For all the people
impatiently waiting
on tax refunds.

A grapevine for taxpayers,
by taxpayers.

Interact with people who have experiences or questions just like you.

All of your tax refund questions, answered.
What Other People Are Saying
49,352 comments

Where’s My Refund?

You have questions, we have answers.

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.

IRS Update Cycle

Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.

Transcripts

This is what your IRS transcript can tell you about your tax refund.

Transaction Codes

Lookup the codes that you see on your tax return transcript and what they mean.

Daily vs. Weekly

Find out if you have a daily or weekly account with the IRS and what it means.

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.

talk to a human

It is often hard to reach someone at the IRS and you might want to talk to a person. It is hard to reach some tax preparation companies too. Use our guide to talk to a human at the IRS.

TAX TOPIC 152

Tax Topic 152 is the most common status when you check the status of your tax refund. It is nothing to worry about.

transcript codes

Transaction Codes (TC) sometimes called transcript codes consist of three digits and may appear on your IRS account transcript. Decipher the codes on your IRS transcripts.

reference codes

Most times the Wherer’s My Refund tool (WMR) will show Tax Topic 152. Other times you may see various error codes. These are called Reference Codes on the WMR.

Join the Conversation

What Others Are Saying

  1. Sheila La

    @Mlronq: I hope it gets worked out soon when I ready your response I thought I was reading my own are situations are so alike . They wanna hold on to our money as long as they possibly can I guess it’s bs . We work just to barely have enough to pay bills if that is even enough and they gotta mess with our only glimpse of relief it’s disgusting they got us like rats in a cage

    Reply
  2. Cantcatchabreak

    @Gwen: hi Gwen. I just got mines in the mail so it looks like people getting Friday mail dates are getting it by Monday. Which means they are probably mailing them before Friday

    Reply
    1
  3. Cantcatchabreak

    @Sheila_33: thanks and btw I got my ck today so it looks like the mail dates on Fridays are hitting peoples mailbox by Monday. Obviously they are mailing them before Friday.

    Reply
  4. zhosa

    @So stressed: i was told the same thing today. She said my id verify was closed out on the 8th and she sees no other letters and i am merely waiting on a date.

    Reply
  5. Mlronq

    @Sheila_33
    I still haven’t received my notice..I got the 971 code on 2/17 and the date next to it is 3/13 is this normal? I don’t know what’s going on. The only update I got Friday was the as of date changing to 3/27.

    Reply
  6. So stressed

    E-filed 2/7 accepted same day. It’s been on “still processing” & on one bar since then, transcripts have been n/a. I called twice before today, 1st time was told system showing error and should correct itself. 2nd time, I was told I may receive a letter (never did) & she couldn’t see on her side what was going on. Today I spoke with someone that said everything looked good on my end and they are simply behind, there are no errors or issues with my taxes that is showing & re-assured me they’re just really backed up. I appreciated her honesty instead of all this error & letter stuff. It’s been super stressful. I’ll call back next Monday if there’s no movement or DD. Just thought I’d share.

    Reply
  7. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Cantcatchabreak: Good morning. Wage transcript takes awhile to populate for some. My daughters is still not filled in and she received her refund in February. I personally have not had mine fill out until much later in the year.

    Reply
  8. spring

    Filed married jointl husband has never done taxes can i call irs instead of him

    Reply
    1
  9. Gigi2023

    Did anyone receive their Pennsylvania state return yet ?

    Reply
  10. Cantcatchabreak

    @Sheila_33 good morning. I was just wondering why the wage and income transcript is not filled in. All 4 have the 2022 updates. I already finished processing, I received my refund code 846 for check to be mailed 3/10 but all of the other 3 transcripts are filled in.

    Reply
  11. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Rabbit: Congratulations. 🙂

    Reply
  12. BundyD

    Got DDD Friday afternoon for 3/14 Ny State

    Reply
  13. Jas

    Goodmorning, so my top two transcripts are still N/A . But I did notice that my as of date started at 3/20 and then changed to 3/27 now it’s back to 3/20 this morning does this mean anything ?

    Reply
  14. Rabbit

    Hi all ,
    Filed 1/26 went into “being processed” for 2 weeks . I received 4883c letter , Verified over phone 2/28 on Saturday I Updated to ddd 3/15. Thought I’d share .
    Thanks Sheila for Everything!

    Reply
  15. Ricky22 8

    @Sheila_33: ty so much. Bout call irs now.. like so unfair they penalize me for using look back.. I went to turbotax n did amend 2020 n they didn’t do look back so exactly why say I owe 3600 like crazy. Feel like God knows I am sick n live for my family n he sent you n this site as angel

    Reply
  16. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Ricky22 8: In your situation and the issues you’re dealing with medically, I would definitely contact your local tax advocates office and see if you can do a hardship expedited refund. Here’s a link to find your local advocate’s office. Good luck! 😊
    https://igotmyrefund.com/taxpayer-advocate/

    Reply
  17. Nk

    State NJ DDD date for 3/16/23

    Reply
  18. Seb

    Does anyone know what this means?:
    ”Your Information Is Not Available at This Time If you requested an adjustment to your account your information will not be available until that transaction is complete.”

    Filed 01/17 | Accepted 01/19 | 12C 02/02 Faxed in same-day | Got TAS Involved.

    Reply
  19. Mlronq

    @teedee44 Longest 21 days ever is right!!!!!!!!!! I hope we all see some direct deposit dates soon! The struggle is real.
    -Correcting my previous post
    **I keep forgetting that I can’t use emojis bc it pops up as question marks lol sorry if my comments seem confusing***

    Reply
  20. Mlronq

    @SheilaLa
    Sameee!!!! I live paycheck to paycheck and trust me when I tell you I don’t make very much. I depend on my refund to catch up on things and be a little less stressed for a few months. I’ve never had any issues previous years, I usually have my refund in less than 10 days. This has been so nerve racking. But the date on my 971 says 3/13 so let’s see if I end up getting a notice tomorrow. If it asks for something other than my w2 (which I already uploaded) I just might explode. Lol

    Reply
    1
  21. Mlronq

    To upload w2 online go to:
    irs.gov/reply

    Reply
  22. Mlronq

    @teedee44
    Longest 21 days ever is right 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
    I hope we all see some direct deposit dates soon!
    The struggle is real.

    Reply
  23. MOE

    I have the 570 code and the 971 it had been 3 weeks no letter

    Reply
  24. Ricky22 8

    @Sheila_33: hey sheila.. oh I REALLY NEED YA ADVICE.. MY RETURN STILL IN REVIEW… NOW THEY SAY I OWE THEM 3500 FOR 2020 TAXES. BECUASE THEY LOWERED DO TO INCOME WAS LOWER. BUT ISSUE IS I USED LOOK BACK FOR 2019… AND THEY DIDN’T SO WHAT DO I DO . I TRUST YOU TYTYYFOR HELP.

    Reply
  25. Gwen

    @Cantcatchabreak: more than likely your check mailed out on Friday. Did your wmr update yesterday morning to being mailed? I went through the same thing a few weeks ago. It was mailed on a friday and I received mine that following Monday.

    Reply
  26. NVDIV

    @Sheila La: I feel you on that.. ive been riding to work the last 2 weeks on a tire that has been split down the middle due to “our tax money hard at work on the roads” second tire in one month.. I swear im about to start sending the state government the bill… i havent had the room in my finances to buy a new set nor another used one at the moment. its sad you think when you get a raise it will help out but then the unbalanced weights between cost of living and paychecks get even more off scale.. yet we pay these politicians vacations 14 plus times a year.. when we get a vacation its never actually a vacation even when we do leave town its more of “come take a week off to spend your money in another town and make someone else rich while you go broke” its nearly impossible to just drive somewhere and sit back and relax for 2 weeks without going on a shopping spree or paying $1400 for 2 weeks at a hole in the wall hotel. not including the gas.. but all that vacation talk is pointless because most of us dont even have room to take one day off if it isnt PTO.. if we can even get that.. sorry about the rant but with me speaking my mind on this its like a bucket overflowing and the only thing left to do is let the thing run over.. some right wing people have called me a “socialist” and “socialists” call me a radical right winger.. here is the thing.. when i see BS i call it out.. you cannot just stand on one side of the fence and look at the fire on the other side while the bull is running at you on the side you stand.. gotta be aware of all red flags and injustices.. Too many people being screwed over these days and they just let it happen..

    Reply
  27. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @MOE: Code 150 is return received for those without a tax liability. Cycle code date is when you posted to the master file, and they processed you but unfortunately couldn’t release the refund because of the 570 hold.

    Reply
  28. Pingpinging

    Where can we upload w2 online?

    Reply
  29. Cantcatchabreak

    @Sheila La: I agree with you 💯. It’s always the ones who work hard throughout the year and have legitimate returns that get harassed and delayed.

    Reply
    2
  30. Sheila La

    @Cantcatchabreak: Thankyou for your help I am having a hard time finding info about when they received their checks . I hope u get yours soon this is so stressful , why can’t they pick on someone that is doing fraud and has shady business I’m just a regular low income single mom I work hard to make ends meet and my tax refund is the only thing that gives me enough to get ahead a little and get the things we been needing . Rent is so high in my state there is nothing left after paying bills.

    Reply
  31. Mlronq

    @teedee44
    They processed it and accepted it into the system. But a lot of us have the 570 because they need more info. Sometimes they don’t. If you don’t see a 971 you might be ok it could fix without any further action from you. In my case I had to submit a w2 to verify my income. They are saying people have been “randomly selected” honestly they aren’t giving much more info other than to wait. I filed 1/26 and still have a hold.

    Reply
    1
  32. TeeDee44

    @Mlronq: I mean this is the longest 21 days ever. How can you work with numbers but you can’t count days IRS?

    Reply
  33. Sharon. O

    @Mlronq: No it’s been a week and I’m a weekly. This happened to me 3 years ago also when you could only fax documents and it took about a month

    Reply
  34. TeeDee44

    I have a 150 code as well as a 570. How is it possible to be processed but be on hold?

    Reply
  35. MOE

    @Mlronq: so 150 means we have been processed we are done right

    Reply
  36. Mlronq

    @catfish61
    Code 150 just means your return was processed and added to the master file. Everyone should see that code on their transcript.

    Reply
  37. Mlronq

    @sharon.O
    Have you seen any updates since you uploaded the w2? The same thing happened to me and I called to see if they had gotten the info I uploaded and wasn’t able to get an answer from them so I’m curious.

    Reply
  38. Sharon. O

    @Debra: I have the same with 971 of 3/13. The 570 is a hold code and the 971 is a notice sent. Did you get anything yet. I haven’t yet but called and was told they were verifying my income or withholdings. So I sent them my w2s through the site they accept them through. This seems to be the case with a lot of people. If you didn’t get a notice a would definitely call

    Reply
  39. Debra
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-23
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Credit karma
    • Bars:
      Take Action
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-23
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      0605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Hi my 2023 taxes done w/ Turbo wmr accepted 1/23/23 then code 570 dy 2/27/23 971 code 3/6/23 both have 0 amounts. Please help

    Reply
  40. catfish1961

    sorry on my question it was a 150 code not 105

    Reply