For all the people
impatiently waiting
on tax refunds.

A grapevine for taxpayers,
by taxpayers.

Interact with people who have experiences or questions just like you.

All of your tax refund questions, answered.
What Other People Are Saying
49,270 comments

Where’s My Refund?

You have questions, we have answers.

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 in 2025 on January 27th.

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 official tax refund cycle chart published by the IRS has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Refund cycle charts are now published by independent websites and vary slightly.

A good reference to use is the When To Expect My Refund cycle chart that is published early each year by the College Investor.

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.

IRS Update Cycle

Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.

Transcripts

This is what your IRS transcript can tell you about your tax refund.

Transaction Codes

Lookup the codes that you see on your tax return transcript and what they mean.

Daily vs. Weekly

Find out if you have a daily or weekly account with the IRS and what it means.

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.

talk to a human

It is often hard to reach someone at the IRS and you might want to talk to a person. It is hard to reach some tax preparation companies too. Use our guide to talk to a human at the IRS.

TAX TOPIC 152

Tax Topic 152 is the most common status when you check the status of your tax refund. It is nothing to worry about.

transcript codes

Transaction Codes (TC) sometimes called transcript codes consist of three digits and may appear on your IRS account transcript. Decipher the codes on your IRS transcripts.

reference codes

Most times the Wherer’s My Refund tool (WMR) will show Tax Topic 152. Other times you may see various error codes. These are called Reference Codes on the WMR.

Join the Conversation

What Others Are Saying

  1. Stephhaze

    Im a pather, so I won’t get my refund til around end of Feb/early
    March. I’m just here cheering y’all on 😂💜 Happy tax season!

    Reply
    5
  2. Yandyy

    @Sheila_33: Hey how are you?Hope all is well…Just a quick question. Do think transcripts are finish for the day?Thanks

    Reply
  3. Amuz2

    @Phillyhero64: no..my account was filled out this morning and return script filled became available this afternoon

    Reply
  4. Akt

    I was already accepted.

    Reply
  5. MSRazorbackPhD

    Weekly vs daily does not have any weight on when your are accepted!

    Reply
    1
  6. Akt

    How do you know if your a weekly or a daily? I know it has to do with cycle codes and I checked mine from last year and it was 4

    Reply
  7. Yandyy

    @Amuz2: wow that’s great. I’m happy for you.Good luck ..Yes you’re a daily now very nice..I’m not sure if we’re finished updating for today.Again good luck

    Reply
    1
  8. Phillyhero64

    @Amuz2: did it just update

    Reply
    1
  9. Amuz2

    @Yandyy: I updated today..was a weekly but guess I’m a daily now..was accepted the 18th

    Reply
    1
  10. Flgirl1990

    @Flgirl1990: so mine was accepted in like 10 minutes after filing and received my advance with turbo

    Reply
    3
  11. Yandyy

    Hello everyone..Any dailies updated on transcripts today?I’m a daily that’s in the test batch but nothing on transcripts yet..Says N/A as of 15 minutes ago

    Reply
    1
  12. MSRazorbackPhD

    I am so damn excited for us! Glad it was something simple! Now I can celebrate!

    BTW-I swear this is TT fault for not asking, but we fixed it!

    Reply
    1
  13. Smg

    Accepted! Took 5 minutes or so after I resubmitted. Almost had a heart attack though, got a text saying it was rejected, but apparently thats from the first time and the text is like 10 minutes behind the email. Now the long wait begins

    Reply
  14. Flgirl1990

    So my return was rejected because of the marketplace insurance.this is this first time it was rejected because of that but I fixed it and now sent hopefully it’s accepted soon

    Reply
  15. Phillyhero64

    Anyone have their transcripts update this afternoon.

    Reply
    2
  16. Kisharai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CreditKarma spend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?

    FINALLY ACCEPTED!!!! I can breathe now :)

    Reply
  17. Mamatrilogy3

    @MSRazorbackPhD: thanks for replying! Hopefully it is accepted before Friday.

    Reply
  18. Smg

    @MSRazorbackPhD: I had the same issue! I forgot all about that form because it never even asked about healthcare. But I put it in and resubmitted so hopefully accepted soon.

    Reply
  19. Kisharai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CreditKarma spend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?

    @MSRazorbackPhD: finally figured it out. On my own lol they were of literal NO help :D now just waiting for acceptance :) fingers crossed. @Brianne’s turn for good updates!!

    Reply
  20. MSRazorbackPhD

    @Kisharai: Well if you need help😝. Waiting to see what happens with you two!🤞🏽

    Reply
  21. Amuz2

    This morning I only had my account transcript available with all good codes, but this evening my return one also populated, I’m assuming path message tomorrow..filed on the 17th accepted the 18th..was weekly the last few years

    Reply
    1
  22. Kisharai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CreditKarma spend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?

    @MSRazorbackPhD: CONGRATS!!!!!! super happy for ya! im on the phone now to see if I can push along the rejection process so I can fix it.

    Reply
    2
  23. MSRazorbackPhD

    @Kisharai: Ok…our 1st time too. Fixed and accepted🍾

    Reply
    1
  24. Kisharai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CreditKarma spend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?

    @MSRazorbackPhD: yep, got ACA this year for the first time as well since we qualified for it.

    Reply
  25. MSRazorbackPhD

    @Brianne: @Kisharai: Was it ACA?

    Reply
  26. Kisharai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CreditKarma spend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?

    mine dont show rejected, still pending BUT it will. now that I know what the issue is…… :( and I’m asking for a discount on fees. this is THEIR error >:(

    Reply
  27. vhasx3
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-27
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-28
    • Date Approved:
      Mar-2
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20230904
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    Anyone from Massachusetts receive their 1095-C health insurance form yet ?

    Reply
  28. Brianne
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Credit Karma
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Cycle:
      Weekly

    @MSRazorbackPhD: mine shows rejected too now

    Reply
  29. Brittany Amador
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      USAA
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @kathyarzola: you’re welcome!

    Reply
  30. Kisharai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CreditKarma spend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?

    @MSRazorbackPhD: 🙄🙄🙄 oh great…I didn’t even realize that… It surely DIDN’T ask me about insurance. Any solution?

    Reply
  31. MSRazorbackPhD
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Bank:
      FDIC Insured

    @Kisharai: First time having ACA, and TT never asked about insurance. I got the envelope yesterday!

    Reply
  32. Kisharai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CreditKarma spend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?

    @MSRazorbackPhD: why is that?

    Reply
  33. Ash

    Has anyone’s state taxes updated yet?

    Reply
  34. Doughboy
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-19
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Turbo tax bank
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Transcript:
      Blank
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    My state refund just got accepted, yay🙏🙏

    Reply
  35. kathyarzola
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-8
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Approved:
      Jan-18

    @Brittany Amador: that makes more sense – thank you.

    Reply
    1
  36. MSRazorbackPhD

    Shows rejected

    Reply
  37. Brittany Amador
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      USAA
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @kathyarzola: I believe it’s for tax year 2023 so we wouldn’t actually benefit from the increases until 2024 tax filing season.

    Reply
  38. Kisharai
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CreditKarma spend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?

    @Brianne: I filed on Sunday, then Monday it showed as transmitted and recieved by IRS same day at 11:45 am. So 48 hours will be tomorrow at 11:45. BUT the lady I spoke to this afternoon told me they didn’t get sent until today so my 48 hours would be Thursday around noon. So someone doesn’t know what’s going on with my taxes…

    Reply
  39. kathyarzola
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-8
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Approved:
      Jan-18

    I just saw a report that the standard deductions have been increased for this year, making your refund a bit larger. However, I already did mine with Turbotax and it used the old standard deduction of $19,400 for head of household when the new standard deduction is $20,800. Will the IRS adjust this?

    Reply
  40. Brianne
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Credit Karma
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Cycle:
      Weekly

    @Kisharai: so she told you yours was sent today too? my account has friday & yesterday but the lady said whoever she had look into my account said it was sent today & my 48hrs would be thursday but it shouldnt take 48 hrs to accept. i asked her what do i do when thursday comes & its still not accepted, she said to call them back. but fb tt chat reps will tell you to call irs after 48 hrs. i asked them what is irs gonna do for me when they dont even have it?

    Reply