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.
@Tigerlili_1:
Hey girl :)
I cant remember my sign in year to year (10+yrs) but I never forget you when speaking on this site.
@Shdavis46: A week, have you tried IDMe? I just did that, and within 24 hours, I was ok. When I got the letter, I called in just to be sure and they told me they had already ID Verified when I did IDMe.
@Lets walk the path: It won’t change until tomorrow. But, there will be no updates until Tuesday for Dailies and Thursday for Weeklies.
@Tigerlili_1: So how long after did you receive the letter for ID verify?
@Walter DOG: I did too that year. There were a lot of us.
@Just_curious: Wednesday, I think.
Hi everyone, now that path lifted and since tomorrow is a holiday when are the 1st direct deposits expected to be seen for dailies whose transcripts are just waiting for the 846 code? I assume it’s sometime this week for those with early deposit banks? Or not till this weekend maybe?
I let my son use my daughter social number for child credit..since I have a fraudulent child support case in corrupt California,los Angeles area..so I’m still getting my money Damm federal reserve!!
I have the path message but amount disappeared. Is that good or bad?
@Matt7650: ok well at least i know im not the only one. I think we aré ok
@Kimberly90: mine did the same exact thing.
Last night on my online account it was showing amount owed 0.00 as of feburary 15th it was probable around 1 am AND now ITS back to info! Did anyone else notice this. AND what could it mean
@Walter DOG: Thanks for your response, I am not seeing any notifications for an ID verify. In 2023, I had to ID verify and was able to see it on my IRS account. This year has been a bit different, but hopefully it will resolve on its own. 😊
@Shdavi46: the one year I got that 9001 on wmr I had to id verify it was the year a lot of people got that 9001 and for some it just cleared up but for me it was for id verify nothing showed up about id verify on my account but when I called they told me I had to verify
Just filed yesterday, I wanted to wait closer to the PATH lifting. It’s nice to see everyone again this year.
@curt: I file with TurboTax every year.
@Nscott33: mine did the same still processing, read somewhere where this indicates a problem, did you filr yourself
I have a ddd of the 17th for my state in ohio, has anyone ever received a deposit on a Sunday with chime if the deposit was already sent.
My refund tracker keeps saying new updates. So I go to check and its still at 1 bar with no movement. PATHer with nothing new on my taxes in 10 years. This tracker update notification is glitching. Anyone else getting that?
Hey all. Does it make sense to get a “review letter” but no codes? Says no return filed. Wmr still one bar. I can’t even figure out what kind of letter it is, I couldnt find a letter code on it. It just says it could take 60 days but again no codes at all and only wage and return transcripts not filled out.
Stupid question. Filed/accepted 2/6. Only wage transcript showing. WMR “processing”. According to last year 2024 my cycle code is 05. Will I update this week? Also what day of the week. I’m not a pather.
well path is over,now …wth’s my money!
@Sheila_33: nothing. It’s so frustrating. Everything has been basically the same for years.
@Sheila_33: Thanks for your response, filed HOH all information is the same from previous years. Initially, it was saying that it was received and I was using the same information. Im not sure what could have happened.
@Nscott33: Have you had a name change, added dependents, etc? Keep an eye on the Wmr for any changes. Sometimes transcripts not updating is a verification of some kind.
@Shdavi46: Did you file joint and if you did, have you tried using your spouses ssn when logging in? 9001 is a tax topic for something not matching when you’re logging in. Could possibly be a ssn mismatch, etc.
Were almost to the end of this path. I seriously get anxiety around this time of year.😵💫🥴 This year isn’t as bad as years past though. I can say that.
Filed and accepted 2/6. Pather. Still no transcript showing up on my account and no notices, letters, anything. WMR also updated to “still processing” this is out of the normal for me, usually transcripts show up blank, then you get everything besides 846 until after path. But this year, literally no transcripts besides wage. Can anyone shed any light on this?
@Sheila_33: Good morning! Question, I have not had any movement on Transcripts, only account transcripts on last Friday all zeros. On WMR its just return status unavailable, but now I see reference code 9001 on WMR, do you know what this is? Again, it’s like my tax return is nonexistent. As of date still 2-23-2026. 😩😊