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
49,356 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. Pseudoku

    No bars since day 2 of acceptance, it’s been 18 days. Frustrated and worried

    Reply
    1
  2. Ank

    @FrazierGurl: Is your a ddd of 2/23?

    Reply
  3. bleuinboston

    Guys Ill save u the trouble.. do not freak out about the “Fast Cash Advance interest repayment” on the SBTPG websitw. I completely lost it seeing it under my TPG fees but it turns out it is just a case of mislabeling. The fee is the sum of what you paid TT in federal and state. TT calls it “processing fee” SBTPG calls it “fast cash etc”. Hope it saves someone from the stress i just went through lol

    Reply
    3
  4. Guera
    • Tax Preparer:
      Jackson Hewitt
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-18
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Blue 🐦(sent wrong account now check being mailed)
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-15
    • WMR Date:
      Mar-3
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      846 on 16th 12:16am DDD 2/22/2023
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @FrazierGurl:.. I’ve been waiting all day it belng pending in distribution so hopefully in am for both hun

    Reply
    1
  5. FrazierGurl
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-17
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-13
    • I Got My Refund!

    EPS just updated as funded. No disbursement details yet though🤞

    Reply
    2
  6. Guera
    • Tax Preparer:
      Jackson Hewitt
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-18
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Blue 🐦(sent wrong account now check being mailed)
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-15
    • WMR Date:
      Mar-3
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      846 on 16th 12:16am DDD 2/22/2023
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @MamaTrilogy: we all put unimportant things n material things on pedestal… with him almost dying in 2021 then me in 2022….we realized material things don’t matter at all n money 🤑💰 u cant take with you… so if u are able to celebrate something special do it no matter what of course if i have the means to.

    Reply
    6
  7. VERYBERRYBLUBERRY

    @Jennifer: did you have fees taken out with H&R BLOCK

    Reply
  8. Guera
    • Tax Preparer:
      Jackson Hewitt
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-18
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Blue 🐦(sent wrong account now check being mailed)
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-15
    • WMR Date:
      Mar-3
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      846 on 16th 12:16am DDD 2/22/2023
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @MamaTrilogy: not been easy at all but it has made us stronger. Live in hotel is almost 500 a week with how construction is can’t do it so we can be together daily. Hince I’m going crazy cause my $$ not on my card yet it pending from fees being pd. He doesn’t know it’s been approved or that we even getting anything back this year…. wanna surprise him its been a VERY RUFF last 2 years with work, COVID n both are health…his type 1 diabetes diagnosis at 31 n my lupus n fibermalagya n heart issues sooo have learned what is truly important

    Reply
    2
  9. Jennifer

    @Ank: Central time. Illinois. WMR changed this morning with a DDD. Was a pather . Refund was deposited yesterday at 12:36pm. H&R Block.

    Reply
    3
  10. The queen of bee

    @PleaseHelp: u have the 424 pulled for further examination code ???

    Reply
  11. MamaTrilogy

    @Guera: you two are very disciplined!
    Much respect and hopefully things will get back to normal soon.

    Reply
    2
  12. MamaTrilogy

    @PleaseHelp: that’s weird my amount next to code 846 is equal to what I was expecting. Something is not right

    Reply
  13. Guera
    • Tax Preparer:
      Jackson Hewitt
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-18
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Blue 🐦(sent wrong account now check being mailed)
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-15
    • WMR Date:
      Mar-3
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      846 on 16th 12:16am DDD 2/22/2023
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @MamaTrilogy: we have no vehicle n mu hubby for work stay one side of town n me at are daughters the other side of town which is 30min away only get see each other Saturday 6-7pm until 2 o 3pm Sunday that’s it since December 12th. Sooo def need a veh n are own place

    Reply
    3
  14. Vannyy

    @Gators352: i got my 846 ddd 2/23 waiting for money to be deposited

    Reply
    1
  15. Jennifer

    @MamaTrilogy: It’s usually strictly business for me…not this year. I’m just buying crap I do not need at all , Lol. Kidding of coarse. Strictly business still 😊

    Reply
    2
  16. Guera
    • Tax Preparer:
      Jackson Hewitt
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-18
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Blue 🐦(sent wrong account now check being mailed)
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-15
    • WMR Date:
      Mar-3
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      846 on 16th 12:16am DDD 2/22/2023
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @MamaTrilogy: vehicle, place to live n last year be able take grandbabies on a day trip to see the mouse it thier bday gift for the last year n this year.

    Reply
    1
  17. PleaseHelp

    846 code Is less than refund amount. No offset ( do have examination code) all the numbers with minus signs equal the amount I’m supposed to get. The amount next to 846 is way lower.

    Reply
  18. Lil lady

    I have 2/23 DDD on transcript/ filed with FreetaxUsa/No Fees/Just got my DD on my chime card this morning

    Reply
  19. Kikachu not logged in

    @Ank: I’m actually not sure of that, he hasn’t actually created and online acct with the IRS, so all he has to do off of is wmr

    Reply
  20. Dd

    Will republic bank update overnight or is everything done until next week?

    Reply
  21. MamaTrilogy

    Anyone planning to do something different with their tax return this year? (Save or invest?) I know we all are in dire times and probably backed up on bills but this year I want to try and save a significant amount of my refund and live check to check until my bigger break comes. I’ve wasted wicked amounts of money on frivolous things. This year will be strictly business

    Reply
    1
  22. radshackgirl77 (aka: Erika K)
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-10
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-10
    • Transcript:
      No Access
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Kikachu not logged in: it’s so insane. And makes no sense. But thank you for responding

    Reply
  23. Ank

    @Kikachu not logged in: mine never shows the 3rd until after I already have my refund but I always get the second bar and a ddd on a Saturday morning I’m hoping for one tomorrow. Used to just go from one to two but ever since path I’ll lose bars completely and then panic til it comes back with two. 😅 Does your child’s dad have a ddd of 2/22 or 2/23?

    Reply
  24. Kikachu not logged in

    @radshackgirl77 (aka: Erika K): I believe 05 can be weekly or daily, but more than likely weekly from what I’ve seen. And I totally understand that feeling especially when you need your money! Sometimes things can be so damn random and delayed with the IRS, with absolutely no rhyme or reason 🤦🏽‍♀️ I feel like everything went downhill once path was introduced. Like it literally hasn’t stopped anything it was put in place to stop

    Reply
    2
  25. Kikachu not logged in

    @Ank: my experience with WMR is that’s it’s been lacking for now the 3rd year in a row. The past 2 years, AFTER I received my DD I still had either one or 2 bars. This year, I’ve already received my ddd and I still have the path message. So for me, it’s been pretty inconsistent. However, I checked for my daughters dad and his says it’s been approved. So idk if it’s been different for everyone

    Reply
  26. radshackgirl77 (aka: Erika K)
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-10
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-10
    • Transcript:
      No Access
    • I Got My Refund!

    What makes someone a weekly? Is it random? In 25 years I’ve never had to i.d. verify and I’ve never been audited. My transcripts for the past few years except 2019 had me as 05 cycle code. I never even realized I wa weekly since I never looked at transcripts before. My transcripts are still blank and the thought of waiting till next Friday for an update is sickening. I’ve always had my refund right after path lifted.

    Reply
    2
  27. Ank

    @Kyra: had you already checked it earlier today by chance or was this your first time checking today?

    Reply
  28. Nene

    @Itsthattimeagaincyn: after i enter my SSN it says no debts or offsets found… it doesn’t give me the option to press 2… soo maybe i’m i the clear

    Reply
  29. Guera
    • Tax Preparer:
      Jackson Hewitt
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-18
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Blue 🐦(sent wrong account now check being mailed)
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-15
    • WMR Date:
      Mar-3
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      846 on 16th 12:16am DDD 2/22/2023
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Tigerlili_1: just wanna make sure so until 8pm California time sooo 11pm Florida time right??
    Been very very long day grandkids screaming all day today soooo yes lil clarification please… 😆 Lol 😂

    Reply
  30. Tia008

    @Gators352: Hey I did…anything listed 2022 is all zero’s. Should I be worried?

    Reply
  31. Heather8306

    @Tigerlili_1: i even spoke with supervisor at chime and he says tcn# does them no good they can’t use it 😢

    Reply
  32. Kyra
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-5
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Navy Fed
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-5
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-14
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-15
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250801
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • I Got My Refund!

    Welp my WMR finally updated this evening to 2 bars saying that my refund will be sent to my bank by 2/22/2023. Since the amount is pending and the deposit date is set, my credit union said that the earliest I can get my money is the day before but this WMR update on a Friday evening is just funny to me lol but as long as the ball is rolling on it

    Reply
    1
  33. Bren (not logged in)

    @Pi$$edOffPapa: they don’t release funds until the day before ddd

    Reply
  34. Pi$$edOffPapa

    I swear i will no longer use TurboTax and I’m filing a complaint with the irs and the bbb. there are so many things that they are telling me that i know to be false and misleading and the information that they are providing me without any real pressure from me like the fact that their website now states that i should have already received my refund and that my account status is payment complete which if that’s the case i would have my refund. Why would they allow me to print a receipt today that says I’ve paid my fees when they were supposed to come from my return. that would mean they received their fees and therefore I should have a pending deposit at my bank which i don’t. that payment status only just changed within the past 48 hrs and i never remember anything in the fine print that i was also required to pay a separate undetermined amount to someone else to process my refund i thought that’s why i paid them and it wasn’t till after the fact that i figured out that i could of done it for free on the irs website and had my refund days ago. this is ridiculous how these companies take advantage of people maybe the irs should investigate these tax services a little more often and stop the waste fraud and abuse and they shouldn’t be able to just respond to a question by saying oh you have to take that up with the irs or sbtg. I’m really starting to wonder what the hell they actually do besides create a confusing and useless application and website that gives out false information and when I call them out in it they act as if im not intelligent enough to understand simple English. I tip toe not to make a mistake that can throw me in jail, and they just cover there misleading and probably illegal behavior by talking to me as if I’m not intelligent enough to read. the lady on the phone literally told me that the self-populated account details on my account were worded wrong even though all the fees were correct the refund amount was correct. i cant be the only one that’s noticed this yet how have they not figured that out by now and changed it and isn’t that convenient. i know ill get the money but i paid you over 200 dollars to do basically nothing cus when questioned im directed to irs or sbtg so therefore if they cant answer anything then i paid them for nothing thankfully i didn’t pay for that maxxed shit although i would love to hear what they would of said

    Reply
    3
  35. Ank

    I have always been weekly. Within what time frames (eastern time here) should I check WMR overnight tonight to see if I have processed today since I can not access transcripts? Can y’all tell me your experience in what times others have seen changes on WMR and what time zone were they in for reference please? Thank you!

    Reply
  36. Tigerlili_1
    • Tax Preparer:
      Jackson Hewitt
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-25
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      PenFed
    • Bars:
      3rd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-25
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-22
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-26
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-26
    • Identity Theft
    • I Got My Refund!

    @TwoSetsofTwins: That’s so true!

    Reply
  37. Gators352

    @Tia008: try to get into your account

    Reply
  38. AC
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-3
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      TFI
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-3
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-17
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-22
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20230603
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-27
    • I Got My Refund!

    @fitT71: same

    Reply
  39. TwoSetsofTwins

    @Tigerlili_1: yes crazy! I even logged in my TT account to double check the account numbers from last year to this year, and they matched! It’s weird, but a paper check is better than an audit:)

    Reply
    2
  40. Mysterious Money

    @Nene: hey just quick advice you may not need to keep paying that overpayment so listen you may need to call and ask them do you need to do id verify because that could be a reason why you have overpayment because it not federal will take it just like state did

    Reply