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.
@Ken G: me!
How do I know
If imma daily or?
@Kjammer09: I agree and thank you
GATES ARE OPEN .. turbo tax just updated NY state just received my return at 10:08 am est waiting for it to change to accepted . Federal was accepted 1/15
@Bama91: Standard messaging. Just shows your return hasn’t finished processing yet.
@Kjammer09 just to add…. I filed 15th. I checked WMR on 16th 3xs in close time frame and it stated info didn’t match. So I exceed my limit for checking so I didnt check again until the 17th that’s when I had one bar and then hours later TT updated
Anyone else filed with TT still waiting on acceptance???? Filed Friday 1/24 i r s website says info not found. First time waiting over 48 hours for acceptance.
@sheila33 hi Sheila. Why won’t turbo tax let me transmit my 2023 (not 2024)return through my account. It says turbo tax not open for the season: I know it’s opens today. I tried around 7:30 this morning eastern time. Did I do it too early or is there a problem
@Mrs. P (not signed in): Agreed. :)
Is this bad?
My return transcript says:
We received a verification of non-filing of a tax return
Wage&income:
No record of return filed.
@Harris: oh thank you lol that’s awesome. Positivity is a necessity in life!!! :) hope you get your refund ASAP!!
Good morning! I sure hope this year doesn’t end up like 2020. That was such a hot mess @Sheila_33:
Daily processing today, updates on transcripts tomorrow if the pattern holds. Weekly processing and 05s dailies Thursday with transcripts updates on Friday.
@Kjammer09: That’s what has been happening but it could be fixed. I think it was a TT issue as to why it wasn’t updated accurately so imma put positivity in the air and hope it’s on track for you and you get the advance soon
@Harris: yeah I have no idea if I’m a weekly or daily. All I know is that in the past I would receive my deposits on Fridays
@Keishalove33: You’re just waiting on the path freeze to lift as of now.
@Harris: ah ok good to know. Sounds like tomorrow at very least then since we only updates once a day and you said TT only updates after wmr does. Thank you
Did anyone do the $25 early refund with TT and, if so, did you actually get your refund early as promised?
@Kjammer09 I process daily so if you are a weekly transcript and WMR may not update as quickly as I did. However, whenever TT updates you should receive the advance
@Kjammer09: No advance but others on the forum stated that they didn’t get advance until TT updated to accepted status.
@JB: that’s cool! If I were you I’d be excited lol congrats!
@Kjammer09: no, usually it would be at least another week
@Harris: did you apply for the TT refund advance? I did. I’ve used TT in the past but it’s been a few years and have never done this before. So if TT doesn’t update until hours after then it sounds like the advance takes a bit if approved. Thx for answering btw
Hi, everyone hope this tax season is smooth. I filed on 1/16 and accepted 1/17. I have always been a weekly 05 since 2018. This year my transcript updated blank Wednesday morning 1/22. Since then no other update. Wondering if that means I am a daily and if i should get another update this wednesday or is the mass update tuesday morning? There are no codes on the transcript but it did populate with 0s on wednesday 4am. Im not sure if i would update again tuesday since last week monday was a holiday it was late or if i would update wed. If anyone can help answer. Thanks!!
@Kjammer09: WMR updated way before TT status. TT updated several hours later. The next morning my transcript was available with all good codes. The day after that, WMR updated to PATH message.
@Harris: oh ok so you have to wait 1 day for the wmr to update ? Does that also mean that it takes 24 hours at least to be accepted as well or can you be accepted and it just not update on wmr? I wonder if your accepted if it’ll show up on TurboTax and change from ” processing” even before wmr is updated
@Kjammer09: That happened to me. I checked it the next day and everything was there and I had one bar.
@Mememea: I havent. Submitted around 830 est. But I also saw that they do not start processing returns until 9am est. So that’s when the flood gates open so to speak. Literally it’s been less than 20 minutes ;)
@JB: oh heck yeah go you! Is that normal for you to get it this early?
Submitted my tax return his morning…yes I know it’s early ;)
Not use to checking wmr this quick but wanted to see if it says accepted or not. When I input my info it says info does not match our records. Is this normal? TurboTax still says processing.
Only have the child tax credit and thats it. Tax transcript shows my direct deposit goes in Wednesday
@Mememea: Not me. Still on “being processed”. It’s early though so…
Has anyone been accepted as of today since its opening day ??
@UnrulyMama: idk I got rejected with free tax for some glitch and then I filed with turbo tax I’m hoping maybe today.
@Mbry0625: could it be a site issue?
I filed on the 20th and was accepted on the 22nd for Federal & the 23rd for state.