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.
@MSRazorbackPhD: I only owed 501 but I’m confused because at the bottom the amount above maybe be reduced to pay a irs tax debt
@Sheila_33: on wmr it says that 501 has been taken for debt then it has mr direct deposit date etc under that then under the date my money will be deposited says the amount above may be reduced for a irs tax debt so will they take more?
@Steve: If your debt was over what state covered…seems like the difference was taken from federal. It sucks!
@Steve: If the debt has already been taken, then hopefully it wasn’t taken from the refund you’re expecting. If it has, you’ll most likely need to report it to get that amount back.
@Vannyy: The offset line has IRS debts and non IRS debts. You have to choose the non IRS option to go deeper into your account.
@Vannyy: What is the account balance? Is it 0 at the top of the codes?
@L_i’am: What’s your question hun?
Is 846 amount supposed to be with a negative amount or without. Mine has 2/23 no negative with the amount
@Monica M Rivera: on wmr
@Monica M Rivera: my says refund amount the regular amount 846 has
@Tigerlili_1: yes
@Steve: on where? My wmr has topic 203 no amount. Its has my original amount of my refund on the bottom left . Transcripts say 846 2/23 with that original amount
@Vannyy: yes it was under the tax year
Anyone have the top two transcripts N/A and bottom two show 2022 but they are blank saying no return filed?
@Vannyy: yeah but it has at the topic how much was taken for the state tax debt they took it out my federal.
@Steve: on wmr do you have the two bars approved. Then under refund approved for direct deposit, then where it has your last ssi and date date year bottom left does it have your full refund amount of what you have on 846 2/23 . How about topic 23. If not received by February 28 come back for updates. I have an offset with state they took Thursday and gave me my rest on friday . I call offset and no offset or debt for that information. The offset reportes what kind of debt anyone know??
@Monica M Rivera: where did it say the amount?? Was it under the tax year bottom left?
@Monica M Rivera: does the bottom of your wmr say “ the refund amount above may also be reduced for irs tax debt”
@Vannyy: had the exact same message.. but wmr update with the amount they took.. and the remaining refund total… Ddd for Feb 22nd… Hopefully tomorrow or on the actual day…. Freaking President day…
@Sheila_33: they already took our 500 for state so I’m confused
@Sheila_33: mines says the same but at the bottom it says it may be taken for past due irs debts? I don’t owe them
@L_i’am: Trustmark Bank..NASDAQHS; TRMK
RT 065300279
Them?
I think the systems knows once you filed the social security number it triggers something that says process later. They process in groups that’s why they say 21 days average. I start counting 21 days from when path lifts and it’s right on the mark when I get my money. I’ve seen people with path have the issue and people with no path have same issue.
Return Received
Refund Approved
Your tax refund has been approved for direct deposit.
December 31, 2022
Your Refund Amount:*,***.**. My original refund amount didn’t change
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. If so, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS), who issues IRS refunds, will send you a notice with the amount of the debt and contact information. The details of the debt are not provided to the IRS. This application will be updated with the refund amount remaining, if any, after the debt is deducted.
If vour 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.
Please read the following information related to your tax situation:
• Tax Topic 203, Refund Offsets
@Offset owed: The amount has been taken from the refund and the balance will dd on the 846 date.
@Amy S.: it says approved. Approved for direct deposit . However your refund has been partially or all taken . If you do not see credited to your account by February 28 please revisit for updates. I call offset and it says i have none. Last week I called to check cause i know i owed state and it told me but Thursday my state refund was approved and the took the balance i owed and gave me the rest dd on Friday.
@TeeDee44: I’m so sorry to hear that, changing your name will for sure delay you for the following year. Have your transcripts updated yet?
@TeeDee44: Same. I went through the same thing the last few years. Filed early…processed late. I even went back and looked at the deposits and they were all Feb 20th and after. Next year Im filing at normal time just to trick the system!
@Clos: If you filed on the 2/1 and still have no update they could be looking at something and resequenced you. I was resequenced alot last year and just found out why this year by looking at my 2020 tax return. They owe me 2000 dollars from 2020 and they found the error last year and I moved back to Texas so the check was sent back. So they mailed the check out last Week, so most of the time time they are just verifying something. If you are a weekly look out for this Saturday.
@basketcasemomma: not mine . I have topic 203
@Tigerlili_1 Do you know anything about TrustMark bank?
I’ve decided next year I am changing my name. I have been doing my taxes the same for 9 years. Last year, due to the stress of always being resequenced, I tried a different tax service. Still the same issue. Also resequenced this year. So I’ve decided it’s ME. They see my name, have a big laugh and say “how can we mess with her this year? ” so name change it is.
@LEO: I think you should update this week in Sat IF and that’s only IF your return was filed correctly and IF there were no offsets you should see something this Friday if you are a weekly
@Tigerlili_1: I’m happy to see u here this year! Amazing with banking details! So I have fees being deducted and I have chime. U think I should see is 2/22? Instead of 2/23?
@Offset owed: you should still receive on 2/23 minus offset.
@Tigerlili_1: Thank you! I have chime. So, I hoping I get it on 22nd.
@Tigerlili_1: Yeah, I figured.
@basketcasemomma: They will update on the 22nd. If your bank does early deposit you should still see it the 22nd, if nit, then the 23rd.
@Vannyy: It doesn’t show a date for DDD under the WMR two bars? Mine is the same as yours with transcripts, but it shows this under the two orange bars on the WMR: Your tax refund is scheduled to be sent to your bank by February 23, 2023.