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.
@Dollbaby127: you still have to wait for letter to ID verify on IRS website from what I am seeing as you have to input the control number.
@Jim22: Who do you bank with? And did you pay your fees ahead of time or with your refund?
Well, I got my DD this morning. WMR also updated today with a date of 2/11. I don’t have an online account but Years ago I had to go on a payment plan so I’m wondering if I’ve always been a weekly. Thanks to all who helped. Good luck to everyone!
If any of you have to ID verify go on your irs account you can verify on there. You will see a message that says you have to verify. It’s faster and you get your refund faster.
Did anyone get a code960 appointed representative?! It just updated with all other codes it wasn’t there yesterday this 960 code but the others were in so lost
Did anyone get a code960 appointed representative?! It just updated with all other codes it wasn’t there yesterday this 960 code but the others were
Notices and letters not loading if it’s not one thing it’s another 🤦♀️
@Thor: So you have a date and have kids. You blessed. I have seen that before someone getting their refund before path lifts
My sister did last year.
@Stressed about being stressed:
Yes they will let you know if there’s an issue being processed will change to delayed still being processed or something to that effect otherwise you’re good
So I didn’t update on transcript yesterday still 2/16 as of date and wrm says still processing. Wouldn’t it tell me if I need do id verify or something?
I found my answer to the IRS 21days
It’s calendar days
@Shdavis46: they’re still updating WMR. It says that while it’s down @Shdavis46:
766/768 on transcripts and path message on WMR. I think…I HOPE…I’m good to go for next week
@Lovergirl: I have never had any
Problem once in Path act mode
Otherwise not sure 👍
What I meant by to ask was if the refund amount is supposed to be gone once updated to path. But I did find that this is a common occurrence.
@Shelia: What does refund status unavailable mean on WMR? 🤔
I can’t remember if the 21days
Exclude weekends
Is your refund amount supposed to be done once updated to path?
@Mamaquel: Well, I’m not quite sure then.🤔
@DrSleep: I need help with my insomnia Dr
Generic msg on WMR for path act folks this morning just waiting on 2/20 now. If you see this you should be all set to process after hold lifts. Very happy everyone just waiting on 846
@Monee: check again I had that message at 3am just checked again and it changed to path message
@monee: I had the same message at about 3am I just checked again now I have the path message
This am i got the path msg on my screen closer to the end of the tunnel
anyone with Green Dot I have DD on the 10th nothing yet
@sheila_33 thank you for the link. I only have CTC. No EITC OR ACTC other credits.
@Monee: Just might be a resequencing issue. We had so many issues with the transcripts that week you were accepted and you might have just been thrown in the back of the line. I’ve done some double resequencing in the past, but I ended up finally posting.
@Mamaquel: Look at your return that was submitted to the IRS and see if any lines you have filled in are path credits.
https://igotmyrefund.com/why-do-i-have-the-path-message-on-irs-wheres-my-refund/#google_vignette
@Sheila_33: I dont know what issues could be there this year. I was very careful. I just remember 1 year I had this message and it was in the errors department for a week and the processed the next week.
@Sheila_33: ok. It looks like im in the trenches for another week. Hopefully I update because its ghetto down here. Lol
Morning everyone. I’m a weekly so my transcripts updated yesterday with all good codes except for 846. No 846 this morning but WMR updated with the path message. That’s weird because I’m not walking the path this year! I dont qualify for EITC just CTC. Any other non pathers get the path message on wmr? Is that normal?
@StarringL: Your return is frozen with the c freeze from the path credit 768. You won’t see any updates until the week of the 15th.
@Blessed mom of 7: 03 is daily and we expect to see a transcript update on the 18th with a deposit date of 2/23 on the Wmr Thursday morning the 19th for dailies.
Hi. Been a lurker for a while but I’ve seen a ton of people in a similar situation to me with this years out of the ordinary processing so I thought I’d share my update.
I filed on 1/14, was accepted 1/16 and have been in limbo ever since until Friday 2/6 when my transcripts all updated. This morning 2/7 WMR finally moved to 2nd bar with a ddd of 2/11 and because I use Chime the money actually posted to my account already. So after 3 weeks of nothing, everything wrapped up in the course of 1 and a half days. I’m confused to say the least. Oh well it’s over for this year. Good luck everyone.
@Monee: It’s possible, if there was an issue, and it could be resolved internally. The 2/16 date being stuck there does make me think you may have been recycled and there’s a chance you could update this coming Friday. When that date passes is when there may be an issue.
My wmr still says sorry for delay beyond normal time frame. My transcripts are still stuck with 2/16 and blank. Starting to wonder if I was taken out of processing, sent to the errors department, and then put back into processing too late to make the cutoff to process this week. Could that happen?
@Starvin Marvin: what phone number did you call to make appt? How far out did they make you wait to get in for your appt?
Hi guys updated yesterday to path message Transcripts filled in as of dat 02/23/2026 cycle 0503 is that daily? I can’t remember I’ve always been weekly just these past couple of yrs I have chanced to daily just curious I know I have to wit it out with my fellow pathers but…. just curious of the cycle code
I haven’t updated at all been stuck on path act message for 2 weeks as well as for my transit codes 150 and 768 .nothing has updated . I filed January 20th and I am a daily
Good Morning! WMR updated to PATH message this morning after transcripts updated yesterday with good codes. VA state deposited after midnight last night, DDD 2/10. Walking the PATH for federal DDD.
I just updated to the PATH message on WMR
My transcripts updated yesterday with
150
806
766
768
Movement is here my as of date of 2/23