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
34,961 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 began accepting tax returns this year on January 29, 2024.

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 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. MelloDello53
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-10
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      USAA
    • Bars:
      3rd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Jan-24
    • WMR Date:
      Jan-26
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Azluckyfish: Hopefully on the 16th or 17th. I read the IRS will start test batches on 17 though 22nd of January.

    Reply

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    2
  2. MelloDello53
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-10
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      USAA
    • Bars:
      3rd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Jan-24
    • WMR Date:
      Jan-26
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Akt: I saw it means: The * symbol next to the return transcript year 2023 will indicate the availability of a Verification of Non-filing Letter. Must mean it is there but waiting to be processed. Probably meaning if processed of course the star goes away. I have the same thing.

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    1
  3. Ugly_duckling

    Hey guys! Hope all is well! Just curious what online preparation everyone uses. Ive always used tt but they have seriously skyrocketed the price just since last year. I was thinking about H&R. Especially because they quoted me an extra 2k for some reason 🤔 happy filing woo

    Reply

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    1
  4. Yo

    @Somebody stole my Identity:
    YES GO TO THE IRS WEBSITE SO THEY CAN ASSIGN U AN IDENTITY
    PIN

    Reply

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    1
  5. Azluckyfish

    Has anyone been accepted after efile in test batch yet

    Reply

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    2
  6. Akt

    @DrBlute: yeah I just checked my to and I also have a star. Anyone know what this means?

    Reply

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  7. Messiah
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-14
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-21
    • Date Approved:
      Jan-21
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20220605
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-28
    • I Got My Refund!

    Good morning good afternoon and good evening all!!! Another year of the shenanigans I hope all is well with everybody

    Reply

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    5
  8. beebee 43

    @DrBlute: thank you

    Reply

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  9. Gators352

    Good morning ☀️ from the sunshine state… ok guys and girls start your engines another tax season is here!!!! May the odds forever be in your favor

    Reply

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    4
  10. DrBlute

    @beebee 43: I live in MA and I have to wait until the 19th to file state it’s because the forms aren’t ready yet it should give you a date when they will be

    Reply

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    2
  11. MaryB
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-4
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Wells Fargo
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-23
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240505
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Looking for answers.: He would have to amend his return as well, removing them and paying what would then be owed for the loss of what he did get AND you amend to add them.

    Reply

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  12. MaryB
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-4
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Wells Fargo
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-23
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240505
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Ghee: Some people are going to have refunds in January.

    Reply

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    1
  13. MaryB
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-4
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Wells Fargo
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-23
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240505
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @ConfusedInOhio: Mid February.

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    1
  14. Gapeach30

    Greetings everyone. I have 2 questions. Is there a 3 max limit on claiming dependents for eic? Does additional child tax credit apply for more than 3 this year.

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    1
  15. beebee 43

    Hi everyone quick question. Why turbo tax want let me file my sc state taxes. It says file later or mail. I’m confused. Can anyone help me with this. Thank you

    Reply

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    1
  16. Ghee
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-19
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Meijer Credit Union
    • Bars:
      MIA
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      0405
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Hello everyone

    Reply

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    1
  17. LoverLady Indy

    Hello, everyone! Checking in for another tax season.

    Reply

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  18. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @BG: Have you received any correspondence from them at all? Could be an identity issue or possibly a return that’s unpostable.

    Reply

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  19. Nay

    @Looking for answers?: yes as long as he didn’t receive any credit for them.

    Reply

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  20. Looking for answers?

    @Sheila_33: thank you I will amend my return and add the additional 3 children.

    Reply

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  21. BG

    haven’t received refund since it was accepted 10 months ago. Anyone having this problem?

    Reply

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    1
  22. Azluckyfish

    @Somebody stole my Identity: u will need to file identify theft and they will issue a pin every year I believe

    Reply

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    2
  23. Lisa in Atlanta
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-6
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-6
    • Cycle:
      Weekly

    Happy Taxmas everybody!! Learned my lessons from the last few years and waiting on ALL my W2’s before I file. :)

    Reply

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    6
  24. Somebody stole my Identity

    Hi I was on unemployment last year and I didn’t file my taxes( because I knew I would owe and didn’t have the money to pay) I was going file it this year how ever someone stole my identity and tried to file taxes last year in my name!.. what do I need to do now to clear this up so I can file my taxes this year??

    Reply

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  25. ConfusedInOhio

    Anyway me know what the earliest pathers could see a deposit this year

    Reply

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    2
  26. Chris
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-13
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Credit Karma
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-18
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240505
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: When are we expecting test batches?

    Reply

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  27. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Looking for answers: Yes, it definitely sounds like it. When you go under audit, and they can’t verify the dependents or income, then they close the case. If that’s what happened, then you can amend your return and claim the dependents and credits. It’s strange that they wouldn’t release the balance of the child tax credits, since he received the monthly payments earlier and the income wouldn’t have affected the credits being refunded. People with little to no income were encouraged to file just to receive those.

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    1
  28. Looking for answers?

    @Sheila_33: he did not get any refund. Which to me means that there is still money left on the table that can benefit our children. I will have to check to see if he received that cp letter.

    Reply

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  29. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Ck1: You might try calling the tax advocate services. They are an entity that works within the IRS to help people with a hardship and other issues with their return.
    https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/contact-us/

    Reply

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    1
  30. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    Jan. 23rd IRS opening date. @Jemar nailed it.
    Good luck everyone! Hoping for a good tax season. :)

    Reply

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    1
  31. NY-Khidd
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-7
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      CHIME
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @DrBlute: no I checked mine on New Years days and I had the 2022 with the star also … it just means your refund has not been processed yet/never filed yet one or the other I haven’t filed yet . Damn sure waiting on 1 more W2 .. refund almost double what it was last year right under 10k with federal and state

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    1
  32. Ck1

    Has anyone heard of a offset bypass refund? It’s for if u owe the irs but r in a hardship. It is on the irs website but when I call no one knows what I am talking about. Anyone have a phone number for this?

    Reply

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    1
  33. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Looking for answers?: It sounds like if he was audited and didn’t receive the rest of the child tax credits, then they didn’t acknowledge the dependents. Let me ask this: After the audit was done, did he receive any refund? If he did, and it was the tax credits for the children and not from his income, then you can’t amend and claim them. If he didn’t receive any of the child tax credits, then you can amend your return and claim them. If it was an audit and he received a cp75 verification letter, he would have had to provide proof of everything, not just his self employment.

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    1
  34. Ghee
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-19
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Meijer Credit Union
    • Bars:
      MIA
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      0405
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Just so everyone know…It doesn’t matter if you file early or late, the key thing is to make sure everything is correct and accurate.The irs will put you in review or audit you regardless.Keep that in mind.Check your returns thoroughly make slight corrections if needed.And it does not matter when you file, if you file now you probably still won’t see your refund until march or April.Its a weekly thing and for dailies a daily thing everybody won’t make the cut every week at the same time you might make it the next week.All tax returns are different do not compare the 2 or 3 do not look for the person who filed the day before you the same day or the day after you just didn’t make the cut better luck next week.Over the years I have learned all of this.Bit the key is to make sure everything is accurate no last pay stubs only W2s or any form you may need to file correct ssn’s.Make sure you put the correct prior year agi and don’t forget to add drivers license or state Id to prevent ID verification.And for the love of god please pay fees up front if its to expensive find a free filing company or a low cost filing company…No middle man.That stops confusion of when your check may arrive if bank account closes or any other issues fraud etc. But otoh Have a Happy Tax season.Although refunds are not as high as previous 2 years be graceful for what ya get.Later tax folks

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    7
  35. Looking for answers?

    @Nay: are you saying if he amends the return and remove the children, that I can then amend mine and add the children to get the credit?

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  36. Looking for answers?

    @Sheila_33: if he removes the children wouldn’t that mean he would not get the rest of the credit? He got the monthly payments but just not the rest

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  37. Monee
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-15
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Varo
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240505
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-2
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Itbme07: if you let someone check your irs transcripts like a school or bank the irs will send a letter that your return was accessed

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    1
  38. DrBlute

    Just checked its transcript site. Return transcript for 2022 showed with a star. Today it says N/A good sign maybe ?? Thoughts ??

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  39. Itbme07

    Why am I receiving a letter from irs today it shows in the inform mail .my daughter is getting one also

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  40. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Looking for answers: If he claimed the children, he still should have received some of the child tax credits without income, which has me puzzled. It makes me wonder if the credits were denied because of verification of dependents. He can amend and take the children off the amended return and file 0 income.

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