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
49,356 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. Horsecharlie09

    @757VApather: yes I will call but I should already have a trace number with my DDD being today. They keep playing games with people’s money and they are going to continue to cause real issues for themselves

    Reply
    4
  2. Horsecharlie09

    Okay so I just read online someone said that SBTPG is using a third party this year which is green dot. I don’t know why they think it’s the third party because Green Dot owns them or I guess bought them out from what I understand in 2014. When people are wondering what’s different from last year, I am not sure unless Green Dot did not take over until this year with these payments for SBTPG if that is the case then we are absolutely screwed because it is well known that they have been stealing people’s money etc. again, I wouldn’t even just listen to what I’m saying go look at the complaints on the BBB, it’s outrageous

    Reply
  3. Estie

    DDD 2/26 (today) and is 5 am not a single penny deposited into my PNC acct !! Am I freaking out??? Anyone with the same issue?

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    3
  4. 757VApather

    @Horsecharlie09: damn it ; I’ve seen some People get the trace number later than others I got mines last night around 8-9pm … call 1-800-779-7228 that’s sbtpg call line I think after 7am pacific time they have people that u can talk to; if you all right now it’s automated but it still
    Should say your money has been sent it it was sent

    Reply
  5. Horsecharlie09

    @LalaNAtl: so can you tell us what the hell is going on? They are fixing to have yet another class action lawsuit. TT and SBPTG which is owned by green dot, so they are gonna have yet another one but I’m not surprised. Brenda has so many words out on them on the better Business bureau website in the game is something funny they’re being investigated and it even said so on the website
    Bc they keep people’s money from them, steal it etc. it’s BAD

    Reply
  6. Horsecharlie09

    @Michael225: but that’s what I’m saying lol SBTpG IS green dot. Go log back in to look at your account and screw all the way to the bottom of the page at the very bottom it states that they are Green Dot. I think Green Dot bought them in 2014 or something like that it says. That’s why you don’t have a deposit LOL. Bc as I said they have been screwing people for a while. Pull up Green Dot on the better Business bureau website and you will see what I’m talking about. Look at the complaints

    Reply
  7. LalaNAtl

    Lol , I’ve been working for Turbo tax 5 years and been coming to this sight for about 8!!! And when I tell you, those calls yesterday geesshh. Everyone wanted to know where their direct deposit was. 🥴🥴🥴

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    2
  8. Michael225

    SBTPG and Green Dot both suck! I got Green dot and DDD for 2/26 and not a d*** penny in my account… I got a trace number yesterday around 8ish pm.. I don’t even care anymore about these stupid a** tax refunds .
    Stuff like this crap ruins it.. they killed the entire vibe for people this year..

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    1
  9. Horsecharlie09

    @757VApather: today is my DDD . Supposed to go to CK card

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    1
  10. 757VApather

    @Horsecharlie09: what’s your DDD?

    Reply
  11. Horsecharlie09

    @Quana: nothing has changed. Like I said SBTPG is actually green dot. If you want to see what’s going on with the company go to the better Business bureau website and pull them up and you will see exactly what’s happening. They’ve been taking people’s money and the government is all over them. I have never ever ever in my life ever seen a company have as many complaints as they do and a government have out as many alerts as they do on this business. It’s BAD

    Reply
    1
  12. 2blessed 2

    @Azkpz2005: 2/26

    Reply
  13. Horsecharlie09

    @757VApather: wonder why I don’t have 1

    Reply
  14. Horsecharlie09

    @Azkpz2005: same here but I filed different date

    Reply
  15. Azkpz2005

    @2blessed 2: when was your ddd?

    Reply
  16. Azkpz2005

    @Azkpz2005: I was accepted 2/8 with dad of 2/26 tt refund advance and fees from return… as of now zero balance in my ck account!

    Reply
    1
  17. Azkpz2005

    @California girl83: I have insider and it turns out TT GOT THE DEPOSITS 2/21 AND SBTPG got them 2/25! They all lie and play! we the fools falling for it! I say lawsuits!

    Reply
    5
  18. 2blessed 2

    Cashapp hit at 4:00am. 2blessed

    Reply
    3
  19. Quana

    @Horsecharlie09: yup. I’ve been following a group on Facebook and there’s a lot of ppl still waiting from two days ago. Ugh. I feel bad. I’m mad because mine comes early in the morning and the day of. It’s been like that for a few yrs… Idk what’s changed this yr. It’s annoying

    Reply
  20. 757VApather

    @Horsecharlie09: I have a trace number just no deposit yet

    Reply
    2
  21. Horsecharlie09

    @Quana: I didn’t even look to see if I have a trace number since Saturday. Monday morning I saw ppl with 2/24 DDD on here at 330 am stating they got their on their CK card. So now I guess I need to look. Yo I’m about to flip out.

    Reply
    1
  22. Horsecharlie09

    @Quana: WHAT? R u serious? If that’s the truth u better believe I’m going the f off! I’m reporting them TO every agency out there! You do know what’s gonna happen next right? They are gonna blame another business for what’s happening

    Reply
    1
  23. Quana

    @Jennyb: this is wild. We’ll prob be waiting until this evening. Idk what’s goin on with this mess this yr but they really have been playing with ppl and their money. I’ve seen ppl with a DDD 2/24 and still no money from ck, chime etc. that’s wild

    Reply
    1
  24. Quana

    Any deposits from credit karma with 2/26 DDD and no trace number???

    Reply
    1
  25. Jennyb

    @Quana: I have CK and woke up to no money in my account. My DDD is also 2/26 . Not cool.

    Reply
    2
  26. Neighbor

    @757VApather: We can’t even have peace in the income tax chat. You can’t help but to take the buffoonery with you everywhere you go on this planet.

    Reply
  27. FloridaMotherof3
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-2
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Navy Fed CU
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-2
    • Transcript:
      Blank
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Navy Fed dropped ..DDD 2/26

    Reply
    3
  28. Melissa14572

    DDD 2/26 still no trace number.

    Reply
  29. Cash

    Hnr block advance and fees taken out just hit my emerald card. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 2/26 date

    Reply
    3
  30. 757VApather

    The trace number can be found on sbtpg under the bold word where it says “METHOD” scroll over and you should see it under your direct deposit last four of account number(example)-CHECKING
    *9999
    Trace #:************999
    Just a reference for people wondering because I kept asking where to find it; so this is a detailed description o. How to find the trace number

    Reply
  31. Quana

    DDD 2/26. Ck, fees taken out and advance… Received my email that funds are on the way as of yesterday @ 118pm. Still no trace number and still no deposit. Last yr I got it around 330am on dd. Ugh. Back to bed I go

    Reply
    0
  32. Mom of 2

    @CorieS: mines also say direct deposit date 2/26 since last Friday still haven’t received anything yet

    Reply
    0
  33. Broke in IN

    @S. Carter: similar here, filled 2/10 accepted2/13 blank transcripts, tt152 message on wmr.

    Reply
  34. Frost87

    @S. Carter: no clue I’m in the same boat hopefully I will update today

    Reply
  35. CorieS

    @California girl83: I didn’t have one five minutes ago & now I do. DDD is 2/26. It literally just popped up

    Reply
    1
  36. S. Carter

    Filed & Accepted 02/08 w/ TURBOTAX

    no path no EIC
    1 BAR
    Blank transcripts saying no refund filed. Any idea what’s going on?

    Reply
  37. 1toughbuttmom

    @JimmyPAG: did you ever have a trace number at sbbt? I got a letter from TurboTax earlier in the evening that my refund was on the way but I still don’t have a trace number

    Reply
    1
  38. California girl83

    What does mean when don’t have trace number yet?? But my dad is for 2/26…. SBTPG is sure holding out this year!

    Reply
    1
  39. Jessica C

    DDD 2/26
    Paid fees upfront, going to a no hold bank (Providers card / Sutton Bank)
    No advance, no offsets
    All my past experiences with this card tell me there’s no way it’ll be here tomorrow but I don’t want to keep that negativity…IRS always sends it early to make sure it’s there in plenty of time soooo ughh

    Reply
  40. Loganlee143

    @If only…: my fingers are crossed you have it first thing in the morning! Congratulations on your business 🥂

    Reply
    1