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 on January 26, 2026.
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 IRS no longer publishes an official tax refund cycle chart. It has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Since then, dozens of versions have popped up, some better than others.
That’s where we step in.
Get the dates, skip the guessing.
Each year, we compile the most accurate Refund Cycle Chart, built from IRS manuals, payout trends, PATH Act release dates, holidays, and real user updates, so you don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s coming.
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.
@Nikki_1220: don’t worry. give it some time. good things happen to those who wait. it’s going to happen good for you.
My 2024 Account Transcript is finally listed but with 0’s. Same thing happened last year to me and they fully updated the next week. Filed 1/16, Accepted 1/22 with credits.
@Dentonj88: The path lifts 2/15 every year, which was a Wednesday in 2023, and a Thursday in 2024. If you had a no-hold bank and no fees, the refund would be sent directly to you that same day. That’s probably why you saw the refund so quickly.
@Mama bear: not sure.. I hope so. If Sheila pops on here today, I’d ask her. I know I randomly woke up at 330 this morning and between 330 and 4 I had some updates and between 4 and 6 I had a little more. I’m gonna keep an eye on mine today
Good morning as of now my trans are stuck still no filed return as of date is still as of 2/10 I’m so upset this is happening I’m worried now
Do transcripts update all day?
@Monee: EIC.. my refund received in 2023 was a week before the DDD. I’m reading conflicting dates about when PATH lifted in 2023, but the refund deposited 2/16 that year
Morning all, transcripts updated this morning I’m an 05er and a pather…I assume wmf will update tomorrow to the path message, CT refund still says under review:(
@Dentonj88: Do you have the earned income credit or additional child tax credit this year? When you say a week early are you referring to a week before the ddd or a week before path lifted?
@Bama91: No Action Irs hasn’t gotten to you yet that’s completely normal
Ok it shows I filled but all 0’s and as of date for 2/17.
So 2024 Verification of Non-Filing Letter is a bad thing? We actually have to take action?
Can finally see transcripts what does processing date 2/17/2025 mean
@Dentonj88: You have EIC, so you won’t see anymore movement until after path lifts.
Can’t login for some reason. Just wanted to post my update.
Filed 01/16
Accepted 01/17
As of 02/10
0505
Updated to good codes, as of 02/17,
I am a pathetic
Have a blessed season. Maybe one of the admins can figure out why I can’t login. Wanted to donate this year as I have nothing owed or needed this year. I did send an email stating I couldn’t login.
@Monee: that’s what I was thinking but in prior years I’d get it a week early (I’ve got Chime this year and last year, used Current before that)
@Sheila_33: goodmorning! My 2024 transcript is still 2/10. Does identity verify make our transcripts freeze in time until we verify?
@Dentonj88: if you’re path it won’t move again until path lifts
Mornin all!
Former blank transcript and as-of date of 2/10
Transcript now has 150, 808, and 768 but no refund issued code yet
As of date is now bumped to 2/17 and cycle codes ends in 05. Does this mean it’ll be next Friday before it updates again? Is it possible there might be more movement today?
Filed 1/30 by 9pm
Still not accepted
Is this normal ?
Thanks
@Vanessaa: no, ur transcripts should all fill in by next week.
I filled on 1/23 accepted 1/24 2024 tax records not showing, transcripts for 2024 all blank. As of date changed from 2/10 to 2/17. Is this bad
@2blessed: thanks my peep you will update next Friday morning,last Friday my transcripts done same as yours so next week you will update my friend no worries
@KJ: no, because u already ran through the system so u should be home free, u would have been had a bad code pop up by now for you to take action but I think u should be good if ur transcripts are already filled out.
Good morning! I see movement on my transcripts all of them have been filled in my as of date changed from 2/10 to 2/17 all good codes I’m a weekly cycle code is 0505. I think that means I’m done until path lifts. Glad to see mostly everyone is seeing good movement this morning.
Looks like lots of movement this morning. Remember, 05s can be daily or weekly.
https://igotmyrefund.com/daily-weekly/
@Monee: Thank you! It could still possibly change. I been checking since 12AM through like 4:30 AM and none of my stuff updated until close to 5am. I know it gets frustrating and only reason I check and get impatient every year is because I’ve been audited and that was a pain in the rear and so every year I get scared that I’ll have to provide this and provide that to get my money.
@VA757pather: ok. Thank you. I think you’re right.
My transcripts for 2024 are finally showing. My account transcript is not showing codes yet but an as of date of 2/27/25. Hoping it slowly fills out with codes today like it did last year.
Pather:
-Accepted Jan 21, cycle code 0505
-Turbo tax, no fees, chime
-transcripts just updated to codes 150,766,768
– but as of date still feb 10 with processing date feb 17?
Wmr – tt152 but no path message yet
1. So does path message mean your complete just waiting for feb 15th/path lift .. ?
2. I noticed other with good codes and path message have a new as of date and later processing date
( like Feb 17, 20th) but mine is still as of Feb 10 processing date Feb 17.
3. Could bad codes 570,971 still come up next Friday Feb 7th or Feb 14 or am I home free and waiting for path day?
Is earned income tax credit path ?
Transcript still blank and still have as of 2/10 like last week, guess I gotta wait another week
@Monee: I think it’s ID VERIFY but once I get that letter it will fix itself in a week or less if you are daily
@Monee: yes, you won’t see that after all your transcripts fill in.
GM here’s another update, trans had all zeros last week, this morning when I woke up I have a filled in transcript 😊 cycle code is 0505 so I know I’m a weekly, code 150, 766 and 768, and as of date of February 17 , that means I’m done processing and should have path message in the morning 👍know I know I should have my 846 on the 21st Good luck and I hope all of you have great news this morning.
Hi everyone, I’ve been a silent reader, but wanted to update I filed 1/15/25 thru TT, was accepted 1/21/25, got the refund advance the same day from credit karma and woke up today to transcripts and a cycle code 20250505, transcript says my refund date will be 2/5/25. No update on wmr. Hope this help’s someone
It’s some blank transcripts showing up again with as of date 2/17/25 .. those will have to cycle thru again next Friday like we did. My transcript didn’t change to 2/17/25 until AFTER the codes showed up
@DeeBlock: congrats!!!!
As of now, I’m still showing 2/10 on my transcripts and I’m just going to stop checking.
@deemar54: Mine is 05 to what’s that mean ?
@Monee: cancel that it finally updated and yes the As Of date did change from 02/10 to 02/17 but I show the refund and credited on my transcripts I’m guessing I’m just waiting now for Path like everyone else to clear.
Question: did yals account show “your return is not processed” this morning before you updated?
I see some movement. Still not finished though. My account transcript now shows 2024 as of Feb. 17, 2025. No codes yet. I’m still seeing non-verification on the return transcript section. Does this mean they are updating transcripts?
@Walter DOG: Congratulations my friend! 👏
I was accepted 1/21
Last week I updated to blank transcripts on Friday 1/24
Today 1/31 MY TRANSCRIPTS JUST FILLED OUT with all codes
I have 3 good codes
I think I’m just waiting on PATH TO END
MY AS OF DATE IS 2/17
It was 2/10
Thanks to ALL and I hope everything goes well this year
Glad to see that weeklies are beginning to update.
@2blessed: same for me. Almost exact same timeline as well. Not sure what is going on. Haven’t had this issue in the past, usually transcripts are within a couple days of being accepted updated.
2nd on our taxes and it finally shows processed.
Top of the morning my Peeps, well transcripts are updated all good codes just waiting on Path to lift hope everyone updates my Peeps
check your transcripts 05ers. i just updated to an 846 with a 2/5 DD.
Filed and accepted 1/22
Transcript updated all good codes … literally just happened 5 min ago it wasn’t there