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.
Update: apparently cross river IS dealing with fees this year so I have to wait until they release them.
@Akwildbaby: I did last year, my transcripts updated early morning Friday 1/31 and I received my refund on 1/13 at 330ish pm
@Akwildbaby: If the DDD coincides.
@mc559672: Its been one of the craziest years I’ve seen so far lol.
Update: the IRS home page is asking for the 14-digit control number that I haven’t been mailed yet. So now I need to wait. Ugh.
@Sheila_33: Thank you, Sheila. I love the ambiguous “*if* we need more info, we’ll send you a letter”. Like…are you sending me a letter or no? Lol. This whole thing has been bonkers so far.
@mc559672: We’ve been seeing a few of those. Its possibly an id verify. As soon as you get that notice, answer the questions online and submit. These can resolve quickly this early in the year.
Now all of a sudden when I check the WMR I get:
“Action Required
Please read the following information related to your tax situation. You may need to provide additional information to receive your full refund.
We received your tax return and are reviewing it. If we need additional information, we’ll mail a notice with further instructions.
If you’ve already received a notice, please follow the instructions.
If we determine no additional information is needed, we’ll continue to process your refund.”
WTF is going on? I’ve had a normal WMR since 1-15. This is so frustrating. No codes on my trans.
@ASDMamaBear: it did that to me when I first got accepted don’t worry about it login to your irs account and check refund status that way it’s the same thing
@ASDMamaBear: clear your cache or check via private/incognito. Use a different browser. Sometimes the IP on your internet gets hung up too. Happened to me a few days ago.
@Kisharai: my Ohio just hit too :) also had ddd of 02/05
@Mj69: I have for student loans years ago. I also file injured spouse now do my tax refund isn’t injector by my husband’s child support.
So WMR says I’ve maxed out attempts but I haven’t checked since 7am yesterday. It’s now 11:47 and still won’t let me. Anyone else?
@ErisedMai: thanks. I just was curious. I’m path so no rush. I know I’m weekly and my transcripts are filled out already just waiting on the 846 after path lifts. Was just trying to see how soon after I can expect the deposit. I usually get the deposit the Wednesday after my transcript updates to 846.
@Sammie: It should be on one of the first papers when you download your tax returns It would be right after the paper if you have kids that talks about the Trump accounts. It should be before your actual returns but you have to download the returns from the TurboTax site to see it.
@Justaguy: SBTPG can’t find my information that’s why I was stressing so I looked at my tax prep papers from TurboTax on the form where it talks about the $40 fee for getting the fees taken out of your refund and on that paper it said Cross River Bank. I thought Cross River only handled the 5-day early option for refunds but apparently they are doing the standard fees from refund for some people as well b/c that’s The bank listed on my paperwork And I didn’t do the 5-day early option.
@Akwildbaby: It is possible and has been the norm for no hold banks to start receiving deposits as soon as transcripts update. This year has been different, we haven’t seen deposits on the same day yet. This may be because the dates on transcripts are so far out and only WMR is actually reflecting accurate deposit dates.
@MSRazorbackPhD: I recognize your name as being a long time person on igmr. I have been on here for years and years reading and learning. I have a question though. With no hold bank is it possible to receive a deposit the same day transcript updates to 846? Say a weekly updates Friday and gets 846 code. Could they see their money in no hold bank later that same day?
@Kisharai: LOL I’m the opposite. Got my tiny federal refund but CA state has been processing since 01/15.
@Honeybee82: thank you Honeybee
Anybody from Wisconsin get their state returns approved yet?
@TX Dad: There’s two parts for the PATH, EIC and ACTC, sometimes you get the Additional Child Tax Credit against the tax you owe or paid in, if so, you would be on the PATH. That happened to me with my 17 year old last year.
@MSRazorbackPhD: Yep, that’s what happened to me. I owed them years ago and switched to weekly and have been weekly ever since. I’m started to think they don’t cycle everyone out of weekly after that. It’s been at least 8-10 years for me.