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.
@Taxedconfused: Mines is exactly the same! I believe we’re gonna update Friday.
@The Middle: Why go in here with your conspiracy theories?
@757VApather: thanks for that info but my state was accepted on the 21st also but mines still says it’s being processed.
I’m expecting it to update soon with a date this week or maybe tomorrow somewhere.
@GoGators85: huh! Lol how so
@Bishwhett: u did all
That for attention; you don’t have to come to this site and if you know that nothing happens until after path THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE RN? Why aren’t u waiting until
Path ? Why did u type that whole message?
@LWBOSS: I just had to of verify with the state so I should get my refund soon, I was accepted 1/21 by the state and my id verify letter was dated for 1/29, I got the letter on Friday 1/31, I verified Saturday 2/1, and it says I should receive my funds within “the next several days”(that’s the wording on the website” hope this helps ,
Also VA HAS A WHERES MY REFUND TOOL FOR THE STATE
GOOGLE : “Virginia Where’s my refund”
U will need ur social security number
Your exact STATE REFUND AMOUNT
and filing year
Hey any one in Virginia, have a state dd date? If so when did you receive your date?
@Bishwhett: lol this comment right here! I just made a few days ago! I’ve been using this site for at least 10 years and we all know it a wasting game. It is hilarious to see some of these questions.
@Walter DOG: FACTS! I think some people want attention we probably should have ignored his post!! attention is a hell of a “drug”!!!
@GoGators85: they can’t release EIC until after 2-15 by law so doesn’t sound like this is true
@GoGators85: Advice is you haven’t got EITC or ACTC if your refund is pending not going there if on Path of untill after 15th period go through this every year
I am a pather that claimed EIC and CTC. My federal is pending in my credit union bank account and will be released tomorrow. Filed through TurboTax on 1/8/25 and accepted on 1/15/25 withfees paid up front. I wasn’t expecting anything till at least 2/17/25. It’s the correct amount so I know it’s my federal not state taxes. Should I spend it or will I get in trouble since it’s before path has lifted? Not trying to get in trouble!!! Advice please.
@Patiently(not)Waiting: to my knowledge they don’t
@The Middle: 🙄
@Walter DOG: I have 2/17 with zeros so my transcript will update on Friday I’m a 05
@Graciousgambino: You’re in the queue. Mine said that too, at first. @Harris: Same here. Mine also never showed zeros. We were in the test test batch? 🤣 Super frozen? 😂
@Bishwhett: incorrect. It’s not “moot” to check. Accepted is fine and dandy but what people are looking for is movement. Has a person moved or are they stalled? Did they get “good codes” besides the one we know can’t be done until path lifts (846) or one that signals an issue. Like mine show everything is in good order:
As of: 2/10
766
768
So I know I’m frozen until Path lifts.
I know this because I looked I was accepted.
Last year I was accepted and had 0’s for WEEKS. I checked daily and finally it updated to good codes. I then knew I was fine (I.e. no bad codes). It eased my mind. 😊
@Patiently(not)Waiting: my Sbbt has said the same thing since Friday… so I’m guessing no
Elon Musk now has access to the Treasury Department’s payment system. Brace yourselves everyone, we’re about to get robbed by the richest man on earth. We might not receive our tax refund.
So, I got a DD od 2/05. Check SBBT last night, it says funded. All of the right info is there…but although it says that it has been transferred, I haven’t received the finds.
My question is…does anyone know if SBBT even does weekend transfers?
@Walter DOG:
So basically Thai Friday is when my actual tax return. Transcript populated
Last Friday only my account transcript had partially populated like you mentioned ,then finished filling out just this Friday
@Walter DOG:
This past Friday was when they finished filling out with codes and the as of date didn’t change from 2/10 ; as the week before I had only the top of 2024 account transcript filled in with name and address info with as of 2/10/25 … the wage transcript blank ( per usual) .but it said 2024 return not filed – verifcation of non filing
but then this week all the info and codes and processing. Date filled in as well as the record of account transcripts but as of date 2/10 with processing date 2/17
@Harrisongirl: Mine was off IRS website. Did taxes online with TurboTax. Filed the 29 and accepted, refund approved with DDD of 2/5 and bank account showing deposit pending which means I may get it before because last year I got it 2 days before DDD.
@Harris: that was my theory that the ones that populated the week before with 0 their 2-10 pushed out to 2-17 but I guess that’s wrong if I seen correct where some with as of 2-10 stayed and they had 0 on transcript week before also so don’t know why some has 2-17 and some stayed 2-10
@Kj: sorry I just seen where you answered my theory is wrong then I don’t get why a lot of us their as of date pushed out to 2-17 and some others stayed at 2-10 boggles the mind
@Kj: yes I have info to that’s normal did that last year so your good but ok your transcripts updated Friday with codes was your 2024 transcript showing before Friday morning were they blank with 0 did it pop up last Friday morning with 0 and your name and as of 2–10 last Friday and then this Friday finish filling out or this Friday was first time your 2024 transcript was available to see I’m thinking the ones that had blank transcripts with 0 and as of 2-10 the week before pushed out to as of 2-17 but the ones that didn’t start the week before has as of 2-10
@America the Free: your return was processed. You are waiting for the path act to lift to get your code 846 with your DDD.
@harrya: your return hasn’t processed yet is apparently what it means but this is the first year i’ve ever seen that so it’s confusing.
My transcript says no record of anything filed but then i check wheres my refund it says accepted wtf used tt and they say it was sent
@America the Free: Processed waiting for path act to release
@America the Free: that’s what I wanna know mine just updated to that message yesterday
@Kj: mine did that last year don’t stress it
After u get the 846 code it will go back to showing 0.00 for 2024
@Walterdog:
So on your irs Home Screen under account details does it show ???
2024……info /unavaialble
2023 …..$ 0.00
2022……$0.00
2021…… $0.00
When all my good codes popped up Friday my account status showed
2024….$0.00
But now it’s back to saying. “ info”
adjustment unavailable until complete ect…
@Amanda.Mama:
So on your irs Home Screen u set account details doensit show ???
2024……info /unavaialble
2023 …..$ 0.00
2022……$0.00
2021…… $0.00
When all my good codes popped up Friday my account status showed
2024….$0.00
But now it’s back to saying. “ info”
adjustment unavailable until complete ect…
@Bishwhett:
Then why you on here 🤔 if we killing u ..
@PrinceTamino: TT charged me $50 for 5 days early refund knowing I claimed EITC!!!! 🙄
@Walter DOG:
Mine first update after filing showed only 3 transcripts with 0.00 yes with as of 2/10 and and no codes then this Friday updated with all good codes 05/05 cycle and as of date stayed 2/10 & processing date 2/17
All of y’all are killing me 😭
If you filed your taxes and they were accepted and your tax return includes a dependent you most likely are on the path. Looking at your transcripts right now is moot because the path has not been lifted. Anything can happen once processing resumes we have to wait you are driving yourselves insane trying to figure out what the transcripts are going to do after the past is lifted and no one knows. Start panicking after the path is lifted and you get crazy codes that don’t coincide with the 846 including a direct deposit date. Respectfully signed a I got my refund OG
@Walter DOG:
Friday morning My codes updated to 150 766 768 & as of date stayed 2/10 as well..and on my (home page- not transcript) in 2024 said info unavailable changed to totals owed box had 0.00 for 2024 as if processed ..
But this morning my 2024 totals 0.00 changed back to
Showing n/a, not available at this time , if adjustment requested ect…
22nd account transcript blank..29th filled in with good codes..as of stayed the same 2/10…processing date 2/17
@Jiji: same thing happened to me!
This is a good guess if you’re Path act message and transcripts
are all good codes we will most likely to DDD 18th thru the 21st
I based this from last year I received Refund on the 02/16
and the same thing previous year
Happy Refunds!!
@Amanda.Mama: Thank you!!
@Harris: whewww! Thank you. I’d never seen it and didn’t even notice the disclaimer above the notice that clearly states what you said 😭 Ahhh, tax return adventures🤪
@Renee24: It shows on TT that it was on the 28th. Sadly, I just got our MS refund at the end of November, last year.
@Renee24: My information was available on wheres my refund the day after it was accepted. I was accepted on the 30th and my information was available on wheres my refund the 31st On the 30 after I was accepted, I checked there was no information available. It could just be something glitchy with updating.
@Walter DOG: my processing date was and is 2/10 as well
@SierraMama: chat gpt confused me. What does it mean by earned income?? Like if you are only getting back witholdings bc if you get the earned income credit you are path. And also ctc is not Path. Additional child tax credit is path.
@Jiji: everyone has that until your return starts processing.
@Thor: No. I filed on the 30th and accepted same day. But not approved or no DD as of yet.
@Walter DOG: when my transcript showed up it was populated with all good codes and as of date 2/10 and it’s still 2/10. It never populated with zeros.
Have anyone mississippi refund got accepted, I filed on the 29th and recieved an accepted email but on the site it’s saying nothing is in the system
@Jiji: don’t be alarmed mine said that when I first filed.
@Kj: same same. Movement is good! @WalterDOG mine changed overnight Friday same two dates just like yours.