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. Shanshan

    R@LongtimeComing: no I didn’t get mine yesterday 😔 hope for today.
    Congratulations 😊

    Reply
  2. So Stressed

    Spoke with someone from irs today and was told my taxes were simply under review, no letters, no codes. It should be lifted 10 weeks from the day we filed (2/7) then refund should be issued unless more info is needed. This is the worst tax season I have ever experienced. I’m sure many of you agree.

    Reply
    3
  3. Cantcatchabreak

    @LongtimeComing: they will never take fees out of a check. Basically when they send you a check it removes the tax preparer info all together. You would have to get the money to them yourself. The same thing happened to me I received my check last Monday and I just zelled my tax preparer once the funds cleared. Also did you have to ID verify because it seems like most people who did are getting checks instead of their DD

    Reply
  4. Please click

    Can anyone in the EarnIn Community help me boost my Max? 🙂 https://earnin.app.link/LE2p8ivkllb

    Please click if you use earnin it’s just a boost

    Reply
  5. Mlronq

    @NVDIV
    so what does this mean?

    Reply
  6. TheQueenofBee

    anyone ever get audited and have it go quickly? I submitted all of my proof the day after I got my letter from them ( what fun work that was cuz I use cash app for my business and wasn’t even aware there was a business option for cash app which I’m switching too currently cuz never again lol ) but that was all submitted 2 weeks ago and no word which I know they say atleast 30 days up to 120 but wondering if someone could give me some hope that it won’t be much longer.. everything I sent in proves everything I claimed on my return so there shouldn’t be a single issue. It’s crazy how it takes them so long like once you see it’s submitted review it and move on :( Lawd so ya hopefully someone can shed son light of hope that maybe I’ll update this week

    Reply
    1
  7. CarolinaWoman88

    Update: my funds have been sent. Not sure if it will be rejected or not since it looks like my banking info is incorrect. So I guess I’ll have to wait longer and that really sucks.

    Reply
  8. NVDIV

    Ok 570 people with no updates.. Their update resequenced us all because of their stupid update they did in early Feb.. Fault of the IRS..

    Reply
    1
  9. Ken

    Hey just wondering if anyone has had the wmr changed where amount is gone and tax code 152 is back I filed 2/2 transcript still n/a and they haven’t asked for verification or no letters since any idea

    Reply
  10. Miss.Miami

    @GatorFan8912: hi I would like to know also just spoke with my advocate this morning. So fingers crossed it will be asap. He stated he wants a response from them by Friday. My next contact is scheduled for Monday. Please keep me posted.

    Reply
    1
  11. GatorFan8912

    How long does it take to get a DDD once the advocate sends a note into IRS to release the refund?

    Reply
  12. LongtimeComing

    @Shanshan: I received my check yesterday. Did you get yours? What was strange was, they didn’t take out the fees or the advance.

    Reply
  13. CarolinaWoman88

    My DDD is for tomorrow 3/22. Nothing on where’s my refund saying refund sent. Nothing at SBTPG of them receiving the funds. All where’s my refund say is it’ll be credited to my account In tomorrow but I saw most ppl who had to ID verify got checks instead. It did look like Free Tax left 3 digits off my account so I’m also worried about that. That will only prolong an already extremely long process.

    Reply
  14. NVDIV

    @Catfish61: what did they do?

    Reply
  15. Catfish61

    Good morning everyone, these folk at irs has completely messed my taxes up i am going to need to file a amendment

    Reply
  16. NVDIV

    @570 Go Away: Still Waiting. is your as of date still the same on your transcripts as well? mine is still 4/20

    Reply
    1
  17. 570 Go Away

    @NVDIV: are you still like me? Waiting? Did you ever get any info on your 570?

    Reply
    1
  18. 570 Go Away

    @Dingdongdoo: Same here but my date is 3-6. Filed end of January and nothing since. The same codes with the 570. No notice code of anything like that. It’s been a real treat this year.

    Reply
  19. Lovely42

    @Sheshe: most likely you probably have to do id verify every time I got that message that’s what I had to do call the agency best of wishes

    Reply
  20. Sheshe

    @Sheshe: @Sheshe: how do I post a picture

    Reply
  21. Sheshe

    What dos it mean when it says still being prossed will get a date when available but the amount of my money went away on side it don’t show anymore

    Reply
  22. Mrznoz

    For some of the people on hold how did you file or have you been on hold in prior years. Just looking for a pattern

    Reply
  23. Shanshan

    @LongtimeComing: Any luck yet?

    Reply
  24. MOE

    @Mlronq: There is nothing we can do. Just wait. Not calling. If they need something they will let me know.

    Reply
  25. Mlronq

    @MOE I’m in the same boat with you! Same dates next to my codes. Just got the letter Saturday. I wish I knew if it was something I could fix but apparently it’s a waiting game until they either ask for more information or give us a refund. So stressful.

    Reply
  26. Mlronq

    @Mamahen0717
    I wish I could get answers when I call! All they say is to wait. I got the cp05 on Saturday and they said to wait 60 days after getting the notice.

    Reply
    1
  27. Mlronq

    @catfish61
    I believe 810 is a freeze on the account.

    Reply
  28. TPerry

    @KellyAnne0908: not yet

    Reply
  29. KellyAnne0908

    Has anyone received their refund for 3/22?

    Reply
  30. Catfish61

    @Mlronq i see a 806 code and a 810 other than the 150 code on top

    Reply
  31. MOE

    My dates have not changed at all still 570 code 3/06 971 3/13 got the letter cp 05 said do nothing. 60 days. its been 78 days since i filed.

    Reply
    1
  32. Mamahen0717

    Good afternoon all…
    I called the IRS TA line and guess what? I GOT A HUMAN!!!
    Three hours worth actually!
    We have a cp05 notice coming in the mail and also a wage verification notice. The wage verification is tied to 2021 due to a 1099 that arrived in May of 2022 for tax year 2021. We claimed the income but it was logged after we filed so now we must clarify the issue by resubmitting proof via faxed copies to the IRS. The cp05 is reviewing us for errors from last years error… sigh, really long sigh.
    My advice CALL, call until you get a human!! I called the tax advocate hotline and was transferred to the AUR department and from there to Accounts Management. Once an issue has been identified it can be taken care of… the system itself is vague and if I hadn’t looked at the transcripts I would’ve never known to call. Waiting is agonizing.

    Reply
  33. Rocky

    @Jas: I waited like 2 weeks after identity verification which a lot of people say they waited about 2 weeks as well. I ID verified 3/1. Transcripts updated 3/10 with 971 and 570 code and was N/A before then. Updated again on 3/17 with 846 refund issue code and I didn’t have to do anything after verifying my identity but wait.

    Reply
    1
  34. Arny22

    @Cendi: when did you file? Thanks

    Reply
  35. Meme

    @zhosa, what is your cycle code?

    Reply
  36. Meme

    What does the “processing date” actually mean on your transcript. What’s happening on that date? Processing what? Looks to me that my return has been in the processing mill since 2/10/23, my acceptance, original acceptance date.

    Reply
  37. zhosa

    called to check the status of refund and was told it’s pending and he didn’t say why but i’m now holding for TPP (already did 2-step verification). I was given a pin and placed on hold and waiting now (30-60 min wait). My “as of” date change from 3/20 to 4/3 on friday.

    Reply
  38. Di

    @Mymoneynow: call your congressman

    Reply
  39. Mlronq

    @Catfish61
    The amount next to the 150 code is your tax liability. It’s usually 0 or a negative amount unless you owe.

    Reply
  40. Mlronq

    @ Catfish61
    You don’t see any other codes on your transcripts? You want to look for 846 that’s the refund issued code.

    Reply