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.
@mickey m: thank you so much!
@orianasenoj: verified online 3/7 called 3/14 was told by TA they did not see where I verified . Person said sometimes it doesn’t go through correctly when done online (so what’s the point in having that option don’t know) called and verified same day . Transcripts updated 03/21 with and 846.
@mickey m: congratulations soooo happy for you 🫶🏿 what was your ID verify timeline? I also have a PIN so was very lost
@mickey m: exactly what I said what’s the purpose of the pin
Finally got refund after ID verification hell. I am wondering why so many people had to verify this year especially the ones that have already established pins with the IRS.
Hi all. Myself and my daughter filed our taxes on 2/26. My daughter received her refund today! We work at the same job. WMR still says accepted for me no codes or a DDD on my transcripts. Says no return on file. I’m so confused.
If you have a 570 with no notices. It is a possible examination or review. It sucks because it can be random and take a while. I just noticed on one of my old returns. I got an advocate that year and it was released 1 month exactly after the 570 was placed. Hope this helps.
@Butterfly01: Yes. Identity and income verification, but that was before the 570 showed up
@Butterfly01: 4/7
@Madinjay: yessss sound like a plan!!!
@Butterfly01: so my transcripts update to a 846 code on 3/21 with a DDD if 3/26 at 12:14am after I ID verified on 3/14 I thought they were mailing a check to me because in my informed delivery I had an IRS letter from the dept of treasury coming on Saturday turns out it was my verification letter so I will have it done text deposited into my account sometime tomorrow
@Ninaprb: I ID verified online on March 16 th.
Had DDD of March 27, received yesterday theough Chime
Good luck to you .
DDD for March 26
Received through chime yesterday .
Hope for all still waiting !
@Ebony: Any updates with your return?
@Sharon O.: yes it went from March 10 to March 31 to April 7 it keeps pushing out
@Sharon O.: yes it went from March 10 to March 31 to April 7
I have a weird question does your ssa wages being uploaded mean your taxes are done processing I have absolutely no access to my Transcript.
Called the tax advocate hotline and she was able to confirm my last year returns had been received. Check back 4/7 to see the release date for 2024.
@Butterfly01: I still have no return filed. I guess we will both see hopefully soon
@Sharon O.: Hi. I have 570 code as well…. beside it has 4/7/2025 praying that’s the date they release it.
@Ninaprb: Do you have a Date beside code 570
@texasmomof3: thank you Tex
@Ree: Is your date also pushing out. Right now I have 4/7
@IAMHeiress: Did you have to Fax TA any paperwork or anything?
@Ninaprb: Right The ones I knew didn’t have code 570 after they verified it went straight to code 846
@Butterfly01: Ive seen some ppl verify and get their DDD after 10 days. I’m hoping this week I get mine and of course I’m a weekly so have to wait til Friday to check
@Ninaprb: Seems like everyone that ID verified has code 570. same thing on mine IRS says its a hold that takes up to 9 weeks
This tax year driving me crazy first year that I filed on day 1 and actually need the funds they wanna take they time. Filed 1/27 accepted same day. Received the verification letter and verified online on 2/24. Talked to a rep and said the verification cleared on 2/27. Transcripts finally updated on 3/21 but with the 570 code nothing after it. I file with a pin so I dont know why I even had to verify.
@IAMHeiress: Thus is ridiculous you can’t get them on the phone … I think code 570 is a hold from that ID verification and if the return is over Like 8,000 and you have EIC they are holding it until like Apr 15th that’s the tax deadline. They are just wanting to make sure it’s no type of Fraud
@Butterfly01: No updates yet. They just reassigned the case to another advocate today, after finally getting a TAS supervisor on the phone after 2 weeks, who stated he didn’t see anything wrong so he’s going to get an advocate on it to see why IRS is holding the refund. He put in notes to have it expedited, but it wouldn’t make much a difference because so much time has gone by. Still waiting.
@Sharon O.: yes, unfortunately I am a weekly and that is exactly what is going on and I’ve had to verify a couple times too and I hate it last time I had to verify I didn’t get my return until August, which was the year before last, but hopefully there is no issue this year with them pushing it through. I’m hoping we update by the weekend because it will be two weeks already since verified.
@IAMHeiress: Any Updates Yet? are you still showing 570 code?
@texasmomof3: Long as you got confirmation that you verified… You shouldn’t have to again?
@Butterfly01:
My son requested a TA, and that was the worst experience of his life. She was always either out of the office and at one point on vacation. So I took it upon myself to do the lake work for him, and I managed to After multiple phone calls and a Superman on the phone that corrected the issue while I was on the phone and put his return back into processing and he received his refund shortly after
The TA Callback three weeks later, and I told her that I took care of the problem with myself And he had already had his refund by the time she called back.
@Tk1:
No you do not have to verify again because essentially it’s the same letter
@Ree: Are you a weekly also. I seem to have to verify every year. I got my letter and verified on 3/1. Transcripts still blank no return received. The only think that moves is the date keeps pushing out. This happens to me every year so I wouldn’t be worried
@TK1: what’s wrong
How far January 21 I was accepted the next day or so I received a letter on March 4 I verified online, but I didn’t see an update I ended up calling on the sixth and they said it did not go through so I verified over the phone which they said it didn’t submit until March 10 and I went from still being processed to received and being processed and I’m stuck there. My transcript still shows no tax return filed. I’ve called a couple times. They said to just keep waiting for nine weeks before I call back, but I’ll see others have verified and receive their the same week or the next week so at this point, I’m just in a loop hole waiting for them as always.
@Tk1: someone please help
2/2 Filer Updates –
My mom got hers ID verify letter on 3/10, verified online same day. Updated to 846 and had her deposit on Friday 3/21.
I received my ID verify letter today and verified online. I will update when I see movement.
@Butterfly01: when I went to the irs office they said they still didn’t send it. I just verified with them today and they put it back into processing. Hopefully this week or next week
I was waiting for a verify letter and it was ting forever so I requested a new one but I received the first one and verified it now today I received the second one. Do I have verify again ?
Has anyone received a letter in the mail from there TA with documents you have to Fax or upload? According to this letter, They will Contact me by May 9th. The letter also states As Soon as he receives my info he will start working on it.
@orianasenoj: Sometimes it and sometimes it want.. Mines would not show me anything I had to wait until i got the letter
@orianasenoj: congratulations it should only be about two weeks now more or less depending on the IRS
Just left the irs to verify my ID and I didn’t need the letter. They put me back into processing.
@DTM2025: I went they said I need my tax return form and two forms of ID to verify. Nothing about the letter I have to go back at 1pm est I’ll update then
2 letters in the mail (Informed delivery) from DEPT of treasury! “IRS” let’s see what it is! There are no new notices in my IRS account. It’s been one full month. There WILL BE AN UPDATE this week! Claiming for everyone
570/971 since 2/24
@orianasenoj: it too sure never been to the office. I ID verified years ago over the phone.. I had to wait for the letter. So definitely comeback and let us know!
Well I’m at the IRS office I’ll answer my own question and pass on the info. Thankfully it’s only two of us here
Oktap.tax.ok.gov says my refund has been processed and approved for a different amount please allow 10-14 business days for refund to be deposited into your bank account but wheres my refund and the irs phone number says still being processed has this happened to anyone else
Oktap.tax.ok.gov says my refund has been processed and approved for a different amount please allow 10-14 business days for refund to be deposited into your bank account but wheres my refund and the irs phone number says still being processed has this happened to anyone else
What time does irs update?
@Amber: how long did it take for your amended return to process
@DTM2025: thanks friend appreciate you I will call tomorrow! I’m waiting on 3 years!! It will definitely be a blessing. Putting good vibes out here for everyone.
@DTM2025: OK, good to know. There’s a hardship involved, so hopefully they can move a bit quicker in this case.