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 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.
That’s 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 don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s 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.
Filed 1/27. Just checked my transcript and I have the 846 code for ddd on 2/25. The IRS refund status tool is still on one bar. The hard part is over. I’m now just waiting patiently for my dd to hit😜
@Mandie: ok thank you very much for responding, I got a little worried lol
@SeanaKirk: April 15th is just when taxes overall are due, that’s normal.
@NYkhidd: they’ll start before 3am. The 3am thing is generic to keep ppl from clogging up the site and breaking it. At 3am everyone sleep lol
It says my refund date is April 15th on my transcripts but they’ve been processed? And it says processed date on the 24th of this month? Any light to be shed on this?
@NYkhidd: Normally it starts around 12:30am…It starts slowing down around 3am
Can someone tell me what 0605 ers mean?
Also, do weekleys have a certain day of the week they receive deposits? For example, for as long as I can remember, I have always received my money on Fridays. Last year the path lifted on the 15th but I got my deposit the very next day on the 16th. I’m guess that that wasn’t even a possibility this year bc the 15th wasn’t even on a weekday, it was in a Saturday which I’m sure had something to do with making it lag a little
Updates won’t start until 3am .. that was a one time thing because of the holiday and weekend
They be doing us weeklies wrong mean while dailies got the dates and or money and we over here stressed out cant sleep cause we want good news🤣
@Tia: not for me. I just checked 🥺
Illinois refunds yet??
No one 846 yet? DANG!!!
Well they need to come on and stop playing with mine. Accepted January 17th. It’s my money and I want it now! JG Wentworth!
I’m thinking the reason the dailies started early is because they were behind and playing catch up.
@Jay Jay not logged in: yup !! Sure am 🤓
@Txmomof3girls: Yep because it was like 7:50 on the west coast
I knew they was gonna make it hard for us weekly’s
0605 cycle code. will thisbe updated tonight?
@Mommianaof4: let me rephrase that. I didn’t mean to come off no kinda way. I was just saying it was long before 3am. Lol
@Txmomof3girls: you are about right.
I think it was close to 9:30 CST when they started updating but I really don’t remember it’s been a long couple of days.
@Mommianaof4: I know and I was kidding as well. 😂
@Jay Jay: I know it was a joke
@Taxthatass: Sat I think
Mannnnnn this stinks why cant we all just update at the same time we want our money too😂
Weekly update Watch Party
@846 for every 1: not tequila tho. That’s some dangerous stuff
For people going off if WMR when does that update next?