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.
@GAfootballMom: I really hope so cause the offset line says the 24th but I don’t even have a DDD at all just something on WMR says it’s being taking for offset and the remaining to me and if nothing by march 1st to call. That was it. No offset code at all on transcripts
@Rickjames344: I’m hoping so to but never know with irs and never had an offset before in my life so I’m very mad and angry cause it took half of our taxes which I will get back I hope, had to file bankruptcy and that is under it so hope I get it back when they receive the paperwork for bankruptcy, can hope and pray!!
@Sheila_33: even with the offset saying the 24th? Never in my life had an offset like this so I’m so confused and mad about it.
@Cksucks: Sbtpg is doing the same thing to me. Website has said unfunded. Called Friday morning and they said they received it, now today saying they haven’t received it.
SBTPG website is off and a waste of time. I called and my refund was sent but the website says unfunded of course. I’ll just continue to hurry up and wait on Chime lol
Just a reminder, it’s not our banks it’s the middle man that if they didn’t receive our funds by a certain time, they will not send it until the next business day and the middleman is either republic bank or Santa Barbara, which they work on West Coast times
I notice people mentioning that they are getting messages about an offset after the 846 post. I’m curious where the message is coming from and when they post it. I called the IRS and Treasury offset line and it states nothing but I’m concerned bc of a small balance I owe to AZ
@IEBaby951: my DDD is for the
02/23 received my refund at 7:38
Pm the 02/18
@2blessed: same here but I have Credit Karma
@Cksucks: same exact thing to me so your not alone I was just tripping litterly said for two days they had it and was sent to my bank now saying they have not received it
@TinaR: that’s how I found out
@JameeJ: I got the message this morning and when I call the offset line it said I owed one offset to the state tax of west virginia I haven’t lived there in years. So my transcripts show no other codes last code was the approval code my DDD is 02/23. I honestly didnt think I owed an offset it makes no sense to me. I haven’t lived there in like 4 years.. stressed out over here!
I have a date for the 25th.. will it come early with truist bank?
I just talked to a representative from one pay and they told me if it wasn’t deposited on Friday, then we wouldn’t get it until Monday
@Blessed2bme89: I was able to access my transcript doesn’t show anything about the offset I call the offset hotline pressed option 2 it said call irs at another number am I calling the right place?
@TinaR: how do u know u have an offset for sure?
I ask because my transcripts are fine with no codes whatsoever and updated to a deposit date. Where is my refund updated today to say it may be partially reduced or taken to pay a past due obligation so I’m confused. I have seen on Facebook in several groups, where a good bit of others are having the same issue, but they say they know for a fact, they don’t have any offsets. It did the same thing to me back in 2019 and I still ended up getting my full refund, so I’m praying to God that that’s what’s gonna happen this year.
@TinaR: on your transcripts or wmr will tell u , if it’s updated or call the offset number and choose option 2
@2blessed: I am still waiting with a DDD for 2/23 WITH the five day early thing! What a joke!
@Blessed2bme89: how do I know how much my offset was for cant seem to figure it out?
@Hello26: hey, no deposit yet but I received a text from the tracker at 12:23pm (NY) saying theres been an update on your refund status— I clicked on it, and the tracker updated to “we received notification from the irs that your federal refund is processed and should be sent within a few business days” 💃🏽 🙌🏽 theres movement yalllllllll lol I was a pather, had loans and fees taken out…
@Cksucks: Same here.
@Sheila_33: Thanks for all your help neighbor. I really appreciate that. I’ll circle back next week as let you know if my transcripts get straightened out:).
@texas77: from what I’ve read. I have ck-Sbtpg had my refund already on Thursday and retrieved their fees etc that same day-however STILL haven’t received my money and the phone line went from saying they received it with a refund date to now saying they never received it. Both Sbtpg and ck are comical
Have anybody with fees from Republic Bank received their deposit yet? I was funded yesterday between 2pm and 5pm and still haven’t got it yet. Going to Varo Bank.
@Ale: on your W-2, it’s possible that they’ve already separated your tips. Otherwise you’ll have to go into your app to get the amount of income that is tips when you file your taxes.
@Ale: depending on your income level there’s a percentage of the tips you don’t pay taxes on. A single filer with a modified adjusted gross income of under $150,000 can claim up to $25,000 in tips not taxed.
@Jenny04: when mine did that last year it came a day or 2 before my DDD. A pretty big offset but it still came early with chime. I’m hoping it does again this year :)
Hello, hope someone can help me. So for those who gets 1099 wiht tips included like Instacart, do we get a bigger refund since we are not payikng on tips?
@TJ777: what message are you getting? Incorrect ss# or ss# already used? Or incorrect agi?
@Hello26: I wish
@Sheila_33: I know right .I’m Orlando side lol
@mc559672: Wow I’m so happy for you.Today I went back to 1 bar again.Remember when it disappeared and we had take action. I was happy to see it go away this morning. This week I think I will have my date….Congratulations.Please check back I will update
My tax return keeps getting rejected.
@TinaR: I had offset which already took what was owed and I’m just waiting hopefully tonight or tomorrow as well this is stressful
@texas77: seems like it
@texas77: OnePay here. Nada.
@Jenny04: I had an offset last year and I received my refund the day before with CK. You should still get your refund early or on time I believe.
No more turbo tax nor credit karma for me no more
Any deposits for Chime?? Sbtpg website shows the amount, but no fees taken yet. Sb number was saying the amount all yesterday, now it’s saying they haven’t received my refund. Can somebody please help me to understand to what’s happening? My ddd is 2/24
@Hello26: not til day before or day of
@Yandyy00: Got my 2/25 DD on my WMR! Any movement for you?
For the folks verifying, the process seemed to move very quickly. Fear not, you’re almost there.
Any deposits on Emerald Card:)
@Yandy00: Well, what are the odds of that? Lol
So is it Onepay and CK people who mostly haven’t received their deposits?
@Sheila_33: Hey how are you.Im Amanda also and your neighbor.For a minute I thought you were talking to me lol 😆
@Beenpatientallmylifetillnow: thanks I appreciate it. I had the notification to click on under notifications 2 weeks ago to verify the tax return but then it disappeared last week and still haven’t gotten a letter but I also have code 570 and all my transcripts for the last 6 years as of dates all changed to 3/9/26 and wmr says been delayed allow 180 days so who knows lol.
@SamfromMA: Next transcript update would be Tuesday.