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 really need some advice. So long story short
My return to verify wages and the advocate that I got on March 8th she told me that she was going to close my case because I did not receive a letter for an audit I just received a letter for a review. She hasn’t spoken to me since then and I’ve tried to get a hold of the IRS which they told me to go with what the advocate is saying and she’s just telling me to sit and wait I don’t want to sit and wait for 120 days because the letter says 60. So when I call the IRS again about a week and a half ago a nice lady told me that my wages for my federal were not matching and that I needed to wait until the IRS fixes that but then I told her if I was able to get it fixed myself like amend my return could I just do that? Nobody has an answer for me and honestly why would I not fix it if I’m able to? That’s my question and concern If someone can please direct me into the right direction I’m supposed to call them back around May 8th cuz that would have been my 60 days I’m in a hardship at this moment and I really need my taxes And honestly if I just need to amend I would rather do that and I could have them hopefully by the summer I really don’t know what to do. A lot of people that have been amending they’ve been seeing movement on theirs and I just I just need to get answered I’m stressing out right now. Our family has fallen on hard times health-wise and I can’t sit back and just rely on my paycheck anymore. :(
@Need2kno: I sure hope so because I just saw the same thing in my account online.
@Jay: I’m wondering if the processing will continue as if the check cleared or will they wait for it be completely settled (paid or returned) and then process the original. My original is a refund that is well over the amount they tried to get, so hopefully they catch it and correct it/offset my original and not pause it to send a letter and so on and so on. Again, i am staying on top of and calling tomorrow and i will update you.
@Thequeeofbee:
I also got my letter for aduit march 6 sent in all my papers 16 days ago still waiting.
@zhosa: its funny you mentioned that about the irs trying to take the difference amount out. when i did my amendment through turbotax and that question popped up about how i want to repay the difference, i actually contacted turbotax and talked to a really nice rep who we ended up talking for about a half hour about the entire mess of a tax season this is. she told me since there was not a deposit made to my account from the irs for my refund yet that i should choose the option to send them a check which makes sense so that is what i chose. the irs is going to adjust the refund amount so why have them take money from my account from a deposit they havent made yet. ok good yes let me know.. also my amended return info showed up today in wheres my amended return..
@Jay: been busy, and i just don’t use my phone to communicate (too small). Anyway, no, i ran out of time to call, but i just got an email (just now) that the irs tried to debit my acct for the amendment difference and (i did not have it). It’s being returned, but i hope the take it from my refund, but i will call my advocate tomorrow to inquire. I did not expect them to try to take the money from my account first, thought they would pull it from my refund instead…..sho’ nuff gotta call her in the morning.
Filed 4/5 and accepted same day. Transcripts for account and wage show no tax return on file. Anyone have any movement yet from its being processed on the wmr?
Filed Feb 4th
Got letter Feb 28th MISSING 1095A healthcare form
FAXED form on 3-1
Nothing from the irs cant even let me know if they got it
Contacted IRS advocate VIA fax On 4/10/23 Got a letter yesterday the 17th Dated the 11th saying they have accepted my case and to fax certain items to them.
I hope this gets the ball rolling.
Where’s My Amended Return updated to finally show my amended return was received.. now just sitting n waiting..
Good morning. I saw someone ask about Al st taxes as I myself was waiting. They started releasing. Mine hit my chime card last night around 930 pm
@zhosa: any updates? were you able to contact your advocate and ask about the updated as of date?
Your return has been received and is being reviewed by a tax examiner. If we need more information, we will contact you by mail. Your return may take up to 12 weeks to process. Refund information is updated twice a week. If it has been more than 12 weeks since you filed your return, and you have not received any correspondence about your return, you may call our taxpayer assistance line
Anyone else get this msg for Maine?
Your return has been received and is being reviewed by a tax examiner. If we need more information, we will contact you by mail. Your return may take up to 12 weeks to process. Refund information is updated twice a week. If it has been more than 12 weeks since you filed your return, and you have not received any correspondence about your return, you may call our taxpayer assistance line
Anyone else get this msg?
@Thequeeofbee: Amended is a 16 to 20 weeks process.
I definitely got lucky. The number that they gave me seems like it went to a remote worker and they took the time to fix it. ( My tax preparer did an overpayment on my taxes and elected for me to receive my tax return in 2024 so they gave me that department information on letter)
@Ga Guy: must be nice I’ve been under audit since Feb 17th lol sent my proof in and got my letter march 6th and nothing and from my understanding amended takes longer than audits lol u got lucky
i got flagged and on the account home page my account status was gone….now it says total amount owed 0.00. same as my previous yrs. i got those payments does this mean the irs is going to release the hold on mine
@Melissa: Hi, I filed my taxes on January 23. I realized that I made an error and had to get it amended which was on February 08th.
I got a letter from IRS by February 15th to call but I didn’t pay attention until March 15th. I called and they said they’ll release my money and it’ll take 4 to 6 weeks. I called back a few week later just to see if everything was ok and the system reversed it so they had to go back in to release it once more. A week later my transcript and where’s my amended return updated on the 31st of March.
My transcript updated with 846 on the 14th of April.
They sent a check out the same day and it was due to arrive on Monday.
@JenninSC73: Hi just wanted to share my experience, I owed the state for Unemployment, they took my federal and my state. The state had to refund the portion they took from me cause they took from both my refunds. This may be what happened the sooner you contact them the sooner they can catch the error. If not you may be waiting until they mail you the refund.
@Mlronnqq, ditto for me : (
@Jasmine, my 570 code is related to income verification.
@cw: on hold to speak with an agent? what number did you call??
@NVDIV: yes sick of it to
have been on hold for 2 hours and still at 55 ahead of me on the que. ahhh
@Melissa: no idea because we are all still waiting for ours as well unfortunately..
So I have had the code 570 for two months now. I just did an amended return. For those who did an amended return, how long has it taken to get return?
Filed and accepted on 3/23/23. Havent seen any movement yet. I received a notice from SC Department of Revenue in which they will keep our state refund because of medical bills but nothing from Federal refund. I knew they would take state but I have no reason for them to keep Federal. Did direct deposit in checking with fees taken from refund through TT. Anyone else in the same boat?