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.
@Mary: Hello I wanted to know should a person amend their taxes after receiving a refund or before
@TaxDummy When I didn’t update to the PATH message I knew something was wrong thats when I went to looking and saw the mistake and went and filed an amended
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: ok, so even though I’ve been accepted, there’s a good chance that on Friday I’ll see bad codes? And at that point I can amend? I thought I’d get the refund and then I could amend. Was under the impression it took months for them to realize the discrepancy. Guess not.. but whatever keeps me out of trouble..
Anyone accepted on 1/27 see any updates yet?
@TXmomof3girlsnotsignedin They let you file amended electronically now.
@TaxDummy: You’ll have to amend the return, it could possibly hold up your return since it is a significant amount. They may have you amend before they will fully process your return. Many have to get a tax advocate involved to help move the process along. I know when I had to amend a return it took forever because you have to mail the amended return in, you cannot file those online. And it takes at least 16 weeks for them to process amended returns. It took every bit of those 16 weeks when I had to do one several years ago.
@Mary: and did you file pretty early on? I was accepted 1/30. Ugh I hate this. Do not want to be held up..
@TaxDummy I was off by 3000 and they held mine up until June last year, I filed an amended return but it took so long.
@DreamLooks: my Va state refund came within days. I had a deduction due to a debt that was owed & I still received the check on Feb 1st
@Kindra: They have taken part of you refund for an offset.
@Mary: off by about $5,000 in wages. Withholding is off by about $1,000. Ugh.
What is tax topic 203
I filed an amended return for 2023 and just saw the 846 with 1/31/2025 as date. My original return went to Credit Karma Money card. Will amended return refund to there as well? If so, how many days from the 846 date should it take to hit my account?
Hello IGMR fam!! I’m waiting on WMR to update to the PATH message. Still on one bar, but my niece who filed the day before me already has her PATH message.
Filed Jan 20th. Fed Accepted Jan 21st. VA Accepted Jan 27th(Per TT) Was able to see transcripts last Friday. Missing the 846 code. Has any PATHer’s received their 846 Code & DDD on their TRANSCRIPTS yet? Does 846 ONLY populate once PATH is lifted & when does PATH lift? I received mail from VA today for refund verification. I did it online. Does anyone know how long before refund approved after this step normally? Has ANYONE already received their VA state refund or at least gotten APPROVED with a DDD? Thanks everyone & GOOD LUCK this tax year!
@Mary: ok thank you 😊
@Honeybee82: yep I would definitely check tomorrow morning. 😊
@Starr I dont see you updating until next week.
@TaxDummy Hard to say employers are reporting the wages quicker than in the past, are the amounts way different?
Hey everyone if I filed today/Tuesday ,do you think my transcripts will update/populate Friday I’m a weekly. Or is the deadline mondays?
@RuthBaby: yes it’s an automatic message they don’t have insider knowledge
Got an email from Turbo Tax today stating my refund is on the way. None of my transcripts are filled in as of yet. Does Turbo Tax send those emails as a standard thing?
So looks like cross river bank will be sending the funds for people who paid the 5 days early program which i am too included. I believe SBTPG the original one just handles normal direct deposit. and cross river will send the funds VIA wire on any day the funds are received unlike SBTPG where they only process on week days and bank holidays.
@Yalldtmfr2025: ok, thank you! I’ll quit stalking my bank account until tomorrow!
@Yalldtmfr2025: i concur!!!!
@BMOREMOMOFTHREEANDAHALFatwork: I read on FB that it’s Cross River Bank….never heart of them :-/
@Jay: being that I’ve used this website for 10 years st8 I know for a fact the ppl behind the phone at the IRS will say anything to get you off the phone 🤣. Plus it makes since if your daily you might today Tuesday. But most like Friday morning Saturday morning for weeklys. I trust IGMR trends more than anything!!!
@Jay: being that I she’s this website for 10 years st8 I know for a fact the ppl behind the phone at the IRS will say anything to get you off the phone 🤣
@Sarah D: I am a frequent TT user not this year THANK GOD. But they normally send the morning of. Good luck!
Does anyone know what bank TT uses for the people who paid for the 5 days early? is there a website?
I read something about them using several banks. I did not press the option to use their card.