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. DD

    Ck deposit hit 10 minutes ago. Happy tax year

    Reply
    2
  2. Squirrelsnacks

    @Brokar4life: I’m still waiting too!
    This is do annoying

    Reply
    2
  3. POPlady83

    Got a trace number on SBTPG…. don’t know when, but its there…. Everyone just hang in there and stay calm. Don’t read anymore of the NEGATIVE COMMENTS, keep positive thoughts ✨️🫶🏾🗣

    Reply
    3
  4. Squirrelsnacks

    I was supposed to get a deposit today but still nothing. Should I be worried?

    Reply
    2
  5. Mandie

    @Jennyb: congrats! maybe they’re just very slowly rolling out. I just checked and have nothing yet. Hope it’s soon!

    Reply
    2
  6. Vonniepooh

    hello I’m also waiting on chime, where do you get a trace number?

    Reply
    2
  7. Lindsay727

    How do you know when you get a trace number. I noticed I got one but dont know when I got it. Got email yesterday evening refund on it ways be deposited next business day. Fees have been taken out and funds have been sent according to sbtpg.

    Reply
    1
  8. hellolo

    chime just hit 2 hrs after getting trace# my ddd was today. yay!

    Reply
    2
  9. hellolo

    @Vonniepooh: if you used turbo tax and had fees taken out u can find on sbtpg website

    Reply
    2
  10. Vonniepooh

    @hellolo: hello I’m also waiting on chime, where do you get a trace number?

    Reply
    1
  11. Htown2025

    Good afternoon, I needed to fax in a 8962 and 1095, does anyone know how long do they take to process it?

    Reply
    1
  12. Ashl3y

    @Nobodyputsbabyinthecorner: never got a trace number does it come in a separate email never even looked for one until now what should I search for I filed through turbo tax

    Reply
    1
  13. Brokar4life

    Still waiting for CK

    Reply
    5
  14. Jennyb

    Deposit just hit. CK! Finally.

    Reply
    6
  15. EbNAtl

    CK just hit 2/26DDD Fees taken out tracing number late last night

    Reply
    5
  16. Nobodyputsbabyinthecorner
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-8
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Uber
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250505
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-24
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-17
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Ashl3y: Right!

    Reply
    1
  17. SickaThisTaxIsh

    Got my deposit about 45 min ago! CK!

    Reply
    5
  18. Ashl3y

    Hopefully I’m next so I can join the oarrty

    Reply
    6
  19. Chelynn

    I’m still waiting. Got my email and trace number last night. Come on ck.

    Reply
    5
  20. Kara

    Tax Preparer:Turbo Tax
    Date Filed:Jan-22
    Fees:From Refund
    Bank:US bank
    Bars: 2nd bar
    Date Accepted:Jan-22
    Transcript:Online
    Cycle Code:20250605
    Cycle:Weekly
    As of:Feb-24
    Ddd of 2/26
    No email from TT
    Just got my deposit 10 minutes ago and got my trace number sometime yesterday evening
    I Got My Refund!

    Reply
    3
  21. Jenny04

    @If only…: Got my deposit!!!! check yours cause it could be and i also got my trace number right after you said you got urs and not even 15 mins after i checked about my trace it hit my account with netspend….

    Reply
    2
  22. Heathery

    I filed on 2/23 TT EIC and child tax credit. I got the 5 day early option. WMR still on accepted, but I just got an email from TT that my deposit will hit by EOD today. Has anyone seen this

    Reply
    1
  23. hellolo

    got my trace an hour ago still waiting on chime

    Reply
    2
  24. Morris

    This was a strange year but I hope everyone has received their refund by now. Congratulations!!! Hoping to see everyone in 2026.

    Reply
    3
  25. Mistyrenee

    Just got my CK DD. DDD 2/26, TT with fees.

    Reply
    4
  26. If only...
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-7
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Netspend- Bancorp
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Denise N: I love my Netspend its quick release and is great on notifications and many other things

    Reply
    2
  27. Graciousgambino

    Lol spoke too soon deposit just hit thank the lord!!

    Reply
    4
  28. mama05

    I’m back yall CK JUST HIT . 0506 2/26 ddd didn’t receive a trace number until 45 mins ago . Now I just got notification money is in CK account . Happy tax season see yall next year

    Reply
    2
  29. Kay

    CK with advance thru TT DDD 2/26 Deposit just hit

    Reply
    4
  30. Graciousgambino

    Trace number since 10:30 last night ddd 2/26 still nothing yet

    Reply
    2
  31. Ashl3y

    @Shanshan: not for me ddd 2/26

    Reply
    1
  32. Hellolo

    @Denise N: honestly I really love chime. They never fail me!

    Reply
    2
  33. Denise N
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-27
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-27
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-21
    • WMR Date:
      Jan-1
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    As I come to my conclusion, I’m leaving TurboTax this year and which bank do y’all think is best who had the first deposits?

    Reply
    1
  34. Newhere

    FreeTaxUSA
    PAYPAL
    DDD 2/26; got trace number about an hour ago and it just hit account!

    Reply
    2
  35. Denise N
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-27
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-27
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-21
    • WMR Date:
      Jan-1
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    Chime just hit

    Reply
    3
  36. mama05

    0605 ddd 2/26 CK finally got a trace number . I’ll let yall know when refund hit

    Reply
    3
  37. VaGal07

    CK just hit. DDD 2/26. Fees and TT advance. Trace number since last night.

    Reply
    4
  38. Jennyb

    @Shanshan: not me yet this is crazy

    Reply
    2
  39. If only...
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-7
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Netspend- Bancorp
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Shanshan: A couple have that I’ve seen

    Reply
    1
  40. Shanshan

    Has ck had any deposit today??

    Reply
    2