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.
@MzB81: HI. I used greendot last year. I received the 846 code on my transcript on a Friday and I received my funds on the same day in the evening.
I’ve had credit Karma for about 4 years. They do not hold from my experience. The last 2 years I’ve had fees taken out and have always received my refund 1 to 2 days early. The deposit would hit around 9pm. This is the 1st year I had to wait. DDD 2/24! Good luck everyone, it’s coming. I love how everyone ignored the negative comment and continue to provide helpful information.
Has anyone had to id verify? How long did it take your letter to come in the mail? And how long after you verified did you get your money? Sorry so many questions single mom in need of a car to get my kids to school 😭😭😭😭
@Jessica C: cool beans yep let’s go!!!
@Starchild1111: Oh and I paid my fees upfront… So it’s just between me and the IRS now, no middlemen!! Lol
Hey everyone… do people still use Greendot for refunds? If so my son used green dot and is scheduled for 2/26 is it possible to see it sooner?
@Starchild1111: i have the Providers card which is Sutton bank, just like cashapp.
DDD is 2/26
Nothing yet. I’m thinking ach deposits start again at 10est (9 my time 🤞🤞) but we will see
CK deposits the DAY OF thru sbtpg!
Just a heads up. CK doesn’t hold. Until you see a tracking number on sbtpg they haven’t sent it to CK. The date next to “paid to you” on sbtpg is the date they will send. Possibly the night before but usually the morning of. Sbtpg holds
This is literally the fastest I’ve ever received a refund since about 10 years ago when I found this website. Mind you, it popped up in my account before it even was updated on where is my refund. However, I did expect a direct deposit date for February 25 because I saw my transcripts this Past Wednesday that had a date of O2/25/2025. I just didn’t expect to see it two days later.
Usually, I don’t rush because they don’t process returns with dependence until February 15 but I went ahead and did it because I received all I needed January 30 to file so I just did it and got it out-of-the-way.
Hey everyone how long does it take to get a paper check in the mail? Where’s my refund updated Saturday and switched from direct deposit to your check is scheduled to be mailed by the 28. All my bank account and routing was right. I’m anxious lol. Also how does it work when my tax prep fees are supposed to come out of refund but a check is issued. My tax preparer said they use sbtpg. Idk how they work when it comes to stuff like that when a check is mailed. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Is there anyone still stuck on the Path Act message with only 1 bar.
@Plantmom1130: Thanks! I have family and friends with CK and none of them have theirs either. Fingers crossed my DD is tomorrow but mine is coming from Cross River so who knows.
@Morris: I really really hope so! Definitely keep checking, because I didn’t get my notification from Spruce until about 30 minutes after my deposit hit. I didn’t even know it was sitting there until I randomly checked. Deposits have been crazy this year…they’re all over the place! 😆
@Starchild1111: Yes my cousin got hers on Friday, 4 days earlier a d 2 business days early. I was shocked. DDD 2/25 Filed Free Tax Usa no fees
@Mom@3: No, nothing yet. For the past 2years I’ve gotten it early. I was on TikTok earlier wow it seems everyone with CK who had fees taken out are still waiting. SBTPG has been funded for me since Wednesday. I will keep you posted once I get it DDD 2/24.
Has anyone with CK seen a deposit? DD 2/24-2/26? I have not seen anyone with CK get a deposit yet so just curious.
@Honeybee82: Also I’m checking my phone every 5 to 10 minutes just in case I’ll get it this evening.
@Honeybee82: That would be great news to my ears. I see someone got theirs last night and they had fees from their refund like me. I have known to get deposits on a Sunday around 5 pm, but like u said I’m 99 percent sure I’ll see it tomorrow.
@Morris: Hey! How are ya holding up? I think you only have 1-2 more days of waiting….so you’re almost there! 😊. I know SBTPG released my funds one day early last year, but I’m not sure how Pathward works…they might release two days early. In that case, you could get it tomorrow…so keep checking!
Any cashapp ddd 2/25 deposits yet
finding unusal codes kindling tiny rare useful moves proactively!
@NYkhidd: I know this already lol I was letting Morris know about the chat and im NJ My Payroll goes on chime and every two weeks and in my app every other Tuesday I see the waiting for Direct deposit… honestly think every state different on what access everyone… have like I don’t have that cool thing you guys have with the payday lol
@Morris: of course I Got my fellow Chimers 🥰 i was chatting lastnight and than this morning I seen your post and im like nope let me let my peeps know they can chat lol
@Sheila_33: I have transcripts. They also sent me a letter they say… But those take like 2 weeks with the post office these days. I am just wondering if what happened to your daughter happened to me. I did have a 1095B. Not an A but a B which does NOT need to be reported or filed. I wonder if the IRS, the King and Queen of alphabet soup codes was too stupid to see that there is a B not an A there.
@R: Yes, I see it after all this time I didn’t know.@Tykillaa38: You were right about the chat. Cool that they have that.
@R: Yes, I see it after all this time I didn’t know.
Once you get on your Chime app, go to the settings in the upper left corner. Once you get to settings, go to help and thats where you can kind chat.
@wade123: My daughter has no transcript but previous years transcripts pushed out to 3/17 so I’m hoping they’re working on it.
@Morris: I’m currently at the max of 200$ with spot me ($220) with the 4 boost I get every month . Also my pay limit is currently $350 but with me getting my federal days ago I’m getting outta that cycle finally
@Tykillaa38: chime DOESNT hold deposits so it’s no way to see anything pending .. they post it soon as they receive it . No such thing as a pending deposit with chime
@Tykillaa38: Can you take a screenshot?
@Tykillaa38: Well I have looked at the entire website and I can’t find the chat. Where is it on the website?
@Morris: chime does have a chat i talk to agent through chat all the time… and the agent said the same thing what you just said the person said to you when you called lol.. the agent told me yesterday they didn’t see anything yet pending
@Sheila_33: No resolution, no updates on transcript and no letter. Still have the PATH message on WMR, the only thing that changed is WMR now no longer shows my refund amount.
Filed 1/24 and accepted same day
Around the 1st of February I saw I had to verify on my irs account but never received a letter.
My as of date after this past Friday was 3/10.
I requested a new letter and now this morning my as of date changed to 3/17 but still blank?!