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 with 2/24 and chime get it yet?
Mine finally came also 🎉🎉
I still haven’t received my amended return from 2023. What can I do about it?
Filed 2/2. Accepted same day. No movement on transcripts since they updated with all 0.00 on account transcripts, nothing else has updated. No letters or codes. My as of date is 2/24/25 on all transcripts. Any thoughts ???
@Mom@3: 🎉🎉🎉🎉
For anyone who was denied the 5 days early with TT and has a 02/24 DDD and is still waiting, deposits are coming through. Hopefully soon for anyone still waiting.
@Jay Jay not logged in: If your DDD was the 24-26th it’s coming. I asked TT rep did I receive a trace number. She was nice enough to give it too me.
@Mom@3: That’s great! congratulations to you.
@Jay Jay not logged in: Still waiting.
@Path25: when was your DD? Today?
I got my Refund! 30 minutes it hit my sofi bank account. Filed with tt was rejected for 5day early because of path im assuming. It’s coming yall! See ya next year!
CK fees through Cross River just hit. Finally!! Now I am going to take a good long nap!!! I haven’t slept good in a week.
Hey all! Just an update. 05er here. Got DD date Friday on trans for 02/26. Just received deposit ACH to bank account. Hope all goes well for everyone!! See you all next time!
@Sheila_33: So now I know what happened. My employer for Nov and Dec last year paid me in ACH Direct Deposit. They never provided me a W2. They went out of business so I can no longer contact anyone there. But I had my paycheck stubs, so I filed as a W2 employee on that, and I elected to have $0.00 withholdings because I knew I would not earn enough to have to pay or owe taxes. But on their way out rather than file my W2, the sent into the IRS a 1099. So now I actually owe self-employment taxes rather than get a small EITC return. I was not 1099, I was W2. They obviously did this to get out of paying their end of the FICA. They were sued for a non-compete violation and forced out of business. So how do I fix this?
@Kymomof3: you all are getting more than me. I got zero messages. I would not have known they cancelled my 5 days if I had not logged into the TT website.
@Morris: did you get yours yet
I got a email from TT Saturday that said my deposit would be by end of day today. Now I just got another that said by end of day tomorrow. Tomorrow will it be the end of never???
I believe the long wait for 2/24 deposits are almost over. Today is the day.
@Kelly0725: Finally an HRBlock customer got theirs. Congrats
@Kelly0725: Congrats!!
Just got my refund.. had fees taken out.. path.. H&R Block, netspend, ddd 2/26.
@I’m curious: This gives me hope then. Chime/HRBlock needs to do the same.
@Kymomof3: That’s great new. That means they sent your refund. You might get it today.
I don’t understand this tax season. Everything just seems to be going so slowly compared to past years.
@Girlmomx2: today 2/24 received the 846 last Tuesday night.
@Girlmomx2: my DDD is 2/24 and I got the same email
Okay!!! end of the road for me refund just hit Current fees and loan DDD 02/26
Ddd is 02/26 I bank with regions anybody received anything we should get it two days early nothing this morning still waiting I’m a pather with EIC WILL WE GET IT TODAY
@Kymomof3: Hi, Whats you DDD?
@Path25: I just received an email from TT refund is on the way will be in my account by end of day tomorrow..🤞
@Alizay4455: update us with what cashapp says please if possible. Me and you are the exact same so I would like to know what they find out.
@Tori3: I got the same email but before I got the email i spoke with a rep at TT this morning and was told she saw it pending to be released today and that my funds were already sent out since the 19th smh. I’ll just stick to what I always do and won’t ever choose the 5 day early option again. So we still have all day today to receive it and if not at least we know for sure by tomorrow.
Now TT is sending email saying “ Your federal refund is on the way! You’ll see it in your account by the end of the day tomorrow.” My DDD is 2/24, they better send it today…When I click link to “track it” it bring me to TT site and it now says refunded but still don’t have it
So I called TT this morning after my status went from accepted to pending. They opened a “case” and just now I received an email that said ” Your federal refund is on the way! You’ll see it in your account by the end of the day tomorrow.” I bank with All South Federal credit union. We shall see.
@BanbooPanda: did you have fees? I see you didnt have the advance…
Is there a way to ID Verify over the phone without a letter . The letter has not come up in my IRS account they claim it was mailed out 2/21 and could take 14 days to get here. The local office won’t allow me to make an appointment just to ID Verify but she did give me the phone # 800 830-5084
It looks like the $25/5-day early refund offer has created some confusion.
Here’s what seems to be happening:
• If someone took an advance or had fees deducted from their refund and also applied for the 5-day early deposit, they are likely being denied the early deposit. This is because their refund is processed through SBTPG, while the 5-day early deposit is managed by Cross River Bank.
• As a result, those affected are now waiting on Cross River Bank rather than SBTPG to release their refund.
Bottom line: You can’t have both the 5-day early deposit and a refund advance/fee deduction through your refund.
@BanbooPanda: what state are your in?
Good morning, anyone with Capital one and a DDD of 2/26 get anything yet?
hello
just received my DD. TT with fees out of refund. did not get the advance or the 5 day early option. it showed funded since Friday on SBTG. just got a notification from CK that my refund was deposited at 10:20am today. my DDD was 2/26/25 i am a weekly and i was a pather with EITC and ACTC so wasn’t excepting anything until tomorrow or Wednesday. hope this helps. see everyone next year! happy tax season.
I’m otp with cashapp using my Sbtpg trace number and they’re researching my account.
DDD of 2/25.
I used H&R block, fees taken out, loan, and deposit to the Emerald Card.
Still nothing. I never wait this long. Usually get it a few days before.
I really need to remainder today. Fingers crossed.
@Mom@3: same I will never use TT again! I have never had to wait this long
@Mom@3: yes
@Kymomof3: same here exactly! I call TT they will most likely tell you they have no record of you Routing or account # . Please update me if you talk to them. Wondering if they tell you the same as me.
@Path25:You got a trace number from TT?
DD 2/24 and Ck of, no deposit. NEVER using TT again!
So I just got off the phone with verification dept and my case is closed from Feb 20 and she said within 3 weeks from there I should get a update on wmr
@TinaR: Is your ID verify letter on a 971 code?
@wade123: the date next to 971 was 2/24/2024 and when i logged on this AM it was waiting for me. It was made available today.
@Path25: where did you the trace number from, TT? Sorry I am just trying to figure who I should call first. My dad is today sbtg has no record of my account and was denied 5 days earlier and now my TT time line went back to pending.
@Path25: I hate reps who say the most random off the wall stuff lol
I have a DD of 2/26 wiith current no deposit no fees, Last year I had fees taken out and a loan But I had the prepaid card from the bank that does the loan and I got my money the same day my transcript updated thinking I should’ve gotten that prepaid card lol
Just spoke to TT and was told they have no record of my routing or account number!!! Wtf!! I assured her after checking my return i have confirmed both are there and correct. Anyway I did manage to get my trace id number and am currently having my bank look into it
Does not having an account transcript for 2024 mean anything? Do I just need to wait for the next update?
Does anyone have Venmo that received a refund of more than 5000?
@Justgivememymoneyyy: same here I filed with TT and used CASHAPP for DD
DDD 2/26
Filed 1/17
Accepted 1/18
2nd Bar WMR
5 days early denied
STILL NO DEPOSIT YET 2.24 @ 9:50am ET east coast time zone North Carolina
@Starchild1111: SBTPG has always funded the day before or the day of your direct deposit.
The reason TurboTax even offered the 5 days early is bc of SBTPG holding funds every year…. So if you’re waiting on them it’ll be your direct deposit date
Is the IRS based off a specific time zone? I been trying to call all morning and no matter what hour it is they say they’re closed and their hours are 7am to 7pm. It’s 8:30 where I am.
We’re do you get the trace number from?
@Judah12🦁: I see everything has been funded and taken out I don’t cvthatvtrace number but never had one n the past six urs so never noticed it all I know sbtg is late period cus I’ve been funded since wed and my Sutton bank ALWAYS drop early Neva a dull moment wit my bank I even got deposit on sat last yr according to my bank statement but sbtg always had same ddd along wit wmr and my transcripts so they fin lose they business after this yr cus once it say funded then the rest on ur bank and I never had an issue n never had to wait until exact ddd
@Money mama: same here I see folks saying sbgt never deposits early , lol shitttn me I’ve had d same everyhtin for past five years sbgt will say 2/25 and 2/26 my deposit transaction History I’ve always got deposited 2/22 last yr it was a sat lol on the 22nd and even with the Monday bs holiday I still would’ve seen it SBTG beta quit playin cus once I c my second bar I wake up to my find every time nothing different so they wit d bananas this yr ion care wut the cycle code is lol they tryin cause problems cus my receipts say other stuff lol
@Benita: The lady from TT said if they show in processing you should have a trace number. Anyone that shows processing with TT should receive funds today or tomorrow.
@TinaR: they usually release whatever hold is on account
@Benita: East coast
@87 manemane: I’m still waiting on my trace number, I probably will receive it some time after 12 since I’m on the Eat coast.
@Path25: You should probably ask TT consistently like I did. I hope that lady don’t get fired she was nice.
So I called the IRS and they said a letter to ID Verify was send out on 2/21 when I get it and ID verify what will happen how long will it be before I get my refund? Any info is appreciated
@Judah12🦁: I got it from TT. They not supposed to give it out. My bank was rejected for the 5 day early advance. The DD is today.
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