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
49,361 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 ā€œqueueā€ 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. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Anointed4: You’re good :)

    Reply
    1
  2. Anointed4

    @Sheila_33: ok. It scares me . It’s been like that for 2 weeks . I’m a pather my 806,766,768 have amounts

    Reply
  3. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Annointed4: If there is no amount beside it then it is just acknowledging your return was received.

    Reply
  4. Anointed4

    I have all good codes but no amount beside code 150. Is this normal

    Reply
  5. Teee R

    @Sheila_33: thank you so much 😊

    Reply
  6. Janel120
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-31
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-31
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Walter DOG: Mines is just like yours. I’m praying for an update tonight.

    Reply
    1
  7. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Janel120: nothing at all

    Reply
  8. Monee
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-8
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Varo
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-15
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Steph6474: can you see your transcripts

    Reply
  9. Steph6474

    I’m not sure if it’s been asked, but if you log into your tax records on the irs website and it shows your 2022 return summary, does that mean it’s processed and just waiting to be released? I can send a screenshot if it helps.

    Reply
  10. Janel120
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-31
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-31
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Walter DOG: Has anything changed on your taxes this year?

    Reply
  11. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Teee R: The 150 is your tax liability and if its 0, it won’t subtract from your credit amounts.

    Reply
    3
  12. Deano

    @KGray23: all good codes transcript fully filled out you’re good to go the bad codes usually show up when they get your transcript fill out not afterwards

    Reply
    1
  13. Deano

    @Angiee: you have no worries you’re good to go

    Reply
  14. KGray23

    If we already got our codes, as of date, path message…does that mean we are fully processed and waiting for path to lift or is it possible to get bad codes after path?

    Reply
    1
  15. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    Top if the day to all, I have come to the point that I don’t expect nothing good this year accepted the 19 the next week wmr went to bars still processing refund date when available now I’m on delay message and my account transcript has my name address and filing status that’s it I’m weekly but if nothing was wrong like last year update the first week

    Reply
  16. Deano

    @Deano: in short you’re good to go for direct deposit date nothing to worry about šŸ™‚

    Reply
  17. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Needtaxmoneynow: if it says you need a letter and enter the number you do need to verify if you don’t need to it will say unable to provide you assistance nothing about a letter

    Reply
    1
  18. Honeybee82
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Spruce
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-24
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250603
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Janel120: yes, I updated last Saturday

    Reply
  19. WEEKLYPATHER

    @Angiee: yea, im wondering if its possible that the ones who have went a week on path,and have had all good codes all week like us, are being run thru again today and may show bad codes on trans tomorrow morn with the new trans update.Seems like that has happened in past years ,but I cant remember…maybe they wait till path lifts ,then break ur heart

    Reply
  20. Needtaxmoneynow

    @CG: that just means that you do not need to ID verify. It will not allow you to go through the process if you don’t need to if verify so instead it gives a generic message saying you need a letter.

    Reply
    1
  21. dragon362

    @CG: I signed in using IDVerify. However once i completed that, it asked for the letter reference number. But there is no letter and it has been stuck like this for over a week.

    Reply
    1
  22. Angiee

    @Deano: what kind of issues ? If u have everything filled out and codes 150 806 766 768 aren’t you processed? Now i got worried i thought i was done i also have path message

    Reply
    3
  23. Teee R

    @Vannyy: okay so I’m not the only one, I’m don’t feel too bad then

    Reply
  24. WEEKLYPATHERS

    8 more days!!!!!

    Reply
    8
  25. Janel120
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-31
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-31
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Honeybee82: Have you updated to the path message?

    Reply
  26. Kiiaja

    @Colo1225: I saw on the news they start processing 2/10. Something about the stimulus payments and everything that went on last year causing a delay.

    Reply
  27. Vannyy

    @Teee R: I have that too put my amounts on the other code add yo to the account balance on top of transcript

    Reply
  28. Deano

    @Rose222: you should update to one bar being processed on the 16th the path act message will go away at some point after that he will be approved if you have no other issues with your return I’ve been tracking the stuff for 3 years Wednesday the 15 the is a mass update for where’s my refund

    Reply
    1
  29. Honeybee82
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Spruce
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-24
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250603
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Rose222: that’s correct. Dailies should see an update on their transcripts on the 16th, and weeklies on the 17th 😊

    Reply
    3
  30. Moni

    @IamBroke4Now: they haven’t processed it yet. Mine is the same only i filed and got accepted on the 23rd

    Reply
    1
  31. Rose222

    Hello everyone, so if I have the PATH message, I will not be able to see an update until after February 15th?

    Reply
    1
  32. Deano

    @Deano: the approval may take a day or two

    Reply
  33. Deano

    @Gracious Gambino: Good morning the bar won’t do anything until the morning of the 16th the Pathak message will disappear where is my refund will come back with one bar being processed and after that point it should go to approved if no other issues with your return

    Reply
    1
  34. Watchinfrmtheback

    Hello Everyone,

    Here is my breakdown so far:

    Filed 2/1
    Accepted 2/1 within 30 minutes
    Used TurboTax
    PATHer
    Transcript cycle 20230601
    As of date 02/27/2023

    Now last year I filed and accepted 2/3, TurboTax, PATHer and received deposit 2/16. So it only took 13 days to receive my federal last tax season.
    Hoping to receive my DD next week. I use Chime btw.

    Reply
    5
  35. Aris

    I filed and was accepted 1-24 the following Friday I was updated with path and as of date 2-13. All refund codes are good, any chance I update tomorrow for 846 for 2-15?

    Reply
  36. MaddieT

    Hi all! New to the transcript thing….can anyone tell me which transcript I need to click on and where the codes are and what good codes or bad codes are etc please? TIA!

    Reply
  37. Teee R

    I got $0.00 beside 150 code … anybody know why 🤨

    Reply
  38. Stillwaitinginfairburnga

    @Walter DOG: my 21 days are not up yet I just filed on the jan 27 and got accepted on Jan 30

    Reply
  39. Honeybee82
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Spruce
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-24
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250603
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Gracious Gambino: once you’re processed, your WMR should update with the Path message…and there won’t be any bars. If you’re still stuck on one bar, it’s probably because you haven’t processed yet. I would keep an eye on your transcripts tomorrow to see if they update, then check your WMR on Saturday for the Path message.

    Reply
  40. Gracious Gambino

    So having child credit will keep refunds held until the 15th under oath but will your bars still move to approve even if toyrcc be waiting on path or will it all jus freeze until path is over?

    Reply