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.

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What Others Are Saying

  1. sgorham29
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240705
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-4
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-4
    • Tax Refund Offset
    • I Got My Refund!

    @So Stressed, I filed and was accepted Jan 28, 2023, My as of date is Feb 20, 2023 which has come and gone! I have no idea what is going on and Maryland state seems to be the same, I finally sent an email to the comptroller’s office because Md said I need to wait 12 more weeks, I said they have lost their minds!!! I have proof that I filed and was accepted on their website on 1/28/2023!!! Comptroller ask me to verify my last 4 and my address sent that to them waiting for an answer now!! LOL they have the wrong one and I wish I could send something to Federal to get it moving…………

    Reply
  2. Jas

    @Sheila_33: Goodmorning thank you so much for explaining I guess I just have to wait now .. fingers crossed for a DDD soon!

    Reply
    1
  3. Jas

    @NVDIV: my transcripts updated on the 13th I believe it was right after I received a verification letter in the mail which was sent out the 8th. I just hope to see something soon this is the longest I ever waited .

    Reply
  4. Dirtydog218

    Filed 2/28 accepted that day. “Still processing” no codes still have 1 bar……I’m so tired 🥱

    Reply
  5. Catfish61

    good morning, i had a date for today with a direct deposit, transcript still the same 150 code stating that tax return has been filed with 16221-436-08099-3 followed by cycle code of 20230905 date 3/20/2023 and then a amount after that where do i stand?

    Reply
  6. LoveMy3Munchkins
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-3
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      PNC
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-3
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-20
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250705
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    Anyone had movement on Al return?

    Reply
  7. Mymoneynow

    I’ve been waiting over a year for an amended return. TA IS NO HELP AT ALL!!! Is there anyone over a TA I can call to help?!

    Reply
  8. 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!

    @Jas: 150 is return received/tax liability if applicable and the date of 4/15 is standard since its the last day of the Irs tax year before interest is applied. 766 and 768 are your credit codes, 570 is a hold to possibly review the income or credits and the as of date of 4/03 is when the system hopes to have you processed by. You may be a weekly with the 05 cycle so you won’t have a chance to update again on transcripts until this Friday since weeklies process on Thursday.

    Reply
    2
  9. Dingdongdoo

    Filed 1/23 accepted same day. 2/2 PATH message
    3/5 we received your return it is being processed
    20230405 cycle code. Have codes 150 806 766 and 570 (as of date 2/20.

    No movement. Anyone else?

    Reply
    1
  10. NVDIV

    @Jas: that 150 means your ok now you just gotta play the waiting game for your DDD. At least your 570 is out of the way

    Reply
    1
  11. NVDIV

    @Jas: when did your transcripts update?

    Reply
    1
  12. Jas

    My transcript is listing this Return due date or return received date (whichever is later) April 15 2023
    Processing April 3rd 2023
    I’m a 05 cycle
    And I have codes 806 date 4/15
    Code 766 4/15
    768 4/15
    570 4/03
    150 4/03
    With a 4/03 as of date
    What does this mean or is anyone else transcript listing the same thing ? HELP WANTED & NEEDED! :/

    Reply
  13. NMMN

    @Dirtydog218: I checked WMR and transcripts… still saying “still being processed” and N/A on transcripts. I called Friday evening, and they told me it was in the “errors dept” and that I need to give it 8 wks from the filing date. (2/24)

    Reply
  14. Meme

    System is down, only limited things you can check.

    Reply
  15. LongtimeComing

    @Stokes: Okay…I sure hope it comes tomorrow…hopefully, yours come as well.

    Reply
  16. Dallis

    @Pissed2023: same message filed 2/18 accepted same day

    Reply
  17. Pissed2023

    What is everyone that’s waiting where’s my refund say? I have one bar with a new message that says it’s taking longer than expected.

    Reply
  18. ChillPuddle

    @Meme: same here 570 3/13
    No movement

    Reply
  19. Stokes

    @LongtimeComing: maybe you will get your check tomorrow please update if so thanks

    Reply
    1
  20. Stokes

    @LongtimeComing: ok got u
    I misunderstood I was thinking you were waiting on a DD through the third party and it was rejected when sent out then you were issued a paper check
    In your case I’m not sure
    I’m waiting on a check as well because my DD was sent to wrong account

    Reply
  21. LongtimeComing

    @Stokes: No…my date was for the 17th…scheduled for a check to be sent (after I did the identity verification) it went from DD to a check being sent. So, why would it get rejected?

    Reply
    1
  22. So Stressed

    Has anyone that filed around 2/7 made any progress? Accepted & at 1 bar same day. Transcript for 2022 is n/a ” still processing”. Was in errors for over 3 weeks, no letter.

    Reply
  23. NVDIV

    @MOE: Thank you

    Reply
  24. MOE

    @NVDIV: You can call them but you do have to have the letter.

    Reply
    1
  25. NVDIV

    @MOE: Sorry for the confusion. i was referring to the code that updates on the tax transcripts under the 570 when they send out the letter but thank you for letting me know that as well because i probably need that code that is printed on the letter as well.. Also is there a way i can reverify my identity without receiving a notice to verify or do i need to just hold off and see if that one actually gets sent?

    Reply
  26. MOE

    @NVDIV: Right hand corner theres a code look on your letter

    Reply
  27. NVDIV

    @MOE: Does it always supposed to have a code for when they send a letter even when its the 60 day letter? the reason i ask is because it never gave me a code for notice sent but i did get the letter back on feb 28. For some reason i feel like its just frozen and floating around in the system and nobody actually knows its there.. ive never seen something just not update at all like this.

    Reply
  28. Stokes

    @LongtimeComing: if you have fees taken out it will go to the third party , if it’s rejected when it gets to third party , it’s sent back and a check will be issued

    Reply
  29. Miss.Miami

    Why would the account transcript be blank with as of date but not filled? Can someone tell me why?

    Reply
  30. MOE

    @Meme: No change 570 3/6 971 3/13 got my letter last week cp 05 60 days

    Reply
  31. Meme

    Just checked my transcripts, no change, still 570 $0.00 date 3/20/23

    Reply
  32. Mlronq

    @meme
    Ugh I saw that!! I was still able to view my transcripts though!

    Reply
  33. Mamaahen0717

    I looked again today, no change. Our dates are still
    922 3/4/2023 0.00
    570 3/20/2023 0.00
    971 3/27/2023 0.00
    Wages have not been updated to the transcript either.
    Cycle code 20230905

    Reply
  34. NVDIV

    @Meme: And the next month when we call they will use the “outage” as another excuse for delays..

    Reply
  35. Meme

    Due to partial outage, ugh…..

    Reply
  36. Meme

    irs website, “The service is unavailable at this time
    We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please refresh your browser or try again later.”

    Reply
  37. Catfish61

    @Ricky22 8 do you think we will get a letter or check? its kinda strange never had this before

    Reply
  38. NVDIV

    @Mlronq: it’s still at 3/20 that date is what I’m eyeballing now at this point.

    Reply
  39. spring

    transcripts down ?

    Reply
  40. Ricky22 8

    @Catfish61: I have freeze code to and as of march 20 n no movement either

    Reply