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.
@Bluemoon07: 800) 830-5084
This is what I found on google
Glad you guys are still here. I’m checking my status like a psycho. When does eitc get released?
I looked at my line 27 and 28 and I have no amount there. i know i didn’t qualify for EIC. I was just trying to figure out if I had ACTC or not . Did I look in the right place?
@Bluemoon07: yes it is 18008305084
Does anyone know the id verify number with irs?
@Monee: Did you call yesterday? I thought I had seen where you were waiting on the phone?
Just coming to update… I filed my taxes on 1/27 accepted the same day. Married filed jointly no dependents. Transcripts updated yesterday with 2/5 DDD, received deposit in Wells Fargo regular checking this morning.
Checked WmR this morning and have the same one bar we have received your return message. Only account transcript showed up yesterday with nothing on it besides as of date 2/17/25. Hoping everything will update Friday. I could be a daily updating with the weeklies but since I had to ID verify last year I fear Im not that lucky to be a daily.
anyone know what letter from andover ma. is?
@Ejsmom2014: sounds like they came across an issue somewhere check your transcripts if you have access to those see if there’s any codes on there and possibly go back and check your return see if you forgot something or miss something otherwise I don’t know it could be very minor
@Ejsmom2014: it could mean a couple of things ,have you checked your transcripts ?Do you have any codes? Could mean I’d verify or could just mean you have to cycle through again
Correcting my previous post – I actually filed on January 28th, with IRS accepting within minutes, and today WMR says approved with DD date of 2/5, so 4 days from filing/acceptance to approval.
@Justagirl: I think that date is the date you have to see it like when it’s approved and they say if it’s not received by march 3
Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available. For more information about processing delays, please see our Refund Frequently Asked Questions. And tax topic 152 disappeared. Is this good or bad or just normal??
@Monee: mine also still says same thing on wmr not expecting that to change till next Saturday since I just verified yesterday. Side note my earnings showed up on ssa today.
Fastest time ever. Filed on the 27 Jan, accepted 1 hour later. Just checked and DD 5 Feb. Hope it goes smooth for all. Good luck!
WMR still at 1 bar but finally updated to PATH act message. When I tried getting on the IRS site though to check transcripts, I got an error message that said check back later
@Moisy: Congratulations 🎉
@Cristina aka im_so_broke_it_hurts: I filed 1/22 and accepted 1/23. I’m a weekly, so yesterday 3 transcripts showed for 2024. But transcript had all 0’s with no cycle code. As of date went from 1/13 to 2/17. I’m a pather, so I’m just waiting to see if I update next Thursday into Friday. Praying for all good codes this year. Good luck to you! 🍀🤞🏽
I think this year is the quickest processing I’ve ever seen. Filed with Taxslayer on the evening of 1/26 and accepted within 10 minutes. Transcript updated to 846 on 1/31 with a DD date of 2/5. WMR updated this morning to show approved with a DD date of 2/5.
Here’s to another year of obsessively watching transcripts and waiting. Last year it took two months to get my refund back. Anyone that filed on the 26th of January and accepted on 1/27, could you please let me know when you see movement on your transcript? Mine have not updated with a cycle code just yet.
The earliest DDD for path act
Would be the 02/18 President Day
Is 02/17 last year I had DDD
On the 2/16 around 2pm Central time just a thought 😎
Wmr still says “still being processed”,
Filed on 01/27
Accepted same day
Being processed
Updated to Path act this morning
As of Date 02/17
Cycle 05 weekly
@Va757pather: honestly I just thought about it next Friday it might just change to 2/24/25 from 2/17/25 next Friday update since we already processed due to the path hold and release on the 21st
@Va757pather: as of date being 2/17 .. who knows with the IRS.. deposits just might go out that same day
@Va757pather: we all set processed and good waiting til path lift on the 17th .. since I’m weekly im thinking the 21st that 846 will drop and we should have deposits same day around 2pm est
@NYkhidd: me too! I just got that PATH MESSAGE ON WMR!
So that means we are just waiting on path to lift right? We are good!
I was accepted 1/21
Updated but blank transcripts 1/24
Transcripts and all Codes filled out 1/31
Path act message on WMR 2/1
As of changed from 2/10 to 2/17
PATH MESSAGE .. done processing . Weekly updated transcript yesterday (Friday) .. all good codes as of date 2/17/25 .. was 2/10/25 until I updated with codes
@Mina Mina: I just read on the IRS website that it EITC should expect it after March 3 🤷🏾♀️
Yes I have the 846
Hi. Mine saids refund issued 2-22 on my transcripts. Will I get it early ? Thanks
Whats going on everyone
@Tabbyp: transcripts update was last night
So is the general consensus that if we updated to black transcripts last week and still have blank transcripts this week with SAME as of date that we have to I’d verify?
Will my transcript update tonight into tomorrow or was that last night?
@Justagirl: it’s not it’s 2/17
@2025 mula: it doesn’t mean you will see an update just that the only day you will update will be fridays. You can go weeks with no change.
@TxKitKat23: I think the timeframe they’re still giving for amended returns to process is up to 16 weeks, but may not take that long
@Nobodyputsbabyincorner: almost exactly the same situation for me. I’m expecting a DDD of 2/20 but we’ll see
@Curious: just means you’re not done processing
@Morris: I got one transcript updated last night I’m a weekly
Well here we are again folks! Hope all is well with everyone! So , I just filed I saw my refund at a certain amount , then it went down significantly. I was confused and tried to re start my return on TT . It just kept saying the same amount so I gave up and filed. Accepted today 02/01. I checked on another 2 sites, and both had my refund at the original amount I saw before it went down. I think I inputed something wrong or answered a question wrong .. Now I Have to wait til the 15th for TT to have the option so I can amend my return online . Gosh I’m a goof 🤦 if I amend , and they owe how long does it take?
I received an email about a 1099-Misc form and it shows an amount on “Other Income” do I need to report that to the IRS?
The code date must not be accurate because I’m 05 and NOTHING CHANGED.
@Kimberlysimms85: Not sure but I filed today and was accepted within 20 mins….
@Morris: what does your wmr say
“STILL being processed” or “IS BEING PROCESSED “
I filed through turbo tax on 1/29 still havent been accepted should i worry i looked on the turbotax forum ALOT of people are having this issue
Because of 15th on the weekend and the 17th is a holiday…path will lift on the 18th. And like Bruno Mars said “don’t believe me just watch!”
@Justagirl: it’s February 17th
@California girl83: the 17th is a holiday- President’s Day
@California girl83: PATH ACT is 3/3 this year
I don’t understand the IRS process. Strange to see some weeklies filing the same day as others and see updated transcripts while others also filed at the same time and didn’t get an update.
Filed and accepted 1/31. Hoping for a smooth tax season. Good luck everyone
So the 15th lands this year on a Saturday. So the path won’t lift till 2/17/2025 for us pathers…. Two more weeks to go! I filed on January 21 accept right away, just checked my transcripts everything updated except that gold code of 846….
@Bebe44: are you path?
Hey everybody, so I am a weekly and I filed TT January the 8th and was accepted January the 17th. My transcripts have finally updated to the lucky codes. The only thing missing is the 846 code, but I do have tax credits as well, so possibly after the 15th I’m hoping to get that 846 code anybody else in my same predicament right now? I feel like we’re getting closer and closer to getting that direct deposit. Happy tax season, guys; it’s almost over!
Is this number still correct for tax offset line 18003043107?
Does anyone know if Ohio keeps your federal refund to pay towards a offset in unemployment benefits just found out they took my state will they also take out of my federal refund
i have a question about the strange process this year.
i have eic. filed with tt on 1/16, was accepted 1/17
i paid for the 5 days early
if i have eic dont i have to wait for path?
im asking because i also saw a cycle code of 20250505
wouldnt that be BEFORE path lifts?
@Mrs. P(not signed in): Well we are gonna rebuke childhood cancer in the name of Jesus! I pray for healing, strength, and comfort in JESUS NAME AMEN!
@Whit: Yes! I haven’t used them in a while but it may get there that date but idk..
I just know I started paying upfront to avoid the hassle and possible delays of going to them first.
@Introvert_taxtime: so it has to go to them before they send it to my bank? So if I have a deposit date of let’s say Feb 22 maybe don’t expect it that day