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 āqueueā 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.
Thatās 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 donāt have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your moneyās 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.
@naughtyrockets: Processing is when the system “looks at” your return and then either approves your refund or puts a flag on it to look closer at something.
How do you know if you applied for the advance?
@Dentonj88: when I looked on the irs site they have indeed extended the path date. I assume for better verification.
@NYkhidd: Yes, the 05 transcript updates on Fridays, but the return is processed on Thursday and Thursday is 05 of the IRS tax week. Fridays are 01. Its weird how the IRS does their week format but that’s how its set up. And, both weeklies and dailies can process on Thursdays and have an 05 cycle date.
@Sheila_33: 05 last 5 years . Transcripts ALWAYS updated Friday morning around 4am est with the 846 . Deposit hit that same Friday around 2pm .
@Sheila_33: I been weekly for the last 5 years .. ALWAYS
@Sheila_33: What does “process on Thursday” mean?
@shelleybeanss: ill for real cry if that happens. I didn’t get my stuff till March last year because of the whole ID fiasco and I almost got evicted
@shelleybeanss: IRS always gives a date further out than expected deposits, probably so people don’t start freaking out right after the 15th. Since path falls on a weekend and the following Monday is a federal holiday, they just extended the date further out than normal.
I got accepted yesterday. When should I expect transcripts? I think I’m weekly so I guess Friday?
@NYkhidd: Close but not quite. 05 means you process on Thursdays. Here’s a great link that explains the cycle date codes.
https://igotmyrefund.com/irs-cycle-code/
The notice I just got from TT:
The IRS announced that if youāre claiming Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) in your 2024 taxes, youāre not expected to receive your refund until March 3, 2025
They e extended the path timeframe this year.
@NYkhidd: good info! Thank you. I’ve been rotating between checking sbtpg, WMR, and tax records on irs site but this def helps make some of this make sense
Accepted around 3:15, advance hit immediately, like I donāt even think it was a minute. Now I can relax and let this tax season do what it does. Good luck to all of us!
Weekly path and no path .. if ya transcript process this Friday (1/24) you will see cycle code 2025-0405 on ya transcript meaning the (04) 4th Friday in January .. 05 at the end mean you process on fridays.. next cycle 2025-0505 (5th) Friday in January which is (1/31)
@2blessed: they sent me a email
@Dentonj88: no way to know for sure until you get a cycle date on ya transcript .. for example the first weekly cycle I believe will be 2025-0405 .. the next will be 2025-0505 if it ends in 05 your a weekly .. any other number it mean your daily . Last year I was 2024-0505
The journey has started. Filed this afternoon with Turbotax. Now on pending. Usually do it earlier but had to wait for the 1095-A form.
@@starchild1111: How did you find out they rejected you again? Still nothing on this end. I donāt even know if they rejected me again.
@Queenie88: thatās a id PIN number that the irs gives you if you had identity theft or you request one doesnāt pertain to everyone
Federal accepted at 1:31 PM EST, and CK advance hit at 2:15! I filed with TurboTax on 1/19, and I do have Path credits.
So I went ahead and filed yesterday evening applied for the advanceā¦still pending but says IRS received today. So we shall see
@Dentonj88: advances
Are folks getting their regular refunds or just the advances right now?
Filed 1/15 with TT advance & acceptance JUST HIT
so they rejected me again because this time they want me to actually click that i dont have the 1095 a medical marketplace insurance smh like fr real TT yaw playing games accept already they couldve did this last week get yaw advances out and come on get the ball rolling
@Sheila_33: fingers crossed hun! But even if I go back to weekly, Iām not going to stress it. Just riding the tax season wave! š¤£
@Stephhaze It looks like I actually got the credit karma advance 8 minutes before I got the acceptance email from turbo tax.