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.
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.
@zhosa: in addition to my just posted reply to you, this is taken directly from the IRS FAQs section on amended returns:
Coronavirus Processing Delays
It’s taking us more than 20 weeks (instead of up to 16 weeks) to process amended returns. Do not file a second tax return or call the IRS.
Will my amended return be processed faster if I file electronically?
The current processing time is more than 20 weeks for both paper and electronically filed amended returns. See our operations page for more information about processing timeframes.
Additionally, calling the IRS will not speed up return processing. Our phone and walk-in representatives can only research the status of your amended return 20 weeks or more after you’ve mailed it; or if Where’s My Amended Return? itself has directed you to contact us.
that is what scares us the most about filing an amended return in that it might not even be touched until mid-august
@zhosa: i think what most people, myself included, about doing an amended return is that threat of waiting the additional 20 weeks as stated on the IRS website that it might take for the return to be processed.. i have the same issue as you in that my W2 was mailed to me with the incorrect income and tax withheld amount which is what i used when i filed but the W2 information that the payroll company filed with the IRS had completely different amounts and there was a difference of about $4,000 in the income amount (lower on their end) and about $800 difference in the tax withholdings. so in other words when i filed, my income showed more than what they had on file which is the correct numbers after i verified it with my HR dept and payroll and that my payroll company misprinted my W2.. so u have the same 2 choices which are either wait it out the 60-120 days and they send me a correspondence asking about the discrepancy at which time i can tell them the W2 they have on file is the correct one and that i filed an incorrect one or file the amendment and possibly be delayed an additional 20 weeks..
This is just some FYI stuff here, if you find it relevant/helpful……good. I called about my refund b/c i never got any info on my transcripts until today and it ended with a 570 code. I ID verified on 3/8 and followed up afterwards and was told it was put into processing on the 3/15 and was even referred to the advocacy service on 3/28. Thappened to talk to one agent and she vaguely mentioned that she could only see a credit equalling my withholding amount (and that stayed on my mind). Today i called the advocate line to see if they had my info. and this very knowledgeable fella doing the intake took the time to go over my return to see if anything raised any red flags and low and behold he mentioned the withholding amount the young lady mentioned the other day. He immediately pulled up my w-2 and said what i reported was not what was on my w-2 (he was right) and told me what my exact income and withholdings were (i used my last check stub as i’ve always done). I pulled up my w-2 and he had it exactly right. He told me they may correct it, but i could speed it up and do an amendment. Now this may shed light on people who have wage issues b/c he said that, often times, when the irs sends request to companies they don’t respond right away and the manpower is not there to manually fix it, by then. He highlighted that an amendment is the fastest way to fix an open and active tax return b/c the system is already waiting for it to be fixed (the 60-120 days we are told) when it places the hold codes on it. He actually made a lot of since, but he told me to do an amendment and if it didn’t get resolved in a couple weeks then call back and they could give it a push and get it through, and he would notate my account.
@570 Go Away: My as of date is still sitting on March 20 and the due date is still April 15th.. nothing else has changed at all. these were the last updates i got back in February. the 570 is still on March 6th
@NVDIV: yeah. Right now my as of date is 4/17 two days past the 4/15 date where everything has to be filed. It’s blowing my mind this year. Filed in January! I mean Holy hell!! The flood of returns are over IRS! People are now getting refunds in a week! Can’t you just get mine done already?
How’s yours sitting? Are you still waiting? Any type of news or changes?
@570 Go Away: That is crazy… your as of changed to past 4/17? correct me if im wrong. If so then how does that even happen.. I love how everyone is always worrying about people paying the IRS and dodging taxes yet the IRS is doing the same thing to the people they owe.. dodging us on the phone
@NVDIV: let me clarify. My processing date is still 3/6. The date with my 570 is 3/6. 150 code is 3/6 the ones that jumped around are my as of dates the penalty and interest dates. They went from 3/27, to 4/3 to 4/17 all this morning. I’m lost but I’m pretty much just saying F it at this point and check Fridays and hope for a fun surprise. It’s not even a crazy return. Married, 1 kid, 401k, retirement stuff. Same as every year. Pretty sizable raise but towards the end of the year so really didn’t change much this past season. 106k to 130k. Literally the same shit for 20 years. Same company same everything. I think some of us are just lost in the computer.
@NVDIV: still waiting. Still sitting with my 570 and no letters or anything. This morning my dates changed from 3/6 to 4/3 to 4/17. Weirdest stuff ever. That’s it though nothing else changed
For anyone barely filing (like myself) – quickest refund I’ve ever received in 13ish years.
Filed & Accepted: Tue 3/28
Transcript 846: Fri 3/31 @7am
Deposit: Fri 3/31 @ 12pm
RBFCU bank. Self employed schedule C filer.
Guess im just gonna give up checking until the Monday after April 15th… which is the latest date on my transcript which is the date that all taxes are due nationwide.. I honestly dont know what to do after that date unless i just hound them every single day on the phone till they know me by name…
@Jay: yes
Hey I just ran across this online don’t know how accurate it is
How Often Does the ‘As Of’ Date Change?
The tax account’s updating frequency determines how often the ‘As Of’ date can change. The date will remain the same if the IRS processes a tax return within a three-week timeframe.
What Should I Do If the ‘As Of’ Date on My Tax Transcript Keeps Changing?
The first thing you’ll need to do if you notice that the ‘As Of’ date on your tax account transcript changes every week is check the Account Balance, Accrued Interest, and Accrued Penalty sections next to it. You must settle your tax debt if the Accrued Penalty value is above $0.00.
@Mlronq: Hey what was your as of date before? for some reason mines didn’t bounce back mines is 4/03/2023
Did anyone else as of date stay the same with no 846? Last time mines was pushed back close to the as of date now its still at 4/03/23
@Sheila_33: Probably because the morning spirits they’ve consumed haven’t worn off yet. :>)
Has anyone who updated overnight with a DD date of 4/5 received their refunds yet?
Anyone know if nj sends state tax return earlier then scheduled date?
I’ve been waiting on my amended taxes to come in from 2018 and 19 they gave me a 9 week waiting. Before the checks were mailed to me and now I have in I informed delivery something from Salt Lake City pullbox 7142 is this one
Are they done updating ?
I’ve been in same boat as most still here… no updates… had to ID verify despite being in my 60s and with same address etc for over 30 yrs.
Take heart, I updated today with 846 DDD for 4-05-2023.
Good luck to all , hoping this is all our weekend to see movement.
@Kitty104: how were you able to get an advocate? we have been told no advocates are available for current year 2022 until late june.
My account transcript shows no return filed today! Is it going to be updated again today ?
My date bounced back too lol looks like we gonna be stuck forever
I got a tax advocate she sent a request for them to release my refund a week ago. The agent from irs sent request for me..
Well my As of date pushed out to April 10, 2023 this morning but it just went back to Feb 20th it has been 9 weeks today it is supposed to only take 8 weeks, also here is all other time
5,443,200 seconds
90,720 minutes
1512 hours
63 days
Filed and Accepted Jan 28, 2023
I find very odd, that every year I file injured spouse for the same debt and they can’t discern that the debt did not magically become mine when each year all income is mine all taxes that were paid came from my paycheck and I need to go thru the same injured spouse process, wait 8 weeks before they give me my money, well the system states 8 weeks however every year it has been 4 – 5 – 6 months before they release my money and that is only after getting a tax advocate!
Has anyone got updated transcript today?
@Di: did you apply for the advocate and were denied and told you cant get one until late june?
Well all they did was push my as of date out again. April 10.
Wonder how long this will go on for.