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.
Anyone know what time chime will deposit today?
@Jessica C: thanks for the tip! 😊 That’s a good way for the people with fees to see what third party bank is handling them, and then they can hopefully check the status!
@arkie71: yes, but that will update for a lot of us tomorrow morning that received the 846…unless it’s acting wonky
@Montana.NotSignedIn: Mine tax return is the same also I’m not understanding what the issue with the return is and what info they could possibly need. Do you have a a message on wmr?
@Ash1523: I was curious about this. I received my DDD date this morning for 2/26. I paid all my fees up front and got the $500 advance. As of right now still showing unfunded.
@Denise1927: Your not done processing
@Morris: I don’t want to discourage at all, because at the end of the day….who knows how it will play out. But on Wednesday, I was on the IGMR Facebook group and all of us H&R/Spruce people were updating each other. The H&R people who had fees coming out, didn’t get their deposit on Wednesday….or if they did, it wasn’t until late into the night, (I can’t be sure because I stopped logging on around 9:00 that night). It very well ‘could’ come today….but I don’t want to tell you that it definitely will, since you have fees coming out. Please keep us updated though, because I really do hope it comes for you today! 😊
@Honeybee82: ooohhh gotcha, my bad
You can look at your tax returns and get the routing number and Google it to see which bank it goes to
I know trying to read the tea leaves of the IRS is flirtin with disaster, but I have read that the timing of codes means something. I read that if Code 570 and 971 come together is a request for more information, but if code 570 and 971 come at different times code 971 may be nothing more than a notice they resolved the issue and an impending 571 will follow. Any truth to that or is it again more speculation. I sat at 570 for a week before updating today to 971, Also WMR still shows the PATH message and TT152. I have no notices on WMR.
What does it mean if you have codes 806 766 768 but no 846 but it shows your refund due amount
@Jessica C: I know that’s why TT got theirs early, I just meant that I wasn’t sure of the third-party bank that H&R goes through. I used H&R this year, but didn’t have fees….so I’m not sure how long their fee process is. I was just using the TT 5-day early as an example of people who had fees, but still got theirs the same day their 846 was issued.