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.
@Me: 570 means it needs an additional review to finish processing, I think, when we had 791, it was because they were disallowing a credit.
I meant 971 0.00
My processing date on transcript says 2/27. But I have a 570 with 0.00 and 791 with 0.00 and I deff have no 1099 just one w2. I am so confused
@Angell: I’m sorry but no having fees from refund will not give you a 203 tax topic. That is not an offset. Are there any admins, or anyone that can clarify this 203 situation and how to go about confirming if it has infact been offset? There are several people here that are having this tax topic and don’t have any insight on it. Thank you to anyone that can clarify I know it is all confusing and I’m sorry to all those who are going through issues with it.
anyone with golden 1 credit union gotten their direct deposit yet. My dd is 2/23/23 and still no deposit. I called golden 1 and they say they have it pending to my account.
@Ank: i praying cause i call offset amd i dont owe anything amd i just got my state refund. I read online that message , that fees being taken out of federal refund
@Margiee same here! Just using H&R Block emerald card. Then I updated again to two bars with the updated refund amount updated DDD. It’s went from 2/27 to now it should be there by 2/22. It also showed exactly how much they took from me which was a little over 1,000. Which is why I’m hoping it was from my November emerald advance loan? Because I had no offsets/debts either!! Ugh 😣
@Angeel: do you mean the turbo tax fees caused your tax topic 203? That’s not right mabey I misunderstood?
@LurkerForYearss: Im praying that’s right
@Margiee: SBTPG will begin to acknowledge everyone’s account as funded early morning hours one day prior to their DDD stated by IRS. They will then begin to process those fees. After a few (or several) more hours they will update that account to funds paid and remainder sent. Depending on your personal bank and how they disburse payments after that it can go quick on that same afternoon (Eastern Coast) or late night into early morning on the actual DDD.
In my case I have a DDD 2/23. They will show funded morning of 2/22.
Show paid/sent afternoon of 2/22
Arrive evening 2/22-early a.m. 2/23.
This is always my experience with them they are pretty set in their procedures. Also I use chime and yes everything else is deposited way early but that does not apply when going through Santa Barbara. No one should worry that they don’t say funded nothing is wrong they always do it this way. Yes they have received notice from IRS about your refund but they do not fund anything yet and everything is just fine. No worries guys. It will show one day prior to your DDD no need to worry.
@Angeel, ugh! And I’m over here stressed bc I have yet to hear anything about my state other than the general “its processing” msg. Last year I got my state before fed. I just hope they don’t deduct from that too!! I hope you get everything soon! Let’s try to keep one another up to date on the BS lol : )
@Angeel: Yes
@Angeel: maybe this could be way the topic 203 . I dont owe anything. Ive called offset yesterday and today and nothing
If you elected to have the TurboTax fees deducted from your refund by using our Refund Processing Service, the fees are deducted when your refund has been approved and sent out by the IRS. This process is automated and instantaneous once the funds have been released.
@Mom0f3: i have that exacted same message and im having the fees taken out of federal tax refund. I filled with turbo tax.
@Mom0f3: If there is any remaining balance after the debt is collected then yes TT will still be paid. They will first send it to SBTPG for fee payment and then any remaining balance will be sent to you. If it was all taken then no TT will not receive payment and there will still be a debt owed to them for filing. My sister had that happen one year because she was unaware of her husband’s debt and their whole refund was taken. Turbo emailed them saying they had outstanding fees after a couple weeks.
@Sheila_33: will the refund be sent like it says on transcripts 846 2/23?
Gm all hope everyone is having a good day
@GoBlue: I believe that’s an offset that won’t show a code on the transcript until a week or two after the refund is sent.
@Sheila_33: I’ve been good, how bout you? I’ve just been lurking in the shadows from time to time with popcorn, and trying to research my own situation. Anyone knows why wmr mentions tax topic 203 but there is no 203 on transcripts?
@Me: It can, but hopefully for not long.
@MOE: It could be a simple case of just reviewing income and it may drop off. Just gonna be a long week to wait and see unfortunately.
@GoBlue: Hey Blue! Where th you been? Hope you’re well.
@Grateful: this i not true. Is not giving me an amount just the name of who interceptt
@Clos: only had one w2 and that’s it. I’m so confused and will hold up my refund thanks
My wmr says they collected a debt and I should get my refund 2/24 …fes anyone know how accurate that is? And I did thru tt with fees from refund will they still be able to take their fees?
@Clos: no 1099 to turn in