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.
I’ve been switched back to a daily (04). Transcripts filled in.
AS OF: 02-13-23
I have the 766 and 768. Now I wait for the ddd.
WMR has yet to change. Still shows return received. Tax Tpoic 152.
@252Henderson: I’m waiting also! Accepted at 9:30 last night. I’m not even showing up on SBTG yet but have 1 bar on WMR
Applied for the Advance through TT at 9:30pm & supposedly got approved. No funds, no emails or spam emails, no explanation. Anyone else??
Applied for the Advance through TT at 9:30pm & supposedly got approved. No funds, no emails or spam emails, no explanation. Anyone else??
Good morning everyone!
My return updated on my transcripts not my account transcript I need the account to update so I could see the codes and DDD
@Gators352: correction not my account transcript
I just checked my transcripts which I’m a daily my return transcripts updated but not my return I’m waiting for that return that will show me my DDD when I checked earlier both was on N/A so something’s moving
@2blessed: not on chime but last year I did get mine a week after I filed and I had EITC and actc…. Also had path message. Filed 24th received 31st. Hoping for same this year.
@IGMR Admin: wow Doug’s mom Doug get ya mom
@Sandy: whattttt??!!! Already have a DDD of 1/31 and you have additional child tax and/or eitc??!! No PATH
@Sandy: then your not on path this year
@mommyto6andcrazy: yes ty I out the wrong credit I’m well aware what is been claiming it for the last 10 years😉
@252Henderson: SBTPG
I filed with SPTG this year, got approved for a $4,000 advance today, and STBG website says its disbursing tomorrow. I use SECU so I’m playing the waiting game right now. Never had to wait overnight it normally hits within minutes
@Sandy: I’m not surprised I always have path credits and last year was my very 1st year waiting til after 15th.
@Kenney: Yes. Yesterday the message said my return was received and to allow 30 days. Now today it says the information entered is incorrect and try again or allow 30 days. Very weird. I usually get state within a week with a DDD. Not this year.
Those claiming EIC and/or ACTC will not
receive a DDD prior to Feb 15th. This the law. The IRS will not break that law for anyone. Not even IRS Commissioner Doug’s mom.
What is more likely is that when someone
claims they had PATH credits and received a
DD before Feb 15 they were just mistaken on
which credits they claimed. It’s possible that they were always held before, but this year they didn’t qualify for EIC or ACTC. Or perhaps they only received CTC and thought that also meant they would be held by PATH.
The easiest way to see if you received EIC or
ACTC is to look at lines 27 and 28 on your 1040 form for tax year 2022. If there is any amount on EITHER of those lines then you received that credit (even if it’s $1), if there is nothing on EITHER of those lines then you did not receive those credits and your refund will not be subject to the PATH hold.
I hope this long winded PSA helps. Happy
Refunding!
https://igotmyrefund.com/why-do-i-have-the-path-message-on-irs-wheres-my-refund/
I’m on the PATH….trying not to worry myself this year.
@Mamatrilogy3: This is the first year we used Turbo Tax….in many years. Also, I used to be primary taxpayer but this year my husband was/is primary. Thanks for the info! I feel a little bit better now.
@mommyto6andcrazy: Last year the regular child tax credit (CTC) was fully refundable so there was essentially no ACTC last year. Since CTC is not a part of PATH you weren’t held since you didn’t have EIC. If you look at last year’s 1040 you will see that they have “refundable child tax credit OR additional child tax credit” for line 28. Normally CTC isn’t refundable and is only used to reduce your tax liability where as ACTC is the refundable portion of the credit. This has gone back to normal this year (it was a one time change for the pandemic). The 1040 for this year separates CTC and ACTC once again.
We have even more information about the credits in the links below :)
https://igotmyrefund.com/why-do-i-have-the-path-message-on-irs-wheres-my-refund/
https://igotmyrefund.com/forums/topic/child-tax-credit-ctc-vs-additional-child-tax-credit-actc/
Just fyi anyone using Turbo Tax .My wife got and advance within 10 minutes.. After we filed we both got accepted by the IRS in 5 minutes…
Record acceptance this year..
Been with TT for 12 years now… When paying upfront I only paid 78 total
When I used to have fees taken from refund..I pay like 149-299 some years back… ALWAYS PAY UPFRONT unless u get the loan of course. My experience only y’all..stay blessed people..!
Anyone in California can’t file state yet either?
@confusedmomx4: no, i file with them every year, i always get approved it just never takes this long for the deposit to hit
@mommyto6andcrazy: same exact thing happened to me last year got it the same day as you. I looked at last years and it definitely says I had ACTC
@Michael: Yes ACTC is literally apart of the Path Act.
“Under the PATH Act, all tax refunds that include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and/or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), must be held until after February 14 of the tax processing year.”
@Michael: I know this but this is literally what it says on the tax site I filed with, but I only have ACTC no Earned income or anything else.
@mommyto6andcrazy: I am on PATH every year and this year should be no different. I was accepted 1/23 and the next day my transcript was filled in with a code 846 with a date of 1-30-2023 with the refund amount that is correct. I am beyond shocked. I always have to wait until Feb 22nd or 23rd.
@mommyto6andcrazy: Trust me no one on Path Act has ever been “pushed threw early” your automatically qued in waiting until the 15th
@Mamabear2022: after
@Henderson252: congrats! was this your first time filing with the provider?
@mommyto6andcrazy: ACTC is not part of the Path Act that’s why
I don’t see the PATH message yet. Should I be worried?
My daughter filed and was accepted 1/19 and her federal hit her account this evening around 530. Did not check transcripts but WMR is still on one bar with no DDD.