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 on January 26, 2026.
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 IRS no longer publishes an official tax refund cycle chart. It has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Since then, dozens of versions have popped up, some better than others.
That’s where we step in.
Get the dates, skip the guessing.
Each year, we compile the most accurate Refund Cycle Chart, built from IRS manuals, payout trends, PATH Act release dates, holidays, and real user updates, so you don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s coming.
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.
Sbtpg just showed funded with a date posted of 2/24 so I expect credit karma to have it available Monday (1 day before 846 date of 2/25).
@AM0704: no it should be fine.
Just checking in. How are you good ppl doing?đź‘‹đź‘‹đź‘‹đź‘‹đź‘‹
@Wfhmomma: I have never heard of them NOT taking money if it was listed on offset line. IMHO, I would plan for the worst case scenario…then, if by some miracle they don’t keep it, you won’t be disappointed, or in a financial bind because you spent money that wasn’t really coming in…. I hope it works out for you!!
@NYnic: At what time did you receive your direct deposit from New York ? Was it one day early ?
Still no update for me zeros on transcripts and as of 2-17 still there
Hi do you know if there would be a rejection if tax person marked checking instead of savings but the routing and account is correct?
Dd for 02/25/2025
Child tax credit
EIC
Fast year amen
I used turbo tax got a advance no early deposit regular bank.
@R: have you received your refund yet? I want to assume no bc you are still here hanging out with all of us but not everyone jumps ship after their deposit hits so I figured I would ask lol
@4boysMeemaw: nope just my 846 wth deposit date. So I am so confused. I don’t want to get too excited which is why I’m questioning what I should see
@Tww1977: I looked back 3 pages, and don’t even see a question posted from you. What did you ask?
@Devinator: mines is the same as you
150,766,768 codes
NO 846 yet
20250505 cycle code
As of date is now 3/3 it kept changing from 2/17 to 2/24 to 3/3 back to 2/24 and now 3/3 again
Hope we get that 846 overnight!!
@Wfhmomma: depending on the offset, once the 806 appears it should show an 826 code or 898 code before you get the 846
@Mom@3: I told them they got their fees so how did they get them? I asked if they can give me a reference number or something because SBTPG does NOT have my refund. They just kept saying we can’t do anything. I for sure will NEVER file with them again.
This is what TT told me when asked where my refund went because SBTPG doesnt have it. There is nothing else we can do. TT does not handle refunds. since you chose the RT, so you would needs to call SBTPG again and press this matter. This is between you and SBTPG. Only SBTPG handles the RT. Does that make sense? Your refund stopped on their end not on ours as we do not received your return, just payment. I genuinely wish I could do more as I totally and completely understand that this is frustrating. but genuinely, if SBTPG is not showing records, the issue is with SBTPG.
@Devinator: same situation as you!
I think this is the first time ever that I just got approved for my NY state refund when it shows that my federal hasn’t processed yet. It always used to be the other way around for me. Federal first and then NY after.
@wade123: then it’s probably something internal that they are going to fix. 570 can be a lot of things and can resolve on its own rather quickly and other times they may contact you for more information. You can try giving them a call and see if they will give you any information, if not you may want to get a tax advocate if it starts to drag on.
@LJH: Mine says 2/24/2025
@Txmomof3girls: Nope no 971. Even WMR still shows the PATH message with TT152. Thats what’s irritating. At least if I got a 971 and a notice, I would know what’s wrong and how to fix it.
do you know if there would be a rejection if tax person marked checking instead of savings but the routing and account is correct?
Sorry another detail to my SBTG update:
At the bottom where it shows the amount sent to my bank it says “date posted:2/25/25”
@4boysMeemaw: I did and it says I might have one but my transcripts show otherwise
SBTPG Update:
It now shows the remaining amount owed to me for funding.
It says it was “sent” to my bank but not sure if that means anything.
Is this the same process for others waiting on SBTG to deposit
got varo deposit
@LJH: im thinking tomorrow is the day. Either way they would send the deposit tomorrow for it to be processed for monday.
@LJH: I am betting day of.
Am I invisible or just impatient?
Just shout it out if you know it! No wrong answers!
@Mom@3: I didnt use TT last year I now remember for this exact reason. I had used TT since 2008 – 2023 which is when Credit Karma partnered with them and they advertised early refund release but in the fine print stated only if you didn’t pay fees from refund.
Now I’m remembering this happened bc of fees from refund and it only releasing one day early so I decided not to use them last year but foolishly decided to use them this year forgetting about the “fine print” BS which has obviously not changed.
So does this mean ppl with a DD of 2/24 will see a deposit on a Sunday? That would be odd
@Jay Jay not logged in: even if my transcript shows 846 with full refund amount?