the email i spoke with a rep at TT this morning and was told she saw it pending to be released today and that my funds were already sent out since the 19th smh. I’ll just stick to what I always do and won’t ever choose the 5 day early option again. So we still have all day today to receive it and if not at least we know for sure by tomorrow.

    Reply
    2
  29. SamfromMA

    Now TT is sending email saying “ Your federal refund is on the way! You’ll see it in your account by the end of the day tomorrow.” My DDD is 2/24, they better send it today…When I click link to “track it” it bring me to TT site and it now says refunded but still don’t have it

    Reply
    2
  30. Tori3

    So I called TT this morning after my status went from accepted to pending. They opened a “case” and just now I received an email that said ” Your federal refund is on the way! You’ll see it in your account by the end of the day tomorrow.” I bank with All South Federal credit union. We shall see.

    Reply
  31. PathActDemolitioner2025

    @BanbooPanda: did you have fees? I see you didnt have the advance…

    Reply
  32. mickey m
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Credit Karma checking
    • Bars:
      3rd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Date Approved:
      Mar-21
    • WMR Date:
      Mar-26
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20251205
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Apr-7
    • Processing Date:
      Apr-15
    • I Got My Refund!

    Is there a way to ID Verify over the phone without a letter . The letter has not come up in my IRS account they claim it was mailed out 2/21 and could take 14 days to get here. The local office won’t allow me to make an appointment just to ID Verify but she did give me the phone # 800 830-5084

    Reply
    1
  33. Stacey in PA

    It looks like the $25/5-day early refund offer has created some confusion.
    Here’s what seems to be happening:
    • If someone took an advance or had fees deducted from their refund and also applied for the 5-day early deposit, they are likely being denied the early deposit. This is because their refund is processed through SBTPG, while the 5-day early deposit is managed by Cross River Bank.
    • As a result, those affected are now waiting on Cross River Bank rather than SBTPG to release their refund.
    Bottom line: You can’t have both the 5-day early deposit and a refund advance/fee deduction through your refund.

    Reply
  34. bobeatz

    @BanbooPanda: what state are your in?

    Reply
  35. Janise
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-27
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Aspirations
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-27
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-24
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-21
    • I Got My Refund!

    Good morning, anyone with Capital one and a DDD of 2/26 get anything yet?

    Reply
  36. ironside 3323

    hello

    Reply
  37. BanbooPanda

    just received my DD. TT with fees out of refund. did not get the advance or the 5 day early option. it showed funded since Friday on SBTG. just got a notification from CK that my refund was deposited at 10:20am today. my DDD was 2/26/25 i am a weekly and i was a pather with EITC and ACTC so wasn’t excepting anything until tomorrow or Wednesday. hope this helps. see everyone next year! happy tax season.

    Reply
    12
  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!

    I’m otp with cashapp using my Sbtpg trace number and they’re researching my account.

    Reply
    1
  39. CaseyR8515

    DDD of 2/25.

    I used H&R block, fees taken out, loan, and deposit to the Emerald Card.

    Still nothing. I never wait this long. Usually get it a few days before.

    I really need to remainder today. Fingers crossed.

    Reply
  40. Kymomof3

    @Mom@3: same I will never use TT again! I have never had to wait this long

    Reply
    3