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 in 2025 on January 27th.
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 official tax refund cycle chart published by the IRS has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Refund cycle charts are now published by independent websites and vary slightly.
A good reference to use is the When To Expect My Refund cycle chart that is published early each year by the College Investor.
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: thanks! i see it now-i had to click on efile details. mine says received by irs on 01/20 but shows transmitted today & still not accepted. i wish i would have just waited to file because i was really trying to get in the test batch & that didnt happen & now its not looking good on opening day either. i have never had problems any other year.
I was accepted on January 18th. I am hoping to see something this week
@Brianne: My JH says accepted, but my WMR hasn’t updated. Maybe later.
Federal return transmitted
01/23/23
It has the ?, but doesn’t show any time! Probably not my question☺️
@Brianne: On the site! Scroll down to the bottom for efile info!!
Federal Return
Received by TurboTax:
Wednesday, Jan 11, 4:10 PM EST
Received by IRS:
Friday, Jan 20, 4:21 PM EST
Filing status changed to: Pending
Friday, Jan 20, 4:21 PM EST
for the ones that havent been accepted with tt but it says transmitted today-where are you seeing the time that it was transmitted? the app or website doesnt show me a time for today, it only shows the time when i originally filed it.
@Yandyy: Yes. Daily also.
@Sharon. O: Yes. Test batch got accepted on the 17th. Not on PATH only 1099R.
I just filed this morning around 730 est through turbo tax. Usually I get a notification from them saying it was accepted, but I haven’t. I just checked IRS.GOV and it’s on the first bar and says they have received it and it’s being processed. I’m a daily I believe and I have EITC. So, I’m on PATH, but last year I could see my Transcripts fully filled out w/o 846 code online a week before the lift. Curious to see how this year will work itself out.
@Emily: yes I did get the email from turbo tax, and on where’s my refund it already had one bar before I was accepted.
@Doughboy: congrats. Hopefully the rest of us early TT filers will follow suit quickly behind.
Accepted. Filed 1/22
@Doughboy: did you get the email from Turbo and was WMR showing accepted already
Just got accepted 2 minutes ago… Just hang in there it’s coming
@Brianne: LMK if you get some GREAT news…I’ll do the same!
@Sheila_33: Thanks so much. I’ve been a weekly forever so I’m pretty sure I will be again. It would be a great surprise but I’m going with weekly most likely
@Sharon.O: If you stay a weekly this year, you’ll most likely process Thursday and update Friday on transcripts and a direct deposit date on Wmr Saturday. But, if you have eitc and/or actc path credits, you won’t see a refund until the freeze lifts Feb 15th, and your messaging Saturday morning will most likely be the path credit freeze message.
If you happen to change to daily, you might be processing today, update tomorrow on transcripts and have a Ddd on Wmr Wednesday. That’s as long as you don’t have the path credits.