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. Bk123

    @Gapeach30: I am in the same situation. No movement.

    Reply
  2. Gapeach30

    Good morning. No update for me at all last year this time I had my Wmr updated to 2/22. I don’t know what is going on. N/a transcript Wmr saying still being processed. Filed 1/23 accepted few days later. Anyone else got this going on? Any updates with similar situation?

    Reply
  3. Amy19
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-4
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Help needed: Did that message change overnight? If so, you are likely a weekly not daily, you haven’t finished processing yet.

    Reply
  4. 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!

    @Me: zyour looking for 846 with a date snd your refund amount.
    The as if date is a place marker. It’s placed by the system to remind itself to complete the return h that or push it out or whatever is required to get it done.

    Reply
  5. NotWoke

    Woke up to WMR 2 bars with DD of Feb 23.

    Reply
    9
  6. Amy19
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-4
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Me: you are looking for the 846 code. If it is there, the date next to it is your DDD.

    Reply
  7. MrsStingel2016
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-24
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Morning all! Been so busy this year that this is my first check in! How is everyone?

    Reply
  8. Me

    On my transcript what am I looking for. I have a as of date of March 6th?

    Reply
  9. Help needed

    Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available.

    Reply
  10. 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!

    @Guera: They’ll likely be open at least until 2pm tomorrow. However, ACH isn’t transmitting until 11 22:01 EST on Monday night, due to Presidents day. So, unless Pathward has paid the extra bond to electronic transfer outside business hours (and most banks don’t with exception of huge internationals like Deutch snd some federal like Pentegon Fed), it could be Tuesday.

    Reply
  11. Andrea

    @Itsthattimeagaincyn: one bar return received

    Reply
  12. Bk123

    Filed 1/27, accepted next day. PATH message but no topic 152. No transcript only one bar. No changes from last year. Any idea what is going on?

    Reply
  13. sgorham29
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240705
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-4
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-4
    • Tax Refund Offset
    • I Got My Refund!

    Good Morning, Not a pather, just an IS. filed 1/28/2023 accepted same day, just wondering when or if anyone received their refund yet? Code 570, WMR 1 bar, transcript as of date 2/20/2023 and I know that is a holiday. this will be the 4th yr I filed IS, last 3 years they took it anyway and I had to get an advocate to get my money back!! Ok, I guess I am just venting my frustration.

    Reply
  14. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Andrea: what does your wmr say?

    Reply
  15. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Itsthattimeagaincyn: and what does wmr say?

    Reply
  16. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Andrea: yours may update on 2/21

    Reply
  17. 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: eps still say processing for distribution…. funding release date of 2/22….but no clue if eps does anything over weekend or on holiday….. ufff.
    Still nada $$$ on my 🐦

    Reply
  18. 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!

    @Heather8306: No…Just asking to double check. Never give anyone your refund amount etc.

    Reply
  19. Andrea

    @Itsthattimeagaincyn: I filed 2/14 accepted 2/14. Last year I filed 2/16, got deposit on 2/22…

    Reply
  20. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Andrea: when did you file?

    Reply
  21. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @MasonsMoM: the 23rd. They always give you a 5 days after date from when they send it. I got the same message and on the offset line it told me my payment date is for the 23rd. Hope this helps

    Reply
    1
  22. Andrea

    @itsthattimeagaincyn I have access, it says 2022 return not yet processed and when I try to view transcript it says NA for 2022

    Reply
  23. MasonsMoM

    Wmr update last night with refund approved but tax topic 203 no Ddd but does say If your refund is not credited to your account by February 28, 2023, please revisit this site or use our free mobile app, IRS2Go, for your revised refund status. Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day. Any idea when I’ll get paid? The debt is only 700 from another state

    Reply
  24. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Santa: @Santa: what’s your message on wmr?

    Reply
  25. Yayyy

    Transcripts updated with 846 ddd 2/23 yesterday. Today WMR updated to 2 bars. Sbtpg still unfunded. Not expecting it to come until the 22nd maybe even 23rd. Using turbo card

    Reply
    1
  26. Santa

    @Itsthattimeagaincyn: I don’t no nothing about a transcript I’m old school

    Reply
    1
  27. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Rell434: if I can remember correctly off the top if my head, the 810 represents a freeze, error found and the 811 represents it was removed

    Reply
  28. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Quana: maybe could be day before. I’ve always used boa and cap one they process the same day of ddd ugh. This year I’m using my credit union pray it comes faster.

    Reply
  29. Ash

    @Quana: 846 for 2/24

    Reply
    1
  30. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Santa: do you have access to your transcripts?

    Reply
  31. Quana

    @Itsthattimeagaincyn: that really suck. I figured they’ll end then a little early. I’ve always gotten mine the day before ddd too… ugh

    Reply
  32. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Santa: lol probably are sleep. We all been up so early, I don’t blame them.

    Reply
  33. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Quana: in my experience with SBTPG it normally updates the day before the ddd. They hold our deposits up.

    Reply
  34. Santa

    @Itsthattimeagaincyn: ash everyone must went to sleep

    Reply
  35. Itsthattimeagaincyn

    @Quana: oh ok. So you still have time.

    Reply
  36. Quana

    @Itsthattimeagaincyn: I havent… I filed Jan 19th and it was accepted around the 24th for some reason but my federal was accepted the 20th. I’m in NJ. They usually don’t send ours out until the 1st week of March regardless of how early you filed

    Reply
    2
  37. Santa

    I check we’re my refund same shit since Jan 25 this who tax thing is a big dam joke

    Reply
  38. Nannyof3
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Pnc
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Cycle:
      Weekly

    Wmr updated over night with a ddd for 02/23/23!! Good luck everyone!!

    Reply
    3
  39. Quana

    @Ash: wat did it update to???

    Reply
  40. Quana

    Finally the path message is gone and I have my 2 bars. DDD 2/23/23. I have credit karma, got an advance and the fees were takin out of my refund. Any chances that I’ll get it before the 23rd? Also, when does SBTPG update because it’s not showing any info, still says unfunded? I am weekly 05 cycle code

    Reply