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.
I am so exhausted. I did an appeal for 2021 because I made a mistake on the amendment form. My mistake, no biggie. A year later, I had my hearing. The woman was exhausting, to say the least, and had no clue what she was even talking about. I sent over the information she requested over a week ago. She said she would call and let me know if she had everything. I never heard from her. I called and got her today, and she said she needed another document. Um, how was I supposed to know? I sent what was asked last week. At this point, she is just making stuff up. I sent over what she asked for. Hopefully that is enough this time because if I owed, they would have taken it quickly.
I don’t see my income on SSA and when I called she said they don’t get accurate reports until September. My employer said she mailed my info out mid January.
@Devylwahaylo: i can see my income but what i see and what the IRS has on file is different than what my W2 says.. i filed what was on my W2 and got flagged for it..
@bobby bonilla: i already filed an amended return. a lot of us have.
@Me: I not u sorry
@Devylwahaylo: how do you know exactly in the crogress office do you talk to cause u have a hardship and I been waiting since Jan 2st. No one will help.
@Tony: it’s in the miscellaneous section under personal
Anyone from wv got their state back yet?
@Jay: I don’t know how good your congress people are, but last year I got the run around for 6 months. As soon as I contacted my congressman, my refund was issued 4 days later. Just a little insight. Mine was because my employer failed to report my earnings. If you can go on SSA website and can’t see your income, then you definitely need help.
@Tony: they do, it’s under miscellaneous towards the end of filing…
@Jay: they will tell you to file an amended return
If you have codes 570/971 and both have the same date that means IRS have fixed any problem you had. YOu will get your refund soon. Next step will be code 571 that lifts the 570 hold and 846 to get your refund
Why doesn’t Freetaxusa have and option to enter an IP Pin Unless I’m incorrect please help. They any show a 5 digit made up pin.
@Mlronqqq: thank you 😊 I’m still waiting on my 2021 amended return as well. I filed my 2021 amended return in June 2022 and it’s still “processing’ it’s been almost a year! 🙍🏽♀️🙍🏽♀️
@Momof2girls1boy: that is about in line with what happened to alot of us requesting help and were denied. told to wait 2 weeks. 2 weeks came and nothing. i got a letter of rejection as did a few others saying no help was available until end of june.
@Jay: at first I was told two weeks. Then I called back after two weeks and was told they couldn’t help me. Then I called again about a month later since I am currently experiencing 2 hardships and was told immediately while in the phone with intake that they could not help me. Then out of the blue I got a call last week from an advocate. Believe me I was shocked.
@Momof2girls1boy: trust me i am glad and super happy you are getting the help you need. that is great and congrats to you and hopefully your issue gets resolved quickly and your refund deposited soon
@Momof2girls1boy: the same day you applied for the help or you got a call back days later and then they told you? i am only asking because some of us have requested the advocate help and we received letters and were told it is denied and we have to wait until the end of june to request it again. we have hardships and are dealing with income verification as well.
@Jay: they told me over the phone
@Momof2girls1boy: right yeah but i mean when you applied for help, when you were told they were not helping you with your situation, how did you find out?
@Jay: no. He is helping me. I spoke with him on the phone.