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
49,350 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. NMMN

    So my husband and I used a reputable CPA this year when filing as I am W2 and he is 1099. We wanted to be sure to get the most money available to us. Until then, I filed online with HRB software. Our return was filed and accepted 2/24, but there are no transcripts (N/A) and checking WMR today is says now, “Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available”. We have had no movement past the first bar on WMR and our 21 days are up on 3/17.

    Reply
  2. Gwen

    @moe: sounds like that maybe your refund check 😁

    Reply
    1
  3. Me

    @NVDIV: tt sent me the same message I’m gonna stop payment from coming out of my bank account it’s supposed to come from refund and dang sure not my fault I got the 570 hold and a notice saying I need to do nothing. Tt is on some bs and didn’t they just get in trouble last yr. Crazy

    Reply
    2
  4. moe

    Got something in the mail coming dept of treasury kansas city ?

    Reply
    1
  5. Dirtydog218

    Been sitting on still being processed for some time now. Filed 2/28. I got my state. Filed with turbo tax. Looks like I’m a weekly. No codes, no letters, been very silent here. Maybe it will chnage Friday.

    Reply
    1
  6. Keish

    @nzxo: sameeee exact issue for me. Except I received no state. What state are you in?

    Reply
  7. Gwen

    @Sheila la: they say it can take 7-10 days depending on where you live. I had a check mailed on the 24th and received it in the 27th

    Reply
  8. Ai

    Hi

    Reply
  9. NVDIV

    Well.. Here goes TurboTax trying to dip into my bank account while my refund sits in limbo… and owed my state soon to follow as well.. Boy if something comes out that these 570s are due to errors in TurboTax filing software i swear the whole country will be on them like the white in a direct beam of light…

    Reply
    4
  10. nzxo
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-30
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CashApp
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-31
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      None Yet
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    Hey, just checking in. Much like those here, I am still waiting. Applied 01/30, accepted 01/31. Had 1 bar for awhile,. eventually disappeared. No tax topic, etc.
    Went way past the expected date, and got an ID Verify letter in mail. Immediately verified, radio silence since then.

    Transcripts are blank with no income listed/reported. The ONLY thing that has even halfway changed was the as of date. It was originally 02/20 and it stayed that even after we passed 02/20. Now, though, this last weekend, my as of date is 03/27. I also have a different message on WMR, it says they’ve received my return and is still processing. The only encouraging thing is my refund amount has not changed and it still is shown. Is this a good sign?

    I don’t know. I already received my state tax return, so my info checks out and I would think that if there were a big issue the state would not have processed it and sent me a check. Now I’m also reading that the federal may come in paper check. Its fine I guess, I just want my money.

    Hope you are all well. Friday will bring news, hopefully.

    Reply
  11. NVDIV

    @Meme: Thank you.

    Reply
  12. Sheila la

    How many days or weeks does it take irs says check has been mailed, he claims it was sent on the 9th but I still have not received and he said it could take up to five weeks so if I haven’t received it after five weeks then I can call back .

    Reply
  13. Meme

    @NVDIV: the first as of date I received was 3/6/23 then about 10 days ago it changed to 3/20 and a couple of days ago changed back to the original date of 3/6/23. No idea what this means. The 570 disappeared when the as of date changed back to 3/6/23.

    Reply
  14. NVDIV

    @Meme: Did your 570 go away after your as of date passed? the reason i ask is because i am looking to see if my as of date remains on 20th or if it goes up to another date.. that would kind of let me know if anything is happening if it doesnt change..

    Reply
  15. Melissa

    @Jas: I did still waiting

    Reply
  16. PatientlyWaitingVA

    Spoke to TA and they advised a letter was mailed last Tuesday. When I sign into my online account it shows a notification to “verify my return” in order to continue processing. Unfortunately I need the number in the letter to complete it. Anyone know what this is about or how long a letter takes to arrive? No transcripts available.

    Reply
  17. chilax

    @Jas: I already had one too, had it for years…..

    Reply
  18. Mlronq

    Anybody else check their transcript everyday even though you know you’re a weekly? Or is it Just me? Lolllll I know it won’t be different but I can’t stop myself from checking lol

    Reply
    7
  19. Sheila La

    OK so I have a question for anyone that received their checks in the mail for is my return was pulled for a manual refund I have a code 840 refund issued on03/07 but I was just inFormed by the agent that the check was sent out on the ninth and to allow up to five weeks for it to arrive which sounds crazy. If they’re so concerned about fraud why would they take five weeks. before someone figures out their check is missing it’ll be cashed and spent If somebody steals it, so I’m just curious if anyone’s waited that long once issued because it makes no sense to me.

    Reply
    1
  20. Jas

    @chilax: That gives me hope ! But what if I already have a account through ID me?

    Reply
  21. Jas

    @Meme: wow my as of date is 3/20 as well I have no transcripts updated but the bottom two I’m not sure what’s going on this year.

    Reply
  22. Meme

    @JAS, been sitting on the last message “delayed beyond normal time frame” on WMR for about 10 days now, includes the 152 on the bottom of this message.

    Reply
    3
  23. Meme

    @JAS, yes I received one on 2/24, said to do nothing, let it ride, then week later 570 code on WMR, then 152 came back on WMR and 570 disappeared. As of date on transcript 3/6/23, processing date 3/20/23. Still waiting on refund….

    Reply
  24. chilax

    @Jas: No issues, I had the same problem. Had to ID Verify. Pushed me back about a week. Got my money about 20 minutes ago.

    Reply
    3
  25. chilax

    DDD of 3/15, JUST hit my Chime card…

    Reply
    2
  26. Jas

    Today I received a letter in the mail that says “we selected your return to verify one or more of the following (income, income tax withholding, tax credits& business income. If you filed your tax return you don’t need to do anything at this time. Allow 60 days to complete this review. Did anyone else get a letter in the mail like this ?

    Reply
    1
  27. patiencenotmyvirtue31

    Mine accepted over a month ago. Still in green keep getting told 12 weeks. Have not received any correspondence that anything is wrong. Did anybody who managed to get a live agent get a reason on WHY it would take up to 12 weeks?

    Reply
    1
  28. zhosa

    @sewsew0705: is it a brown envelope? Highly unlikely you would get a check w/o transcripts populating and updating.

    Reply
  29. One annoyed chica.

    @sewsew0705: thanks for your reply. This is really crazy. I see a lot of people are saying they had to ID verify this year. I haven’t received anything yet saying I have to ID verify. I’m going to call the IRS tomorrow.

    Reply
  30. BBkansas24
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      City national bank and trust
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-26
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20231105
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Apr-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Meme: my earnings are in SSA as well so wonder how long will it update to the WMR and transcripts. even though I have a 4464c letter.

    Reply
  31. sewsew0705

    @One annoyed chica.: I had same issues.
    accepted on 2/20.
    still have no updates on transcript or wmr and bars still missing .
    BUT my usps informed delicery shows a check from IRS in mail today! even though i always use direct deposit!
    could it be that irs is way behind on updates ? i still showing nothing on wmr amd transcripts yet check coming today???
    what the hey is going on?

    Reply
    1
  32. AmberAmber

    Or can anybody going through same problem or went through same problem because I need my money!?

    Reply
    1
  33. Mlronq

    @MamaHen0717
    I also called TA hoping they could help but she basically said if it’s on hold there’s nothing you can do but wait. I was disappointed but I guess I didn’t really expect much. She said they’re experiencing delays this year and advised me to keep checking my transcripts.

    Reply
    1
  34. Catfish61

    @Mlronq thank you so much for that needed info.

    Reply
    1
  35. Mlronq

    @catfish1961
    The Code 150 means your return was added to the IRS master file for processing and your tax liability has been determined.
    The cycle code is the week that your return was put into the master file. So 2023 is the year
    09 is the 9th week of the current year and 05 means you are a weekly account so you will see updates to your transcripts and WMR on Friday/Saturday.

    Reply
    1
  36. AmberAmber

    @cantcatchabreak if you don’t mind me asking where do you live because I have same mail out date march 10 but I didn’t receive my check today or yesterday. Should I be worried??

    Reply
  37. MamaHen0717

    @Mlronq: we are at their mercy sadly to say. I thought maybe the TA could at least tell me what the problem is but I couldn’t even get that much done.

    Reply
  38. One annoyed chica.

    I filed on 2/18 accepted same day. WMR was saying tax return is being processed with tax topic 152 now today it says tax return has been received ( no longer says processing) tax topic 152 is now gone and replaced with a hyperlink that says frequently asked questions. Is anyone else having this problem?

    Reply
    2
  39. Cantcatchabreak

    @sewsew0705: did you have to ID verify this year because most people who did are receiving checks instead of their DD. As well as myself, I requested DD and had to ID verify on Feb 23rd. Updated with refund will be mailed March 10th. Received the check yesterday.

    Reply
  40. catfish1961

    good morning everyone, what does it mean when you have a code of 150 followed by 16221-436-08099-3, then cycle date 20230905 followed by a date 03/20/2023 and a amount beside that

    Reply