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.
Surprised to wake up to updated transcripts this morning and an 846. Super quick for us this year!
Anyone else feel
Like the days are moving super super slow lol why is this the only time of the year it feels like this 🤣
@2blessed: Tomorrow night into Friday morning my friend
@Brandi: Yes, I do.
Ugh. I was accepted on the 21st, had transcripts pop up last Friday with zeros, but no movement since then. I was an 04 last year so daily. I wonder if I’ve gone weekly this year? Does anyone know if updates happen during the day too? Or is it just overnight?
@2blessed: u will update Friday
@Stephennotsignedin: You may have not finished processing last Friday so I would see if you finish processing this week. It typically takes mine two weeks to cycle through. I was a weekly for several years, then became a daily, then last year after the ID verify thing I switched back to weekly. But prior when I was a weekly it always took two cycles before I ever saw an update.
@California: great tysm!!!
@jessica18: I wanna kno the same thing mine says issued on the 27th. I called she said give it 5 business days it was sent to wherever u get your refund,I checked last year state came 3 days after it was accepted!!!
Still haven’t gotten accepted from irs.. if something is wrong why are they taking so long to reject it again.. UGGGHHH! The lady saying is saying give it a few more hours and it should update smh
My son has a DD for today and nothing has hit yet.
@Honeybee82: Congrats!!! I was accepted the same day as yours but I still don’t see any transcripts assuming I’m weekly as usual. I keep seeing verification of non-filing.
@candicane: seems like they are lagging behind but they will update. Happened to me last year. Got my refund before WMR or transcripts updated.
@Brandi: 846 payment issued on transcripts. Hope that helps.
Gm! I have a question. I was accepted on the 23rd and according to last year transcript, I was 05. My as of date still says 1/13. Wmr has 1 bar. I’m also a panther. When should I see some movement on transcript and wmr? So far only have the 152 code. Praying for a smooth year.. 🙏🏾
Anyone else get the critical error when trying to post to the forum? (not here)
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: I was accepted by IRS on January 17th and this past Friday my transcript updated to blank with zeros. I’m a weekly been a weekly since I started filling taxes. I do have a id pin and so does my wife and last year we still got hit with the verify b.s. Hoping to see my trans update to filled in this Friday.
@StarlightWarden: So who do I need to contact to see when the deposit will be sent?
@Stephennotsignedin: all of my transcripts updated except the account transcripts and record of account transcripts
Anyone know if there is a way to see if the IRS has issued the payment on the transcript or account. I’m locked out of WMR because I’m impatient :)
@Stephennotsignedin: When did you file and when were you accepted? Just asking because I had to do the ID verify thing last year too but I was accepted on the 24th this year and my transcripts have not updated. However, I know that having to ID verify can put you in the weekly club so I don’t anticipate anything updating for me until Thursday into Friday on transcripts and WMR on Saturday.
@Felice: honestly they will likely tell you to give it up to 7 days after the date before you report the payment as missing. And my WMR has never updated to the third bar before I received my refund. Sometimes my WMR takes a week or longer to show the third bar.
I wonder is there a reason my tax transcript hasn’t updated yet. it says my return as been sent.
@Felice: Apparently there seems to be an issue of sorts going around with TT and them suddenly not having a refund status or DDD date. My IRS refund status shows today DDD date 1/29, with nothing sent just yet, but TurboTax magically has no record or receipt of my e-file that was visible 12 hours ago. It used to say 1-29 date on their page and now it just says pending. Seems to be a issue for all people who’s 5 day refund was cancelled. Again I recognize my funds haven’t been sent on the IRS refund, but kinda suspicious for the status to have reversed on TTs site
@DeeBlock: mines is the same as yours hopefully we update Friday!
@Stephennotsignedin: I hope it updates to something positive for you Friday!
Received my ddd last night right after midnight(cst). My ddd is 02/03. Last year I was an (04) and this year an (03). I filed the 24th and was accepted same day. Obviously no PATH credits. Things are moving and hopefully everyone sees their refunds soon! Louisiana state refunds on the other hand..who knows lol..
This group has taught me so much since 2018 and I just wanted to say how grateful I am for everyone here, y’all are amazing!!
@VA757pather:
We have received your tax return and it is being processed.
If you filed a complete and accurate tax return, your refund should be issued within 21 days of the received date. However, processing may take longer under certain circumstances.
Please check here or use our free mobile app, IRS2Go, to check on your refund status.
With Tax Topic 152
Did anyone with a refund date of today receive their refund or have WMR update to Refund Sent? Not sure whether I should call the IRS. I’d feel a bit better if SBTPG had a record of my account but they don’t and I am due to have the fees come out.
“Your tax refund is scheduled to be sent to your bank by January 29, 2025.” –Yet still on only 2 bars on WMR.
This is so frustrating.
@VA757pather: yea I know what the acronym is, just wasn’t sure since the IRS uses both terms.
did anyone get their california refund? mine says issued on 1/27 but nothing yet in my bank.
@VA757pather: last year I had msg on wmr to id verify and also on my irs online account. If I don’t update Friday in transcript I’ll be 99.9 percent sure I’ll get the verification of on wmr on Sat and then on Monday a notification on my account online
@Stephennotsignedin: you might be waiting on the ID VERIFY LETTER ; but once you get that the process is fast ; you just verify with the number they give you and then you are resequenced! Just lookout for the letter from the IRS
@Monee: no offsets I don’t owe anyone anything
Btw, I am usually a 05 cycle code never a daily. This is a first. Have the path 152 message. Didn’t qualify for the child credits. What’s it mean when my transcripts show a refund issued date of Feb 3? Should I start looking for a DD?
@photodude416: Same as of and cycle code this morning. Yay! I have the refund issued date of 2-3-25 with 846 code. I applied with TT. Paid for the early deposit
@Stephennotsignedin: do you have any offsets?
@Honeybee82: thank you! I will hold you too it and patiently wait for my invite. lol
@IRSGIVESMEHEARTBURN: I have it too. Do you have any offsets? An unpaid tax fee/bill or anything?
@Monee: lol thank you! Once I’m worthy of initiation and figure out the secret password to get in, I’ll invite you! 😂 I don’t even know why I bothered to check this morning…I know every single year that I won’t possibly see any updates until Friday. I’m glad I did though!