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.
I typically get my refund in a week or less every year. Long before transcripts ever are even generated. No path, no credits no complicated issues, simple 1040. But I also usually file on the Monday of the opening week. This time around I filed Thursday this past week. So, I ran into the weekend faster than years past. I have heard so much talk about watching for code 846 but I almost always get my federal and state long before transcripts ever become available in about 7-10 days. Just wondering if filing later in the week this year will change that. Like I said, I e-filed on Thursday at 6:01 Pm hot a text from FTUSA at 6:08 it was accepted and at 6:09 when I checked WMR I had 1 bar.
So if I filed with Free Tax USA this past Thursday and the IRS accepted it within minutes and I have no EITC or path, how long to a refund for a simple 1040 and I am a daily
Has anyone gotten their 1099-B from Computeshare yet?
@Meeshforshort: im a PATHer and accpt on the 20th and oh how i would LOVE to c a ddd before that pather kick off date lol praying lol would b awesome
@Honeybee82: That’s how I’m guessing its gonna play out.
@Meeshforshort: People on path are already accepted, and they can/will be processed before path lifts. They will not be refunded before path lifts, though.
I wonder if any paths will be accepted and processed early before the lift happens.? Anybody in here ever had that?
@Sheila_33: No changes on my WMR since it updated to one bar, with the “we have received your return and it is being processed” message. I changed to a daily last year, so I keep checking my transcripts too – but nothing. I don’t think we’ll start seeing movement on those until after the scheduled maintenance on the 26th though. 🤞🏼
@Stephen: depending on where you’re at, it could be weather related.
So the last w2 I’ve been waiting for showed on informed delivery before today along with several other mail but mail man just came and I literally didn’t get anything that was shown for what was to be delivered before today I wonder if the holiday this last Monday put them a day behind
@Red Dawn: It means you were accepted before the IRS officially opened.
What does it mean to be apart of the test batch?
Feels like this year transcripts are waiting to be updated after Monday. I think there’s going to be a lot of updates to the scripts those first few days.
No updates on wmr or transcripts
ughh still no change
@Sheila_33: Thank you! I always get in the test batch and while I know it’s not guaranteed, I was stressing for a minute. Lol. My daughter, however, did not make the test batch. She is still waiting for acceptance, filed TT 1/16. No credits, dependents, etc. Just a simple W2. She’s always in the first round after opening so we shall see how this plays out.