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 Walmart One card know when they post deposits?
@Sheila_33 Good Morning! You’re pretty savvy with this stuff. I got my 846 with a DDD of 2/16/26 but I’m not a pather. I know a couple people said this the other day, but I can’t find the post. Is this something that should update to closer date? I’ve always got my deposits the first week of Feb. Do you know of anyone who had this and got a closer date on here? Thank you!
@Sarah D: me too but went on thru after few ties
transcripts updated from nothing to filled out,all good codes this morning! yay! VA WMR updated from processing to approved ddd2/6 too! cool! now walking the path fed…
Does anyone have experience with the American Opportunity Credit as it pertains to PATH? This is my first time getting this particular credit and online says that it’s not “typically” part of the mid-February PATH delay, but does anyone have any real-life insight for this? I don’t have any other PATH credits, just the AOC.
Good morning beautiful people! I can now see my 2025 Account Transcript on my IRS account. Right now it shows $0.00 with an as of date of 02/16/2026. Beneath that it says, “RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT” in bold letters. Under the transactions section it states, “No tax return filed.” Is this just showing things are moving, but still in process? Thank you in advance for the assistance. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!
@SweetNSour87: no ohio deposit yet not sure what times my card posts deposits
@shelleybeanss: thank you. I’ll check back later
@Momof2girls1boy77: they typically donate throughout the morning into the early afternoon
Can my transcripts still update throughout the day today? I was accepted on 1/20 and overnight my account transcript populated with no return filed and all zeros. I am usually a weekly. So I wasn’t sure if it could still update today
Blank 2025 transcript showed up this morning I been weekly FOREVER .. same thing happened last year it was blank the first week .. then populated the following Friday .. then the very next day PATH message should show up .. PROGRESS good with me
@VAisforlovers: Dang. I was accepted Monday, 1/26 and I’m still processing. Lol. Congrats! 🎉
Gm my good people. I have a question. I moved into to my new place Nov 2025. I have my lease, and my electric bill in my name. I did the address change for my driver license, but it never showed up twice. So my ID still have my old address. Is this a red flag or will I be good with my lease and electric bill?
@Kisharai: I just checked mine, same thing only 2021 is showing available, super weird and when I try and open 2025 transcripts I get an error message and tells me to try again later. GAH!
@Sarah D: Yes
Is anybody else getting an error message when trying to open their transcripts? It keeps saying an error has occurred and to try again later. I’ve never had that happen before…