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.
@NeededRelief: I filed and was accepted the same day as you and my transcripts are still blank but I am a weekly hopeful I update tonight
@Rbtx: letter is in a white envelope and states it’s from the IRS. It would be obvious.
@Rbtx:My letter was very easy to tell it was from the IRS. I waited 3 week and then went on line and requested anoher one saying I never received it, and got it 5 days later.
@2blessed: Congratulations! :)
@NeededRelief: It would be a good idea but for some, filing early keeps people from claiming their children. It is very hard to get that resolved if that happens unfortunately.
Good morning good people ☀️
Before when I filed early it was no less than four weeks. I wait until after PATH February 14th date has passed. I filed on 2/28 accepted 2/28 show approved and due to be deposited by 3/7.
1. Do not file early! If you can wait for PATH hold to expire. By law they have to hold it if you have EIC
2. Pay your fees upfront! Stop using your taxes and paying fee from return. It will go to a third party bank.
3. Do not request to have your refund 5 days early. Stop paying them to filter your money. They can’t get it any quicker than when IRS releases it.
I pray we all find relief and let go and let God. He will take care of us if we let him, but he will move out the way if we think we got the answer.
Filed 2/2. Accepted 2/2. No movement on transcripts, as of is still 2/24/25. Today, I have an ID verify but haven’t received a notice. I requested a new notice be sent this morning. My mom also has a notice for id verify that I requested for her today. Filed and accepted on 2/2 as well. Check your IRS.com account.
Help anyone who has got a letter to verify, what did the letter look like? Was it obvious it was from the irs or did it just have a random address and P.O. Box? I just found out I’m supposed to be getting a letter and I’m hoping I didn’t accidentally throw it away
For anybody up here waiting for there NJ state refund check your status. It’s finally over for me. Been in checking for accuracy for 2 week . Then I checked this morning and I have an approval date for 3/11. Thank God it’s over. Thanks to my good people Sheila and Walter dog. See you guys next year. Good luck to everyone that’s still waiting.!🙏🏾
Tax Preparer:fast lane
Date Filed:Feb-22
Fees:From Refund-EPS Loan
Bank: navy fed
Bars: 2nd Bar
Date Approved: March 6
Transcript:Online
Cycle:daily
DDD: March 10
Eic, eitc
Finally received my Verification Letter on Saturday and completed my verification on line that night. I am a Weekly so I am hoping my transcripts update tonight because they have all been blank so far…..
@Notyourmom: not this year, but I have in recent history. I can’t remember my experience in much detail, but I can tell you it’s going to go much faster than you’re thinking it will. WMR will also update.
@Sheila_33: Thanks because I’m a weekly and I thought I was supposed to update this morning but now I know
@Shanae: Yes, transcript updates possibly late evening into tomorrow.
@Sheila_33: so weekly are processing today but will update Friday
Morning everyone. Weekly and 05 daily processing today. Hoping to see some movement on transcripts and some refund codes tomorrow on transcripts. Good luck everyone!
Pather
Filed 1/27
Verified 2/22/25
Blank transcripts but this time wmr updated to we have your return it is being processed.
Is anyone else saying system dowm
Frost87 did you not receive notice in the mail is the reason you did phone verification
Welp, for those of you who are STILL stuck…I’m right along with you! At 21 days, I went from 1 bar and Tax Topic 152 to “Still being processed” w/no bars 1 bar on WMR, transcripts not showing up for 2024, but all previous transcripts show as of date 1/13/25. Not sure what that part means. Positive vibes for us all.
Got phone verification done today and I’m back in processing now. I was warned it could take up to 9 wks!
My taxes preparer said it’ll drop way sooner so, it’s just a waiting game now.
finally had the chance to call IRS to ask what was the hold up on my 570. Spoke to a very nice rep who put me on hold for a few minutes and came back and said she saw I had the 570 since 2/6 and wanted to know herself why I have not had any notices sent. Put me on hold again, came back & said return has some indicators that it’s “under review” & can take 120 days from 2/6. Basically said hopefully it will resolve itself before then but no notices have been sent out that she could tell. She did say she’s only a rep & couldn’t see as much detail so could only advise me to review & make sure all numbers were correct in my return & hopefully it will resolve. As of is 3/10 & I am weekly so we shall see if I update anything on Friday.
CJohnson
Do anyone know if there is going to be a update for weeklies in the morning?
@IAMHeiress: I’m honestly not sure what an advocate can see on her side of it. The goal is to resolve and release the refund and I’m assuming whatever the issue is will be relayed to the advocate.
Filed and accepted 2/17/25, transcripts update to 846 2/28/25 for DDD 3/5/25.
Received my DD 12:00pm California time.
EIC
CTC
ACTC
@Sheila_33: oh ok, thanks for that info. Spoke with an advocate that stated that she’s going to expedite the process. Because all that was needed was to verify identity which has already been done, so she asked me to send what was needed to verify, so she can Expedite the process and have the refund released. My question is, would the advocate be able to see any and all issues that are hindering the refund release and would she know that, by just looking in their system? I ask because according to her, they should’ve been able to release it already, yet they are experiencing some cut backs that are causing mass delays.
If by Friday I don’t process I’ll be trying to call. It will be 21 days for me and my return has not even been touched or any notices.