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.
Good morning. Weekly and some dailies processing today. Good luck guys!
so I have still being processed and my bars disappeared I claimed education credits and just one w2 idk what could be the issue. I filed on Jan 13th got accepted Jan 17 and on TT it said it was transmitted on the 23rd and I’m still waiting ☹️☹️.
Irs where’s my refund is down
@Mommytotwinsplus2: yes i sure can. i have my cycle code and everything. seems im just waiting. i even got that email from TT today congratulating me on being all done with my taxes which i had found odd so i decided to check and they were done
@AD8989: any idea when transcripts will update? Email from TT has me worried again because I can’t see my transcripts yet.
@AD8989: haha I know. That’s the one I got last year and had to prove everything and it was because I claimed the wrong education credit for myself. 😔
@Mommytotwinsplus2: No problem. Path message is what you want to see. You do not want to see” Still being processed”.
@87 manemane: no it isn’t
@AD8989: ok. Thank you!
Is the $500 other dependant credit considered eitc?
@Mommytotwinsplus2: No. It will be a message that describes what the path act is.
@grnz2glk40s: I got the same email today but no movement on irs site still at 1 bar and no transcripts for 2022 yet. Do you have transcripts? What does irs site say?
@airforcewifey26: you can see your 2022 transcripts?
@Drew: what is path message? The we have received your return and it is being processed?
Any ideas when transcripts will update for filing on February 2nd? Have EIC and CTC. So I’m a pather!!
@grnz2glk40s: When you process and when you get your refund dates are 2 different things.
@airforcewifey26: Seems like your done and just waiting for PATH to lift. :)
@Drew: sorry my baby hit my hand… didn’t mean to report you.
@NatNat: he is def not a pather
@Drew: You’re looking at around first week of March.
@Mackenzie: Tham@Mackenzie: yes but I do believe they are making sure you we’re supposed to get the stimulus and advance child payments I read wmmm no
@Walter DOG: I just went back to look again, and I said 2019 transcript but it’s 2020. But like I said I didn’t file that year I only got stimulus checks. So I click the 2020 account transfer and it shows my federal return, the stimulus checks, earned income, but obviously this was my return from 2021. And even at the top of 2020 account, it says this is the tax period ending December 2021. Sorry if I made this confusing im half asleep. I’ll check back tomorrow and try to give better clarification if I didn’t make sense
Hey everyone… another year together!! I filed and accepted on 2/3 .. had 1 bar .. now switched to PATH message .. have a cycle code of 20230602 …. When should I somewhat expect a DDD ??
@Walter DOG:
So it’s super weird because my account transcript for 2019 jumps back-and-forth with the codes. Im assuming it’s on there because of stimulus checks (the amounts are right, but the dates are wrong. The code is 766) I’m not sure but it goes from a code with 2020 to 2021. But i dont think the right dates for the stimulus checks either. I tried to copy and paste it but it wouldn’t let me on my phone. And it shows my eic from last year‘s tax return. Even though that’s obviously not 2019. And none of this back And forth is on my 2020 account. Weird right?
cocobunny80:
hey everyone, I am back on the scene and just checking in with everyone. Another tax refund year and I am excited to stay up late reading everyone’s comments about the dang IRS..LOL.. Well I filed TT on Jan 27th, 2023, and was accepted quickly. Now I have the PATH ACT message. Which tells us that we have earned income credit so our refunds want be released until the middle of FEB …… I have my fingers crossed.
happy damn filing my peeps
hi all.
thought I’d stop in and say hi. I got an email from TT saying thank you etc which seemed kinda early to me. so far transcripts are all good codes 150, 806, 766, 768 and a cycle code of 20230405 and as of date 2/13. I hope that means everything is moving along
@NatNat: I’m pretty sure he isn’t a pather. They won’t release until after the 15th.
@grnz2glk40s: I meant 2020, not 21. 🤦♀️