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.
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: awesome thanks hun u a life saver seriously life saver
@Chasingcarson_: Yes exactly, it’s just to calm the nerves lol. But, yeah it’s a lot of problems with their card. My sister literally was just telling me how she had to call them because they locked her card after she tried to use it twice at the ATM, they refused and they have to send her another card. So now she has to wait 7 to 10 days before she can even get her money off
@LLHARRI: thank you,I needed to see that
H&R Block charged me for a refund transfer fee and I paid up front. Scammers!! Beware if those companies.
@Tigerlili_1: my refund went through eps it says received Wednesday and sent to my bank i still don’t have it and i use Chime (stride bank) when will I get it ? Thank you
@Britt / B: yeah I don’t like the card either. High fee to withdrawal and it always gave me problems at ATMs. It might be something new they are doing this year idk. I wish they told us how they are doing it to ease the worry.
@Fromwv: That’s the generic message they have to tell you. It’s posted on their website as well. They won’t tell you anything unless you didn’t receive your refund on the date and it’s been 5 days after.
@Guera: My son used them last year, and they had in his account the next morning. It actually posted to him about 3 hours before ur updated on the site, he said…”if he’s recalling correctly.”
@CaseyR15: Last gear I use the serve card and I got it around 8:30pm on the same day that my DDD was on my transcript. But Republic didn’t even update until about 4:00 or 5:00 in the afternoon for me last year
@BigE123: I was told my by h&r tax pro that we won’t see refunds till day of and up to 5 days after if we used the refund transfer option
Anybody else still have n/a on their transcript? Will we up date tonight I’m a weekly?
@Chasingcarson_: Yeah, I definitely get it, because it’s their card they have to make sure that they make that the priority. I used Serve last year and got it on the same day I got my DDD, but I don’t like their card so I elected not to do that this year
@FrazierGurl: Because they’ve not processed on their end.
When they do, the negative amount will then be positive, and the disbursment info at the bottom will be filled in.
Filed 1/17/23. Pather (both ACTC and EIC). Transcript had no 846 until this morning when it changed to 846 of 2/23/23. Filed with H&R, emerald advance and fees taken out. Anyone with H&R Block got anything yet?
@Emily: will turbo tax send out refund today
@Tigerlili_1: do you know how long they keep it in processing for distribution by any chance hun
@Tigerlili_1: Okay great 😊 Thank you so sooo much. This is my first year with them. I was so confused 😐 I really appreciate you.