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.
@SickoftheIrs (not signed in): I dont have a letter tho, it hasnt arrived in the mail. Can i verify without the letter?
@Vanny: Hello, not sure if someone hs already answered but the 203 topic is for the reduced refund amount should be reflected on your transcripts even if the original amount is shown in WMR. It was supposed to show the reduced amount as well. Hope this helped.
@basketcasemomma: thank you for your service as a military wifey and mother. And thank your husband for his service and his heroism.
@Stillwaitinginfairburnga: Everyone is correct. Most likely Wednesday morning :)
@Cendi: Hello, the wait times are so much lower this year. I got through in 3 minutes this year to verify a letter. Please follow these steps to get through quickly. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 during their support hours
of 7 AM to 7 PM local time Monday to Friday.
Select your language, pressing 1 for English or 2 for Spanish.
Press 2 for questions about your personal income taxes.
Press 1 for questions about a form already filed or a payment.
Press 3 for all other questions.
Press 2 for all other questions.
Make no entry when queried for the SSN.
Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
Press 4 for all other questions.
@Stillwaitinginfairburnga: probably not… most likely Wednesday
@Stillwaitinginfairburnga: No because of the holiday. Someone said they’d update on the 22nd and if you had a bank that deposited early, you may get it on 2/22. But if not, it will be 2/23
Week 3 of waiting for the IDV letter from the IRS.. transcripts are blank no code posted that a notice has been mailed. I’m going to try and call tomorrow and verify without the letter, anyone have any luck doing that? Thanks.
@Sheila_33: Do sbtpg deposit funds today for ddd of 2/23
@IHATETAXTIME: She said it’d update on 2/22 and it depends on your bank if they deposit early. I have chime as well, so I’m wondering the same.
@Molly mar: How do I verify and how long did it take
@Lord Burlyson: Yeah…in the fine print last year…says doesn’t apply to tax refunds!
@Sheila_33: i had an offset for state tax i called last Tuesday and i had a balance of $253 on Thursday they took out of state refund and deposited on friday to my bank . Could it be that too my topic 203 for my refund amount at the bottom left says refund amount my original 846 amount
@Tbear: u have to do id verify I just went through that process
@Vannyy: all weekend
@Louisianalady: ive been calling all Wednesday and it says i have none
@Louisianalady: kk thanks for the info
@Sheila_33: kk thanks alot Sheila
@Tigerlili_1: thank goodness bc lord I need it thank you!
@Tbear: is your amount still on the side? And do you still have bars??
@Steve: A previous transcripts will have a balance owed at the top of the account codes if it’s a federal debt. And the “as of” date would have a 2023 date. But, if the debt was taken from the state debt, then it’s possible the Wmr is just reflecting a state debt owed before it had a chance to reflect it paid. If all you owe is that debt, then hopefully the whole amount was sent.
@Steve: I called the offset number it states no debt found but i press one again and then it gave me the debt
I updated this morning, and it says.. We are still processing your tax return a refund date will be provided when available. Tax topic disappeared.
@Vannyy: I called that offset number and at first it said I had no debt and I pressed one again and then it gave me that offset from unemployment
@Louisianalady: where did u find that information at???
@Tbear: my wmr updated to that also on Friday. I’m so upset 😭
@Sheila_33: it was paid Friday and how would I know if it was debt on the transcript ?
@Louisianalady: how did you find out ?
I updated this morning, and it says.. We are still processing your tax return a refund date will be provided when available. Tax topic disappeared
@Louisianalady: You’ll still get it on your DDD.
@NYLA YES MINE SAYS THE SAME THING
@Lord Burlyson: Only applies if your refund goes straight from IRS to you…not if you’ve ha fees taken out of your return.
Good morning y’all I found out I’m being offset for an overpayment of 260 from unemployment
DO YALL KNOW IF IM GOING TO GET MY REFUND ON MY DDD DATE OF 2/23 or WILL IT TAKE LONGER NOW???!?
Filed with TT ON 1/29
Banks with Chime
@Steve: Check your previous years transcripts and see if there are any IRS debts showing up there and if it was paid. How long ago was the debt paid by the state refund?
@Sheila_33: yess on transcripts account balance $0.00 as of date 3/6. Code 150 $0.00 806 – amount 766 – amount 768 – amount 846 2/23 amount
Well so much for Credit Karma and TurboTax 5 day early refunds. Pretty misleading, if that was true being the 23rd. Not again
Anyone Else have to verify a joint return with chime, before they will deposit? If so how long did it take to get it deposited or at least an email saying the verification process was complete?
@Sheila_33: the only option os to check weither a federal or state refund will be offset press 1 then it asks for my ssi then give me no information found and thats it
Imho I believe the 2/22 – 2/23 dates were intentionally scheduled because of the holiday. Been coming here since it was a small blog with hardly any followers. Happy to see how much it has grown over the years. Good luck to all especially those with pending deposits this week.
@Sheila_33: which option after i enter my social doesn’t give me more information
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