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. Ank

    @John: it changed a day because of the holiday on Monday.

    Reply
  2. John

    Hey I thought if wmr updated on Saturday you got a Wednesday ddd

    Reply
  3. Morris

    @Ank: This isn’t true because a lot of people DDD were 2-23 and they got their refunds yesterday and Thursday night. Strange some people got theirs early and the rest have to wait till the actual date.

    Reply
    3
  4. Allisxn

    @Ank: that’s been my experience for mannnyyyyyy years as well but i noticed it on their website earlier and thought I’d ask anyway!

    Reply
    1
  5. 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!

    @Morris: Yes, a couple of banks including Bancorp.
    It was a system error.

    Reply
  6. 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: Chime can only deposit what they see coming in, so if EPS has pended sending it until the 22nd, Chime won’t see it until it’s actually transmitted. Let’s hope the pending is just what the system shows because it’s the settlement date. I’d look for it in Chime on the 21st.
    I’m guessing they sent it out Friday, with a settlement date of the 22nd. Chime will see it late Monday night when ACH re-opens or Tuesday and post it.

    Reply
    1
  7. MOE

    Transcripts up date today and tomorrow Sunday

    Reply
  8. Morris

    @waiting guy: I read somewhere on here that some banks were returning refunds because it said they were unpostable don’t know why that happened. This could be what happened to yours. Call your bank to make sure.

    Reply
  9. Carmen

    @Patientlywaiting1987: mines the same

    Reply
  10. Ank

    @Allisxn: No there is no chance that they will release your refund more than one day early regardless of the holiday. They will not even acknowledge anything until one day before your direct deposit date. If yours is 2/22 you will start to see funded there on 2/21 and may or may not receive your deposit late afternoon or evening on the 21st if you use a no holds bank for your deposit. In my case my DDD is for 2/23. SBTPG will acknowledge and show funded on the morning of 2/22 and later in the day they will update it to fees paid and funds sent to me. I’ll either get it after 5pm est or early A.M. on the 2/23 as scheduled. This is their normal process and it never varies regardless of what some people will say to the contrary. I use them every single year. I know that is not what people want to hear but that is how it will play out.

    Reply
    6
  11. TwoSetsofTwins

    @waiting guy: I got the same message. I checked my DD information and it’s correct. My name on my account matches my name on my return exactly. Did u use TurboTax? Chime?

    Reply
  12. Angeel

    @Charles Cook: I have the same message 2 orange bars refund approved for direct deposit but with no date .

    Reply
  13. Patientlywaiting1987

    Please tell me I’m not alone. No updates blank transcript just as of 02-20-2023

    Reply
  14. Heather8306

    @Tigerlili_1: when i try to log in on eps page it tells me no info when I call the phone number it says they received my funds Wednesday and sent to chime and when I talked to a human he says that it was sent but says pending for the 22nd but chine deposits early I thought I’m so confused

    Reply
  15. waiting guy

    I am having the message that my refund was approved but it says and we will mail the payment on February 27th, i don’t know why im receiving this message if i choose direct deposit as always.

    Reply
  16. FLgrly84

    @Andrea D: ok I just re-did it, after I put my ss number of gives me option 1 to see if there is an offset (which tells me no) but it gives me option 2 which is a payment made on an offset, then it tells me the amount but does not say for who and tells me to call the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

    The only thing I dont understand is why mine never showed on wmr or transcripts.

    Reply
  17. Andrea D

    @FLgrly84: I had an offset but for my state and it was paid already with my state and got the remaining deposited

    Reply
  18. FLgrly84

    @Andrea D: it tells me to call the number as well. That’s how I know I had an offset. Option 1 tells me no offset. The only reason I know the amount is due to my pending DD in my bank. Transcripts did not show and offset and the wmr did not show it either

    Reply
  19. Heather8306

    @Guera: call 888-782-0860 and see what the automated system tells you

    Reply
  20. Angeel

    I got this message today on wmr 2 orange bars approved Your tax refund has been approved for direct deposit. However it may be partially or completely reduced to pay a past due obligation such as child support, another federal agency debt or state income tax . The application will update with the refund amount remaining. If not credit to account by February 28 check back . My transcripts updated yesterday with 846 2/23 with my amount -6069 . on wmr on the left side says 12/31/2022 then on the amount my amount is the same as 846. I had an offset for state but it was taken out of my state refund yesterday and deposited me the difference. Will i not get my refund on 2/23 now because of this i have approved no date on wmr with orange bars

    Reply
  21. Allisxn

    If Monday is a holiday but SBTPG’s website doesn’t list it as as holiday they’ll be closed, could we see movement from them on Monday?

    Reply
  22. Angeel

    Does wmr update only on saturday mornings or it can on sunday

    Reply
  23. Me

    @Clos: I deff don’t have a 1099 so I’m confused

    Reply
  24. TZinTucky

    @Amy19: thank you

    Reply
  25. Andrea D

    @FLgrly84: I press 7 for English then 1 for offset then i put my ssi and i have nothing , the option 2 is for tax refund information but it tells me to call a number for status

    Reply
    1
  26. 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!

    @TZinTucky: You have not processed yet. If you are a daily it can happen any day, if you are weekly, nothing will move on your transcript until Friday. It seems many are waiting on updates too. They are either NA or only partially filled out.

    Reply
    2
  27. 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: Monday is a federal holiday, President’s Day.

    Reply
  28. Clos

    @Me: 971 means they are possible adjusting something on the transcript in my case last year they deducted money for a missing 1099. It’s a correction code

    Reply
    1
  29. Andrea D

    @FLgrly84: what did your WMR Say?

    Reply
  30. Tori

    @Mommabear2340: In my experience with them, the earliest usually, has been the day before the DDD…..and I’ve done my bank AND the emerald card….

    Reply
  31. Megan

    Has anyone received any deposits today?

    Reply
  32. FLgrly84

    @Andrea D: we didn’t have the offset code on our transcripts and the wmr did not say anything about offset and had correct amount but they did take a $40 payment. We have no clue what for.

    Reply
  33. Ank

    @Needmyrefundnow: I agree with your statement. Once an adjustment has been made to a refund the system will no longer reflect the debt. Unless they called before that update
    happened and already knew prior to they can not tell by calling afterwards. Also they can update and show a non tax debt any time just depends on who is owed what and when they notify the IRS to hold. It can happen literally any day.

    Reply
  34. FLgrly84

    @Andrea D: yes that’s the number and then chose option 2 for debt paid

    Reply
  35. Steve in Florida

    @sleeplessnightstill2ndbar: I got that same text message I think we will receive deposit from hr block early now

    Reply
  36. Me

    @Gators352: can I call irs Mon and see what I need to do even though I haven’t got the letter yet.

    Reply
  37. spring

    @Tigerlili_1: Could you help me no one is answering have 570 code on my transcript it says 150 with $703.00 not 0.00 it’s has been processed but no 846 yet. I was told that it means an adjustment. And no letter coming HELP

    Reply
  38. Me

    @Me: do you know if I can call IRS Monday and find out what I need to do before I get the letter

    Reply
  39. Needmyrefundnow

    @Ken: did you check past payments or history on offset line? Because if you get a WMR update saying you had an offset, then the offset has already been paid now and will not come up when you call unless you choose the option for past debt payments or something to that effect.

    Reply
    1