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.
@secrutf515: No bad codes and account balance is what you want.
I have one bar with a status of “Return Received”. I updated Path Message last week. Does that mean I am done processing or they will start processing my return after the 15th?
@Dollbaby127: Thank you! Yeah just have to let it get sent back to the IRS. I’ll take the check at this point lol I guess it’s a longer waiting game checking WMR for check mailed :) Have a good day!
No transcript updated but wmr says action required and a letter sent in guessing out of the 3 1095 a’s they sent me I chose the wrong one. Wish they’d send the correct one to begin with
@Vip1981: I was accepted Feb 1 also. But my typical cycle code is 04, so I’m not really anticipating anything until maybe overnight tonight with the next big transcript update. I wouldn’t totally stress it. Does your WMR say received with 1 bar? it’s probably just in a mid processing state and hadn’t updated to the transcript prior to the last push. Most likely you’ll see an update with the push tonight into Wednesday morning.
@ASDMamaBear: You’re most welcome Have a great day 🙂
@Vulcan1600: Sheila_33 posted there was a hold up, bottleneck with early filers that lasted into the first filing week. That means a long line of filers waiting. Things look like they are moving along better today with movement of 02s. Hopefully that means the rest of the week everyone waiting gets moving and updated.
@Deano: oh okay. Ty 😊
@Vip1981: If you haven’t started processing yet you won’t have a cycle code. It would be down in the line items where your credits usually show under “transactions” where it says “Cycle Date” there would be a cycle code in that section. But it won’t show up until you reach a point in processsing where a transaction is posted to the transcript.
Where do you find the cycle code for this year? I see as of date but no cycle code
@secrutf515: mine is too absolutely no movement. I haven’t switched to the path message and mine was accepted on February 1 usually by now I’m updated to the path message, but I’m not gonna start freaking out or anything.
Updated 2/2: I have been weekly for the past several years and am assuming I am still weekly, since the only thing that was updated was the as of date changing last Friday.
Updated: I just spoke to the IRS. On 2/5 I received the action required notice. Confirmed to verify my identity due to name change. I went back to my maiden name in November after my divorce was finalized in September, so the IRS and ID.Me reflect my married name for the past several years, up until this recent filing. I was told to expect the letter within 21 days from the date the notice was posted to the account. It also has not been sent out yet, so I’m hoping that when it is sent, the system will reflect that and I will have the notice posted to the account and can verify online.
@ASDMamaBear: I promise you they’ll find you
I filed on January 29th
Free tax USA
Two simple W-2’s
WMR still on 1st bar
Why is it taking so long?
DD to Chime bank
It’ll be 14 days on Thursday Feb 12th
No path or anything to hold it up.
Unable to view transcripts.
Can anyone tell me why I haven’t seen any movement?
I think I’m a weekly if that helps?
@ASDMamaBear: I went through JH also they changed back to the Stbpg they also change banks it’s first century Bank
@Sheila_33: Just checked and not seeing any present dates on previous transcripts. My current transcript does show the balance, so that’s all that should matter right?
@Sheila_33: what does present dates on previous transcripts signify? Anything specific I need to look for?
Grapevine Announcement 🍇:
The trend seems to be telling each other to upload or screenshot your transcript for ChatGPT. Warning: You’re feeding the machine with sensitive data that can be paired up with plenty of data out in the interspace. Also, ChatGPT might provide inconsistent answers. Proceed with caution. Yes, I said interspace.
@Sheila_33: Good morning How are you? I went my account to see if the id verify was still there.Its not there anymore.Before I verified yesterday it was there until I verified yesterday. Hopefully update this week..
I went through JH and had fees and an advance from my return. Republic won’t let me log in. Keeps saying login error or something. Anyone else? Would love insight.
@secrut515: Have you checked previous transcripts to see if there’s any present dates on them? That is odd you’re not showing an account balance.
I thought for sure id update on transcripts. Sill no 846 and still on 1bar being a 03. Ugh only the path message still
@Sheila_33: yeah have all good codes. Also my refund doesn’t show at the top like everyone else. It doesn’t show anything for me. And I’m still on 1st bar with no PATH message.
@Sheila_33: it sounded like it was for this page All good no worries
LOL
@Sheila_33: Thank you Sheila for clarifying that much appreciated
@secrit515: I didn’t realize you had codes. If a transcript isn’t populated, it can give a clue thats something is moving. I think its normal, I have the same.
@Sheila_33: I’m a pather so not sure it would process this early when it says 2/23 on transcript.
@NYkhidd: yes mine is the exact way except my 2025 has info. I have codes 150,806,766,and 768. My balance shows – and then the amount at top and my wmr has the path act message