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.
@Skywatcher23: where do u see that at I went through TT & chime updated to 846 today with date 3/9
Turbo tax sent me my federal today I did 5 days early let’s go!!
Turbo tax shows they received my refund today I had fees taken out haven’t gotten in my Chime yet, but seems to me they sent it. Let you know if I get it.
My advance repayment was paid today… how long til I get the rest? Im using SBTPG
@RaiderBoss:Did u get your 846 this morning??
@Andrea123: same here my dd is not untill 3/9
Anyone else still having issues with getting into transcripts?
@Andrea123: Yes mine is exactly the same way Jackson Hewitt also
Mine sbtgtp took my loan fees but not tax fees for Jackson Hewitt it still says unfunded but says the loan was paid today huh. Just a little confused
@HeyyKayy: Congratulations, I use wells fargo, live in Texas and nothing yet, where are you located?
@Nate: Yep, I verified with the control number online. It was a random forum I came across…everyone was like “DO NOT VERIFY ONLINE!” and seemed pretty enthusiastic about it lol
@ASDMamaBear: awesome! I had the same 2 advances so now I know it’s coming. Fingers crossed mine comes today as well.
@Nate: Yep, I verified with the control number online. It was a subreddit I came across…everyone was like “DO NOT VERIFY ONLINE!” and seemed pretty enthusiastic about it lol
@ASDMamaBearnotloggedin: you are lucky. Mine hasn’t yet
@ErisedMai: it’s been a few years since I’ve had fees and gone through them, but I’ve never had them deposit more than one day early for me either. With our DDD’s falling on a Monday, and the fact that they don’t release funds on the weekend – do you think it’s possible they would consider Friday to be one ‘business day’ early, and release the funds then? Or are we more than likely stuck waiting until our actual DDD on Monday?
Good afternoon folks
Us weekly folks will process tomorrow and by tomorrow night into Friday we should get out code for refund.wishing everyone nthe absolute best and may everyone stay blessed
SBTPG has begun taking fees from my return My portion is not funded yet
@HeyyKayy: Did you use turbo tax 5 days early option? I did and I just updated on their app refunded 2/18
Refund has come 5 days early but nothing at bank yet
@Silentwatcher26: Jackson Hewitt. Took 2 advances out and chose DD with their serve card.
Is it normal to have only the 766 code on my transcript but no 768?
@ASDMamaBearnotloggedin: hi, who did you file with?
Well, i just checked SBTPG and i see my advances have been paid.. haha i feel hope!!! woot woot
My chime refund jus hit rite now. Good luck everyone
@ErisedMai: I have never seen them deposit sooner than a day early. Last year mine came on the day wmr stated.
I meant 2025
Any dd hit with Venmo yet?
Path Act, Refund issue date of 3/9 846 updated last night, refund was just depositttedddddddd!!! congrats everyone its coming
Anybody’s deposit hit without wmr or transcript updating to 846? Was accepted 1/20 got a processing date of 2/16 on Transcripts, codes 150, 806, 766 and 768. 2024vand 2026 I had issues with my refunds so got late in the year but previous years my refunds hit the day after path was lifted and without wmr updating. I’m starting to panic
@HeyyKayy: 🥳🥳🥳🤑 Congratulations! See ya next year.
@mc559672: I verified online and I received my DD about 8-10 days later.
@ASDMamaBear: I have *never* known sbtpg to deposit more than one day early.
@Sheila_33: Sheila please get back in touch and ask Walterdog too and other weekly that’s on path like us I posted it but no one responded because everyone worried about there funds arriving thanks
@GAgal: yes me I can’t even see if I have a 846 or not smh
@GAgal: Yes, says Service Outage February 19th for me.
Daily. Pather. Fees taken from refund. 5 days early option. Processing date of 2/23/23. Funds just hit my Wells Fargo acct!!
Good luck to everyone and just be patient it’s coming. I will say on my bank statement it says “Instant payment from Intuit payments inc”
Okay so I’m gonna ask lol… sbtpg will or will not deposit today for the ones who got an 846 this morning?
Has anyone else been getting errors today when trying to check transcripts?
Tax turbo says refund 2/18 just changed but have not received ti my bank account
@ErisedMai: gotcha, that makes it make sense a lot more lol. Thank you 😊
@Tax time is not for the weak.: I’m not sure but as soon as I can look, I’ll check. I’ve seen that happen before but I can’t remember the reason.
@Tykillaa28: I’m a pather as well and a weekly so I know I don’t have any kind of payment coming within the next two hours. The blinking has always been there for me with my direct deposit. And I know my normal deposit isn’t coming anytime soon because I don’t get paid again for another 10 days. So honestly I can’t say what the blinking light is for. Just maybe something they meant to act as a notification that money is coming but isn’t really fleshed out to work right yet?
@Honeybee82: It notifies them, but a lot of traditional banks wait until they actually receive the funds to release the deposit. Sbtpg seems to do the same.
@Faith: Are u 0505 weekly?
@Honeybee82: right. Last year I received the same day with republican.
1st bar
Doesn’t show up with bank but was recieved
@ErisedMai: so the IRS issuing a 846 doesn’t automatically notify them, the same way the 846 automatically releases the funds to the normal banks?
Tax refund just hit daily pay card and a lather. Happy refunds yall
@Tykillaa28: I can’t figure out the green light, because we get my husband’s paycheck in chime and the green light is *always* blinking lol