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.
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.
@California girl83: same been on hold for at least 30 minutes already
Well praise God!!! My ddd for 2/26 without no trace number on SBTPG. Was on the phone on hold for an hour to cuss someone out! Just hit my account on my Brink card now!! So if you don’t have trace number I guess don’t worry it’s coming either way!🙏🏾
@VaGal07: so if you look at the refund bar that tells you the status, there should be 3 dots along that bar. It’s a tracker almost like on WMR. Well it now is updated to refund received
DDD 2/26
Turbo Tax
Opted 5 day early but got denied
I finally received my email from TT stating my refund is on its way. Does anyone know how long before I see deposit..thanks in advance☺️
@shelleybeanss: Hi this is crazy but still better than last years nightmare hope i get it today good luck Shell
@Stephrod101: We received the letter from Turbotax yesterday afternoon. Our refund has shown funded on SBTPG since early Friday morning. No trace number as of yet. When we call them, it says it has been sent to our bank via direct deposit. We did not have an advance or five day early payment. We did have the fees for filing taken from our refund. Our DDD is today, 02/26/2025. Hoping we all have our refunds really soon. : )
The problem is sbtpg is behaving differently than it had in years past, so its making many of us who are counting on the listed ddd nervous, this is the latest ON my ddd I’ve seen it and I still dont have my Dr and its due today
@calm down people: respectfully, you act like you really can control that and people will listen…
Now tt says refund has arrived
Now my tt says refund, this morning said accepted
ddd 2/26 bank with chime. tt fees taken out. got the tt email yesterday but i still have no trace in sbtpg.
@Ashl3y: Same here
@VaGal07: same!
@CuriousCat: Do you know if your weekly or daily? You’ll probably update this week
Ok so I believe that the only people getting the TT email and Tracing number are the ones who had the fees taken out of their refund for TT. I paid up front but I did get the advance however the advance comes from SBTPG not TT. So my refund is going directly to my bank from SBTPG therefore TT does not get notified and I get no email.
My son paid his fees with his refund from for TT, he received the TT email, and trace number. Both DDD are today 02/26, his is going to Capital One and mine is going to CK.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the turbo tax email. I have received that email days after getting my refund before
@harrya: I got that same email yesterday and todays a new day and still nothing in my account
I been on hold for ten mins / I’m tryna understand where the money is if they said it’s sent !
This so annoying!! I been holding to talk to someone at SBTPG.🤬😡
I have dd date for today just got email from tt you should receive refund by end of day TOMORROW wtf
@Christina032: Where is everyone seeing this? I don’t see any of that in my TT account. TIA.
Called my bank and they said they don’t see the transaction
I have a trace number I gave them that and they said they see nothing !!! I’m calling SBTPG RN because they say they sent it ; I hope they ain’t been hacked or something and ain’t telling us
@CuriousCat: same. I filed 2/18/25
@SickaThisTaxIsh: i didn’t see a trace number till this morning
Filed 2/16/2025 with TT accepted same day. WMR shows accepted still but transcript shows no return filed. Is this normal?
@shelleybeanss: thank you. I’m one of those people. It also stinks when you’re in that situation and you get told 3 different things by 3 different people and you just want (and need) your money
This whole not receiving a trace number is bothering me so bad! I wouldn’t be so aggravated if I had a trace #. I did receive the email that it was on the way yesterday but why is it that some ppl got the trace and some didn’t? TT & CK…I’m through with you!
@Thomas1: Transcripts batches I think are Wed and Friday
@Guest4th year here: I didn’t get the trace number yet, I have Netspend so no hold her this is frustrating
@Mommy529: my trace number appeared midday yesterday and my deposit arrived a few hours later. It probably depends on when your bank normally processes deposits. Whether it’s throughout the day or a specific time
@If only…: same here i got email at 3:52 pm yesterday nothing yet i show tracking number since last night that it was sent called my credit union they don’t see it yet.
@calm down people: some people are in desperate need, especially with the economy rapidly failing right now. And quite frankly, it doesn’t concern you if anyone is stressing. This a judgment free place for people to vent, ask questions and just find information. So maybe be more respectful and understanding. If not then maybe just sit back and be quiet
When is the next batch update? I know usually I thought it was Wednesdays and Sundays.
@Nicole0121$: i got that email yesterday and still no refund
@Christina032: same
@If only…: me either and on hold. probably wont reach anyone but who knows…
JUST IN: email‼️
Your federal refund is on the way! You’ll see it in your account by the end of the day tomorrow.
@Christina032: @Nicole0121$: I got the email yesterday and im still waiting on mine
Well, I just got the email from TurboTax saying that your refund is on its way so we’ll see how long it takes to hit Varo
Ok so guys, there is definitely movement. I had my status change to pending on tt, but now I just got my email that my refund is on the way, and my status on tt now shows refund received. Hopefully it’s deposited soon. Will continue to update.
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