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 โqueueโ 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.
Thatโs 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 donโt have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your moneyโs 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.
@MSRazorbackPhD: i also have daily dreams. They won’t let me into their club.
@VA757pather: it’s fine. I didn’t take offense to anything you said. 2 years ago when it happened i had an error but they fixed it on their own. The other times I just had to cycle through again. This is my first year having my business as an scorp and doing a w2, so I’m just praying I did it right.
Not processed, which is normal for this time. Maybe later today?! If not…we ๐ค๐ฝ for next Friday. Though I’d โค to finally be a daily tp, but alas, not so.
Top of the morning my peeps my transcripts are blank with no codes like some others and itโs nothing wrong my peeps mine and a lot of others did this last year and the next week mine finished populating so donโt worry !
I hope this ainโt that ID verify BS I had to do that last year
@Monee: and Iโm sorry for my wordingโฆOF COURSE you can be annoyed , Iโm just sending you good vibes and hope!
Still have a blank transcript. Yesterday and today…I was 05 last year so maybe next week. Accepted 1/17, no PATH credits but increased income. It’s a very small refund now that my kids are over 17. Hoping the transcript populates later. But who knows?
@Monee: I donโt think anything is wrong, I have seen a lot of us update with blank ones today, maybe because we are test batch we will be fine and situated in time!
@Monee: i don’t think so, when were you accepted? And, what happened the last time you had blank transcripts?
Am I allowed to be annoyed that they also processed my 2022 transcript to add 11 cents of interest but didn’t populate my 2024??
I go through this blank transcripts thing almost every year. I should have seen it coming
@Tyler white: i live at the same place.
05 cycle dates can be daily or weekly.
@Jocelynn: thank you!!
i just checked and last year i filed 1/31 and my DD was 2/7 but i think i had it by 2/5 because my bank releases DD up to two days early. hoping for the same this year but im done checking for the day im gonna drive myself nuts ๐
@Chace1: congrats on the 846! ๐
Updated transcript to an 846 with deposit date of 1/29
@Clos: Same here.Pather, and seems to be weekly this year, Cycle 05
@Clos: when did you get accepted and are you a PATH
I was accepted 1/21
Blank transcripts today 1/24
(Yesterday I had NO ACCOUNT TRANSCRIPT FOR 2024 but this morning the link for ACCOUNT TRANSCRIPTS 2024 is available!!!)
I think this is normal itโs only been 3 days by next week we should have our transcripts populated.
Iโve also heard that they may populate throughout the day but I donโt know for sure!
@Tyler white: Filed 1/7/2025 through H&R Block, Accepted on 01/15/2025. I never had a issue with them updating my address, so it’s just a sit back and wait type thing now. ๐
I can see my transcript and codes my as of date is 2-10-25. I am weekly and a Pather I always get money the following Wed after Path opens.
I swear I suffer from OCTD, obsessive compulsive tax disorder every year!!
For those updating to blank transcripts, it’s possible you just didn’t finish up cycling through and will have to wait until next Thursday to finish filling in the codes. Not a bad thing, and it happens sometimes.
@Mike: congrats on the 846!! Gotta love that magic little number. ๐
@Mike: Congratulations!
@JocelynTexasMarie: same for me. Accepted the 17th tho