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.
@Sandy: you probably don’t have EITC or ACTC so not held up by PATH
@Justcurious: Sadly, they will take your refund to cover whatever past balance you have, even if you are on a payment plan. 😞
@Justcurious They will take your refund to clear out past due amount.
@Justcurious: they will most likely take it even if on a payment plan.
@Sandy: then you must not have gotten the EIC or the ACTC. You’re not automatically on path if you have dependents. You can get the CTC and not be on the path.
I am trying to file, however, the review page on TT (right before the finish and file) isnt loading. is anyone else experiencing this?
Good morning. I know so many people on here are so knowledgeable. I have a question. I owe past taxes but I am in the payment plan with the IRS. Will I receive a refund from them this year or will they take my refund to pay off the payment plan
Long time no hear ya’ll <3
@BBkansas24: if it’s the standard ctc and not the actc, it is not under the path hold. Therefore, the refund can be released after the return processes.
I was accepted on 1/23 I’m path and know I need to wait until mid February. I was able to see my transcript and I have a code 846 for the refund amount and date of 1-30-2023. I’m confused. Anyone else?
Good morning, here we are again, Hopefully with better knowledge than the year before. 2 years ago I had no idea how to read transcripts and now last year I learned how. I just wanted to thank this forum for that.
My question today is with Child Tax credit, what is the time frame they are releasing taxes/. Isn’t it in February or March?? I cannot remember what it’s supposed to be. I also made too much for Earned Income Tax Credit…. and I only have 1 child so I wanted to pay attention to when that is happening.
@Chyann09: Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes is what PATH is supposed to mean (I personally think its a bunch of BS). Supposedly, it helps keep down fraud ( you know like in the 80s and 90s when people claimed their Uncle’s Cousin’s kid for the tax credits…anyway, if you receive either EIC or ACTC you WILL not receive your refund before February 15th at 12:01 am. That may or may not be 21 days depending on when you file.
@Taxhblkgirl: no the limit for EIC is about 49,000 with 3 dependents I believe . Even lower with less dependents
Hi, if you make over 50,000 and are head of household will you not recieve EIC this tax season?
I am a weekly or always have been. I was accepted in a test batch. My transcripts still shows nothing. Will it be Friday that they update and if so should it update Saturday for a deposit of next Wednesday.
What doe the path message mean? Does that mean I won’t get my refund early but after the 21 days?
@TDW: Presidents Day fell on a Monday that week, so it might have shifted your direct deposit date over to that Thursday if you were a weekly. It’s still possible you were a daily, since some dailies update on Wmr on Saturdays, but its hard to say.
This link explains how you can kind of nail down whether you’re a weekly or daily. But, it’s always possible to change from one to the other.
https://igotmyrefund.com/daily-weekly/
I use Greendot and last year I got my DD on Feb 18(Friday) while still at one bar on WMR, it updated next day to DDD of Feb 24, which means I got it 6 days early. I got accepted on the 17th this year and still at one bar, hope my deposit hits in the first batch on the 27th, tho still at one bar as of today. No path. Since the 24th of last year was a Thursday, does that make me a daily?
@ChristinainDetroit: You’ll get a Credit Karma card!